Dark Shadows Episode 883 - 11/12/69

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Charity arrives at Tate's studio and goes inside, where she finds Petofi in a trance. She fears he'll kill her if he comes to. She goes to untie his tie, and he grabs her hands and asks why she's there. He tells her that she's interfered with his plans once too often, and this time she'll be sorry for it. She points out that she woke him from his trance, so Quentin will be able to get away. He puts his hand on her face. She mentions that Barnabas and Angelique helped.

He says he can get Quentin using her as bait. Petofi takes off his glasses and closes his eyes. She grabs them, and he opens his eyes, demanding she return them. She runs into the hands of Charles Tate. He drags her back in and Petofi gets his glasses back. He tells Tate to tie Charity up. She begs Tate not to listen to him. Petofi tells Tate to bring a message to Quentin, saying that if he doesn't arrive within 30 minutes, she will die.

In the woods, Tate hears chains rattling. He thinks it's Blackwood tracking someone.

Tate arrives at Collinwood. Barnabas says they have something to talk about. He says he is convinced Tate has Quentin's portrait. He denies it once again, but Barnabas doesn't believe him. Tate tells him that Charity is at her studio being held hostage by Petofi. If Quentin is not there within the hour, Charity will die. Barnabas says that Quentin isn't available, as he has left Collinsport. Barnabas says he's going to see Petofi. Tate follows him.

Petofi checks his watch and tells Charity there's not much time left. Petofi suggests that Quentin outsmarted her. She says she doesn't care as long as Quentin gets away from him. Barnabas arrives at Tate's studio and Petofi lets him in. Barnabas explains that Quentin is gone, and asks him to deal with him and let Charity go.

Petofi agrees that Barnabas is the one he must keep. He tells Tate to untie Charity. Petofi says he was focused on Quentin's body as he knew it would exist in the future. He says that he will meet Quentin again in 1969 when he arrives in Barnabas' body. He says he will start by putting Barnabas to sleep. Barnabas says he can't do it, and Petofi says he has no hope as he places his withered hand on Barnabas' forehead.

Charity tells Petofi that he'll pay. He says all he needs to do is claim Barnabas' body. He sits down next to a prone Barnabas, and Charity begs Tate to help him. Right then, Blackwood arrives. Tate runs out.

Charity asks if he's the police, and when he says he's the master of Dartmoor. She points to Petofi and says he must stop him from what he is doing. Blackwood handcuffs Petofi and arrests him. He then slaps him in attempt to wake him. He wakes to realize his hands are cuffed. Barnabas sits up and asks what happened.

Blackwood asks if he testifies for or against Petofi. Barnabas says he's guilty. Blackwood says that Petofi must die. Petofi reminds him that he helped him get Aristede. He tells Blackwood to set him free. Charity tells him not to listen to him. Barnabas points out that with Aristede, Petofi committed every conceivable crime together. Blackwood sends them away and says it's enough for him to carry out the sentence. Once they're gone, Blackwood prepares to burn down Tate's studio. He lights one of the paintings on fire. Petofi screams, "No!"

Back at Collinwood, Charity says Blackwood scares her. Barnabas says that after he deals with Petofi, they'll have to deal with him. Charity senses something burning somewhere. She sees Petofi and Blackwood fighting in the flames. She screams when she says Quentin is there. Barnabas says it can't be, and she says the portrait of Quentin is there, and it's burning.

Our thoughts

John: When Charity swiped Petofi's glasses I thought we were about to witness his undoing at the hands of a woman, but then they ran her into Tate's arms and we were right back where we started. Seems like a real missed opportunity to have Petofi taken out by someone he underestimated.

Christine: That would have been a nice comeuppance.

John: Blackwood is an interesting duck. Unlike Tate's other creations, he was someone who existed before he was drawn. Will he be consumed in the flames with Petofi and Quentin's portrait? Or will he live on as yet another restless spirit roaming the grounds of Collinwood for years to come?

Christine: I'd like to think that he will expire once his sketch burns up along with the rest of Tate's works.

John: Sure, burning Quentin's portrait may mean he travels to the future as a werewolf, but more importantly, who rebuilds Tate's studio for Sam Evans to live in?

Christine: I think that Sam Evans must have been the reincarnation of Charles Tate and was responsible for rebuilding his studio, as well as repainting that seascape that Blackwood set on fire.

Dark Shadows Episode 881 - 11/10/69

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Blackwood arrives at the Mill, and calls for the surrender of Aristede. He tries to run away, but Blackwood grabs him and says justice must be done. Aristede tells him that after he kills him, the ones who brought him back will destroy him. Blackwood says he will kill them after he takes care of him.

Tate arrives at the Mill in time to hear a scream, and then a voice yells that the prisoner is executed. He hides in the shadows as Blackwood emerges and leaves, and then he enters the Mill. Inside, Tate finds Aristede dead.

Petofi pours himself a drink and toasts Aristede. Tate says that Aristede wasn't the only one Blackwood killed. He says he found a dead woman's body. Petofi asks why he should care, and Tate tells him that the woman was a gypsy. Petofi is concerned, wondering if Aristede told them where he could be found. He gets up and says he must go to the future now. He says he'll go as Quentin Collins. Tate reminds him that they've got their own bodies back, and Petofi brandishes his withered hand.

Tate asks him about sending Blackwood back to hell. Petofi doesn't care about Blackwood. Tate says he also killed Evan, and he doesn't know who he'll strangle next. Petofi reiterates that he doesn't care. Tate asks what he should do, and Petofi tells him to lock his doors and windows. He says that he's of no importance to him. The door bursts open and Blackwood enters. He says they are both his prisoners, and the penalty is death. He grabs Tate and Petofi demands that he release him. He shakes his withered hand at Blackwood, and he does.

Petofi tells Tate to get his gun, as he doesn't know how much longer he can hold him. Blackwood is free of Petofi's control, and Tate fires at him. He falls to the ground, and Petofi tells him to tie him up. Blackwood says Tate has committed the ultimate crime, for which he will die. Petofi says he can wait and watch him die.

Blackwood gets up and says they are both sentenced to die, and he will carry out the sentence later. He drags himself outside.

Quentin is in the drawing room, tired. He's flipping through books when Charity comes downstairs. She realizes that it's really Quentin, and she's happy to see him. He says he won't beat Petofi until he leaves Collinwood for good. He tells her he'll be gone within a day. She says she wishes he didn't have to go. She says she would have given up her career for him. He says he wouldn't ask her to do that. He shows her a photo of when he was a boy, and she asks if she can keep it. She offers to give him a photo of her, Pansy Faye.

Petofi tells Tate that he'll enter a deep trance and change places with Quentin as soon as he falls asleep.

Charity suggests that Quentin should go to bed, and he says he has to get his life in order now. He sends he upstairs and tells her he'll come to say goodbye before he leaves. He fixes himself a drink and sits by the fire.

Petofi remains in a trance, waiting.

Charity is in bed, thinking about Quentin. She realizes that someone will stop him, and tries to see who it is. She pictures Quentin falling asleep downstairs. She then sees Tate enter the drawing room, and then Quentin arise and tell him it was just like he said it would be, after Quentin fell asleep. She sees him take the I Ching wands, and prepares to use them in Collinwood. Charity realizes there's no time to lose, as the minute he falls asleep, Petofi will enter him.

Downstairs, Quentin begins to drift off to sleep.

Our thoughts

John: A few stray references to it aside, Petofi seems to have fully recovered from the knife wound he just received a few short days ago.

Christine: That's the power of the Hand for you. It can kill, maim, control, and allow Petofi to swap souls at will, so it's no surprise it can also heal.

John: I love that when he attempts to shoot Blackwood, Tate pulls the trigger on his gun several times before we get a gunshot sound effect. Fortunately, Blackwood doesn't drop prematurely; only after we finally hear a gunshot. Not that it keeps him down long, though I can't for the life of me figure out what he left to do that he felt was more important than killing his two cornered prisoners

Christine: That was a disappointing scene. Blackwood was apparently too weak to kill them as demonstrated by the way he could barely swing his chains in his telltale manner. It was also disappointing to see Blackwood allow his primary target. Aristede, a few moments to plead for his life, when he has strangled everyone else he could get his chains on without any hesitation. I was hoping Tate would think to go rip up his sketch to try and dispatch the demon.

John: So it's certainly setup to look like it will be Pansity to the rescue, although once again, Petofi's notion that he can just think his way into Quentin's body asks a bit much of this odyssey.

Christine: Angelique keeps going to ground at the most inopportune times. I wonder where she's hiding out while all this is going on. I'd expect her to be around to help save Quentin from Petofi.

Dark Shadows Episode 880 - 11/7/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Behind the bricked up wall, Trask yells for help. He tries the window but the shutters are boarded shut. He thinks he hears someone in the hall, but decides he was mistaken. He thinks Quentin will eventually return.

Quentin returns to Collinwood and as he heads upstairs, Judith stops him and tells him she closed off the West Wing. She adds that she had all of his things moved. He asks her about the portrait of Amanda, and she says he'll never see it again. He asks if she destroyed it, and she says yes. He asks her what's happening. She tells him someone tried to kill her, perhaps the same one who killed Evan. He says he heard. She points out he's showing very little sorrow about Evan, and assumes that he would have shown very little sorrow had she been killed. He says her husband would have made up for them—at the service anyway. She says Trask is missing. He went after the men and hasn't been seen in hours. He offers to go looking for him. He starts up to his room, and she tells him she had the locks changed. She says she doesn't want anyone going into the West Wing, and he will obey her orders.

Trask realizes that Quentin had a telephone, which he finds. He tries unsuccessfully to reach an operator. He declares that he will escape the room and kill Judith himself.

Aristede runs to the cemetery. He runs into Quentin, and begs him for help. Quentin says he wishes luck to anyone trying to kill him. Aristede hears the chains and throws Quentin to the ground before running off. Blackwood emerges and puts his chains around Quentin's neck. Quentin says he's no friend of Aristede, and Blackwood continues on his search.

Trask yells, offering thousands of dollars to anyone who helps him. The phone rings and he answers it. He hears no one on  the other end.

Downstairs, Judith hangs up the phone.

In Quentin's room, the phone rings again. Trask answers and begs for help. He's surprised to hear Judith's voice on the other end of the phone. He says she must let him out. She says that's what she used to say at the sanitarium. She tells him that she's only doing her duty, allowing him to meditate uninterrupted. She tells him she has closed off the West Wing forever. She reminds him that he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life in the house, and now he will get his wish. She says she's aware of the death he planned for her, and bids him goodnight. Trask lights some candles, and realizes that he should ration them.

He hears the door and turns to see the ghost of Beth. She calls for Quentin. He tells her to find Quentin and tell him to come to the room. He begs her, but she disappears.

Quentin hears his music playing in the drawing room. He sees someone standing by the window. It's Beth. He says he knew she'd come back, and tells her he didn't mean for her to die. He asks if she can ever rest, and she says that she can't rest until he knows she forgives him. She then disappears. He screams that he doesn't forgive himself for the part he played in her death.

Aristede is hiding in the Mill when a female gypsy attacks him. He fights her off and asks who she is. She says she's King Johnny Romano's wife, come to carry out his curse. Aristede asks if he'll pay, or Count Petofi. She says both. He tries to convince her that Petofi is her enemy. He offers to give her Petofi if she'll lift the curse. He even offers to join her tribe if she'll protect him from his enemies. She said they would if they got the Hand of Oshden back. He says Petofi is wounded. She asks where he is, and he says he will tell her as soon as she promises to take him with her. She says he'll have to forget everything Petofi taught him, and he agrees.

He tells her Petofi is at the studio of Charles Tate. He starts to draw her a map, and then offers to take her there. He shows her where to find the house, and she tells him to await her return.

Quentin is in the drawing room when Judith finds him. He asks if she wants to know how his search for Trask came out. She says she assumes he did not find him. He says that her missing husband does interest him. He asks her if Trask's story has ended, and she says not yet. He says that wherever Trask is, he knows she's happier for it.

Trask ponders an eternity bricked up in the room, wondering if the room will become his grave.

The gypsy makes her way to through the woods when Blackwood grabs her and accuses her of giving the prisoner refuge. He sentences her to death, and chokes her with his chains.

Aristede hears Blackwood arrive at the Mill, who calls for his surrender. Aristede tries to run from him, but Blackwood grabs him.

Our thoughts

John: I think I was right about loose ends getting tied off! The ghost of Beth arrives and sticks around just long enough to forgive Quentin! Adios, ghost Beth!

Christine: We seem to be on a fast track to return to present day Collinwood.

John: It's about time the gypsies showed up to take care of Petofi. It is clever how Petofi's 'creation' by way of Charles Tate ended up saving his life... allowing him to live on for at least another day.

Christine: With Blackwood's penchant for strangling anyone who's spoken to Aristede, I would expect Petofi to be next on Blackwood's hit list, despite his initial claim that he wasn't aiding him, especially now that Blackwood has found Aristede holed up in his lair. While things don't look good for Aristede, the footage cut out quickly before we could see him actually expire. Is there a chance he could get away?

John: Widow Romano seemed to be lacking the traditional gypsy accent, unless she's from that lineage of gypsies who could pass for valley girls. Sadly, the widow is now reunited with King Johnny, having fared less screen time than even Julianka!

Christine: How delightful it is that Judith is staying in touch with her dear husband! I wonder how she fixed it so she could ring him up while keeping him from making any outgoing calls. I guess it's not unusual for Quentin to have a separate line to keep all his affairs and shady dealings secret.

Dark Shadows Episode 879 - 11/6/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Aristede arrives at Collinwood. Trask asks what he's doing there, and Aristede asks if Trask can hear the chains. Trask says he'll be safe with him, and Aristede asks if he'll be safe like Evan, who's now dead—murdered.

Judith is coming downstairs when she hears Aristede mention that Evan has been murdered.

Aristede says he saw Blackwood kill Evan with his chain. Trask says they have to put his plan in operation, then he will be able to get away. Aristede says Blackwood is a monster from hell. Trask tells Aristede that he will hide him.

Judith calls Tim and says she must see him. She says she'll be at his hotel room in half an hour.

Judith arrives to see Tim. She says that Evan has been murdered. Tim asks by whom, and she says she doesn't know, but he appeared to have many enemies. She says Evan told her that Tim hates Trask, and agreed to help find out where Trask travels to. Tim says he goes to Fall River, and asks if she's sure she wants to hear his story. She says she does. He mentions a widow of a minister that he has been seeing. The woman knew that Minerva was dead, but not that he remarried Judith. He says the woman killed herself when she discovered the truth. Judith says that Trask will cause no more deaths. She enlists Tim's help in her plan.

Trask tells Aristede that Judith is gone, and suggests that he can hide behind the draperies in her room. He asks him to take her jewelry to make it look like a robbery after he deals with her. Trask gives Aristede a gun to kill her with. He adds that if he succeeds, Blackwood's ghost will disappear.

Trask hears Judith's coach approaching. He goes into the drawing room and picks up a book. When Judith arrives, he tells her there's a madman loose in the area, and Evan has been killed. She says she knows, and that she was in the village preparing a surprise for him. He says he has found peace with her, and will be content to grow old with her. He suggests that she go upstairs to rest. She tells him to finish his reading in the study, and she will finish her correspondence.

Trask leaves and she sneaks Tim into the drawing room. She gives him a map of the house and points out where her room is. She tells him to come to her room in 15 minutes, but first to go hide in Quentin's room. She leaves, and we see Blackwood outside, peering into the drawing room.

Judith returns to her room. Aristede remains behind the curtains with his gun drawn.

Blackwood enters the house and begins searching for Aristede.

Aristede comes out from behind the curtain and points the gun at Judith. She asks who he is. He says he has come to kill her, when he suddenly hears chains.

Blackwood opens the door and tells Aristede that he learns little. He swings the chains at him and says it's too late for excuses. He says justice must be done as he approaches him with the chains. Aristede leaps out the window, and Blackwood says he shall not escape.

Trask rushes in to see Blackwood push past him. He offers to call the police, and she asks him not to leave her. She says there was another man who jumped out the window. Trask asks if she could identify him. She says the man tried to kill her. She says the man was in the room when she returned, but he hadn't tried to rob her. She asks him for a brandy, and suggests that he have one as well. He reluctantly agrees.

After drinking his, he notices that she didn't drink hers. Trask feels strange, and asks her what's happening to him as he collapses. Tim comes into the room. She says Trask tried to have her killed, and tells him they will now go through with their plans.

Trask is unconscious in a chair. He wakes and finds himself in Quentin's room. He tries to leave, but the door is locked. Tim comes out and says he's there to bid him a final goodnight. Tim pulls a gun on him. Trask asks what's happening. Tim says that Trask and Evan made him kill Minerva. He unlocks the door and leaves the room. He locks Trask inside.

Judith calls the sheriff, saying that two men were in the house and her husband went after them.

Outside the door, Trask hears something. He searches the room for another key. He finds one, but when he unlocks the door he sees that it has been bricked up, except for a hole at eye level. Judith says goodbye, and tells him he can have all the time he wants to meditate. Tim places the last bricks in place as Trask screams.

Our thoughts

John: Wouldn't it be cool if we found out that wide-eyed Aristede was in fact the source of the wide-eyed skull that pops up so often in Collinwood?

Christine: There is an uncanny resemblance!

John: Why exactly would Tim confess to the murder of Minerva? Did he think Judith was looking for work experience when coming to see him about her plans?

Christine: I think he had to prove that he would be willing to do something equally despicable to satisfy his desire for revenge and ensure that it would be something he'd keep secret.

John: It sure seems like they're settling all family business in Collinwood, 1897... I had to laugh how quickly Tim bricked up the doorway with Trask inside (a fate deserved of all Trasks). If only Trask had thought to throw his body against the newly constructed wall before the mortar had dried. At least the riddle of whose skeleton was in Quentin's bedroom has been answered. I hope we'll get a scene of Judith explaining to Quentin when he returns home just why she had the room bricked shut...

Christine: They've got 40 rooms in that place. You'd think they could have found an unused room to seal him up in. I also would like to see how Quentin reacts to being walled out of his room, but wonder if Judith will divulge the real reason why she did it. I guess Tim Shaw is good for something after all. Not only is he now an accomplished detective, he can do bricklaying in record time! Overall, this was a satisfying episode, and it's not even Friday yet!

The power of the Unibrow is coming for Aristede!