Dark Shadows Episode 862 - 10/14/69

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).

In the woods, Kitty says she has come to see 'him' one more time. She asks him to come to her. A bandage wrapped ghost appears—Jeremiah Collins! She screams. He approaches her, and tells her that she must leave Collinwood and never return. He says that if she stays, he will kill her. She asks who he means, but he just reiterates that she needs to go before it's too late. Kitty suddenly wonders what she's doing in the woods.

Count Quentin arrives and mentions that he also saw the apparition. He asks her what she's doing, and why she's wearing the dress. She mentions the note on her dresser. He asks about the apparition. He tells her that as she left the house, she said 'he' would be waiting for her. He offers to escort her back to Collinwood.

Judith is in the drawing room when Count Quentin returns. He says that Kitty is upstairs, and calm now. He says he found her in the woods. Judith steps out of the room, and Quenitn wonders how he can fight Petofi. He sees a note on Judith's desk to Evan Hanley, and realizes that he may be able to help him.

Count Quentin arrives at Evan's house. He introduces himself as Quentin Collins. Evan refuses to invite him in. Count Quentin brandishes his hand. Evan says he knows who he is, and Count Quentin explains that he is mistaken. Evan shows fear of the hand and says he will do as he's asked.  Count Quentin explains that Petofi swapped their minds and bodies. Evan finds it hard to believe. Count Quentin suggests that he go to Collinwood, where he will not be recognized by Quentin, since the real Count Petofi never laid eyes on him. Count Quentin says that Evan can help find a way to reverse the exchange. Evan says they would have to trick Quentin to participate.

There's another knock at the door. Evan sends Count Quentin out on the terrace, and answers the door. He's delighted to see Judith. She says that before she went away, he had her sign a paper giving Trask power of attorney. She wants it back, now that she's back to normal. She asks him for it, and says she will leave. He says he doesn't have it with him. She asks where it is. He tells her it's at the vault in the Collinsport bank. She says he can bring it to her after he gets it. He makes an excuse that he's going to Bangor. She says that she will threaten to remove her money from the bank if they cannot produce the document by 6pm. He assures her that she'll have the document by 6pm. She leaves, and Count Quentin comes back in. He says Evan seemed nervous talking to her. He says he hopes Evan hasn't made any rash commitments to Trask. He suggests that Evan re-examine his loyalties. Evan agrees to help Count Quentin if he can get Petofi to participate without arousing his suspicion.

Petofi-Q sees someone in the drawing room that he doesn't recognize. Judith tells Petofi-Q to join her. She chides him for not welcoming her back to the house after her absence. He welcomes her to Collinwood. She points out they don't have a normal brother and sister relationship, but she expected more from him. He says she looks so much better than when he last saw her, he almost didn't recognize her. She tells him that there are going to be changes in the house, and he will conform to them. There's a knock at the door, and she commands him to answer it.

Evan comes in and says good evening to Quentin. Petofi-Q returns the greeting. He asks how Quentin is feeling and he says he is fine. Judith asks if Petofi-Q knows him and he says that he does. Evan hands Judith the power of attorney, and she leaves the room.

Evan tells Petofi-Q that he'll see him at his house at nine for the meeting. Petofi-Q feigns acknowledgement, after first explaining that it had slipped his mind. He assures Evan that he'll be there. Petofi-Q says it will take him time to get used to Judith being back. Evan says the meeting tonight should help him forget all of his problems.

Evan returns, and asks Count Quentin if he knows what to do. He says that he does. He steps out of the room, and there's a knock at the door. Petofi-Q arrives and Evan says it's a pleasant surprise that Quentin is right on time for a change. Petofi-Q asks how many others are coming. Evan says half a dozen are coming, but he has a surprise—they want him to conduct the ceremony tonight. He invites him to sit in a chair, and Petofi-Q does. He says he hopes he doesn't disappoint anyone, as he doesn't have as much practice with the Black Arts. Count Quentin sneaks in behind him with chloroform, and uses it to knock Petofi-Q out. Evan says they must move quickly, as he doesn't know how long the chloroform will last.

Our thoughts

John: I like that Petofi is finally struggling in his play-acting as Quentin. He's had it far too easy up to now. But not recognizing Judith, and falling into Evan's trap, is exactly what he deserves for being so cocky.

Christine: I agree, but it doesn't follow his previously established reputation of being all-knowing and all-powerful, which makes it difficult to believe that he would succumb to their plot so easily.

John: Great to have Judith back as the head of the house at Collinwood! She's kicking ass and taking names like Elizabeth in the future. I love how she threatened Evan to get the power of attorney document. Can't wait for Trask's return, to see how he receives the news.

Christine: I am looking forward to seeing how she deals with her dear husband.

John: Nice use of Evan to double-cross Count Petofi. I'd like to think we'd see a quick resolution to the body-swap, but something tells me that things won't be that easy.

Christine: At least it will be fun to see them try. I wonder what Petofi-Q will inflict on them should they fail. Will there be mangled-face all around?


Down for the Count:
Barnabas was staked in his coffin 16 episodes ago.

Dark Shadows Episode 861 - 10/13/69

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).

At midnight, Charity tells Kitty have a seance. Charity asks for a sign. There is a knock on the drawing room door. Charity says someone is there. Charity says they must not break contact. The drawing room doors open, and Kitty points out a hooded figure in the doorway. Edward asks who it is. He's shocked to see that it's Judith. He sits her down and goes to call a doctor. Judith looks at Charity, and asks what has happened to her. Charity says her name is Pansy, and she hasn't changed since the day Carl brought her to the house. Edward returns and asks to be alone with Judith. Kitty brings smelling salts, and Edward tells her that he'll introduce her to Judith later.

Charity tells Kitty that Judith will be fine with her because she has a title and lots of money. She then apologizes that they didn't learn more from the seance, and suggests they can try again in the future.

Judith tells Edward that she's fine. She says the doctors decided she was well enough to leave this afternoon. She asks if he was counting on her being away longer. He explains that he wishes she hadn't needed to go to the sanitarium. She asks to see Gregory, and he says that Trask went to see her yesterday. He assumed he had brought her back. She explains that he never visited her in the sanitarium. Edward says he went once a week to see her, and stayed overnight. She denies that ever happened. Edward suggests that she may not have been in her right mind. He asks why she never told him, and she says she was embarrassed. She says that she will speak to him. Edward adds that the family is no longer in danger from Barnabas, noting that he is dead.

Count Quentin arrives and finds Kitty looking at Barnabas' portrait. He asks her about Quentin's portrait. She says she was caught be Edward. She says they must be quiet because Edward is in the drawing room with Judith. She says she can't get the portrait out of the room, and goes upstairs. He wonders if Judith could be his answer, but then decides that she wouldn't believe what has happened to him.

Kitty returns to her room. She finds a note on her dresser saying, "Know yourself. Be who you must be." She then hears the music box, which she sees on her desk. She goes to a hope chest at the end of her bed and opens it. She removes a white dress and sees flashes of Barnabas' portrait.

Judith asks Edward about Charity's state. He suggests that it may be a spell Barnabas placed on her. She tells him to get her, saying that she will succeed with her where everyone else has failed. Charity comes in, asking what Judith wants. She says she plans to be a good and proper wife to her father, Mr. Trask. She tells Charity that she can't live in town any more, and that she'll send someone to gather her things. She asks how her god-fearing mother would feel about her. Charity asks why she wants to do this for her. She says she told Carl it was such a beautiful house. She agrees to come live there.

Edward goes to Kitty's room, but she doesn't answer his knocks on the door. After he leaves, she comes out wearing the white dress.

Count Quentin goes into the drawing room and introduces himself to Judith as Count Petofi. He asks if they have met before, and she says she doesn't believe so. He tells her that he has minor psychic powers. He takes her hand, and describes a child in the house with a governess. He says the child bit the governess, and Judith said an incident like that did transpire.

Edward goes into Kitty's open room and finds the note on her dresser.

Count Quentin continues to tell Judith things that no one outside the family could know. She finds him extraordinary. She says he should feel at home any time he's in Collinwood.

Kitty comes downstairs. Count Petofi sees her and asks if she has met Edward's sister. She says, "He is waiting for me. I must go to him," and goes outside. Judith asks who she is. Count Quentin explains that her late husband was one of Edward's great friends. He says he should go after her to ensure she's alright.

In the woods, Kitty says she has come to see him one more time. She asks him to come to her. A bandage wrapped ghost appears—Jeremiah Collins!

Our thoughts

John: It's almost a shame that they had Joan Bennett read today's intro, as it pretty much telegraphed that Judith would be the hooded figure interrupting the seance.

Christine: On the other hand, it let us know right away we could look forward to our beloved matriarch being back in the house! Now if she would only give Stinky Trask the what for! While Judith claimed she was in the sanitarium for four months, Joan Bennett last appeared in Episode 791.

John: So if Trask hasn't been visiting Judith these past few months, just where has he been spending his nights? Sounds like his stay in Collinwood, and certainly as head of the family, will soon be coming to an end.

Christine: I think he was probably out saving vulnerable, young female souls, much like he wanted to do for Amanda.

John: Who would have thought that we'd ever see the cheesy, partially-bandaged ghost of Jeremiah Collins ever again! I have to admit, I never would have guessed that he was the one who would appear to her.

Christine: He certainly was a surprise! Can we assume that he was the entity about to make himself known at the séance? Timothy Gordon reprises his role as the ghost of Jeremiah for the last time today and tomorrow. Let's take a moment to honor the man with the hand that strangled Willie Loomis when Barnabas' coffin was unchained in Episode 210.


Down for the Count:
Barnabas was staked in his coffin 15 episodes ago.

Dark Shadows Episode 462 - 4/2/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Julia hypnotizes Vicki to send her back in time. She says she doesn't want to go back. Vicki calls her the Countess, and says she thinks she's a witch. Vicki brings up the book, and says Peter says the book will help convince the judge that she came from the 20th century. She says if Barnabas were here, he'd get Peter out of jail. Julia tells her to remember, and Vicki says she can't. She then says Josette says the bat at the window means something. She says she must go to Peter. Julia hypnotizes her and says she will remember nothing when she wakes. Vicki wakes, and says she has to find something to make sense out of what happened. Julia assures her that it wasn't a dream. Vicki says she's afraid if she goes to sleep, she'll end up in the past. Julia asks her to avoid speaking to Barnabas or  Carolyn.

Vicki hears the voice of Jeremiah saying he will watch over her now. She finds herself at his grave, where a hand bursts from the earth. Jeremiah says he is the first, but the last to die at Barnabas' hands. His ghostly eye-popped figure appears. He compels her to look at him and see the truth. He tells her that she will be the last victim of Barnabas. Vicki wakes up, screaming.

Barnabas is in the garden when Julia appears, with a new haircut.

He wants to know what Vicki told her. She says she will not tell him, and he says she's putting Vicki in danger. She says she's trying to protect both of them. He says if she helps him, he will leave Vicki alone. He says the seance has changed him. He says the woman they saw was Sarah's governess, until she was tried for witchcraft. He says she was hanged the day his coffin was moved to the mausoleum and changed. He explains his life depends on what Vicki knows. He asks if Julia finds out what she knows, will she use it to help or hurt him. She tells him that's entirely up to him, and leaves him. He decides he cannot count on Julia.

Julia returns to Vicki's room. Vicki compliments her new hairstyle. Vicki says that Jeremiah's ghost came to her in a dream. Julia asks if Peter Bradford was in her dream. Julia says she went to town to research Peter Bradford. Vicki asks what happened to him. Julia explains he was tried for the murder of Noah Gifford. Vicki says that she killed Noah. Julia tells her that Peter was hanged. Vicki tells her that she loved him.

Barnabas tells Julia he can't believe Vicki is in love, because Peter Bradford is dead. Julia says he loves Josette, and she's dead. Barnabas leaves, and as he does, Julia reminds him that he promised not to do anything. She says she can make Vicki forget, and she will do that for him.

Barnabas appears in Vicki's room. She wakes up, and he notices she's frightened. She says she shouldn't be, as he's her only link to what happened. He asks what she means, and she says she doesn't want to talk about it. She says she was wrong to want to live in the past. She says she's seen all of the terrible things that can happen to people. She says he didn't tell her the story the way it happened. Josette didn't come to marry Jeremiah—she came to marry him. And then she corrects herself. She came to marry Barnabas' ancestor. She says that Jeremiah's ghost warned her about him, and yet he's always been the kindest to her. Barnabas asks her to come to him. She does not, and he asks if something is stopping her from trusting him. She gets up and walks to him. He says he can give her peace, and make her forget. She asks for that, and he prepares to bite her neck.

Our thoughts

John: I assume Grayson Hall got a haircut at some point, and was wearing a wig in the opening of today's episode. Funny that she now looks the way I always remembered her. 

Christine: I like how Barnabas complimented her on it to play on her affections and then appealed to her to be friends like they were in the good ol' days when she was helping him cover up Maggie's kidnapping and murder her friend, Dr. Woodard.

John: So how did Barnabas know Sarah's original governess, if she never arrived in Collinwood, and swapped places with Vicki in the gallows only after Barnabas was already chained up?

Christine: Before Vicki traveled back in time, Phyllis Wick did arrive at Collinwood and seemingly had all the experiences we saw Vicki have, with the possible exception of calling everyone by a different name when first meeting them. Since Barnabas does not remember Vicki from the past, her presence in 1795 may have created an alternate timeline where Bizarro Barnabas remembers Victoria Winters as his little sister's governess. 

John: Nice to know the fate that befell Peter. Can't wait to see how he's introduced in the modern timeline, and see if Vicki has any memory of him at that point, now that Barnabas is about to put the bite on her!

Christine: Just when we thought we saw the last of Jeremiah's protruding eyeball, he makes a reappearance in Vicki's dream. It would have been a more frightening nightmare if he looked and sounded more like her dead boyfriend, Burke Devlin. Now she's got another dead boyfriend, plus a dead guy who wants to be her boyfriend. Talk about unlucky in love!

Dark Shadows Episode 397 - 1/2/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Jeremiah carries Angelique's unconscious body through the graveyard.

Back in the old house, Barnabas paces anxiously.

Jeremiah places Angelique's body in his open grave. He wakes her to tell her she'll now know what it is to be one of the living dead. Angelique screams as Jeremiah throws dirt into the grave.

The reverend tells Barnabas that brides are never on time. He also says that the guests haven't even arrived yet, and Barnabas explains that there will be no guests. Not even his parents. Barnabas leaves him to check upstairs. The reverend asks Ben why the family is not attending the wedding. Ben hears Angelique crying for help. The reverend hears nothing, and doesn't understand what's going on. Ben runs out when he has a vision of Jeremiah's graveside. Barnabas comes downstairs and says there will be no wedding today, as the bride is gone. Naomi arrives at the old house, and Barnabas tells her Angelique is gone.

Angelique is lying next to Jeremiah's open grave when Ben shows up. She explains the ghost of Jeremiah is haunting her. Ben erupts in laughter. She reminds him that he's under her control. He helps her up and she says she'll never make anyone unhappy again. They both hear Jeremiah's laughter, and when he appears, Ben grabs her by the arm and they run off together. Jeremiah calls to them, telling them they cannot escape.

Naomi is with Angelique, and asks why Jeremiah has come back. Angelique tells her there must be a witch. She also says that she and Barnabas must be married tonight. Naomi asks what she plans to wear, and when Angelique points out her dirty dress, Naomi gives her a wedding dress and a brooch that belonged to her mother. Angelique cries in happiness.

The reverend tells Barnabas that the absence of his father is disturbing. The curtain billows and a table is knocked over. The chandelier rattles, and the reverend decides to leave. Barnabas commands him to stay to conduct the wedding.

The reverend performs the ceremony with Ben and his mother present. They exchange rings and are pronounced married.

They kiss, and Barnabas tells Ben to bring champagne. The reverend hurries off. Angelique tells Barnabas that she's happy, and asks about the champagne. Ben returns with glasses and the bottle, and Barnabas tells him he has the first toast as the best man. Barnabas pours what appears to be blood into a champagne glass. Jeremiah's laughter is heard throughout the room, and Angelique runs off.

Ben prepares to escort Naomi to the new house. She asks Barnabas why all of this is happening to them.

In her room, Angelique hears the music from Josette's music box. She can't find the source of the music. She turns to see a box on her dresser. She opens the box, and lifts the music box out from within. She wonders how it began playing inside the package.

Barnabas enters and asks where she got it. She says it was in the room, and he commands her to give it to him. He takes it and leaves the room as she screams at him that he still loves Josette. She opens the door to find the ghost of Jeremiah standing in the hall. She calls upon Beelzebub to send him away, and Jeremiah's ghost explains he has no power over him before vanishing.

Our thoughts

John: Set a marker. I want to see how long Angelique's promise not to make anyone unhappy actually lasts.

Christine: I would give her until the next episode to keep that promise. It's interesting that Reverend Bland was calling himself Reverend Alton Brook when he showed up for Barnabas and Josette's wedding in Episode 380.

John: Was this the first time we heard Josette's music box theme as it would become famous when released on vinyl?

Christine: I believe so. Apparently, the original music box theme last heard in Episode 289 was not composed by Bob Cobert, but was from a stock file at ABC. You can read more about it over at Dark Shadows Wiki.

John: Does this represent the first time (chronologically) that we've seen Josette's music box? I don't recall Barnabas having given it to her yet...

Christine: Yes, this is the first chronological appearance of the music box. Barnabas probably intended to give it to Josette on their wedding night, though it's clear he'll have another opportunity. It seems that someone is messing with Angelique. She can't control Jeremiah and knows someone else is. The doll and pins magically appeared in her luggage, and now the music box mysteriously shows up and begins playing inside its package. There must be another witch in town, but who could it be?