Dark Shadows Episode 458 - 3/27/68

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Naomi runs into Joshua's arms in the drawing room. She says she saw Barnabas, acting like an animal, and she asks why he didn't tell her about him. He asks where he is, and she says he's in the garden with Millicent. Joshua runs out the door.

Joshua comes downstairs where Naomi is sitting in front of the fire. He pours her a drink, which she refuses to take. He tells her that he took Millicent to her room, and she will be all right. Naomi says no one will ever be all right again. He asks her how she found out, and Naomi tells him it was Forbes. He says he's been looking for help for Barnabas. Naomi describes Barnabas as looking evil, saying Forbes was right about his being a killer. She asks what happened to her son. Joshua says he doesn't know that he understands either. She asks if Barnabas is back in the tower room, as she wants to see him. Joshua asks her to wait until tomorrow to see him. She realizes that Joshua was able to be blackmailed in order to protect her.

In the drawing room, Naomi writes a note to Joshua, and  then pours a drink. She takes out a pouch and prepares to put something in the drink, and then chooses not to. She puts the note in a desk drawer and leaves. Nathan watches her from atop the stairs.

Vicki sleeps in the study when there's a knock at the door. She opens the door for Naomi. She tells Vicki that Joshua is back, and will arrange for a boat in the morning. She asks if he'll be able to get Peter, explaining she can't leave without him, or allow him to be punished for something he hasn't done. Naomi tells her that Joshua will do his best on Peter's behalf. She hugs Vicki, who says she seems like she's saying goodbye. She asks what happened to her, but Naomi denies anything is wrong, and leaves her alone.

There's another knock at the door, and Vicki opens the door. She steps out and Nathan grabs her. He brings her back into the room and warns her not to scream as he points a pistol at her. He says he's going to take her into Collinsport and turn her over to the authorities. She asks why he testified against her. He says he had a great deal to lose if he testified for her. He says he had lost Millicent, and needed to testify against her to get Trask to get him back to good graces of the Collins family. She says he got what he wanted, and asks why he's still doing what he's doing. Nathan explains he didn't get the money he expected from Millicent. Vicki then tells him that Peter didn't kill his friend who kidnapped Daniel. She says that she did. Nathan doesn't believe her. He escorts her out of the room at gunpoint.

Naomi puts a powder into the drink she poured earlier. She raises the glass and drinks until it's empty. She removes the note from the drawer and places it on the desk.

Naomi returns to the tower room. Barnabas is there. He tells her she shouldn't have come. She says she doesn't understand, but knows he didn't do what he did by choice. She asks him to explain what happened to him.

Joshua comes downstairs looking for Naomi. He sees the empty glass next to her note. He reads it with a look of horror.

Barnabas finishes explaining what happened to his mother. She asks to hold him one more time as she grows weak. She says she loves him and collapses in his arms. Joshua calls to Naomi and enters the tower room. He finds Barnabas cradling his mother's body, and asks him what he has done.

Our thoughts

John: As Vicki was able to get Nathan to tell her why he did what he did, it seems like there's hope that he'll be punished for his crimes. Though it's still up in the air if that punishment would come from the authorities, Joshua, Ben or Barnabas...

Christine: Somebody needs to wipe that cocky grin off his face. I'm going to miss nefarious Nathan. He's so good when he's bad.

John: I love how Barnabas manages to tell his mother everything that happened to him in the time it took to cut away to Joshua finding her note.

Christine: I wonder if he told her he was a vampire. First his sister died in his arms and now possibly his mother too. Angelique really knows how to lay on a curse. What a witch!

John: Wow. Things are really going to hell in Collinwood. If I didn't know better, I'd be worried that there won't be anyone at the estate when we jump forward 200 years into the future.

Christine: Vicki's presence in 1795 is certainly having a deleterious effect on the family. Naomi wasn't supposed to die until 1821 according to the grave marker seen in Episode 210. Perhaps she'll survive her attempted poisoning.

Dark Shadows Episode 457 - 3/26/68

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Naomi lifts the lid on the coffin, and upon seeing what's inside, drops it shut. Ben arrives and escorts her out of the tower room.

In the drawing room, she asks Ben if she's losing her mind, having seen Barnabas in the coffin. Ben tells her that there's hope for Barnabas; that he's not dead. He explains that Barnabas is under a curse. She asks why no one told her, and Ben says they didn't want to break her heart. Ben says the witch was responsible, and Naomi says she can't believe Vicki would do it. Ben clarifies that Angelique was the witch. Naomi tells Ben that Nathan said Barnabas was still alive, and responsible for the stranglings in Collinsport. Ben tells her he's going to find Nathan and fix him good. Naomi tells Ben that she's going to take care of Forbes. She tells Ben to get a carriage and take Daniel into town. She wants him to stay in town because he's not safe in the house. Ben says it will be night soon, and asks if Riggs can take Daniel. Naomi asks if there's more he isn't telling her. Ben denies it, and agrees to take Daniel. Naomi goes upstairs.

Ben hears the door shut, and goes into the foyer where he sees Forbes. He tells Nathan he's lucky to be alive. Ben says he thought he met a fine collection of scum in prison, but Nathan is the foulest of the lot. He says his scheming isn't going to work out the way he wants it to. Ben says it's Daniel that Nathan now wants, but it's too late, because he's taking the boy into town. Nathan asks who gave that order, and Ben tells him Naomi. Nathan asks why he's telling him this, and Ben says that maybe it would cause Nathan to try and stop him, in which case he can kill him. Ben leaves to get the carriage.

Millicent comes downstairs and Nathan takes her into the drawing room. He tells her what her cousin Naomi is up to; preparing to send Daniel away. She says she knew. He asks if she was going to let her get away with it. He angrily tells her that it's not Naomi's decision. He says Daniel is her and his responsibility, and they were going to sign papers making him his legal guardian. He grabs her and tells her to go upstairs and tell Naomi that Daniel cannot leave. Millicent says she thinks it's best for Daniel to be sent away, while the witch is near. Nathan says he's not concerned about the witch—he's concerned about Daniel. Naomi enters and tells Nathan that there's no need to worry about Daniel any more, because he's gone. She then tells him they have some talking to do.

Nathan tells Naomi she is making a mistake, and she'll feel differently if she sees what's in the tower room. He asks if she found Barnabas, and she tells him it's none of his business what she found. She says the lie that he told her was even more vicious than the lie about Vicki he told in the courtroom. She says she understands how Nathan has been blackmailing her husband. He says she will leave without Millicent. He tells her that if he were to leave, Millicent can come with him. He asks her what she thinks the true story is. She tells him that while Barnabas is still alive, the other things he told her are lies. She explains that Ben told him what happened. Nathan tells her that Ben lied. He says Barnabas sleeping during the day explains why he's been so active at night. She tells him that he's lying, and Nathan says he saw Barnabas attack a woman on the docks, and she was found strangled later that night. Nathan tells her if she goes to the tower room after dark, she won't find Barnabas there.

At sunset, Barnabas rises from his coffin.

Naomi sits in the drawing room. She looks outside, and debates going to the tower room.

Barnabas realizes he must go somewhere and find someone. Then he decides he need not leave, and he calls to Millicent.

On the stairs, Millicent hears his call, and she approaches his portrait.

Naomi hears Millicent in the foyer say she will meet Barnabas. She goes into the foyer and asks Millicent what she's doing. She tells Naomi she's going to take a walk in the night air. She leaves, and Naomi grabs her coat and follows her.

Millicent meets Barnabas in the garden. Naomi sees the two of them from a distance, and watches as Barnabas leans in to bite Millicent's neck. She screams. Barnabas turns to see his mother watching.

Our thoughts

John: Naomi handled seeing Barnabas in his coffin better than I would have expected. I was surprised that she was able to contain herself when she saw him up and about. I think under the circumstances, she would have gone to him, or at least called to him, before he had a chance to put the bite on Millicent.

Christine: She was probably in shock. It's interesting that we're winding down the 1795 storyline with Barnabas feeding off Millicent as we'd left 1967 with him replenishing himself with Carolyn. He obviously has no qualms about attacking the young ladies in the family. It indicates something truly disturbing about Barnabas the vampire.

John: As much as I would love to see Ben and Nathan duke it out, I'd prefer for Naomi to be the one to put Forbes in his place, once and for all.

Christine: I'd prefer for Barnabas to put him in his place. With his fangs. Though it seems he does not care to dine on gentlemen. He must have been desperate after his 200 year fast to feed on Willie.

John: If Nathan knew so much, how come he never bothered to go to the tower room himself. Was he afraid of finding Barnabas?

Christine: Oh yeah, he's a lily-livered scum. Let's hope Barnabas will be seeking him out when he finds out he's responsible for his mom finding out his dirty secret. I had to chuckle when Ben said Nathan dresses fancy. 

"I thought I'd met a fine collection of scum when I was in prison. Thieves, cutthroats, blackmailers, mean, murderous, evil men, all of them. But there was none of them could compare to you. Oh, you dress fancy and you talk better, but down inside you're the foulest one of the lot." -Ben Stokes

You are going to be in so much trouble when your father gets home, mister!

Dark Shadows Episode 456 - 3/25/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Daniel climbs through the window to get into the drawing room, and then makes his way to the front door to let Vicki in. They hide in Joshua's study. Vicki reminds him not to tell anyone other than his cousin Naomi that she's there, and she doesn't want him to ever be alone with Nathan. Daniel goes to get Naomi, and Vicki locks the door behind him.

As Daniel walks upstairs, Millicent meets him coming down the stairs. She asks who he was talking to, and when he doesn't respond, she goes to see for herself. Daniel tells her he was talking to himself. She says she'll have to tell Nathan and he pleads with her not to. Naomi comes downstairs and is relieved to find Daniel safe. Millicent is angry that Naomi didn't tell her Daniel had been missing. Millicent says Nathan told her they're trying to drive her mad, and storms off. Daniel takes his cousin to see Vicki.

Vicki tells Naomi she didn't want to come to Collinwood. Naomi says she specifically requested that Peter bring her to the new house. Daniel describes how he was abducted, and how Vicki saved him. Vicki thinks Peter has been captured. Naomi explains that she'll make arrangements for them to get away when they hear Nathan arrive home, calling for Millicent.

Millicent says that he's against her, too, as he didn't tell her Daniel was missing. She says he's back, and Nathan asks where. She tells him he's in the study, and Nathan says he'll have a little chat with him. He knocks on the door of the study. Naomi asks what he wants, and he says he wants to speak to Daniel. They hide Vicki in a closet, and Naomi tells Daniel not to worry. She lets Nathan and Millicent in, and Nathan asks to speak with Daniel alone. Millicent agrees to leave, but Naomi does not. Naomi described Daniel's abduction. Daniel says he was being strangled, and stops short of saying how he got away. He describes the man as a sailor, and Naomi points out it matches Nathan's friend who had been at the house. Nathan says he found that man earlier, dead, and he has already taken the man responsible to the authorities. Bradford killed him, and unless the witch is found, he'll hang first.

Nathan tell Millicent that Naomi sent Daniel to bed, guarded by Stokes, as if he's in danger. He suggests that they draw up legal documents to make Daniel his responsibility. Millicent says there's a witch in the house. She says Daniel let someone in earlier. Nathan takes her to bed, and assures her if there's a witch in the house, he will find her.

Naomi comes to see Vicki. She says she wanted to be sure Daniel was safe. Vicki says Forbes was lying—Peter didn't kill the man. She says that she killed him, because he was strangling Daniel. Naomi realizes she had to do it, and thanks her for saving Daniel. Vicki says she can't let Peter die due to Nathan's lie. She asks why Nathan lied about that, and in her trial. Naomi tells her that Joshua will take care of things when he returns tomorrow. She tells Vicki to follow her upstairs.

The next morning, Daniel comes downstairs where Nathan is coming in. He accuses Daniel of lying, and says he knows he let Vicki in the house. He grabs him, and Naomi yells at him from the top of the stairs.

She says she is in charge of Daniel, and tells Nathan that she is having the authorities investigate what happened to Daniel. She says there is a witness, and Nathan gets nervous. He says she may not want to do that before her husband returns, and then asks if Joshua told her about Barnabas. She refuses to listen to him, as he claims that Barnabas is alive, and the strangler of Collinwood. He tells her to check the tower room if she doesn't believe him.

Naomi makes her way to the tower room. She opens the door and sees the coffin inside. She turns to leave, and then returns to it, lifting the lid a few inches.

Our thoughts

John: Wasn't someone guarding Millicent's door to keep her in there? She's really whacked out of her mind.

Christine: Riggs must have needed to find a chamber pot. Can't Barnabas exert some control over her or has he not acquired that skill yet?

John: Nathan was introduced as a bit of a cad, but he's really turned out to be quite the evil villain. He seems to have taken a turn after the initial blackmailing by Trask. I hope he gets a fitting end before we return to the future...

Christine: I think the only thing Joel Crothers will have to look forward to in returning to the character of nice guy Joe Haskell is finally getting out of that stinky uniform. He seems well suited to the bad guy role.

John: It might be a good thing for Naomi to find Barnabas' body in the tower room, as that will reinforce what she already believes—that he's dead, and then she can pursue the murder that Nathan doesn't want investigated. Of course, if Barnabas wakes, all bets are off.

Christine: I wonder why Nathan hasn't gone to the tower room to visit Barnabas himself. If Naomi finds Barnabas dead in his coffin and tells Nathan, I expect he'll decide to go investigate. If so, I hope he arrives after sunset and gets the savage comeuppance we'd like to see, and not the same disappointing chokehold that Jason McGuire got in Episode 276.

Dark Shadows Episode 455 - 3/22/68

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Daniel doesn't see Vicki inside the mausoleum. From within the secret room, Vicki hears him and opens the door. Daniel rushes in and begs her to close the door, saying someone is outside chasing him.

Noah approaches and enters the mausoleum, finding it empty, leaves.

Vicki asks if Nathan was chasing him, and Daniel explains it was someone else. Daniel asks if he can go with her when she leaves. She explains that they could never come back to Collinwood. Daniel explains that he has money, from Millicent signing over everything to him. Daniel adds that Nathan no longer likes him. She asks Daniel if Nathan is at Collinwood, as she realizes that Peter is on his way there.

Nathan comes downstairs and finds Noah in the drawing room. He tells him to get out, and Noah explains that it wasn't his fault. He says that Daniel got away. Nathan is ready to kill him, but Noah reminds him that everyone in the house will know he's there. Noah describes what happened to Daniel, leading up to his disappearing in the mausoleum, calling for Vicki, but he couldn't find him.

Naomi comes in, interrupting them, and Nathan escorts Noah out, under the guise of giving him Naval orders. Naomi tells Nathan that Daniel has been missing for hours. He's not concerned. Naomi says he acts as if he knows exactly where Daniel is. Nathan then suggests that maybe the witch got Daniel. Naomi refuses to believe that, and asks that he tell Millicent about Daniel. He instead offers to leave and join the search.

After he sees Nathan leave, Peter arrives at Collinwood. Naomi asks where Vicki is, and he tells her that she's hiding on the property. He tells her Vicki wanted her to know she thought Daniel was in terrible danger. She had a dream that led Vicki not to trust Nathan. She asks how she can help. She offers to help when Joshua returns from Boston. She asks how Vicki is, and he explains she was shot. Naomi insists that he bring Vicki to Collinwood to take care of her.

Daniel realizes that Vicki isn't well. He says he's going to get his cousin Naomi. She tries to stop him but cannot. He heads into the night. He makes his way through the cemetery, where he runs right into Noah's arms. He screams for help. Vicki comes to his rescue, and shoots Noah in the back. She calls for Peter, and takes Daniel back to the mausoleum.

Peter comes across the dead body of Noah in the cemetery. He picks up Noah's pistol when Nathan shows up, gun drawn. He takes the pistol and tells Peter that he's taking him back to the jail, with a new charge—murder!

Our thoughts

John: It sure looked like Vicki might accidentally shoot Daniel with her arm in the sling.

Christine: I wasn't sure that bullet was ever going to reach Noah, with Vicki firing the gun before we heard the shot and Noah falling a few seconds after that. Noah mysteriously acquired a beanie after being bare headed in yesterday's episode.

John: Poor Noah, the early beatnik. Died before he ever saw a dime from his pal Nathan Forbes.

Christine: That probably would have been the same result even if he'd died of old age.

John: If Peter plays his cards right, he can say he was bewitched by Vicki. She's going to die either way—might as well spare his own life!

Christine: Peter is no Nathan Forbes. He'll gladly go the the gallows with her since he won't want to go on living without her.  I was surprised Nathan settled for Peter Bradford and didn't try to bag Vicki and Daniel too. Perhaps he intends to circle back for the two of them next.

Dark Shadows Episode 452 - 3/19/68

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Joshua returns to the new house. He finds Naomi, and asks where everyone is. She explains Nathan is upstairs with Millicent. He says they need privacy. She asks him what he was doing at the old house, and he says he first needs to know why she went to the old house. Naomi tells him that she and Forbes returned home and found Millicent, who said she saw Barnabas, and then saw him taking Barnabas to the old house. Naomi says she thinks Joshua is keeping the fact that Barnabas is alive away from her. She mentions seeing the light in the tower, and Joshua admits she may have seen a light, and it could have been a servant.

Joshua tells her it's insane to think Barnabas is alive. She says she heard his voice outside the old house. Joshua tells her Barnabas is dead, and Sarah is dead. She asks him who he was with at the old house. He says he was with a woman with powers to exorcise a curse. He admits he feels the family has been under a curse. She asks if he believes Vicki is a witch that put a curse on the house, and Joshua says that he realizes that Angelique was the witch. He summoned a woman to remove the curse Angelique left, but she failed. She asks if he realizes he was wrong about Vicki. He says he will speak to the judge, and Naomi reminds him the execution is scheduled for tomorrow. She says she doesn't know why he has changed his mind, but she's sure he's still keeping things from her.

Vicki is in her cell when Peter comes to see her. She says she thought he would never see her again. They kiss. She asks him if he found Trask in Salem. He says no one had seen him. He didn't find anyone who had seen or heard of Trask since he was last seen in Collinsport. He tells her he has to find Trask, and Vicki says it's hopeless. The guard then brings in Joshua. He says he's come to apologize to Vicki. He says he realizes she is innocent of the charges, and he has called the judge to reopen the trial. He plans to say his sister Abigail was an unreliable witness. Vicki accepts his apology, and thanks him. Peter and Joshua leave to meet with the judge.

Joshua tells the judge he now believes Vicki is innocent. The judge asks for details. He says Vicki was helpful to his sick daughter, and a witch would not act in such a manner. Joshua asks if his opinion matters. The judge said it would have during the trial, but now he needs actual evidence. Joshua tells the judge that his sister was not in her right mind when she made the charge against Vicki. He says she was a fanatic, always seeing the devil somewhere. The judge says that Trask proved his case in the court. Peter brings up Trask's note, and the judge says that the note alone is worthless without actual testimony from Trask. Joshua points out that Ben testified Angelique was the witch. The judge says that testimony was tossed out. He says that they need a witness who can testify that Angelique was in fact the witch. Joshua says he is unable to do that, and the judge tells him the sentence of the court must be carried out. Victoria Winters must hang.

Peter and Joshua return to Vicki's cell. She can tell from their looks that they were unsuccessful. Joshua says he did what he could, and bids her farewell. Peter says that a miracle could still happen when the guard tells him he has to leave. Peter tells Vicki he loves her and then leaves. He grabs the guard's gun and tells him to take him back in to the cell.

He puts the guard in the cell, and tells Vicki to point the gun at the guard and shoot him if he moves.

The guard jumps on her and there is a struggle. The gun goes off and Vicki is shot in the arm. Peter knocks out the guard, and when they hear a crowd outside the front door, they leave through the back door.

Our thoughts

John: Naomi has got Joshua on the ropes. I wonder if he'll eventually feel obligated to spill the beans on Barnabas.

Christine: I have a feeling she'll go looking for Barnabas on her own, and I bet he'll be easy to find in the tower where Joshua has left him, despite the fact that everyone now knows that someone is hanging out up there. 

John: I was hoping Joshua was going to decide to bring Barnabas to the judge to testify about Angelique. Oh, well. Tough break, Vicki.

Christine: He couldn't bring Barnabas to testify unless they held night court. He could have at least brought the Countess in to say that Angelique came from Martinique, where apparently everyone knows something about witchcraft.

John: Oh, Peter, you impetuous fool. I don't think he really thought the break-out through. Of course, I think it's safe to say that things aren't going to end well for either of them.

Christine: Way to go, Bradford! I thought Burke was a bad beau, but this guy is a real flake. The townsfolk must be gathering for the execution early since they were already at the door ready for mob justice when they heard the shots. Can we expect Vicki to be dangling on the end of a rope by Friday?

Having to admit he was wrong is making Joshua feel a little green today.