Dark Shadows Episode 791 - 7/7/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Mangled-face Quentin comes into Collinwood, unsure of who he is and why he is there. He starts the Victrola, and listens as his theme plays. He begins to recite the lyrics. Judith enters, and screams when she sees the mangled-face man. He tells her that he's Quentin. She says she's afraid, and refuses to believe he's her brother. He tells her the police are after him. She turns to leave, and runs into the ghost of Minerva, poised with a knife and ready to strike! Quentin approaches her and Minerva disappears. He asks what happened to her, and Judith is thrilled that he also saw her. From upstairs, Gregory yells for him to stay away from Judith. Mangled-face Quentin runs off.

Gregory comes downstairs, and Judith says that he also saw Minerva. Trask tries to tell her that Minerva wasn't there. She says the man claimed to be Quentin, and Trask says he was just a prowler. He offers her medicine to feel better and she insists that she's sane. She screams when she turns and sees Minerva sitting in the chair once again. She says that she has come back. Trask tells her that he doesn't see Minerva, but a stranger that claims to see Quentin does. Minerva stands up and Judith says she's coming towards her. Trask asks if she has her knife again, and she says she has her sewing.

Trask asks Judith if she envies Minerva's eternal rest. He suggests that if Judith takes her medicine, she may stop seeing Minerva. Judith drinks the medicine, but says Minerva might still have the knife. There's a knock at the door, and Trask goes to get it, forbidding her to leave. Judith sits opposite a staring Minerva.

Evan tells Trask that wolfman has escaped from jail. He says he thinks he might return to Collinwood. Trask tells him that Judith saw a prowler who told her that he also saw Minerva. Trask asks Evan if he brought the paperwork. Evan hands it to Trask, and asks if it's too early to get her to sign. He says it won't be a problem. He tells him that the prowler told her he was Quentin. Trask tells him that it's time to better his fortune, and Evan corrects him to say 'their' fortune. Evan invites Trask to his home that night, and Trask agrees to come once things are done in Collinwood. Evan says it's hard for him to believe that Judith will believe all the falsehoods Trask is peddling, and Trask assures him that if they tell her so, she'll believe it. They hear her scream.

They enter the drawing room. Judith says Minerva is approaching her with a knife. They say they don't see her. Minerva sits again. Evan asks her if she really believes that she saw her. Judith tells him that Quentin saw her, and Evan says Quentin is away.

Trask tells her that Evan has a paper for her to sign. She says she can't read anything right now, and he tells her there's no need for her to read it. Evan asks her to trust them, and she says she must discuss it with Edward first. They tell her Edward is dead. She says Carl is dead, and they say Edward is dead, and Carl is in Europe. She's baffled. They both tell her to sign the paper. She looks at Minerva and asks what she's waiting for. Trask presses her to sign the paper, which she does. He walks Evan to the door.

Trask asks Evan if he'll start the ceremony soon, and he says he will as soon as he gets home. Holding the newly signed document, Trask declares himself master of Collinwood. Evan reminds him that he will be as long as she remains ill. Trask assures him that she will remain ill for a long, long time.

Trask goes in to see Judith. She tells him that winter comes early, and she doesn't want to play in the snow. She asks Carl not to bury her in the snow. Trask smiles over her.

Evan begins his ceremony. He calls to the spirit of darkness, and permits it to retire.

Trask and Judith are followed by Minerva's ghost. She says Minerva warns her of poison berries. She tells Trask to send her away.

Evan continues the ritual, telling the spirit to be gone.

Judith tells Trask to make Minerva go away, and she disappears. Trask tells Judith to look at him. She looks up to see that Minerva is gone. Trask tells her that he must go, too. She says she doesn't want to be left alone. He tells her she's making it impossible to help her, and soon Minerva will be back, along with Dirk and all the dead.

Evan tells Trask that it is done. Trask confirms that Minerva disappeared while he was there. Evan pulls out a document for Trask to sign, Trask tells him it's too much. Evan suggests that he did his job and did it well. Trask agrees to his terms, stipulating that Evan will continue to help him again when needed. He says they may need to bring Minerva back, as well as Dirk and Rachel.

Mangle-faced Quentin arrives outside of Evan's house.

Trask leaves Evan's house. Quentin sneaks in and demands that Evan use the hand to change him back. Evan says he doesn't have the hand. Quentin begins searching for it, and when Evan tries to stop him, Quentin knocks him out with a candlestick. Quentin finds the box with the hand and opens it up. A strange man enters and tells Quentin that he'll take the hand.

Our thoughts

John: Chroma-key Minerva was oddly frightening, as she seems to be standing perfectly still. Of course when Quentin moves to where she's supposed to be and is suddenly behind her, it takes away from the illusion.

Christine: It also made it more apparent that she was a mini-Minerva version. Evan Hanley really needs to perfect the art of apparition.

John: Quentin, with his disfigured mangled-face, describes the werewolf as a hideous, unnatural being? I think mangled-face needs to take a look in the mirror. The wolf man is downright handsome by comparison!

Christine: It's funny that Quentin has so much disdain for his lycanthropic alter ego when he's not so much a quality guy himself. After all, he attempted to scare his grandma to death, strangled his ex-wife, molested nearly all the females he's come across, and used his nephew in his black magic ceremonies. It may not be the same as running around and tearing innocent victims to shreds during the full moon, but it's not much better.

John: Welcome to Collinwood, Aristede! I thought for sure it was Barnabas coming into Evan's house... and while there is a passing resemblance, I'm guessing he's a gypsy and not a Collins.

Christine: It will be interesting to see who wins the Hand standoff.

Dark Shadows Episode 790 - 7/4/69

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Judith sees Minerva in the drawing room, but tells Trask that she doesn't. Trask tells her to repeat that she is Mrs. Trask. He sends her up to her room. She asks if he'll be joining her, and he says he has things to do. He asks her if she's afraid, and she says she's not. She looks back at Minerva once more, who looks back at her. She then heads upstairs. Minerva follows her. At the top of the stairs, Judith turns and tells her not to come any closer.

Judith locks herself in her room, but sees Minerva is already inside. Trask surprises her, and Judith tells him that she followed her into her room. She points to her in a rocking chair, and Trask denies anyone is there. He grabs her and forces her near the rocker. She runs from him. He asks why she's making a demon of Minerva. He slaps her, and tells her that's better. He tells her to stop crying and listen to him. He tells her that Edward is disturbed by her recent behavior, and is considering having her institutionalized. She can't believe it. Judith asks Trask to make Minerva stop rocking. He says he can't bear talking to her like this. She begs him not to leave her alone with Minerva, but he does. He locks the door behind him. He tells her that he's going to pray for her.

Magda goes to the Gaol to see mangled-face Quentin. She tells him that Barnabas is coming to get him out. The deputy comes in to see if she's had any luck with the stranger. She says they won't know until later, and leaves.

Judith tells Minerva that she won't get her. Trask returns, and Judith thanks him for praying for her. She tells him that she's rid of her illusion, and that she no longer sees Minerva. He asks if she's sure, and reminds her that she lied to him once before. He says he truly hopes so, but points out this isn't the first time that she was disturbed.

He wonders if something about her reaches out to unnatural creatures. She reminds him that his own daughter was bitten by a vampire. She starts downstairs, and he tells her to stay and rest. He tells her that she could learn to sew. He describes how Minerva used to sew, as she continues to do so in the rocking chair. He leaves Judith in the room with Minerva.

Magda arrives at Collinwood, and tells Trask Judith sent for her. She starts upstairs, and Trask tells her they haven't finished talking. He says she wouldn't want her sister's two children sent away. She asks what he wants her to do. He starts by telling her to address Judith as Mrs. Trask.

A bat flaps outside of the Gaol. Quentin hears a struggle in the lobby, followed by approaching footsteps. The cell door opens, and he is able to escape, past the deputy who has two bloody bite marks on his neck.

Magda arrives in Judith's room. Judith says the ghost of Mrs. Trask vanished minutes ago. She says she was sure Magda would be able to see her. She then notices that Minerva is back in the rocking chair. She asks Magda to confirm that she can see her, and she denies that she can.

Magda comes downstairs and tells Trask that she denied seeing Minerva's ghost.  He tells her that her business is finished. She says she recognizes him for what he is—a swine!

In the middle of the night, mangled-face Quentin arrives at Collinwood. He looks around and wonders why he's there. He plays the record on the Victrola, which is his theme.

Judith hears the music downstairs and goes to investigate.

Quentin listens to his theme, and begins to recite the lyrics. Judith enters, and screams when she sees the mangled-face man. He tells her that he's Quentin. She says she's afraid, and refuses to believe he's her brother. He tells her the police are after him. She turns to leave, and runs into the ghost of Minerva, poised with a knife and ready to strike!

Our thoughts

John: I know that we've come to believe Trask was an abusive guy, but even I must admit to being surprised when he slapped Judith out of the blue. I guess the silver lining is that he appeared to feel better after doing so.

Christine: I wasn't surprised by the slap, since he has a history of slapping women, but I was surprised by the delayed sound of his slap. It's always great to have a villain to hate on the show, and Gregory Trask is one of the most loathsome we've seen yet. Magda is right, he is the lowest! Too bad she didn't have the guts to tell Judith that her husband asked her to deny seeing Minerva, and conspire with her to turn the tables on him.

John: I was a little troubled by Judith today. I would be willing to buy that she developed a comfort level ignoring Minerva's ghost, since she really didn't do anything threatening (until the end of the episode), but then she would seem to revert back to sheer terror at her presence.

Christine: I never enjoy when a storyline requires Joan Bennett to act like a helpless woman. That type of role just doesn't suit her well.

John: Forget what he looks like with the mangled-face—how is it that Judith could not recognize Quentin? I mean, he's as tall as Quentin, he sounds exactly like Quentin, and he dresses in Quentin's only outfit. Even the werewolf doesn't dress in Quentin's clothes!

Christine: And he's reciting the lyrics to his theme song. Perhaps it's another effect of the Hand to make a person unrecognizable despite the fact that they're totally recognizable. As with Evan, Quentin's mangled face deteriorated even more today. So, I guess Hanley is controlling Minerva's apparition after all, because I would expect Minerva's ghost to go after her ex-husband with the knife before Judith or anyone else.

Dark Shadows Episode 789 - 7/3/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Judith is playing cards when Evan enters. She tells him that he's the one. Evan doesn't understand. She picks up a knife. She tells him that he made Tim poison her. She approaches him, knife raised, poised to strike.

She says he planned it with her husband. Edward comes in just in time to grab the knife from her. Judith asks Edward what's happening, and why Evan is there. Edward says she tried to kill Evan with the letter opener. He offers to call a doctor and she says she's alright. Edward asks Evan to stay as he leads Judith up to her room.

Evan pours himself a drink. Trask arrives and asks Evan where he has been for the past 24 hours. Evan tells him that his wife thinks she's his first wife, and she accused him of being responsible for her death. He says she seems to have recovered, but if she relapses they could be in trouble. Trask says they must put Minerva's ghost to rest. Evan says that even though Minerva is dead, Judith fears her. He adds that if they can bring his first wife back, she can haunt Judith. Evan also confirms that Judith's will now has Trask the master of Collinwood if anything happens to her. Evan says that he wants to be taken care of. Trask says he won't promise anything yet. Evan tells him to come to his house this evening, with a photo of his first wife. He tells him that if all goes according to plan, Judith won't be a problem, and he will be a very rich man.

Edward comes downstairs looking for Hanley. Trask says he left. Edward tells Trask that he wants to have his sister's marriage annulled. Trask tells Edward that he loves his sister, and will do everything in his power to ensure that she is well and happy. He leaves Edward and goes upstairs.

There's a knock at Judith's door, but no one is there when she answers. She closes it and goes to sit down when the knocking resumes. Once again, she opens the door to find no one there. Again, after closing the door the knocking resumes. She asks who it is, and Trask says that it's him. She tells him that she's glad he's home. Trask mentions that Edward is concerned over Judith's state of mind. She says she had a bad dream. Trask tells her that she mustn't be afraid, and she says she won't be as long as he's with her. He tells her he has to make a trip to the school, but will then be back with her.

Evan reviews several books as Trask sits in a chair, brooding. Evan asks him what's wrong. Trask points out that it's obvious he wouldn't be comfortable with this sort of thing. Evan asks for the picture of Minerva, and when Trask does, Evan says they will create a hallucination—a black ghost of Minerva. Evan says that Trask will need to be with Judith at the time, and as Evan sets the photo on fire, the apparition will appear. Evan tells him that he will begin the ritual at 8:30.

Edward comes downstairs as Trask returns to Collinwood. Edward says Judith has calmed down a bit. Trask starts upstairs, but Edward asks to speak to him in the drawing room first.

Evan conjures the false spirit of Minerva, asking it to appear before Judith Collins. He sets the photo on fire.

In Judith's room, the ghost of Minerva appears. Judith screams.

Edward tells Trask the most disturbing thing about Judith's behavior was accusing Evan of Minerva's murder. Judith runs downstairs calling for Gregory. Edward asks her what's wrong. Trask asks to speak to Judith alone, and he takes her into the drawing room. He asks her why she lied to Edward when she said nothing was wrong. She tells him that she saw Minerva's spirit in her room. Trask dismisses it as her imagination. He tells her Minerva would be happy about their union.

He pours her a brandy, and Judith says 'she's' in the room with them. He looks and sees her in a chair, knitting. He tells Judith they're alone in the room. He asks her to look at him. He reminds her of what he said earlier about being afraid. He says she should be thinking about their future, not Minerva. he tells her to turn around and tell him what she sees. She sees Minerva, but tells Trask that she doesn't. Judith asks for the brandy, and downs it.

Trask tells her to repeat that she is Mrs. Trask. He sends her up to her room. She asks if he'll be joining her, and he says he has things to do. He asks her if she's afraid, and she says she's not. She looks back at Minerva once more, who looks back at her. She then heads upstairs. Minerva follows her. At the top of the stairs, Judith turns and tells her not to come any closer.

Our thoughts

John: I thought Edward might raise the stakes in his fight to end Trask's marriage to Judith, but other than suggesting that it should be annulled, he was pretty soft. Of course, if he's working with Evan on the legal side, maybe he thinks he has an airtight case.

Christine: Hopefully the real ghost of Minerva will step in to protect Judith when all is said and done.

John: It is interesting to see Evan and Trask working together. Hard to imagine that relationship working well for either of the two men. I guess as long as they have enough dirt on each other, both will be safe.

Christine: Trask is a wolf in sheep's clothing, which may make him even more foul than Evan, who doesn't pretend to be good. It will be interesting to see who cuts whose throat first, though Evan may have the upper hand with the Hand of Count Petofi.

John: I like the black ghost of Minerva! Like Quentin, the most frightening ghosts on the show aren't the ones with dangling eyeballs - it's those that don't do much—they just stare at you.

Christine: I think the ghost we saw following Judith up the stairs was the real ghost, since the black ghost who appeared in her room was transparent and didn't move. Making eye contact with an unsmiling ghost is quite chilling. Dangling eyeballs aren't necessarily as terrifying, but still appreciated.

Dark Shadows Episode 773 - 6/11/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Tim returns and finds Mrs. Trask playing cards. She's startled, but he tells her he knows she plays. She explains that no one is absolutely perfect. He says he has come to apologize. She says that she just wants to relax and have her tea, and slams down the last card, revealing the Queen of Spades. He offers to refill her cup, and pours the nightshade into it. He gives it to her, and she tells him he can go. He says he wants to be sure that her tea is alright. She takes a sip. She complains that it's bitter, and he offers her more sugar.

She gets up and adds more water to it. She sits back down to play cards, and Tim watches her as she drinks. She asks him what he's staring at, and tells him to go to his room. He just stands there. She gets up suddenly. He asks her what's wrong. She says she has high blood pressure. She then complains of a pain, and asks him to leave.

She tries to get up to call a doctor, and Tim says he'll take care of that. He picks up the phone and repeatedly asks for an operator. He tells her the line is out of order. She moans in pain. She asks him for help, and when he does nothing, she calls out to Charity. She collapses.

Charity sips tea. and asks Rachel how she can fail a girl for sewing, explaining her father is a very instrumental figure. She suggests they give her a D. Charity asks Rachel if she has permission to go out this evening. She then says she doesn't know what Tim told her, but she broke off the engagement. Rachel was not aware.

Mrs. Trask comes to, and says that Tim did this to her. She asks why, and he says she played the Queen of Spades. She calls him a murderer, and then dies. Tim tells her that he was told that it would happen when she played the Queen of Spades.

Evan enters and checks Mrs. Trask's pulse. He tells Tim that he's done well. He picks up the Queen of Spades, and tells him to look him in the eyes. He shows him the card, and says when he tears it up, he will forget all the plans they made about Mrs. Trask.

He gives Tim the card, and tells him to tear it up. Tim does as he's told. Tim comes out of his trance, and Evan yells that he did it, pointing at Mrs. Trask. Tim turns and sees her. He says she's dead. Evan says her last words were calling Tim a murderer. Evan goes to call the police, and Tim struggles with him, ultimately knocking Evan out.

Rachel says she'll be happy to explain her grades to Charity's father. Charity leaves, and Tim goes into Rachel's room. He tells her that she's got to help him.

Charity looks at her dead mother in shock. Evan asks if Tim had a motive for killing her. Charity says she's not dead. Evan says the police will catch Tim. Charity says her father won't let her mother be dead. She asks Evan where he is. He tells her she said he was going into Collinsport. Charity asks why he's not looking for Tim. He explains that Tim is violent, and he's unarmed. Charity says she knows where Tim is—he's with Rachel. She takes a gun out of a drawer and gives it to Evan. He asks where Rachel's room is.

Rachel tries to understand what happened, and Tim asks if she thinks he did it. He admits that he hated Mrs. Trask, but he didn't kill her. She asks if he remembers anything. He says he went to her to apologize. Rachel suggests that Evan may have killed her, and tried to frame him. She tells him to go to the abandoned house near Collinwood where they escaped to previously. She says she'll bring him money after breakfast. He tells her to be careful, as they'll be watching her.

There's a knock at the door, and it's Evan demanding that she open the door immediately. He tells her that she is an accomplice to murder if Tim is in her room.

She helps Tim out the window while explaining she was just getting ready for bed. She opens the door and Evan comes in with a gun. She asks what he's doing, and he tells her that she knows. He asks if Tim went out the window, and where he's running to. He grabs her arm and demands that she tell him where Tim is.

He asks if they planned the murder together, and she asks what he happens to be doing at the house. He says he came to get the translation he commissioned from Tim. She tells him to let her go. He throws her aside. He asks if he should get rougher. He leaves her, taking the key to her room. He says she won't be alone for long.

Tim sneaks into the basement of the abandoned house. He lights a candle and looks around. He sees a coffin in the basement. He opens it up and looks inside.

Our thoughts

John: Mrs. Trask sure seemed like she was going to be one of those characters who was not quite dead yet. I was sure she was dead after Tim poisoned her, but then she needed to come to long enough to call him a murderer as Evan entered. And don't think we missed that blink when Charity was giving her the wide-eyed look (which reminded me of our old pal the wide-eyed skeleton).

Christine: There is certainly some resemblance around the eyes.

John: Is this deja vu all over again for Tim? Trying to run away from a crime he's not even sure that he committed? You'd think he'd have difficulty getting tenure at the school under such circumstances...

Christine: It seems like Trask engineered it to happen that way. Nice little bit of swordplay between Tim and Evan.

John: If it hadn't been Roger Davis' day off, I'm willing to bet that we would have seen him inside that coffin! Of course, one must wonder where he got himself a coffin in his time of need. Do you think there's a Casket Outlet in Collinsport?

Christine: When Beth and Barnabas found an open grave in Episode 771, Barnabas said that Dirk had found his secret sleeping place, so he must have procured a used coffin. I hope this means we'll meet up with Vampire Dirk tomorrow. I don't believe he can meet the standard set by Vampire Tom, but I do expect him to try in the most over the top way possible.