Dark Shadows Episode 886 - 11/17/69

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Standing atop Widow's Hill, Josette hears footsteps approaching. She screams that she won't become what he is. But it's Natalie, not Barnabas. She tells her not to do it. She grabs Josette. She tells Natalie that she can't help her. She says that he will come to her. Natalie says she knows someone supposed to be dead is not.

Back at Collinwood, Natalie brings Josette to Millicent's room. She says she must go to tell someone who told her where she was that she is safe. She leaves, and Millicent asks her if Barnabas' death has really affected her that way.

Natalie comes to see Barnabas. He asks if Josette is safe. Natalie says that had he gone for her, she would have run from her and she would have died. She says that Angelique showed Josette a vision of herself as a witch. She says she saw him dead, and he cannot see Josette. She claims and understanding creatures such as him, and says he knows he's a ghost. He tells her to bring Josette to him. He says she will do as he says, and bites her neck.

Millicent tells Josette that Barnabas' death has not stopped her love for him. She says that she is afraid to love, as she's sure a tragedy will occur, as it did to her. She says when she's upset, she just doesn't think about it. She then finds a vial and ask Josette what it is. Josette asks for it and Millicent gives it to her. Natalie returns and tells Josette it's safe for her to return to her room. She sends her to her room and stays with Millicent, who says Josette shouldn't be alone. She asks why Josette thinks Barnabas is still alive, and then realizes Natalie is crying.

Josette returns to her room. Barnabas is waiting for her. He begs her not to be frightened of him. She says she knows his plan for her, and he explains that Angelique showed her that to try and ruin their love. He says they could have been together, but that is over now. He says there is another time, 100 years in the future, where he is still alive. He says he is free of the vampire curse then. He asks for her trust. He says they can be in another century tonight. He tries to impress upon her that he was in that time just hours ago. He asks her if she remembers Kitty Soames, or being in the old house. She says it was a dream, and he explains that it was not. She says that he is frightening her. He says there is more to their lives than she knows, and asks her for one last chance.

He says they can travel through time to be married and human. He tells her to go to the old house, and says that the secret is in the portrait. He asks if she still loves him and she says that she always will, and kisses him. He tells her to meet him at the old house at midnight, telling no one. He says she can write her aunt a note, and he will go see Ben Stokes to protect them. He promises to make her forget tonight. He leaves, and she sits down to write a note.

Barnabas is lost in the woods. He stumbles across a structure he's never seen before. He's sure it wasn't there earlier that night. He can't figure out how he could be lost in Collinwood. A woman approaches, and he asks who she is, and where he is. She waves her hand.

He turns and sees another cloaked figure. A man. They kneel and raise their hands to him. He asks what they want of him. They don't speak, but the man grabs him. Barnabas demands to be let go, and then tells himself he must disappear. But he cannot. He wonders who the strangers are, and what powers they have.

Josette is in the old house, waiting for Barnabas. She asks the portrait how it can be the key.

Millicent reads Josette's letter to Natalie. She says they must go after her. Natalie says they cannot fight him. Millicent refuses to give up, and runs out of the room.

Josette wonders where Barnabas is, as he has not arrived by 12:30. She wonders if he was lying to her about the portrait and time travel. She assumes that he plans to turn her into a creature of the night. She thinks that they will never have each other. She takes the vial from her purse and drinks the contents. She collapses, saying his name.

The two figures kneel at Barnabas' feet. He is unable to move. They rise and the man mentions the mother earth.

Josette lies on the floor, saying Barnabas' name one last time, before dying.

Barnabas is now lying atop the altar. The two figures approach him and the 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.

Our thoughts

John: Well, I guess I got a definitive answer to the question of whether Barnabas is still a vampire. Julia Hoffman would have been so jealous of Natalie...

Christine: I understand that he's got to be famished by now, since he rarely consumed anybody during his stay in 1897, and that he's able to exert control over unwilling people by putting the bite on them, but he's quite the scoundrel to kiss Josette while the taste of her aunt's blood lingers on his lips.

John: Ah, Josette. Always ready to commit suicide at a moments notice. I wonder if Barnabas will even find out about it.

Christine: I'm not sure we can blame Angelique for this any more. Josette is in serious need of therapy. Or was. If only Barnabas had succeeded in transporting her to 1897 he could have set up a consultation for her with Freud. Oh well, too late now.  Will this be the last Josette reincarnation, lookalike or doppelgänger, or will we be going through this with Barnabas all over again in the future?

John: Double-wow! Who are these crazy cultists that appeared out of nowhere and know Barnabas? Could this be the Leviathans I have read about but never seen? I like the pre-Omega Man 'Family' vibe that they've got.

Christine: I think the sea monsters carved on the stone above the altar confirm that the Leviathans have landed, interrupting Barnabas' last chance to reunite with his long lost love. Nobody expects the Leviathans! Dig that crazy stone altar! It could be used for all manner of things. It should be an interesting week.

Dark Shadows Episode 885 - 11/14/69

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Kitty is wearing Josette's wedding dress, and slowly being pulled into her portrait. Barnabas arrives just in time to grab her hand and the two of them disappear.

Barnabas is lying on the ground in the woods. He calls for Kitty, but does not see her anywhere. Ben Stokes puts his hand on his shoulder, and Barnabas realizes he has traveled back in time. He wonders where Kitty is, and Ben says there's no one named that around here. Ben says he's been waiting for him. Barnabas asks what he means, and Ben says he was planning to do something. Ben says he noticed her getting weaker and weaker. Barnabas says he gave her a ring, and Ben says he has two coffins ready. Ben asks him to change his mind, telling him that she doesn't know he's a vampire. Barnabas says he must find Josette. Ben says she's in Collinwood, and she's protected. Barnabas says he must go to Collinwood. Ben reminds him that if his father or mother see him, they'll think he's risen from the dead. Barnabas tries to recall what happened in the past. He recalls how Angelique ruined his plans. Barnabas tells Ben to go to the shack, and when Angelique arrives, bring her to Josette's room in the old house.

Natalie watches over Josette. She wakes, and describes dreaming that she was living in another time, holding her dress while looking at a portrait of her. She says the portrait was like it was alive, and the next thing she knew, she woke up. They hear steps outside the door. It's Ben, checking on Josette. Natalie says she doesn't trust anyone.

Angelique meets Barnabas in Josette's room, and asks what they have to say to one another. He tells her that he knows what she plans to do tonight. He says she will lure Josette to the cliff to try and stop them. Angelique says he has ruined everything for her. He says he has no intentions on making Josette a vampire, and asks her to promise him that she will do nothing. She refuses. He tells her to destroy the coffins. He says he only wants to save Josette. She asks if he really loves her, and he says he loves her too much to make her like him.

He begs her to do him this one favor. He asks her to stay with him until midnight. She says he will see that she is going to do nothing. He says he knows she will lure Josette to Widow's Hill and torment her with fears of what will happen if she joins Barnabas, after which Josette will throw herself from Widow's Hill. Angelique tells him not to expect her to stop it, and to see if he can. He rushes to Widow's Hill.

Natalie remains with Josette, who says she is very relaxed. She says she is safe, and Natalie says they just need to make it through the night. Josette says she is not in any danger. She then realizes that she has lost her ring. Natalie says that's how the prophecy starts. Josette gets up and says she must go to the old house to find the ring. Natalie tries to stop her. She says Barnabas will expect her to have it. She pushes past her and breaks a glass, another thing Natalie associates with the prophecy.

Natalie goes to  the window and sees there is no moon. They hear wind and chains rattling. The door swings open. Natalie goes to get a servant to help with the door, and after she steps through it slams shut and she's unable to get back in. Josette's music box begins to play. She calls to Barnabas. Outside, Natalie begs her to open the door. She hears Barnabas' voice, saying he's waiting for her. She says she lost the ring, and his voice says he found it in the old house. She asks where he is, and the voice says he's on Widow's Hill. Josette uses the secret panel to leave the room as Natalie pounds on the door.

Josette arrives at Widow's Hill looking for Barnabas. She hears Angelique's laugh. She says that she has come to warn Josette not to go away with him, as he will hill her, and turn her into a bloodthirsty animal. Her voice tells Josette to look out over the cliff to see what she will become when she becomes his. She approaches Widow's Hill and sees herself as a vampire. She screams for her to take the image away. Angelique's voice reiterates that is what she will become. She then says Barnabas is coming to turn her into that creature. She hears footsteps approaching...

Our thoughts

John: Ben Stokes? It's 1795 all over again! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to time travel back into the past! Though it is good to see Ben Stokes and Natalie again after all these years.

Christine: It certainly is a nice diversion, and seems appropriate for Barnabas to have a chance to save Josette from going over the cliff. I think the vision Josette had of herself as a vampire was much scarier the first time, though.

Episode 425

John: I guess we're to assume that Barnabas is in fact a vampire again at this point in the ever-changing timeline. I can't even remember the last time he snacked on someone...

Christine: It would suggest that it's his soul that's traveling since he's reverted and is in his 1795 attire, which makes me wonder where his body is, since it disappeared from the basement of the Old House.

John: I was glad that Angelique didn't have her full awareness of future events, as that made for a more interesting replay of past events. Will Barnabas be able to save Josette? And if he does, what will that mean for the future, and all of his efforts to save David and Quentin?

Christine: Barnabas still has not figured out that the only way to save Josette is to submit to Angelique, as she is determined to not let anyone have him since she can't have him. I think Josette is destined to take another nosedive off the cliff, though if he is able to save her, perhaps there will be a lot more Collins family members living at Collinwood when we return to the present.

Dark Shadows Episode 665 - 1/10/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Angelique tells Vicki's corpse that she will release her from her spell once she's been buried, so she can awaken in a coffin only to die again.

Barnabas rises from his coffin and is met by Ben. Ben confirms that he is ready to help him.

Peter looks over Vicki's body as the Countess and Millicent look on. Peter tells them that Vicki is not going to be buried. He says he can't let got of her, and does the patented Bradford/Clark head-grab.

Angelique eavesdrops on Peter before going upstairs.

Angelique comes to see Barnabas, and he says she betrayed him. She denies it, explaining that Vicki had to undergo the hanging. She says Vicki will live again, once the two of them leave Collinwood. He doesn't trust her. She tells him that if he doesn't, Vicki will die the most horrible death imaginable. He says that she is wrong, and that she will die. He walks to the door and opens it. Ben enters with a torch, and proceeds to light her on fire. She screams as she burns, while Ben chants, "Burn!"

Peter is distracted by a woman screaming when Vicki sits up, alive.

Barnabas tells Ben to spread Angelique's ashes to the four winds. As they leave the room, the Countess sees him, despite knowing that he's dead. She goes into the room he and Ben came out of, and sees the coffin. She opens it.

Vicki says she remembers standing on the gallows, and then waking up in Collinwood. Barnabas enters and is shocked to see her alive.

Millicent comes into the room with the coffin. She says she heard screaming. The Countess tells her that Barnabas is alive. Millicent says she already knew that. The Countess says the coffin in the room is empty. Millicent says that Nathan talked about Barnabas when she saw him, saying that he wanted her to destroy Barnabas by driving a stake through his heart.

Barnabas says it's a miracle. He explains that Angelique put a spell on her, but it must have been broken when they burned her alive. Peter comes in, and Barnabas tells then to go away, as far as they can. He wishes them happiness. Peter thanks him, and Vicki asks to be alone with Barnabas for a moment. He goes to prepare the carriage, and Vicki tells Barnabas that no matter what happens, she will always remain close to him. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves.

The Countess believes that Barnabas is a vampire. She realizes that he wanted to make Josette like him, which is why she jumped from the cliff at Widow's Hill. She pledges to destroy Barnabas.

Ben asks where Barnabas will be returning to. He says he needs to be in the cemetery where Ben met him 48 hours ago. Ben agrees to go with him.

The Countess and Millicent go to follow Barnabas.

In the cemetery, Barnabas returns to the spot where he left Julia. He calls to her in the future, asking her to draw him forward in time. Millicent and Julia watch from the woods. Barnabas says that perhaps Julia was to find him the way Willie found him, and asks Ben to follow him into the mausoleum. He tells Ben to return in the morning and place chains around the coffin. He also asks him to tell his father what happened.

After dawn, the Countess and Forbes enter the mausoleum. She says she had him released from prison to do what must be done. He has a stake in his hand, and she opens the secret door. She tells him to open the coffin. He does, and the find Barnabas sleeping inside. She tells Forbes to destroy him, and he raises a mallet into the air, and brings it down in a crash.

Our thoughts

John: So Angelique is giving Vicki the Liz Stoddard/buried alive treatment, though this time she's cutting right to the chase. Makes sense, the way these things can drag on.

Christine: Why torment Vicki just because Barnabas loves her? It's one thing to do away with her to make him suffer, but quite another to make her die twice horribly just because he spurned Angelique. She is really honing her skills at evildoing.

John: I'm sorry, but if Angelique could be done away with a simple impromptu barbecue, she would have been vanquished long ago. This has all the hallmarks of the writers' needing a quick way to wrap up the storyline... As Barnabas tells Ben, it's hard to believe. And particularly hard to believe is that she burned to ashes in a matter of minutes.

Christine: Angelique cannot be killed, only diminished. I only hope her incineration will break Liz's spell too.

John: Was anyone else hoping that Barnabas might have a change of heart and bite Vicki to keep as his own... Instead he lets her go, and decides to take another 200-year nap, all but ensuring he'll return to the future as a vampire. Unless his life is cut short by Nathan Forbes!

Christine: I'm glad to see that Barnabas has learned some selflessness and decided to let Vicki go with the man she truly loves. Maybe he'll mature even more after another 200 years of reflection. The loud bang we heard at the end of the episode didn't sound like a hammer hitting a stake, so I think he'll come out okay on Monday. Dan Curtis spared no expense in this episode, with a total of 8 actors on board for the action today! That may be a record.

Dark Shadows Episode 450 - 3/15/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

The Countess tells Joshua that someone is coming. The front door bursts open and a woman dressed in black enters. She says that they have sent for her. She tells them the man they sent for her to see has already gone.

Joshua asks what she means his son is not there. She says there is no one under a curse in the house—but there is a madwoman locked in a room in the house. The woman walks to the portrait of Barnabas. Joshua says he is locked in the room, and she says to go check. The woman says it's a matter of life and death, but not just for her. The man may die when the curse is removed. She asks if his father wants to take that chance.

Joshua enters the tower room and calls for Barnabas. Millicent tells him it's not proper for him to be in her room. Joshua asks when she came here and she says she came for a wedding, and she will complain to Naomi if people keep coming into her room. Joshua asks what Barnabas did to her. She smiles and thanks him for inviting she and Daniel to Barnabas' wedding. Joshua is distraught. Millicent once again asks what he's doing in her room. Joshua sees the marks on her neck, and realizes what happened.

He says he will make it up to her. She says he should not let the man who looks like Barnabas stay in the house, and Joshua tells her he's doing what he can about it. Millicent has clearly gone insane.

The Countess tells the woman that Joshua has been gone too long, and she replies that he did not find what he expected. The woman tells the Countess that she is in danger. Joshua returns and confirms Barnabas is gone. He adds there is madness in the house—Millicent. He asks the Countess to stay with her. She goes upstairs and he asks the woman if she knows where his son is. She says a strong witch put the curse on Barnabas. She asks him to bring her the portrait.

Outside, Barnabas realizes he can never go back after what he did to Millicent. He's not sure where to go and hide.

The woman says Joshua hasn't told her everything about his son. She asks why he doesn't trust her. She says she must know the name of her enemy, and Joshua explains Barnabas is a vampire. He leaves her alone with the portrait in the drawing room.

The Countess comes downstairs and asks Joshua what happened to Millicent. She then asks what the woman is doing. He explains she's trying to bring him back. Joshua points out that everyone is in town, and might see him. Including his mother.

The woman calls for Barnabas.

On the docks, Barnabas hears the woman's call. A prostitute shows up, and Barnabas can't help but approach her.

The woman says the devil need not own him, and tells Barnabas to follow the light. She calls for a flame to find Barnabas and bring him to her.

Barnabas hears a voice tell him to follow the light. He sees a light and turns to follow it.

Joshua complains about how long things are taking. The woman comes out of the drawing room and says he has heard.

In the tower room, Joshua and the woman stand over Barnabas' coffin. She says that he is here, and Barnabas enters the tower room. He asks what she's going to do to him, and she says she's going to fight the curse for him.

She asks for her name, and he chokes as he tries to say it. She puts her hand on his throat, and he is able to say Angelique's name.

He asks for his father to leave, and she says there must be a witness. She shows him a cross, frightening him, and places it on his coffin to deny him sanctuary. She walks around Barnabas to generate a protective circle that Angelique cannot cross.

She then calls to Angelique's spirit. Angelique speaks through Barnabas, telling the woman she will die, and then laughs.

The woman puts her hand on Barnabas' heart, and she says that she is not afraid. Joshua says that Barnabas is dying. The woman tells Angelique that she dare not hide from her. She says she will not leave until she has left his body, when Barnabas stands up and attacks her.

Our thoughts

John: I have to say, the strange old woman is pretty good. Too bad she doesn't seem long for this world!

Christine: That is one badass witch! It's a shame they didn't make her a regular. She was fantastic! While her name is not spoken, she is named in the credits as Bathia Mapes, and played by Anita Bolster, who has quite an extensive filmography on IMDb.

John: The Countess says it's strange to see Joshua so human. Nice compliment.

Christine: It's also strange to see Joshua put so much faith in a witch. Our goodly witch tells the Countess that anyone who loves or is loved by Barnabas is in great danger, in case we'd forgotten the curse wasn't just about Barnabas being a bloodsucker.

John: Too bad Trask is behind a brick wall. I think he'd enjoy seeing a true exorcism taking place!

Christine: So, am I to understand that Angelique has been lodged inside Barnabas because of the curse she placed on him? Her continued existence is truly a mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed today's episode! Can't wait to see how the battle for Barnabas turns out on Monday!

"My son is a vampire."