Dark Shadows Episode 938 1/28/70

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Julia tells Barnabas that she has to talk to him. He tries to avoid her, but she tells him she opened Michael's grave and found an empty coffin. She asks if that means anything to him, and he says it means nothing. She says she pronounced him dead two weeks ago, but it was clearly faked. She says she doesn't know how, but she knows why, and demands that he tell her everything. He agrees to tell her the whole story, and asks her to come with him to the old house.

Barnabas starts with the fire at Tate's studio. He says he went looking for Quentin's portrait, and found Petofi's glasses, and thought he might be dead. Tate showed up and blamed him for destroying his studio. He tells Barnabas to leave or he will kill him. Barnabas says he's there to find out if Petofi died in the fire. Barnabas asks if he thinks the fire also consumed Blackwood. Tate says he doesn't know, and he says he doesn't care. Barnabas asks him about the portrait of Quentin, and asks if it was there. Tate tells him that he did steal the portrait of Quentin, and now it won't do him any good because it was there. Barnabas realizes that the curse will return to Quentin.

Barnabas tells Julia that Tate agreed to paint another portrait of Quentin that night, but he lied. Julia says that she was with Tate when he died a few nights ago, a victim of Chris Jennings as the werewolf. She adds that Quentin's portrait hadn't burned in the fire. She has it. She tells him she got it from Angelique. She adds that Angelique is happily married and has given up her powers. Barnabas continues his tale, saying Kitty went to the old house to plead with the portrait of Josette to release her from its spell. He found her, and they agreed to marry that night.

In the old house Kitty thinks about how long she has known Barnabas, and wonders what's taking him so long. She decides that she must find something more suitable to wear, and she finds one of Josette's dresses. She realizes that the dress will make her Josette forever, and she casts it aside.

Barnabas hears Josette calling for him, and rushes back to the old house.

Kitty is wearing the wedding dress, and is slowly pulled into the portrait of Josette. Barnabas reaches for her as she was almost gone. He tells Julia that the power of the portrait was too great. He grabbed on to her, and followed her to wherever fate would lead them. He then realized he was being taken back to an earlier time, when Josette was to die on Widow's Hill. He says he got to the hill in time and saved her. They arranged to leave that night.

Barnabas found himself lost in the woods, where he stumbles across an altar that hadn't been there previously.

He tells Julia that is when he met Oberon of the Leviathans. He says a second figure closed in on him and subdued him. He awoke later, and Oberon explained to him what had happened.

Barnabas wakes, and Oberon says that since he has mastered travel through time, he will allow the Leviathans to live again. He says they are almost extinct, but there will be a resurgence when a new leader marries a human and brings forth a new breed. He tells Barnabas that he will not see Josette again until he helps them. He must take their seed to the future and nurture it. He says that if Barnabas disobeys, Josette will die, he will never see her again, and he will be forced to live as a creature of the night.

Oberon tells him that Josette is safe as long as he serves them. He gives Barnabas the Leviathan box, and tells him he will follow the rules of the great book. He will guide and teach the child, and preside over the wedding ceremony. He says he must never question or doubt him. Barnabas agrees. Oberon reminds him that there is a terrible penalty for disobedience, and while he will forget what that is, he will regret the day they remind him.

Barnabas tells Julia that they then treated him as there leader. Julia asks about the box he brought back, that sounded like someone was breathing. Barnabas says it took form when the Todd's opened the box. Julia realizes the baby in the antique shop originated in the Leviathan box, and the different names were only to explain the rapid growth. She realizes it's upstairs in the antique shop. Julia asked about its form—the form that killed Paul Stoddard and the Sheriff. Barnabas says it's hideous. He says it's currently in the form of Jeb, and it has resisted his control.

Julia asks if they could have lied to him about Josette. He says yes, but he defied them once before, when they wanted him to kill Julia. They made him a vampire for one night. She mentions that she's still alive, and he says he found that killing is forbidden in their book. He says they can control people through dreams, but they weren't able to control Julia, but they do have David, Amy and Elizabeth. Barnabas says Carolyn is in danger, as the Leviathans granted Paul wealth and power 20 years ago in exchange for his most valuable possession–Carolyn. To recreate the Leviathan race, there is to be a ceremonial marriage between Jeb and Carolyn. Carolyn would be transformed into a creature like Jeb. Julia says they can't let it happen, but Barnabas says he doesn't know how to stop it. He says Jeb has plans to destroy her and Maggie and Amy. Barnabas says that Jeb can create an army of the dead.

At Sheriff Davenport's grave, the earth trembles and a hand breaks free, clutching at the sky.

Our thoughts

John: Holy exposition, Batman! How long have we waited for all the info Barnabas lays out for Julia in one sitting! Nice to finally have some loose ends tied up. Was I asleep at the wheel when they announced Barnabas was only a part-time vampire? We almost need a vampire tracking symbol to keep tabs on whether he's human or the undead.

Christine: It might have been nice if Oberon had explained the Leviathan plan a little more clearly back in Episode 886, which could have saved us all a lot of confusion. Barnabas is not a part time vampire, but if you refer to Episode 915, you'll remember that Adlar the Leviathan showed up in a dream after Barnabas refused to kill Julia, to remind him what it was like to be a vampire, informing him that it would become permanent if he continued to disobey.

John: Interesting that they left the possible return of Petofi up in the air... Do you think the Leviathans actually have Josette stashed away somewhere? Not that I see any potential for a happy ending there.

Christine: We saw Josette collapse and appear to die after taking poison in Episode 886. There is a possibility the Leviathans resurrected her and took her to an underground lair, though I don't see why they would bother when they could just tell Barnabas they had her, and that, in addition to the vampire threat, was enough to keep him in check.

John: Zombie action! Does the return of Sheriff Davenport also signal a possible return of Paul Stoddard! Let's hope so!

Christine: It was about time we got around to the zombie genre! You may be interested to know that the zombie hand is credited to George DiCenzo, who you may remember from Back to the Future, as well as numerous TV appearances. This is where he got his start. Incidentally, I had to laugh at Sheriff Davenport's gravestone. Did nobody know the poor guy's first name, or did his name inspire his occupation?

Dark Shadows Episode 890 - 11/21/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Back inside the old house, Julia finds the box and lifts it up. She hears breathing coming from within it. She goes to open it when Barnabas shouts at her.

He tells her to get her hands off of the box and get out of his house. She says something is wrong with him; that they have been friends for too long. He tells her to go, and says she must give up her belief that she has a right to know everything about him. She refuses to leave. She says he owes her, and he says he owes her nothing. He says he has lost all patience for her, now that she has betrayed him. She asks what has changed him. She says she can't forget how close they've been, and he can't blame her for wondering what has happened.

He asks her forgiveness, and blames time travel. He says his mood may be his reaction, and says that they are old friends. That somehow convinces her that he's back to normal. She says she thought she heard breathing in the box, and he says she has an overactive imagination.

Carolyn rushes in and is surprised to see Barnabas. She hugs him. He says he's back, and his old self again. He asks what she's been doing since he was away. She's visibly upset, and says she won't bother them about it now. Julia presses her, and Carolyn says Sabrina Stewart sent for her. She warned her about Chris. Julia asks what she said. Carolyn says she told her that Chris Jennings would kill he. Julia asks why, and suggests Sabrina may just be jealous. Carolyn says she believes her, and Barnabas tells her to trust her instincts.

At the antique shop, Megan says she wants to call Julia. Philip tells her it's just a telegram. She calls Julia and invites her to stop by the shop to talk about the Tate painting. Julia agrees to come see her tomorrow.

Barnabas looks at the box, thinking that Julia is too curious, and realizing that others will be, too. He wonders if he'll know it is the time...

In the antique shop, Philip lowers the price on an antique rocking cradle when Julia arrives. They tell her that they received a telegram last night from someone interested in buying the Tate painting she bought, noting that money is no object. Megan asks if she's interested in selling. She says she's not, but she's interested in talking to the interested buyer.

Carolyn is in the drawing room when Barnabas arrives at Collinwood. He asks how she is doing, and she says that Chris called him, but she didn't take the call. She wonders what Chris could have done. She wonders if he's hiding something, and Barnabas says she should assume that. She says she has felt that she's falling in love with him several times, and Barnabas says that would be a mistake. He says he has a gift for her. He says he found it at the old house, but doesn't know where it came from. It's a pentagram. He tells her to wear it—always. He asks if she will, and she agrees. He says it's a good luck charm that will perhaps bring the love that she so deserves. She asks if he thinks she should not see Chris, and he says he does. He says that Sabrina is not just jealous.

Julia is poking around the antique store when Carolyn arrives. She says she needs a small silver chain for the pentagram. Julia asks where she got it, and she says it was a gift from Barnabas. Julia hurries out of the store.

Julia asks Barnabas why he gave Carolyn the pentagram. He tells her that it's to protect her from Chris, who may change independent of the status of the moon. She says they could return him to Windcliff. He says she can do what she wants, as he's too busy. She asks if he's too busy to hear about Quentin. He asks what she knows about about Quentin. She mentions the telegram, saying she thinks Quentin could be alive and looking for any Tate portraits. Barnabas says it's unlikely, noting Quentin is probably dead, and tells her to leave. Upset, she asks what happened to him before walking out of the room.

Barnabas holds on to the box and realizes that it is time.

Barnabas falls asleep next to the box. In a dream, he is back at the altar. He sees Oberon, and asks for his guidance. He asks how he will know when he finds the chosen ones. Oberon says that one will wear the sign of the Naga. He says strangers will come to him, but he will know them. Barnabas says he will know to trust them, and lead them to do what they must do. Oberon reiterates that he will know. Barnabas wakes from the dream to the sound of someone knocking at the door. He realizes that the chosen ones have arrived.

Our thoughts

John: There are so many unanswered questions, not only from 1897, but from the 1969 we left behind. Is David okay? Should we assume that Quentin is alive and that's why he was no longer haunting the old house? We need to catch up with a lot of folks before these loose ends will be tied up.

Christine: I had hoped these matters would be resolved by this point in the week, but it appears they are going to leave us hanging a little while longer. I thought it was funny that Julia claimed that in the past Barnabas would have understood why she was doing something he disapproved of her doing. I guess she forgot about all those times he choked her when she did something he didn't like.

Julia experiences Barnabas' disapproval in Episode 363.

John: Ah, Julia 'Sherlock Holmes' Hoffman is at it again. Someone else is interested in a Tate painting, and from a small town like New York, so it MUST be Quentin!

Christine: Leviathan Barnabas sure turned on a dime, pulling himself together to schmooze Julia and give Carolyn a warm welcome after acting cold and emotionless. There is something suspicious about his efforts to turn Carolyn against Chris.

John: Sounds like we should find out next week who the chosen ones are. Unless it's just Avon calling... I'm curious when we'll see Paul Stoddard again, but more importantly, when he'll be reunited with his wife!

Christine: I can't wait to see who the Chosen Ones are. Will we meet new characters, or will they be ones we already know? Speaking of new characters, I like Philip and Megan Todd, but they seem somewhat out of place. Where all the other characters have a more timeless quality, even with their trendy neon fashion, the Todd's seem firmly rooted in 1969, reminding me of Darren and Samantha Stevens.

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 886 - 11/17/69

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

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.