Dark Shadows Episode 1014 5/14/70

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Angelique kneels by the fireplace in her room. She speaks to Quentin, telling him he's deeply in love with Maggie.

In the drawing room, Quentin receives Angelique's message. She tells him he will bring Maggie back to Collinwood.

After she finishes, Angelique goes downstairs.

Quentin gazes at Maggie's portrait. He appears to be in some sort of stupor. He looks at a letter opener as Angelexis comes in and asks him if he's all right. He says he's not, picks up the letter opener and approaches her in a threatening manner. He turns and takes the letter opener to the portrait of Maggie, slashing it.

Angelexis asks him why he did it. She tells him he misses Maggie. He laughs, and tells her she just saw how much he misses her. She tries to explain to him how he feels. He says he knows she means well, but tries to leave. She says she thought he was going to kill her with the letter opener, and he owes her some explanation. He asks if it was hate of the portrait, or of Maggie. He says it was as if he was fighting something he couldn't understand. She tells him he can bring Maggie back, because he still has feelings for her. He storms out of the house, and she yells after him that he won't be able to run away forever.

In Cyrus' lab, Quentin asks him if he's losing his mind. Cyrus tells him he's been under a strain lately. Quentin says he was caught off guard meeting Barnabas, and Cyrus asks if he means the man from the empty room. Quentin says he's a descendant, staying with the Loomis'. Cyrus asks if it's strange that no one ever knows what Will is up to. Cyrus stops, and remembers that he was Yaeger when he found the coffin in Will's basement. He asks Quenitn if what Alexis told him is true, that he might feel guilty for acting out against Maggie. Quentin yells that he's not going to send for Maggie. Cyrus tells him that the decision is his to make. Quentin asks how he can ask her back with all the strange things happening in Collinwood. Cyrus tells him he's making excuses, because Maggie loved it in Collinwood. Quentin stops, and starts to have a breakdown. He asks Cyrus why he's acting this way. He says it's a terrible, deep pain.

Back in Collinwood, Cyrus asks him to explain what he felt. Angelexis comes downstairs and tells Quentin she was worried about him. Cyrus says he just needs some rest, and sends Quentin upstairs. Angelexis asks Cyrus what happened. Cyrus said it came on suddenly, a yearning for Maggie. Angelexis says it's been building up since the night she left. She asks what they can do about it, and Cyrus says it's Quentin's decision to make.

Hannah is putting on a cape when Quentin comes into Alexis' room. She says she must be going, and tells him to please be careful. After she leaves, he picks up a tarot card. He wonders where everything is leading, and if the answer lies in the cards. He deals out seven tarot cards. Flipping over the seventh, he reveals the hanging man.

Angelique examines the slashed portrait of Maggie when Hannah comes in. She says they have gone too far, and she must end the spell. Angelique says the spell will end the night Maggie returns and not before. Hannah refuses to have anything more to do with it, and walks out on Angelique.

Holding a bottle of his potion, Cyrus thinks that John Yaeger is gone, and must never come back. He decides he must be a doctor again, and never think of the things Yaeger did again.

Quentin pours himself another drink. He tries to understand what he's feeling, and what he must do. He looks at the slashed portrait and asks why she's staring at him. He asks what he's done, and says that he's killed Maggie. Blood runs down her face on the slashed portrait. He says he now understands what he must do. He takes out a sheet of paper and begins to write a letter.

Angelique deals out the tarot cards.

Quentin makes his way upstairs with the letter. It says, "I had to do this to be with the one I love." He realizes that this is what his dream, and the tarot card, were telling him.

Angelique continues dealing out the tarot cards.

In the attic room, a noose hangs from the rafters above a chair. Quentin steps up on the chair, and prepares to slip the noose around his neck.

Our thoughts

John: You see? Even Quentin agrees that the portrait of Maggie was crap! He felt strongly enough about it that he was able to avoid Angelique's spell and destroy it!

Christine: Perhaps the artist in Paris had a premonition that it would be immediately destroyed upon arrival and didn't see any reason to put any effort into creating a decent portrait.

John: Boy, the directors sure do love that magnifying glass in Cyrus' lab. Not that Quentin needed anything to magnify his insanity in this particular episode...

Christine: I especially loved when Quentin asked in anguish, "Why am I acting this way?" Why indeed!

John: We get another Ghost & Mr. Chicken moment via the bleeding portrait of Maggie, though it would have been far more convincing had it been bleeding from where it was slashed as opposed to the top of the frame.

A proper demonstration of portrait bleeding in Episode 844.

Christine: Yes, much in the same way Quentin's portrait bled after Petofi slashed him in Episode 844. So, not only did Maggie get a shoddy portrait that was immediately destroyed, but she couldn't even get a proper bleed from it! Too bad Quentin knows nothing of tarot or he'd realize that an inverted hanged man is not quite the dire, literal circumstance he's envisioned. I suppose the director inverted it so that Quentin wouldn't have to attempt hanging by his feet! I would have liked to have seen that!

Dark Shadows Episode 992 4/14/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV.com!

Daniel sits up in bed screaming for his mother. Alexis comes in and asks him what's the matter. He asks her to promise not to lie to him. She agrees. He asks her if she really is his mother, and begs her to confirm it. She looks over and sees Quentin standing in the doorway. Alexis tells Quentin that Daniel had a nightmare, but he's alright now.

She assures Daniel that she's his aunt, and tucks him back into bed while humming. Daniel gives her a strange look, and explains that she prepared his pillow just the way his mother used to do it. She explains that pillow-plumping is universal knowledge. He adds that the song is the same, and she explains that they learned that from their mother. Quentin seems troubled by the behavior. He and Alexis leave the room together.

Hannah Stokes tells Bruno that he must beware—alien forces are against him. She asks if he wants to know if it's the spirit if her niece, Angelique. Bruno tells her that the woman in Collinwood is really Angelique. She tells him that she can't help him tonight, but she'll be back tomorrow with more information. She says that she can tell her nieces apart, and will tell him tomorrow who is living in Collinwood.

Angelique tells Quentin that it breaks her heart the way Daniel believes she's his mother. Quentin doesn't seem so sure that she's not. She asks him what's wrong, and then realizes that he's seeing Angelique in her as she prunes flowers. She once again attributes the similarity to training from their mother. She asks him what Angelique would do with the clippings, and he says he doesn't know, until she suggests throwing them in the fire, which reminds him that's exactly what she did.

The woman says she will discover whether Alexis is Alexis, and leaves Bruno's cottage. He sits down at the piano and plays.

Quentin checks in on Daniel, who is still lying awake in bed. He says he can't sleep. He says if she hadn't seen Quentin, it would all be different. He says she was about to answer that she was his mother when Quentin came in.

Hannah asks Daniel why he never comes to see his great aunt anymore. He asks if she came to see Alexis. She pulls a deck of tarot cards out of her pocket, and Daniel grabs them. Alexis comes downstairs, and tells Daniel to put the cards back. She asks Daniel to hang up Hannah's coat, and he does, grabbing the tarot cards in the process and going upstairs with them.

Hannah tells Alexis that she looks well, considering what she's been through. Clutching a handkerchief, Alexis says that her sister's death did come as a shock. Hannah brings up the seance, saying Bruno told her about it, and that the word murder was spoken. Alexis drops the handkerchief, tells her she doesn't want to discuss it. Hannah grabs the handkerchief and hides it up her sleeve.

Hannah says she can come back another time. She passes Quentin on the way out, and assures them that she can find her way out of the house. Alexis tells Quentin that Bruno sent her to raise the question of Angelique's murder. Quentin says he'll do what he can to clear things up as soon as possible.

Amy watches Daniel dealing out Hannah's tarot cards. Hannah comes in, not surprised to see he has them. She is startled by the cards he dealt, but tells him it's nothing when she sweeps them all up. She takes them and leaves, and David tells Amy that the card that upset her was the tower of destruction.

Hannah lays out Alexis' handkerchief, sprinkles some dry herbs and bone dust on it. She says that if Alexis is Angelique, and one of the living dead, the handkerchief will turn blood red when she finishes her incantation. She does the incantation, and the handkerchief catches fire. Bruno asks her what it means. She says a spirit is opposed to them finding out.

Hannah says she must have silence, and begins to deal out her tarot cards. Quentin walks in just in time to hear Hannah say that Angelique is at Collinwood. He leaves, not hearing her explain to Bruno that while Angelique is there, she doesn't know what form she's in. All that they know is that Angelique IS here.

Quentin returns to Collinwood, believing that Alexis is Angelique. He then dispels Hannah's words as madness. He reiterates to himself that Angelique is dead, and then wonders if that's true.

Amy is on the phone with Chris when Quentin comes in. Quentin picks up the phone and tells Chris that everything will be worked out soon. He gets off the phone, and asks Amy what's bothering her. Amy says it's Alexis, pointing out that Maggie left because of her. Quentin tells her he wants to do one thing, and then they can decide if she's going to go live with her brother.

In the East Wing, Quentin hears Angelique's song playing, and then hears a scream. He rushes into Alexis' room and they watch as the piano plays with no one sitting at it. Alexis says that Angelique's spirit is in the room with them.

Our thoughts

John: There's a new Stokes in town! At first I assumed that she was a gypsy or a witch, so I was quite surprised to find that she was Alexis' and Angelique's aunt! It's too early to tell, but it sure seems like she might not be as talented as she pretends to be. She didn't seem to be prepared for the handkerchief to burn.

Christine: Hannah Stokes is a real pro! Look how many rings she's got on, after all! She even merited her own new music cues upon meeting Alexis at Collinwood. I thought she was the same caliber as Janet Findley, though hopefully will be around a little longer. Tarot enthusiasts will not be surprised to see the Tower card once again, which makes frequent appearances on the show.

John: I thought it was great the way they had Quentin stop by the cottage at the perfect moment to hear Hannah say that "ANGELIQUE IS BACK IN COLLINWOOD," only to leave before she could finish her explanation. Unfortunately, they didn't give Quentin an opportunity to confront Alexis with this newfound info.

Christine: Typical soap opera misunderstanding. Since they seem to be trying so hard to imply that Alexis is Angelique, I think we can almost be certain that she truly is Alexis.

John: We got a Ghost and Mr. Chicken player piano moment today as Bruno's "Ode to Angelique" played on the piano all by itself. Alexis assumes that it's Angelique, but I have to wonder if that's really true. It would seem pretty narcissistic for someone to play an ode to themselves...

Christine: I wouldn't put it past Angelique, but it's a little suspicious that the song was playing through quite a few notes before Alexis began screaming. The real question is... who used Bon Ami on the keys?


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

Dark Shadows Episode 441 - 3/4/68

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Trask stands outside his room, and decides to return to prove he's not afraid of the witch. He lights a candle and walks through the room, shocked to find the dead body of Maude lying on his bed. He approaches the body when there's a knock on the door. It's Nathan Forbes, saying it's urgent. Trask covers the body with a sheet and lets him in.

Forbes says he has a letter he needs to have delivered to Millicent Collins. Trask says it can wait until the morning. Nathan sees an arm hanging out of the bed and excuses himself. Trask tells him she was there when he returned, and she's dead—strangled. Nathan goes to her and sees that it's Maude. He says he tried to warn her, and Trask asks about what. Forbes asks why her body was put here. Trask says he doesn't know, and Nathan says when the authorities find out, people will talk, and his image in the community will be changed. Trask asks what if they don't find out. Nathan asks what he has in mind. Trask says he will not be the subject of gossip, but he'll need Nathan's help. Nathan says he's willing to do whatever he can, if the price is right.

Trask says he cannot pay him, and Nathan says he wasn't thinking of money. He asks what Trask wants, and suggests he wants the body removed without being seen—breaking the law. Nathan says hell do it as soon as his letter is delivered to Millicent.

Nathan tells him as soon as that's done, he'll be back to move the body. Trask gives him his letter back and says he'll take care of the body himself. Nathan says since he doesn't have a choice, he'll be back with someone to remove the body.

Millicent deals out Tarot cards. She talks about punishing Nathan. Naomi enters and asks who she's talking to. Millicent says she's talking to Nathan, who will get her message through the cards. She describes it to Naomi, explaining that the card representing her will not rest until the lover—the card representing Nathan—is dead.

Naomi answers a knock at the door. Reverend Trask says he's there to see Millicent alone. Naomi says she's sure Millicent won't mind if she stays, and Millicent agrees. He says he has a letter for her, and Naomi asks who it's from. Trask says she'll know when she reads it. Millicent says she wants to know, and Trask says it's from Lieutenant Forbes. Naomi takes it and tears it up. She says Trask isn't going to repay his debt to Lieutenant Forbes testifying against Vicki at Millicent's expense. Trask tells her she should not have done that, and leaves. After Naomi leaves, Millicent picks up the pieces of the torn letter.

Trask is asleep in bed when a woman's voice calls to him. He asks if it's Abigail. In a dream he is led to the old house to find a secret. He opens a door to expose Maude's dead body.

She asks why he let them throw her body into the water. She says that soon everyone will know she was dead in his room. Trask calls for Abigail. She appears to him, and he says he didn't put the body in her room. She says she doesn't know what he means, and he asks what secret she refers to. She says only he can destroy her wicked secret, and if he doesn't destroy it, it will destroy him and many others. She points him to the old house, and tells him that's where he must go to learn the secret of the witch.  The disembodied hand appears, beckoning him, when he wakes with a start. He realizes that he must go to the old house.

Our thoughts

John: Nathan, you idiot! You held ALL THE CARDS! You had Trask with a dead body in his room, and talking about moving it. All you had to do was get someone else's attention and Trask was done for. Of course, you were also an idiot for making a deal to move the body for his delivering a letter. How about something a little more important, like getting the wrongly convicted Vicki off the hook?

Christine: Nathan is not the kind of guy that will do something to help others, but I would have expected him to ask for more than simply delivering a letter, and also would have expected him to call Trask on his threat to move the body himself. 

John: Once again, it's nice to see Naomi showing some of the strength we've grown so accustomed to seeing in her not-quite-direct-descendant Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. I loved how she sent Trask on his way, his objective seemingly unfulfilled. I wonder what Nathan will do when he finds out.

Christine: Barnabas has an interesting ability to influence people's dreams. He did it today with Trask and has also inspired bad dreams for Maggie and David. 

John: Well, I think it's safe to say the scariest thing we now know about Reverend Trask is that he has dreams about Abigail.

Christine: A note on the Dark Shadows tarot readings: Millicent states, as the Countess has before, that the tarot cards never lie. The cards may not lie, but the reader's interpretation may not be very reliable. Millicent claimed that the card that represents her at the top was the High Priestess, but she is actually pointing to the Queen of Cups. The Countess also claimed this card was the High Priestess representing Josette in Episode 368. Either card would not be a good representation of Millicent. She'd be better represented by The Fool. I do find it interesting that the show goes to the trouble of showing the card layouts in detail and then does not provide accurate descriptions, though it's to be expected that the readings are all misinterpreted as doomsaying messages for the purposes of drama. While it may be trivial, I expect we'll continue to see the symbolism of the tarot played out in the series, which may have inspired someone to create a tarot deck based on Dark Shadows.

This is the Queen of Cups, not the High Priestess.