Dark Shadows Episode 797 - 7/15/69

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Magda and Quentin wait for Barnabas. Quentin wonders what's taking so long. Barnabas returns alone. They ask if he found Julianka. He tells them that he found her, and she's dead.

In the cellar, they look at the mark on Julianka's head. Magda says it's not a gypsy mark, but she has seen it before. Quentin resigns himself to being stuck with the curse forever, now that Julianka is dead. He leaves the old house.

Barnabas tells Magda that the second event has happened from Jamison's dream. First was the finding of the silver bullet. The second was the death of someone who could have helped Quentin. Magda says she should have never stolen the Hand. Barnabas says the third event is Quentin being rejected by the one he truly loves, after which, he will die. He says they must find out about the third event before it happens. Barnabas laments his inability to jump forward in time to get the Collins History book. And then he confuses Magda by talking about Eve and Vicki bringing the book back and forward in time. He then realizes that the book may still be in the courthouse. Magda goes to look for it.

Quentin returns to Collinwood and pours himself a drink. Beth enters and tells him she's been waiting for him to return. He tells her to stay away, as he sees a pentagram on her forehead. He says he's concerned about what he'll do to her.

He reminds her that he doesn't have control, and begs her to leave Collinwood. She says he can't kill her as long as she has the pentagram. He tells her the beast will kill her if she doesn't get away. She tells him that she loves him, and that she won't leave him. He goes up to his room, and she asks to join him. He agrees, and says that they may mention her loyalty on her tombstone.

Magda returns to the old house with the Collins History book. Barnabas flips through it, finding the entry on Quentin. He notes that there's not date of death recorded. It says Quentin left for a Voyage around the world, which Barnabas equates to his 'trip to London' — a lie. Barnabas wonders if they can speak to Julianka from beyond the grave to get the information they need.

Magda says he can have a seance without her. She says Julianka's grandmother used to scare her. Barnabas says she can tell Julianka that two gypsy children are doomed if she doesn't help. Barnabas calls her a coward, and says he has no time for her gypsy temper.

Quentin and Beth listen to Quentin's theme. Beth suggests they can take a trip when this is all over, and he suggests they can take a trip to hell. She says she always wanted to go to Vienna, and he tells her she should go now. Magda comes into Quentin's room and says Barnabas has a plan. He goes with her, leaving Beth alone to listen to his theme.

Barnabas leads a seance to reach Julianka. Her ghost appears, and she says she doesn't like death. Barnabas begs her to tell them what they need to know. She refuses to tell them what they want to know. She says Quentin will remain cursed forever, and he runs off. Barnabas tells her of the gypsy children, but Julianka says they are kin of Magda, and puts a curse on the gypsy. She says Magda will hear three knocks on the door, which will herald the beginning of the end. She says that everyone she loves will die, and then she disappears. Barnabas says they can still try to convince Julianka to help them, but when they then hear three knocks on the door of the old house, she tells Barnabas that it's too late.

Our thoughts

John: Always interesting to see a Kinescope, just to get the feel of what it might have been like if Quentin were around when the show was still shot in black and white. I'm amazed that the show remains as effective as it does without the color.

Christine: It certainly intensifies the dark shadows. Quentin said he should have let Angelique stay as a way of explaining why she took the day off instead of sticking around for the ceremony, though I can see now why Magda was nowhere to be found while Julianka was preparing to cure Quentin in yesterday's episode.

John: Break out the seance tracker! Is this our first in 1897? Whatever the case, they didn't feel the need to refresh us on conducting a seance 101, which was a nice change of pace.

Christine: This is the first one in 1897, but hopefully not the last. Barnabas finally recalls Jamison's dream and the events that will lead up to Quentin's death, and laments his inability to recognize the need to protect Julianka. He is not conducting a very successful mission in 1897, which only means he's going to be there a lot longer than we expected.

John: I'm going to miss Julianka. She was a strong female character that didn't crack under pressure like so many others have at different times throughout the history of the show. But she's dead, so a lot of good that did her. I am a bit surprised that she didn't make a point of telling them who killed her... but obviously that wasn't high on their lists to find out once they got a hold of her...

Christine: I'm sure her beauty has nothing to do with why you'll miss Julianka so much after only 4 appearances. I also expected her to provide more information on her murderer, but I guess she was too busy cursing Magda to care about the person who was truly responsible for her death.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Séance Tracker

Episode 170/171: Dr. Peter Guthrie conducts; Carolyn, Vicki, Roger, Laura Collins participate; Josette speaks through Vicki in French; held in the drawing room at Collinwood

Episode 186: Vicki conducts; Sam and David participate; David Radcliffe speaks through David; held in the drawing room at the Old House

Episode 280/281: Roger conducts; Liz, Vicki, Burke, Barnabas, Carolyn participate; Josette speaks through Vicki; held in the drawing room at the Old House

Episode 365: Roger conducts; Liz, Julia, Vicki, Carolyn, Barnabas participate; Sarah Collins speaks through Vicki after Carolyn pretends Sarah is speaking through her; Vicki is transferred to 1795; held in the drawing room at Collinwood

Episode 449: Countess duPrés conducts; Joshua Collins participates; Bathia Mapes shows up, claiming she was called; held in the drawing room at Collinwood in 1795

Episode 510/511: Professor Stokes conducts; Julia and Tony Peterson participate; Reverend Trask speaks through Tony Peterson; the basement wall breaks open to reveal his skeleton; held in the basement at the Old House

Episode 600: Professor Stokes conducts; Barnabas and Julia participate; Phillipe Cordier speaks through Barnabas; held in the drawing room at the Old House

Episode 640: David conducts; Amy participates; unsuccessful attempt to contact Quentin Collins; held in Amy's bedroom

Episode 642: Professor Stokes conducts; Liz, Vicki, Carolyn, Chris participate; Magda speaks through Carolyn; held in the drawing room at Collinwood

Episode 682: Professor Stokes conducts; Barnabas, Maggie, Mrs. Johnson participate; Janet Findley speaks through Mrs. Johnson; held in the drawing room at Collinwood

Episode 698: Professor Stokes conducts (assumed); Roger participates; unsuccessful attempt to contact Quentin Collins, whose laughter is heard; held at Collinwood offscreen

Episode 797: Barnabas conducts; Quentin and Magda participate; Julianka's ghost appears and curses Magda; held in the drawing room at the Old House in 1897

Dark Shadows Episode 796 - 7/14/69

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Angelique meets Aristede in the woods. He says it's an honor that his puppeteer would see him again. He says he looked her up, and he knows that she is not a puppeteer. She asks if he's come for the ridiculous Hand. He says he wants to tell her about her fiancé, Quentin. He asks if she intends to marry him. He says that Quentin only has 30 minutes to live. She asks where he has him. He asks if she intends to choke him again, and she says she can do far worse things to him. He says if she  gives him the hand, Quentin will live. He adds that if she does anything to him, she will lose Quentin.

The pendulum swings closer to Quentin.

Angelique tells Aristede that she doesn't have the Hand. He tells her that she can get it. She explains that she gave it to someone else. She then tells him to look into her eyes, and then asks him to lead her to Quentin. He laughs, and shows her an amulet protecting him. He doesn't believe she gave the Hand away, but says that even if she did, she can get it back. He tells her to hurry.

Barnabas gives Julianka the Hand, and asks her how she will save Quentin. She refuses to tell him, explaining that her grandmother cured Count Petofi of the curse, and she will do the same with Quentin. She says that she and the Hand are the only ones who know how to do it. She says the moon will take the curse with it to the underside of time. Barnabas says that he doesn't know where Quentin is. She tells Barnabas to find him, and goes into the woods to collect the necessary herbs for the cure.

Aristede tells Quentin that Angelique is charming, but he has doubts about her. He mocks Quentin, who remains trapped under the descending pendulum.

Barnabas asks Angelique why she didn't tell him about Aristede. She says they must give him the Hand, or Quentin will die. Barnabas says that she could control Aristede, and Angelique says he has a protective medallion. She says she has to meet him in 15 minutes. She picks up the box with the Hand, and he tells her she can't take it. He says he will try his luck against Aristede's protective medallion. He says that he will save Quentin for the sake of David Collins and Chris Jennings.

Aristede tells Quentin that it's time, and asks if he wants to make a wager. Quentin slips out of one of his bonds, only to be tied back up by Aristede. He says that he sees Quentin doesn't trust Angelique either. The pendulum swings just over Quentin's waist as Aristede leaves him.

Angelique meets with Aristede again. He sees that she didn't bring the Hand, and turns to leave. She asks him to wait, and he tells her to put on her mourning clothes. She turns and runs away. A voice calls to Aristede, and says he cannot go. The voice asks where Quentin Collins is. Aristede demands that the person show himself, and Barnabas emerges from the woods.

He asks who Barnabas is. Barnabas asks him where Quentin is. He then compliments Aristede's medallion, and hypnotizes him. He tells Aristede to take him to Quentin, and he leads the way.

Quentin struggles as the pendulum swings lower.

Aristede brings Barnabas to where Quentin is kept. Barnabas calls to Quentin. Aristede laughs, and Barnabas asks where he took him, realizing that he's been tricked. Aristede says Quentin is miles away, with minutes to live. Aristede tells him Quentin is in an abandoned mill near Sutter's Creek, but there's no way he'll get to him in time. Barnabas tells him they'll meet again, and then changes into a bat and flies away. Aristede is surprised.

Just before the pendulum can cut Quentin in two, Barnabas pushes the table out of the way.

Julianka is preparing for the ceremony when Barnabas returns to the old house with Quentin. Quentin asks for her assurance that he won't be changed into something worse. She says that he will believe her. She tells him that when Count Petofi was cured, it cost him his hand. Julianka goes out to gather the last herb she needs.

Angelique, Quentin and Barnabas await Julianka's return. Barnabas goes to look for here.

Barnabas finds Julianka's body in the woods with a mark on her forehead. She struggles to speak, and passes out.

Our thoughts

John: No—not my Julianka! I hope she's not dead. Since we know where both the werewolf and vampire are, that leaves a very small selection of potential suspects. But was it Arsitede, or Victor, who was responsible?

Christine: Sadly, Barnabas is unable to recall what Jamison related to him about the events that led to Quentin's death, or he may have remembered about the murder of someone who could have helped him and done more to protect her. I'm betting on Victor as the one responsible for stamping her head, and I don't expect her to make it. Don't fret. You can still see Diana Davila in Play It Again, Sam.

John: I also noticed that Angelique did sound human trying to save Quentin. But don't think for a minute that she was showing her true feelings. After all they've been through, I find it hard to believe that she's suddenly over Barnabas.

Christine: I'm not buying it either, though I do believe she's infatuated with Quentin, which makes sense since they both like the same things: worshipping Satan, conducting black magic ceremonies, being impulsive and acting selfishly.

John: In 1897, good to know that you can set your clock by a pendulum, and that a vampire bat can fly at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour!

Christine: I know we heard squeaky bat sounds, but did he really fly, or did he just apparate via chroma key magic? Aristede did not come well prepared with only one talisman, and should have been wearing his witch medallion, a cross, and a pentagram for full protection in Collinsport.

Dark Shadows Episode 795 - 7/11/69

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Having reverted from his werewolf form, Quentin is tied to a chair somewhere. Aristede comes downstairs and tells him that when he wants something, he'll let nothing get in the way. Quentin says he doesn't have the Hand anymore. Aristede says he knows, and tells Quentin that he's going to help get it back as he unveils a pendulum.

Quentin asks if Aristede saw his transformation, and he says he did. Quentin asks to see a mirror. Aristede says he can tell him what he wants to know. He tells him that his face has been restored. Quentin asks if he's responsible, and Aristede says it may have just been luck. Quentin asks why he's doing what he's doing. Aristede says he has a job to do, and Quentin has been chosen to help him do it. He examines the pendulum, and then begins to untie Quentin.

Barnabas comes to Collinwood to see Angelique. He says something important happened after she left. She tells him she has gone to great pains to disassociate herself from him. He tells her that he needs her to give him the Hand. He says that a gypsy has come to end Quentin's curse, but she needs the Hand.  Angelique asks if she intends to keep the Hand, and he says that's her price. She refuses. He tells her that if she has any feelings, she'd be willing to help Quentin. She asks him to promise not to interfere with her plans for Quentin, and she will give him the hand. He tries to explain how he's trying to save people in the future. She says she doesn't care, and he agrees not to interfere. She tells him to meet her in the woods and she will bring the Hand. He turns to a bat and flies off.

Astride has Quentin get on the table under the pendulum. He does, at knife-point. Aristede ties him down. Quentin offers to help him get the Hand, and Aristede says the plan has already been set in motion. He adds that his life depends on someone who loves him. He stuffs a handkerchief in Quentin's mouth so he can't scream, and then swings the pendulum.

Barnabas returns to the old house with the box. He opens it to show the Hand to Julianka. She says she needs the Hand in order to remove the curse. He gives it to her. She pulls a knife on him and says that she came to get the Hand, kill Magda, or both. Barnabas asks about the man who he was trying to help. She says Magda cursed the man. Barnabas offers to pay her to help Quentin. She runs out with the Hand.

Julianka is in the woods when she is confronted by a large bat that turns into Barnabas. She asks what he is, and he tells her that he thinks she knows what he is. She offers to give the hand back, and he tells her she will stay until she finishes removing the curse. He explains that she will do whatever he tells her to do, and she agrees.

Angelique is sitting by the fire when Aristede knocks on the window. She goes to the window as he walks away from it. She goes to the front door.

Barnaba tells Julianka that he will keep the hand until she needs it. She tells him to bring Quentin to her and she will do what she needs to do. He tells her that he will bring Quentin to her tomorrow night. He adds that someone else tried to use the Hand on him. She says that when used by the wrong person, the Hand is uncontrollable, and almost always evil. She says that once she has removed the curse, he must let her leave with the Hand.

Angelique meets Aristede in the woods. He tells her that she is not a puppeteer. She asks him what he wants, and he says he wants to talk to her about her fiancé, Quentin. He asks if she intends to marry him. He tells her that Quentin only has 30 minutes to live. She asks where he is. He asks if she intends to choke him again, and she says she can do far worse. He tells her to give him the hand, and Quentin will live. He adds that if she does anything to him, she will lose Quentin. Aristede asks her for the hand again, and tells her she only has 28 minutes...

The pendulum swings closer to Quentin.

Our thoughts

John: So are we to understand that the hand took back Quentin's mangled-face? I have to say, it's a little disappointing that the writers couldn't come up with an explanation for why the hand mangled-faces, or how the mangled-face characters were magically cleared of their affliction.

Christine: I can understand how the wrong person using it could mess up someone's face, but there's no real explanation for how they were cured. It may be that the effects of the Hand wear off over time, though it remains to be seen if this will always be the case.

John:  It's Poe-Day in Collinsport! I do wonder where one finds a rental with a pendulum on such short notice in the days before air bnb?

Christine: Perhaps they got it on loan from Roger Corman. What a great way to end the week!

John: I'm concerned that my new favorite gypsy Julianka isn't going to last much longer, having attempted to betray Barnabas. Not to mention that I doubt Quentin will be freed of the werewolf curse any time soon!

Christine: Now may be a good time to recall that back in Episode 767, Quentin told Jamison in a dream that he died because of three things: First was the discovery of a silver bullet at Collinwood. Then there was the murder of someone who could have helped him. Finally, the one person he loved turned against him. The bullet was discovered right off the bat, but the other two events have not yet occurred. Will Julianka be the murder victim or Magda? And who will be the one who turns against him?