Dark Shadows Episode 887 - 11/18/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas is lying atop an altar. Two cloaked figures approach him and a woman places leaves under his head. The man says he will know them when he rises from this sleep, and he will show them the way to a new and everlasting life.

The man lifts Barnabas' head and pours something from a goblet into his mouth. He then begins a ritual, and waves his hand over Barnabas. Barnabas rises from the altar. Barnabas waves his hand and continues the ritual. The figures introduce themselves as Oberon and Haza.

They bid him well, and call him master. He says that before he leaves, they must do something. He asks if they have the ancient book, and if they have made the necessary preparations. They assure him that they have. The woman hands him a Leviathan box. He says it is all he can take, but he says they will be with him in spirit. He asks how he shall know the chosen ones. Haza says he will find it in his dreams. He asks if there's anything else he must know before leaving. Haza says their task is done, and there is nothing more they can do. Oberon says they will soon herald the arrival of a new and powerful leader. Barnabas says the box must not be opened before that time. He says that which has been prophesied shall become reality.

In the old house in 1969, Julia reviews a journal describing how she returned from the past a month ago, and has since received no signs from Barnabas. She thinks Barnabas is trapped in the past, and lost to her forever. Outside the window, a figure watches her.

Julia writes in her journal that she will not give up hope. She blows out several candles and leaves. After she's gone, the strange figure follows her.

Julia is in the woods on the way to Collinwood. The figure continues to follow her.

Carolyn is in the drawing room when Julia arrives. She's wrapping a gift for her mother; a piece of colonial jewelry she bought at a new antique shop in town. She tells Julia that she has become depressed, but she doesn't know why. She says she feels that something frightening is going to happen. She asks Julia why she goes to the old house every day, and Julia says she's convinced that Barnabas will return. She says that Julia is very fond of Barnabas and she admits that she is.

Carolyn invites her to come with her to the antique shop tomorrow. She agrees. Carolyn goes to fix her some tea. Alone in the room, Julia hears Charity and Magda speak of Barnabas. Charity says Barnabas and Kitty ran off to the old house together and disappeared. Charity asks Magda if she knows where Barnabas is. Charity says Edward saw them go into the old house, but couldn't find them inside. Julia calls to Charity. Carolyn runs in and asks what's wrong. Julia tells her that she's sure Barnabas is dead.

The altar appears in the woods in 1969. The stranger stands before it, and then moves on.

The stranger enters the old house. He lights a candle.

Carolyn brings Julia some tea. She asks her what happened. Julia describes hearing voices from the past. She says they say Barnabas disappeared from the old house. Julia says she was wrong to think that meant Barnabas was dead. She says if he did disappear, he must be on his way back. She rushes out to go to the old house.

The stranger looks at the portrait of Barnabas. Julia arrives at the old house and sees someone through the window.

Inside, the man puts the candle out. He steps outside, where Julia stands with a flashlight. She asks who he is.

Our thoughts

John: I was excited to meet Oberon and Haza.. I hope they weren't just here for two episodes and done! And are we done with 1897? Is Petofi dead? Is Quentin a werewolf with the portrait destroyed? So many as-yet unanswered questions!

Christine: I do hope we'll get answers to those questions and that they won't just move on without resolving matters from 1897. Also, where has Magda been all this time and why did she suddenly show up to gossip with Charity about Barnabas running off with Kitty?

John: There's certainly no doubt that we're back in 1969—Carolyn's wild skirt confirms that!

Christine: I'm trying not to stare too long at that outfit since I think it might cause seizures. Thanks, Ohrbach's! Carolyn seems out of sorts after visiting an antique shop. Could this mysterious new shop have some needful things in stock? I hope it has strange portraits for sale and that we'll get to visit it soon.

John: So we'll set aside the question of who the mysterious stranger is until tomorrow, but more importantly, is Barnabas Barnabas? Or has he too been possessed by someone? And if he has, is it someone we already know?

Christine: The sideburns on the stranger initially had me thinking it was a relative of Nicholas Blair, but the brief glimpse of him through the window of the Old House proves it was not. I also wonder if Barnabas is possessed, or if he is truly a primordial creature whose essence has been awakened, or if he's possibly a Bizarro Barnabas. It's been quite a jarring return to present day Collinwood.

Oberon's Invocation
The past is but the beginning of the beginning
and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.
A day will come when beings, which are now latent in our thoughts and hidden in our loins
shall stand upon this Earth as one stands upon a footstool,
and shall laugh, and shall reach out their hands amid the stars. 

Barnabas' Invocation
The water shall nourish each grain of sand, wedged between ancient sacred stones, 
and guide us to the threshold of a time to be, and restore our flesh and bones. 

Dark Shadows Episode 856 - 10/6/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Beth hears Quentin's voice saying he loves her, but has no choice. Then she hears Aristede, Magda, and Quentin... She screams and Aristede tells her to be quiet. She says she still loves him, and he can't take him from her. She runs out past Aristede, who says she'll ruin everything.

Beth finds Quentin passed out in the drawing room of Collinwood and tries to wake him. She wonders if she's too late.

Petofi comes out of his trance and holds his head. He stumbles around the room before collapsing.

Quentin comes to and Beth tells him she's so glad Petofi had not succeeded. He tells her he's all right. She says that Count Petofi was trying to do something hideous to him. Quentin asks if she knows what he was trying to do. She says she didn't, but Aristede said it was the worst thing that could happen to a human being. She says Petofi is an evil foul man, and she hates him. He kisses Beth, and tells her to meet him at the cottage later, after he's met with Angelique. She tells him she loves him, and he leaves to find Angelique.

Magda is in the woods when she hears a rustling. She sees Quentin and asks if he's alright, because she's worried about him. She tells him she came to see Petofi. He says he feels like a new man, and he's on his way to see Petofi. He shows her the ring, saying he's going to return it. She warns him that something bad is happening, and begs him not to go see Petofi. He tells her he's not afraid of Petofi anymore.

Petofi comes to and starts to get up. He can't see well, as his glasses fell off. He hears someone come in, and asks who it is. He demands to know who it is, and where he's at. Aristede hands him his glasses. He puts them on, and asks how he got there. He grabs Aristede, but notices his hand. He asks to see a mirror. Aristede says there's no mirror around. He demands to know what he's done.

Quentin laughs, and says they must get him a mirror. He hands him one and Petofi looks into it. Quentin says he's making the transition with ease, and then tells Quentin that their minds and bodies have swapped. Quentin (in Petofi) asks why. Petofi (in Quentin) says his body is the key to getting to the future. He says he needed a host body that would be waiting in the future. He tells Quentin that he is alive in 1969. He says that Tate's portrait not only ended his curse, it gave him immortality.

Quentin calls Petofi a monster. Petofi tells Quentin that now he is Count Petofi. Aristede confirms it. Petofi says he can try and convince people, but they'll believe he's mad. Quentin reminds him of the power of his hand, and he grabs Petofi's throat. Petofi tells him that he didn't leave the power of the hand in his old body. He then says that his ring has served its purpose, and he puts it on Quentin's withered hand.

Aristede takes the glasses from Quentin, so he can't see. Quentin stumbles around the room after him. Petofi tells Quentin not to interfere with his plans. Quentin tells him to go ahead and kill him. Petofi says he can't do that, as his old body is also part of his plans. He hands him back his glasses.

Quentin, in Petofi's body, leaves. He encounters Magda in the woods. She asks what he did to Quentin, and he says he is Quentin. He explains that Petofi swapped their minds. She says she knows he's Petofi. He tries to convince her, but she runs away from him.

Petofi, in Quentin's body, asks Aristede if his display of power impressed him. Aristede asks how he fits into his plans. He tells him he will gain the sight when the time comes. He tells Aristede to come with him, as they have things to do.

Quentin, in Petofi's body, returns to Collinwood. He realizes that no one will believe him. He decides that he must go somewhere else.

Beth arrives at the cottage to meet Quentin. Quentin, in Petofi's body, comes out and tells her she can't leave. He says he needs her. Petofi, in Quentin's body, arrives. Beth begs the man she thinks is Quentin to protect her. The man who looks like Petofi tries to convince Beth that their minds and bodies have been switched.

Petofi, in Quentin's body, tells Beth that Petofi has gone insane. He says Petofi has lost his powers, and the Count Petofi they have known is gone. He escorts Beth out as Quentin, in Petofi's body, shouts that he is Quentin.

Our thoughts

John: Did anyone else think Petofi may have accidentally swapped places with Charles Tate when he got up holding his head?

Christine: He doesn't have quite the same intensity, though I thought the way Petofi as Quentin nearly chomped off Beth's head was very Tate-like. If Beth only knew. Blech!

John: Aha! I was right. As we prepare to say goodbye to 1897, we don't have to say goodbye to Quentin Collins. Of course, I'll be interested to hear how they explain that on the other side of time...

Christine: I'll be interested to know if he bought that pumpkin orange shirt as Quentin or as Petofi in Quentin. I'm guessing the latter.

Episode 849

John: I need to figure out a new shorthand for describing Quentin and Petofi, or these summaries are going to be very confusing...

Christine: Quentofi and Petofin? What a horrifying turn of events! Quentin's vanity is probably suffering the most. Even if he were able to come up with some bit of information to prove he was Quentin, it's likely that nobody would believe him anyway, thinking that the all-knowing Petofi was using his unlimited powers to trick them. It seems inexplicable that he would retain the power of the Hand without it, but it has already been established that Petofi can do anything. Truly this scenario is most frightening for the ladies of Collinsport should Petofi decide to go on a tear with Quentin's good looks and womanizing ways.

Down for the Count:
Barnabas was staked in his coffin 10 episodes ago.

Dark Shadows Episode 855 - 10/3/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Alone in a room in his lair, Petofi begins an incantation, saying Quentin must bend his will to his.

Beth and Aristede wait outside, guarding the door which Petofi is behind.

Petofi sits wide-eyed.

Quentin is wide-eyed in Collinwood, wondering why Petofi put the ring on him, and why he can't get it off.

There's a knock at the door and he goes to answer it. It's Magda. He tells her to stay away. She doesn't know what's wrong with him. He tells her, "it's mine, and it's going to stay mine."

She asks him what he means and he turns and asks her when she arrived. She asks him what happened and he says he doesn't remember.

She sees that he's wearing Petofi's ring. She tells him to take it off, and he says he can't. He walks out of the house.

Aristede listens at the door, but can't hear anything. Beth asks what Petofi is doing, and Aristede tells her she hasn't been with them long enough to be trusted. She asks if Quentin will die, and he says he'll soon wish he had. Aristede tells her to consider a man experiencing something worse than death, and says that's what will happen to Quentin tonight. He asks if she's concerned about him, and she assures him she feels no concern for Quentin.

Quentin arrives at The Blue Whale after hours, where Charity (as Pansy) drinks and continues to sing her one and only song. She asks what he's doing there so late. He asks how he got there. She tells him that the place is closed.

He tells her he needs help. She says he was helpless the last time she saw him. She mentions he was helpless when he found Barnabas, and she had to take care of that, too. He says he didn't come to talk about Barnabas. She asks if he came to see her, and he says he guesses that he did. She invites him to her place, but he tells her he'd rather stay there and talk to her. She reminds him the night isn't made for talking, but noticing he's upset, asks him what's wrong. She tells him he needs some tender love and care, and says he's come to the right place. He realizes he can't go back to Collinwood. She goes to fix him a drink.

Petofi sits in his room in a trance.

Beth asks Aristede why he keeps watching her. He asks if she's sure she's not wondering about what will happen to Quentin tonight.

Beth hears Quentin's voice, saying that he's sorry for what he did to her, and that he still loves her.

Charity puts on a private show for Quentin in The Blue Whale. As she sings and dances, he starts to laugh. He stands and picks her up. He kisses her, and then surprises her by playing her song on the piano. She says she didn't know he could play. He says he played it brilliantly until 'they' came. He slams the cover shut. He then asks her what she's talking about, saying he's never played the piano in his life. She says he might need a doctor, and he says no one can help him. He runs out of the bar.

Quentin returns to Collinwood.

Petofi remains in a trance.

Aristede hears a noise and tells Beth to get rid of whoever it is. Beth finds Magda outside. Magda is surprised to find Beth there, and says she has to talk to Petofi. She tells Beth that something happened to Quentin that scared her. Beth says she has strict orders, and asks her to go away.

Beth hears Quentin's voice saying he loves her, but has no choice. Then she hears Aristede, Magda, and Quentin... She screams and Aristede tells her to be quiet. She says she still loves him, and he can't take him from her. She runs out past Aristede, who says she'll ruin everything.

Beth finds Quentin passed out in the drawing room of Collinwood and tries to wake him.

Our thoughts

John: I love how just as soon as Petofi leaves the room, Aristede plays tough guy around Beth. I'd love to see Beth put Aristede in his place!

Christine: She could start by making fun of his fashion choices, though I've noticed he no longer wears his distinctive hat.

John: Wait - now Quentin loves Beth again? What about his true love, Amanda?

Christine: Are you just being funny, or do I really need to explain to you that Beth was just remembering Quentin's apology to her before she tried to shoot him as a way to get her to soften up enough to defy Petofi and run off to save him? I have a feeling she'll be too late.

John: So the hand of Petofi was also experienced in tickling the ivories? Not really clear how the magic ring is supposed to work. Does it make Quentin vulnerable to anyone taking over his body, or just Petofi?

Christine: Since a simple kiss-curse was involved the last time there was a Petofi possession, I have to wonder if the ring-stuck curse is much more involved than a simple possession.

If only Quentin realized the ring is adjustable and easy to pry apart, he could have gotten it off!

Down for the Count:
Barnabas was staked in his coffin 10 episodes ago.