Dark Shadows Episode 870 - 10/24/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Petofi-Q comes in to see Barnabas. He brings Charity into the room, who looks away from Barnabas. Petofi-Q tells her to look at him, and tell him if the man is the real Barnabas Collins. She reluctantly turns and looks at him. She says that she's never seen him before. Petofi-Q says she put a stake through his heart, and Charity denies it, saying it's not the same man. Petofi-Q tells Barnabas that he still doesn't believe him.

Judith asks Edward where Barnabas is. He explains that he's upstairs, and that the vampire no longer exists. Judith says it's very strange. Edward agrees, but says that his ability to walk around in the daylight means he's not a vampire. She asks if he'll have dinner with them, and Edward goes upstairs to ask him. Charity comes downstairs and Judith asks if she has done what she asked her. She takes Judith into the drawing room, and tells her that Trask saw the portrait of Amanda and was very mad. Judith tells Charity that she learned a lot while she was in the sanitarium. She thanks her for getting the portrait for her.

Judith asks what Amanda was like, and Charity says she was fetching, and Trask was chummy with her, telling everyone he was trying to save her soul. Charity asks what she plans to do with the picture, and she says she's thinking of hanging it in the master bedroom. Charity tells Judith she likes her more and more every day.

Kitty returns to Collinwood and feels as if something has happened in the house. She hears a heartbeat and approaches the portrait of Barnabas. She finally screams for it to stop, and Judith and Charity come to check on her. Judith asks Charity to help Kitty to her room.

Petofi-Q tells a sleeping Barnabas there's only one way of finding out the truth. He says he will use his hand to get him to tell him what he wants to know. He is interrupted by Edward. He tells Petofi-Q that Judith is anxious to meet him.

Charity leads Kitty to her room, and into bed. Charity asks Kitty what frightened her. Kitty says she felt fine until she came into the house, and then she suddenly felt as if she was in danger from someone in the house. She hears the music box, and says she must resist him. Charity tells her to lie down. She closes the curtain, and then notices the music box. She says it's the one she saw in her vision, and Kitty yells at her not to open it, and asks her to leave the room.

Edward comes in to check on her. She tells him she's alright, and Charity tells him she's frightened of someone in the house. Charity leaves, and Kitty tells him that she thinks it's all in her mind, and she feels helpless. She says she thinks she should leave before something terrible happens. He begs her to stay. He suggests that the trauma of being widowed so young can only be replaced by the love of someone else. He tells her that he loves her, and asks him to marry her. She agrees, and kisses him.

Barnabas tells his story to Judith while Petofi-Q watches. He apologizes for the effect his arrival had on the family. Petofi-Q presses him on his life in England. He says he left England after the death of his father, and decided to return to his family's roots in Collinwood. Kitty and Edward enter, and Edward introduces her to Barnabas. He leers at her, and says it's his pleasure to meet her. Pefoti-Q asks Barnabas if he knew Kitty's husband from London, and Judith interrupts him and says it's time for dinner.

After dinner, Edward serves champagne to everyone. Petofi-Q asks what's the special occasion. After the champagne is distributed, Edward tells them that he is happy to announce that he and Kitty are to be married. Barnabas seems to be surprised. Judith and Petofi-Q congratulate them, and then Petofi-Q points out Barnabas' silence. Barnabas then toasts them, and excuses himself for the evening. Edward asks Judith what she thinks of him, and she says he's charming, and welcome to stay in Collinwood.

In his room, Barnabas calls to Josette. He says the marriage must not take place.

Kitty is lying in bed, and asks to be left alone from whoever is attempting to contact her. She gets up and opens the music box.

Barnabas realizes that he can't go away, but he can't stay and watch her get married to someone else. He remembers what happened with Jeremiah. Kitty comes into his room and tells him that she has heard his call. She says she will always be his Josette, and kisses him. 

Our thoughts

John: I like how the relationship between Judith and Charity is developing. Who would have thought that the two of them would strike up a friendship!

Christine: That was an enjoyable scene they had together, and makes me a little sad that neither Pansy Faye nor Carl survived to enjoy the happiness they surely would have had together because of Barnabas Collins.

John: I think that Kitty came to Collinwood with the plan of marrying-up, but it seems like she really didn't need to go out of her way, since Edward was so smitten with her, and something tells me his infatuation with her precedes the death of Gerald. I do think she should have played hard to get a little longer, but it may not matter as long as Barnabas keeps pulling Josette to the surface.

Christine: Kitty needs financial security, which would make playing hard to get a risk to achieving that goal. I couldn't help thinking of the time Willie Loomis heard the heartbeat from Barnabas' portrait as the eyes in it glowed in Episode 205, after Kitty experienced the same thing today.

John: It's hard to remember that there was a time when Josette was with Barnabas willingly, but it seems out of character for her to return to him now so readily without him having to apply more pressure. Of course his awareness of Josette acknowledges that he knows more than he's letting on to the family, and that he knows exactly who—and what—he is.

Christine: Barnabas gave up the game to Petofi-Q when he showed his sourpuss face upon hearing of Edward's engagement to Kitty. Of course this won't end well. I'm trying to visualize what Edward will look like with a bulging eyeball, wrapped in bloody bandages, since a duel seems almost a given in the near future.

Dark Shadows Episode 869 - 10/23/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Edward, Petofi-Q and Barnabas arrive at the cave, and Petofi-Q goes in first. He calls for Aristede, but he's not present. Edward comes in and they see the chains off the coffin. Edward tells him to put the gun to Barnabas' heart, and tells him to fire if the coffin is empty. He opens the coffin and Barnabas is still lying inside with a stake in his heart. Barnabas looks at the dead vampire and says, "it's him," before collapsing. Edward and Petofi-Q stare at the staked body of Barnabas when the new Barnabas stirs. Edward says they shouldn't have brought him there. He tells Petofi-Q that he is a Collins, and they will take him to Collinwood and help him in any way they can.

In Collinwood, Charity places the portrait of Amanda on an easel in the drawing room. She sings and dances into the foyer. Trask comes in and reminds her that singing is forbidden in the house. He says he's her father, and she says she's not, and never will be. He says if she has no family, wouldn't she be happy somewhere else? He tells him that he can take it up with his wife if he doesn't want her there. She says that if he leaves her alone, she may not tell Judith about him.

He stomps into the drawing room and asks who's responsible for bringing the portrait into the house. Charity denies any knowledge, and asks him if it bothers him. She says he was carrying on with her while pretending to help her. Trask says the portrait was brought there to discredit him, and he'll find out who brought it, and make them pay.

Charity goes upstairs, and Edward and Petofi-Q return with Barnabas. Trask is shocked, and accuses them of bringing the vampire back from the dead. Barnabas asks who he is, and Edward says he will explain, and tells Petofi-Q to take Barnabas upstairs.

Trask asks if the man is Barnabas Collins. Edward says that it is Barnabas, but a different Barnabas than the vampire. Trask says it's the devil's work, and his presence in the house is a danger to all of them. Edward goes into the drawing room and sees Amanda's portrait. He tells Trask that he is callous and insensitive for bringing Amanda's portrait into the house. Trask says he was equally shocked to find it. He says there was nothing between he and the girl. Edward says that everyone, including the servants, knew there was something going on between Trask and Amanda, and if the servants know then it must be true. He tells Trask to remove the portrait before Judith sees it.

Barnabas thanks Petofi-Q for bringing him to the hosue. He tells Barnabas that since they're alone, he doesn't need to play act any more. He says he knows the full story, that he's the same Barnabas. Barnabas says he doesn't understand him at all. Petofi-Q says he's his friend, and he can tell him the truth. Petofi-Q says he understands why he didn't tell Edward about Angelique and Julia. He says they can work together to fight Petofi. Barnabas reiterates that everything he told them in the doctor's office was true. Petofi-Q says that perhaps he was wrong, and suggests that Barnabas get some rest.

Edward says that the portrait should be gone within a half hour. Trask says if anything happens to anyone in the house because of their bringing Barnabas in, Edward will be to blame. Edward says that Trask overlooked the fact that they brought Barnabas to the house in broad daylight, and goes upstairs to check on him.

Petofi-Q comes downstairs and sees Trask near the portrait of Amanda. Trask accuses Petofi-Q of bringing it into the house to embarrass him. Petofi-Q asks why it would embarrass him. Trask demands that he remove it. Petofi-Q says that it isn't his, so it would be inappropriate for him to take it. Trask says he will go to Tate to find out who had it. Petofi-Q suggests that he leave well enough alone.

Back in the cave, Petofi-Q opens the coffin and asks Barnabas if he's as dead as he seems. He says there's a connection between the one in the coffin and the one who walks during the day. He closes the coffin and pours gasoline on the coffin. Edward arrives and asks what he's doing. He says he's going to destroy the creature. He adds that he's interested to see how the desctruction will affect the new Barnabas. He lights the coffin on fire and they watch it burn.

Barnabas is asleep in his room when Trask comes in to see him. He approaches and Barnabas wakes. He introduces himself as a Reverend, and says he is concerned about him. Barnabas says he's not feeling any better. Trask offers him something to help sustain him through his trial, and holds up a crucifix. Banrabas doesn't react, and he asks the Reverend if something is wrong. Trask says he only brought it to help him pray for a swift recovery.

Edward explains to Charity that they found a man who looks like Barnabas, but he's not the Barnabas that she staked in the cave. She is clearly confused. Edward goes upstairs to check on him. Petofi-Q surprises Charity, and she tells him to open the drawing room doors or she'll scream. He tells her that he is just as frightened as she is. He tells her that she's the only one who can tell them if the man upstairs is the real Barnabas Collins. He says she owes it to Judith. She asks what he wants her to do. He says she just needs to look at the man upstairs and tell him if he's the same Barnabas that was there before.

Petofi-Q comes in to see Barnabas. He brings in Charity, who looks away from Barnabas. Petofi-Q tells her to look at him, and tell him if the man is the real Barnabas Collins. She reluctantly turns and looks at him.

Our thoughts

John: I love how Charity set up Trask by displaying the portrait of Amanda! And how Edward called out Trask by noting that even the servants knew there was something going on between he and Amanda. While I'm willing to believe the servants knew what was going on, I was surprised to find that they would have told Edward, particularly when you consider that at the time, Trask was technically the master of the house!

Christine: Trask may have been the master of the house, but I would expect the servants to remain loyal to Edward and the Collins family, especially since Trask is such a louse.

John: I'm just as anxious as Petofi-Q to understand more about this new Barnabas. Of course, I'm also curious why he's not in better health considering that his vampire master was destroyed, and now burned to a crisp!

Christine: I think that vampire master story is a ruse. Perhaps it was Julia's anti-vampire treatments that weakened him.

John: What will Charity/Pansy Faye see? Will she be able to discern between Barnabases?

Christine: Anything goes on a Friday, so it will be interesting to find out. I thought Barnabas appeared to be having difficulty hiding a look of animosity when first seeing Trask, but perhaps that's just what I wanted to see.

Dark Shadows Episode 868 - 10/22/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

(For the duration of the Petofi/Quentin mind-swap, Count Petofi occupying Quentin as played by David Selby will be referred to as Petofi-Q, and Quentin in Petofi's body as played by Thayer David will be referred to as Count Quentin).

Aristede is unconscious outside the cave when someone approaches him. He comes to and finds  Barnabas Collins standing over him, begging him for help. Aristede gets up and runs off, and Barnabas drops to his knees.

Petofi-Q is listening to music in the drawing room, but not his theme, when Edward walks in. Edward says Kitty remembers nothing but an overwhelming sens of loss. Petofi-Q says he thinks he knows why. He tells Edward that he has been reading the diary of Ben Stokes, a servant of Barnabas Collins in the 18th century. Edward is sure Barnabas has nothing to do with Kitty.

Petofi-Q describes how Barnabas was in love with a woman named Josette. He goes on to say that Kitty is reliving the thwarted romance, and occasionally becomes Josette. Edward tells him that Kitty is grieving for her dead husband Jerome. Petofi-Q says he understands that Kitty is what Edward needs, but Josette is something that none of them need. He suggests that if Josette becomes stronger, Kitty will grow weaker, and could die. Edward threatens to throw Petofi-Q out of the house if he says anything to Kitty.

Edward goes upstairs, and a call comes in for him Petofi-Q asks what the man wants. He says he's a doctor, and a sick man stumbled into his office asking for Edward Collins. Petofi-Q says he'll be there to take care of the matter immediately. He gets off the phone and loads a revolver with silver bullets.

The doctor stands over an unconscious Barnabas when Petofi-Q arrives. He's shocked to see Barnabas. The doctor asks if he knows him, and Petofi-Q tells him to leave them alone. The doctor tells him that no one tells him what to do in his office. Barnabas wakes and asks how he got there. He asks Petofi-Q if he's Edward. Petofi-Q again tells the doctor to leave, and he does so reluctantly.

Petofi-Q tells Barnabas to open his eyes. He does, and he sees him holding a gun at him. The doctor comes in and tells Petofi-Q to drop the gun. The doctor asks Barnabas if he knows Petofi-Q, and he says he does not. The doctor says he got a hold of Edward, and he's on his way. He tells Barnabas that Petofi-Q will have to shoot him first if he wants to harm him.

Edward arrives at the doctor's office and is shocked to see Barnabas. The doctor asks who he is, and Edward explains that he's a distant relative they didn't expect to see again. He asks the doctor to leave them, and for Edward, he does so willingly.

Edward tells Petofi-Q that they know what they must do. Petofi-Q once again puts the gun at his head. Barnabas asks why he's doing that, saying he's a stranger. He asks how they could know anything about him. He says he came from England. He says he's never seen either of them before. Petofi-Q prepares to shoot him and Edward stops him. He says the doctor will hear the shot, but if they wait until dawn, they can prove to the doctor that he is not as innocent as he claims.

The sun rises, and nothing happens to Barnabas. Edward says if he has lived through dawn, he's not the man they thought he was. Edward asks him his name, and he says his name is Barnabas. He says his ancestors came from Collinsport, and he has returned from England. He says he read of the family while he was in Boston, and he came to Collinsport to find Edward.

He says he met a man in the woods who looked exactly like him. He says there was a terrible cruelty in his face, and the man tried to destroy him by putting him under a spell. He says the man came to him from time to time with bared fangs. Petofi-Q says it's a trick, noting there are no marks on his neck. Barnabas says that it must be true that the man is finished with him. Edward tells Barnabas that the man is dead. Petofi-Q pulls Edward aside and says he doesn't trust him. Petofi-Q wants to shoot him. Edward says they can go to the cave together to see if Barnabas the vampire is still lying in his coffin with a stake in his heart. They help Barnabas up, and the doctor returns, telling them the man may not live through what they're planning. He tells them that no matter what happens, he's no longer responsible. They leave.

They arrive at the cave, and Petofi-Q goes in first. He calls for Aristede, but he's not present. Edward comes in and they see the chains off the coffin. Edward tells him to put the gun to Barnabas' heart, and tells him to fire if the coffin is empty. He opens the coffin and Barnabas is still lying inside with a stake in his heart. Barnabas looks at the dead vampire and says, "it's him," before collapsing.

Our thoughts

John: Fake Barnabas? Or alternate Barnabas? Pretty cool direction for the story to take! My money is on cloned Barnabas thanks to the brilliant work of Julia Hoffman and Angelique. And most importantly, should we bring back the staked Barnabas counter?

Christine: Perhaps we should, considering that he remains staked in his coffin. I still think it's a doppelgänger that Angelique created through magicking a mirror, as she did for herself.

John: Gotta love the doctor who goes from a willingness to die to protect Barnabas to being glad to be rid of the whole mess in a mere matter of minutes.

Christine: I also enjoyed his you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do attitude, right before he does what he's told to do. This is the only appearance Alfred Hinckley makes as the brave Dr. Reade, however, it's interesting to note that he also appeared as the train conductor in Episode 1.

John: This certainly is an interesting development. Of course even if my assumption on the new Barnabas' origin is correct, the question remains—is Barnabas 'acting' as a confused relative from across the pond, or is he just play-acting the role he's already played in the future, now in the past, to fool his relatives?

Christine: I think Barnabas is doing a stellar job of acting the part of vampire victim in order to shed his vampire identity and be welcomed back into the bosom of the family, though it could be possible that the doppelgänger Angelique created was like a newborn with few memories of his past existence attached. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this situation is explained.

Check out Dr. Reade's cool Bacteriological Chart!