Dark Shadows Episode 631 - 11/25/68

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Blair pulls a coffin out of the ground and opens it up. Tom Jennings' staked body lies within. Blair removes the bloody stake, and demands that he rise. Tom sits up, and goes to attack Blair. Blair explains that he is his master, and Tom will do as he says.

Vicki is in bed when Tom Jennings crawls through her bedroom window. He approaches with bared fangs and she screams when she sees him. She gets up and runs from him, passing out. Before he can bite her, Barnabas arrives and sees Tom, who flees out the window.

Blair waits in his drawing room, getting up to look out the window. There's a knock at the door and it's Chris Jennings. He explains that he's Tom's brother and would like to talk. He asks Blair about Tom working for him the night he was attacked. Chris asks if there was something menacing him that night, as he's trying to determine if he was murdered. Outside the window, Tom watches. Chris asks Blair what he does, and he tells him he's retired. Chris is distracted, saying he thought he saw someone outside the window. Blair explains that he would like to retire, and bids Chris goodnight.

Vicki wakes up to see Barnabas sitting by her side. She says she recognized Tom Jennings was there earlier, but he's dead. She says that dead people can't come back. Barnabas explains that his kind can. He tells her that a few people in the world suffer the curse of the living dead. They feed on the blood of others. He tells her they are called vampires. She seems willing to believe him. She asks if Blair could be responsible for making Tom a vampire? If so, she says that Blair may have sent Tom to kill her. She explains that she went to Blair when she found out Maggie planned to marry him. She says she told Blair that if he tried to go through with it, she'd tell Maggie everything she knows. Barnabas tells her he doesn't want her to have anything more to do with this. He promises her that Maggie will be safe.

Blair lets Harry in, and asks for details. Harry says he watched as they took the body and buried it at Collinsport cemetery. He sends Harry downstairs to collect a shovel when there's a knock at the door. Barnabas comes in and tells Blair that he had better cancel his arrangements. He tells him that his scheme to kill Vicki has failed. Blair pleads ignorance. Barnabas says that in order for the experiment to resume, Blair must swear that Vicki is safe. Blair guarantees her safety, and asks if that is all.

Barnabas adds one more condition. He says it would be insane for him to let Maggie marry him, and tells him to stay away from her. Blair asks what will happen if he refuses, and Barnabas says Eve will never live again. Blair says he wants Eve to be brought to life. Barnabas gets him to agree that he will stay away from Maggie and Vicki, and he is to destroy Tom Jennings. Blair reluctantly agrees, and Barnabas confirms they will be ready to begin the experiment at sundown tomorrow.

He yells for Harry to come upstairs, and he does. He says he's trying to decide whether to go to the graveyard, or deal with Tom Jennings. He decides they will go to the graveyard and dig up Eve's grave. Harry looks troubled. Blair tells him he's in trouble if he doesn't get the body out of the grave, which means Harry will be in trouble, too. He promises that after tonight, Harry will never see him again.

Blair and Harry walk to the cemetery. Barnabas is in the woods, watching from a distance. Tom Jennings is also lurking in the woods.

Blair and Harry arrive at the grave. Harry begins digging.

Barnabas sneaks into Blair's house. Tom Jennings sneaks in after him.

The coffin in on the surface. Harry opens it to show Blair the contents. Satisfied, he tells him they are bringing it to the old house.

Barnabas finds Tom's coffin in the basement. He starts upstairs to wait for him. He looks outside when Tom attacks him from behind. Barnabas grabs two candlesticks and makes a cross to fend him off. Barnabas apologizes to Tom, but says he must. Barnabas forces him to look out the window, and Tom disappears.

Our thoughts

John: What's with Tom the vampire bobble-head when he sneaks up on Vicki?

Christine: Tom's an animal! His bloodlust has him all aquiver. Tom really seemed to enjoy being a vampire, unlike the rest of the vampires on the show. He will be missed.

John: Blair is really up against a wall, and not liking it. Of course broken promises flow freely around Collinsport, so I don't know that I believe he'll be so quick to leave Maggie alone...

Christine: Barnabas should know better. Once he's got Eve, he'll have Maggie as well.

John: Barnabas must have recently watched Horror of Dracula, using the candlesticks to form a cross a la Peter Cushing. Unfortunately, Tom's demise isn't in quite as grand a fashion as Christopher Lee's.

Christine: That was a nice homage. Tom died as he lived, with a flair for melodrama. It's interesting to see Barnabas explain about vampires to Vicki after feeding off her himself at one time. How is it that Julia and Willie remember being victims of a vampire, but Carolyn and Vicki do not?

Dark Shadows Episode 568 - 8/28/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Jeff enters the old house and goes downstairs. He sees Lang's lab equipment setup, and his journals. He realizes that he's right, and that Barnabas brought Lang's experiment to life, creating a monster. He wonders why they would have done that, and what they hoped to gain. He can't figure out why they moved the equipment to the house, until he finds the cadaver under a sheet. He gasps, and Barnabas comes out and tells him that they are going to create another one.

Jeff accuses Barnabas of lying to him about Adam being Lang's experiment. He explains that they had to. He tells Barnabas he's going to call the police, and Barnabas explains that Adam will kill Vicki if they don't create a mate for him. Jeff refuses to believe him.

Barnabas asks why Jeff thinks Adam kidnapped Vicki. He says if he loves Vicki, he will help them with the experiment. Jeff asks how, and Barnabas says he can help the same way he helped Lang. Jeff says he's going to take Vicki away from Collinwood, and Barnabas says that Adam has threatened to kill the entire Collins family. Jeff asks why they created Adam in the first place, and Barnabas says he cannot explain why, but he regrets it. He says that if Adam gets his mate, he has promised to leave. He implores Jeff to cooperate with them.

Roger visits Barnabas at the old house. He's concerned that he can't find Julia. Barnabas explains that she's staying with him. Roger tells him that Liz has escaped from Windcliff. Barnabas tries to explain that Julia is not well, but Roger presses him to get her.

Barnabas comes to Josette's room to talk to Julia. She explains that she can't sleep; she can only think of Tom Jennings.

She says she can't concentrate on Lang's notes. Barnabas says there are emergencies. Jeff Clark broke into the house and is aware of the experiment.

He adds that he has that under control, but there's another concern. Liz has escaped from Windcliff. 

Julia says she doesn't want to see Roger, and Barnabas tells her he'll think of something to tell him.

He leaves, and Julia realizes that night will come again, and she doesn't know if she can resist Tom again.

Julia is in the lab when she tells Barnabas the sun will be setting soon. He says he'll stay with her in Josette's room when Jeff Clark returns. He says he has agreed to help them. He hates it, but he can't avoid it. She asks Jeff to assemble a scope as Barnabas escorts her to her room. Jeff thinks that Vicki must never find out what he's doing.

Julia tells Barnabas it's not necessary for him to stay with her, and he says he won't leave her. She says he can prevent her from leaving, but he can't prevent Tom from coming. Barnabas says he's prepared for that, and pulls a gun out of his smoking jacket. She says a gun won't stop him, and Barnabas explains that he had silver bullets forged that will destroy Tom.

Tom calls to Julia.

Julia hears Tom's call, and Barnabas tells her to resist him. She tries to go, and Barnabas holds her back.

She senses Tom nearby, and Barnabas tells her to sit and be silent. He hides in the closet until Jennings appears. Julia stands between them, and Jennings disappears. They hear howling dogs, and Barnabas knows that Jennings is out there. He looks out the window and says he's waiting for her. He turns and sees that she's gone.

Our thoughts

John: So Roger shows up for a brief cameo, fills us in on Liz, and then somehow Barnabas manages to get rid of him offscreen. Quite an awkward way to introduce a new story thread, but an easy paycheck for Louis Edmonds.

Christine: Well, at least we have a heads up that Elizabeth's annual contractual vacation will soon be coming to an end, and hopefully it also means that we'll be seeing a lot more of Roger as well very soon.

John: So where exactly did Barnabas learn the silver bullet theory for killing vampires? And what's with Tom magically appearing and disappearing, with nary a squeaky bat in sight?

Christine: Barnabas learned the silver bullet theory from his dad back in Episode 459, who discovered from his research in Boston that you can kill a vampire by shooting a silver bullet into its heart. He had planned to destroy his vampire son that way until he realized it was easier for him to chain him in a coffin rather than do the dirty deed. Vampire Tom is the next generation vampire, who's evolved to be a little more stealthy and a little less squeaky. I'm wondering whose mausoleum he appropriated the coffin from that he's currently using.

John: In the time it took him to turn around and look out the window, Julia slipped out of the room, down the stairs, and out the door. Barnabas is no spring chicken, but I've got to believe he could catch up to her...

Christine: He may have his chance at putting a silver bullet into Tom Jennings' heart yet. I think today's episode proves that Barnabas truly loves Julia, but will probably be unable to admit his feelings for her, since he seems determined to be stuck on Vicki, despite her engaged status.

Dark Shadows Episode 570 - 8/30/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Julia enters a room with a coffin, and asks Tom where he is. Liz follows her in and asks her if it's her coffin. Julia yells at her to leave. Liz leaves Julia. Tom lurks in the shadows behind her. He tells her he's there, and comes to her. She removes her scarf, and he leans in for another bite.

Barnabas and Willie return to the old house, wondering where Tom and Julia must be meeting. Willie suggests that Barnabas may be interested in stopping Tom because of his feelings for Julia. Barnabas admits he needs Julia for the experiment, and Willie counters that he talks about her like a missing secretary. Barnabas finally admits that he cares for Julia more than he appears to. Barnabas recalls how the docks were a good place to find victims when he was a vampire.

There's a knock at the door, and Liz comes in. She tells Barnabas they have an empty coffin ready and waiting for her. She asks Barnabas to hide her. She says she can't talk in front of Willie, and Barnabas sends him away. Liz says he mustn't let Roger send her back to Windcliff. Barnabas is sure Roger would only do things in her best interest. She says he's going to let her be buried alive. She says they'll think she's dead, but she won't be.

Barnabas says she could stay if he thought it for the best. He offers to go back to Windcliff with her, and she says that she begged Julia for help. Barnabas asks where she saw Julia, and Liz says she was with the coffin. Barnabas asks where it is, and Liz describes an empty crypt at the edge of the cemetery.

Barnabas finds the coffin, and Julia lying next to it, unconscious.

Willie comes across Liz in the old house, and she accuses him of spying on her. She tells him not to tell anyone that he's seen her. Barnabas returns home with an unconscious Julia in his arms.  Liz says she's dead, and Barnabas confirms that she's barely alive. He tells Willie to take Liz upstairs to her room, and he does. He pleads with Julia to snap out of her trance. Willie comes back and says they have to get her to the hospital. Barnabas asks what time it is, and then realizes that it's almost dusk. He says he knows where Tom will be at dawn, and he'll be ready for him.

Willie has prepared a stake, and Barnabas tells him to join him. After they leave, Liz enters Josette's room where Julia lies sleeping. She asks why Roger made Julia plot against him, and then suggests that Julia will be buried before she is.

Willie and Barnabas arrive to find the coffin empty. Willie freaks out and runs out. Barnabas picks up the hammer and stake as Tom returns. They struggle, and Barnabas tells him he's wasting his time with the light coming soon. Barnabas screams as Tom leans in to bite him.

Our thoughts

John: Wow. Barnabas finally admits that he has feelings for Julia. Should they start shopping for a china pattern?

Christine: Hot damn! It's a pivotal moment for Barnabas to admit he cares for Julia, and quite amusing that it came as a result of Willie's needling, though I don't think they'll be setting up house anytime soon, since he's got to court her first. He's an old fashioned guy, after all. I would like to record the moment for future reference:

Barnabas: What do you want me to admit, Willie? That I care for Julia more than I appear to? All right, I will admit it. She's been a part of my life for so long, a very important part, and I must find her.

John: Remember back when Willie was afraid of upsetting Barnabas above all else? Nowadays he prods him about his feelings for Julia while the world is watching, and gets freaked out by all the other supernatural events going on around Collinwood.

Christine: Willie was the only one who would have been able to get Barnabas to admit he cares for Julia, and I think his doing so shows that he sees himself as more of a friend than servant to Barnabas.

John: I certainly didn't expect to see Barnabas overpowered by Tom Jennings. Something tells me that come Monday we'll have another episode of bitus-interruptus. Of course, if Tom does bite him, will it matter? As long as Adam is around, I assume Barnabas will remain immune to the vampire curse... won't he?

Christine: I guess we may find out. I'm not quite sure I understand what happened there. Barnabas was choking him until his tongue lolled, and then he was suddenly unable to grasp his throat any longer. Is there some magic afoot? I'm wondering why he didn't just use the silver bullets. I guess that would have been too easy. Vampire Tom is quite a character! Love the way he calls for Joooo-lee-uh.