Dark Shadows Episode 1200 1/29/71

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV 

Morgan makes his way back to Collinwood, thinking that it's a house of death that Catherine will make alive. He then sees the woman in white, and realizes that tonight is the night.

From her father's bedroom, Melanie looks out the window. He asks if she saw the woman in white. She says it was nothing. He gets out of bed and goes to the window. He sees the woman in white. He says she has come for him. Melanie tells him it's an illusion. He says he's not ready to die. 

Morgan tells Gabriel he saw the woman in white. Gabriel asks him for the key to the liquor cabinet so he can fix himself a drink. Gabriel asks who will go into the room. When Morgan says there are three of them to choose from, Gabriel brings up Melanie and Julia. Morgan asks if he's going to include their mother as well. Gabriel goes to leave, and Morgan tells him that if he leaves, he'll never see another penny. Gabriel turns to leave and  Morgan stops him. He says Gabriel can't go anywhere, because he can't live without them. Morgan says the curse will only be finished when one of them comes out of that room in the morning, still sane. 

Bramwell arrives at Collinwood and finds Gabriel in the drawing room. He asks about Justin, and Gabriel says that he's dying. Bramwell asks to see him and Gabriel refuses. He asks Bramwell if he came back a rich man like he always boasted. Bramwell says his situation will change. Gabriel says he'll have a chance at the lottery. Bramwell says the family has done nothing for him, and he will do nothing for their family, save grieving their father's death. 

Melanie tells Morgan that his father saw the woman in white. Morgan blames her, saying he wouldn't have let their father get to the window. Justin tosses and turns, and mentions the room. He says, "She's here." Melanie tells him there's no one there. Justin asks to be alone with Melanie. Morgan reluctantly leaves.

Gabriel is drinking in the drawing room. Quentin and Bramwell enter the foyer. Quentin tells Bramwell he appreciates his concern, particularly after the way he was treated. They go into the drawing room. Gabriel asks Bramwell how badly he needs money. Gabriel says he could hire a fisherman to go into the room dressed up like him. Quentin says he's not going to let him bring anyone else into this. He tells Gabriel that whatever happens, he's not going to be a coward about it.

Justin tells Melanie that the lottery must happen. He says if no one goes into the room, it will be worse. Justin gets up and says he must try something. He goes to the room, while Melanie begs him not to. He goes into the room, and Melanie follows him. Justin says they can't take any more of them, and then collapses.

Morgan arrives to find Quentin, Gabriel and Bramwell in the drawing room. He tells them that their father is dead. He asks Quentin to go up to see their mother. A drunk Gabriel follows him. Morgan dismisses Bramwell, who says he's there to see Melanie.

Melanie tells Bramwell that Justin loved her, even if she wasn't his real daughter. When she wanted to find her parents, he told her not to try. She says the boys resent her, as they resent him. Bramwell suggests that she go aware where she can have a life of her own, away from Collinwood. She says she couldn't leave. 

Quentin and Gabriel stand over their father's coffin in the drawing room. Morgan comes in with the letter from Brutus Collins, dated 1680. Morgan reads it out loud. It described the curse upon the family and the house. He says he must stay up to confront their enemy. If he lives through the night in sound mind, the curse will end. He suggests a lottery to choose who is selected. He reminds them that it's useless to run. Quentin says they can't go on living like this. He walks out. Morgan prepares the lottery slips for the three of them. Gabriel asks what Brutus did to bring the curse upon them. He says there has to be a way out. Morgan says there is not.

Our thoughts:  

John: I've got to give props to Jonathan Frid, and not just for his new hairstyle. He really gives a distinct performance with Bramwell, who is nothing like Barnabas. It's also nice to see Quentin and Bramwell having the more cordial relationship of the Collins clan.

 

Christine: I think that is just as Jonathan Frid wanted it, and it is nice that he finally got the opportunity to take a break from being Barnabas and show off his acting chops. 

                                                                                                                           

John: Is anyone else lamenting the fact that the show has seemingly been stripped of vampires, werewolves and witches? And while there appears to be the promise of the supernatural as it pertains to the lottery, they once again avoided showing us the woman in white today, which is a long way from the days of parading every ghost available across the TV screen.

 
Christine: Yes. Not only that, but we have completely abandoned all the core characters on the show. I am missing Liz, Roger, Carolyn and David, not to mention Julia, Barnabas, and Stokes. We are watching a completely different show. I would have much rather seen David and Hallie get a Monkey's Paw or find an evil possessed doll somewhere in the house.

John: Morgan seems to be the one destined to spend the night in the room... considering he's the closest thing to a Star Trek red shirt in the line-up (particularly since the only other new face in parallel time, his father Justin, is now dead). I can't see them killing Quentin or Gabriel, or rendering them completely mad... but I guess that remains a possibility.

 

Christine: At least the show has got some unpredictability left. Morgan is the obvious choice, but this could be one of those times when we can expect the unexpected. 

We can always count on the Mustache Man to remain constant.

Dark Shadows Episode 1196 1/25/71

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV 

Angelique prepares to stab a voodoo doll with another pin when Gerard comes into the room. He realizes that she is in fact Miranda. He tells her that she has used her powers for the last time. He tells her that she's clever for recognizing him as Judah. He brings how he was beheaded because of her. He grabs her and she refuses to look into his eyes. He forces her to look him in the eyes, and tells her that he taught her powers when she was a young girl. She says that she has learned more since then. He threatens to make her human again. He takes away the powers he bestowed upon her. He lets go of her, he gives her back the voodoo doll, and his handkerchief. She wraps it around the dolls neck and tries to strangle it. It doesn't work. He grabs her and leads her out of the room.

Barnabas returns to the East Wing where she sees someone Melanie speaking to her father, Justin Collins. She reminds him that she was adopted. He tells her that she saved his life. Catherine comes into the room and greets Justin. She asks if he's feeling better, and he doesn't respond. She shows her wedding invitation to Melanie, who asks if she's inviting Bramwell to the wedding. Melanie explains that he's coming back. Catherine says that if Morgan wants it, Bramwell will be invited. Melanie shows Justin the invitation and he freaks out. Melanie sends Catherine to get his medication. Justin tells Melanie that Catherine must not marry Morgan. He says no strangers in the house... he mentions 'the room'... and says no one must know. Melanie tells him they will not have the lottery again. He tells her to close the door so they can talk. She does.

On the other side of the closed door, Barnabas wonders what room he was talking about. 

Gerard assures Dawson that Miranda is harmless. He doesn't want to keep her there. Gerard tells him that Quentin will soon be dead, and people will think that Judah Zachery is gone. He promises to return to Miranda to give her his full attention once Quentin is dead. Dawson asks for permission to kill her if she tries to escape. Gerard encourages him to try to keep her alive. Gerard tells her that he'll see her after the execution, and leaves. Dawson tells her not to try to escape.

Leticia visits Desmond in his cell. He asks her to promise to give a letter to Flora that changes his will so that Leticia will get his inheritance. She tells him Flora has gone to get the governor. He says they found a law allowing them to execute a warlock's follower without a trial. He tells her that had they made it to Boston, he would have married her. She asks him to marry her in his cell. He tells her that it would be too dangerous. They might say she was part of their coven and arrest her. He refuses. She asks him to say the words so they'll know in their hearts. She says her vows aloud, and he does the same. They kiss. 

Barnabas visits Quentin in his cell. Quentin says he deserves to die for allowing Gerard to fool him. Barnabas assures Quentin that he will rescue Daphne, and run Gerard out of Collinwood. He says that Quentin will be avenged. Quentin says that he's more concerned about Desmond. And then he expresses concern for Tad. He asks Barnabas to try and convince him that he's not guilty, and that he was not afraid to die. 

Dawson tells Miranda that she should have tried to fight Judah Zachery. She tells Dawson that she never used her powers to get a man, and that she could have gotten him. She goes to kiss him. He tells her that he almost believed her for a minute, but he knows how desperately she wants to escape. He says he's more afraid than he is attracted to her. He says there's nothing she could do to help Quentin or Desmond anyway. She asks why he won't let her go then. He tells her that she won't turn Judah against him, but when he turns away, she clocks him with a candlestick. Miranda realizes that he's dead.

Gerard counts down the minutes to Quentin's execution. Leticia comes in and calls him Judah, saying he killed Gerard. She pulls a knife and he disarms her. As he leaves, he tells her that she is no longer welcome in the house. 

Desmond and Quentin share a last moment together. Quentin tells him that what he minds the most is that Desmond got caught up in everything. The guards come for them, and Quentin leaves first.

Leticia tells Barnabas that she tried to kill Gerard, but nothing can save them now. He asks her where Valerie is.

The executioner practices on a log, slicing it in half. The guards bring Quentin out, and Gerard, who is there as a witness, tells Quentin that he wouldn't miss this for the world. Desmond watches as they lead Quentin to the executioner. 

They start to blindfold him and he refuses it. He says, "When I was born, I saw the light of day. And when I die, I want to see the dark of night." He gets into position beneath the executioner. 

Our thoughts:  

John: I love how people just decide to tune into parallel time as if it were a separate soap opera that they could pick up and follow on demand... I have to admit that I was surprised at this late date to see another new face. I was sure that Justin Collins would have been portrayed by Louis Edmonds.

 

Christine: Honestly, I'd love to see one of the characters standing at the door to parallel time with a bag of popcorn just once! The fact that Louis Edmonds is not playing the role of Justin Collins, in addition to the copious amount of pasty makeup he's wearing, might indicate that he has a short expiration date. 

                                                                                                                           

John: And just like that, Mirangelique is stripped of her powers? It's amazing how characters are so suddenly gifted with previously unused powers where the story calls for it!

 
Christine: It looks like he gave her a Barbie knockoff to test that her powers were gone. Perhaps that's why the spell didn't work!

John: You'd think they could have at least had the executioner raise the axe before the episode faded to black...

 

Christine: If you look closely while Quentin's head is on the chopping block, you'll see the pole swing back as it had been raised, though I suppose you were expecting the cliche blade in the air. It is still a chilling moment. Do you think heads will roll tomorrow, or will something completely ludicrous happen to save the day?