Dark Shadows Episode 1109: The Final Destruction of Collinwood?

I figured if Dark Shadows can slip around from era to era, so can I , and I decided to watch episode 1109, mostly because I read that zombies are involved and I wanted to see how they were handled on the show. Also, I really just wanted to see an episode in color.

Barnabas and Julia enter through a door, which I am assuming is the door to another time, and discover a painting of this zombie. What does it mean? I haven't any idea. 

1970 Quentin Collins, just unearthed from the grave by Barnabas and Julia, explains that something that happened to 1840 Quentin Collins is going to lead to the 1970 destruction of Collinwood. Also, Kate Jackson is now in the show. 

Then there's a bunch of mumbo jumbo about the children and stars and Quentin says some sort of spell that is supposed to defeat Gerard Stiles and claims he has defeated him, but Gerard says not as long as I still have my vaunted choke slam, old friend, and now I see zombies are coming out of the ground in the next scene this is craziness. 

Then these zombies rise from the ground and Barnabas says it is the final destruction of Collinwood. This seems serious. 

The zombies enter Collinwood. Is it all over?

The children are dead. Now Daphne is dead. The zombies are just breaking shit. Now the zombies are running up the stairs. That seems to violate some rule of monsterdom. Now there's a fire. 

"This house belongs to the dead," says Quentin as zombies press at the door. The stairway reappears. 

Zombies overtake Barnabas. So much for vampire strength versus the sheer determination of zombies, and he yells for Julia to take the staircase. But the staircase is gone. She goes through a door and realizes she is in 1840. How will this end? I'm going to find out right now by watching the final episode. 

Reaction: That was heavy, sort of like the show went from being a horse and carriage to a supercharged Camaro. 

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Dark Shadows Episode 222: Portrait of a Vampire

"The past and the present have intermingled at Collinwood." Victoria Winters goes to the Old House to find Barnabas, but finds Willie Loomis there. He says get out of this house right now. She says why should I. 

Victoria's response to learning that Willie is working for Barnabas fixing the old place up is sort of unusual. She is pleased how he has helped fix the old place up. Fearing perhaps for her safety Willie asks her to leave. 

As soon as she is gone Barnabas appears. 

Barnabas then visits Maggie Evans, who seems in a state of distress. She cannot shake the feeling that she is being followed. Barnabas tries to put her at ease and says he has come to commission a portrait of himself by Maggie's father, who is an artist. He arrives with the news that another local woman has been attacked. 

Barnabas offers Sam Evans $1000 to paint his portrait, but insists the work must only be done at the Old House, and at night. 

Sam Evans sets up his easel at the old house, and begins working. This is the first time Barnabas Collins has been in two consecutive episodes, or is it now three? I just was overtaken with the curiosity to know if that portrait of Barnabas Collins was on the wall in episodes of the show before he appeared as a character. 

At dawn Sam Evans says he has one more line to finish, but Barnabas says they are finished. He finishes the brush stroke and discovers Barnabas is gone, replaced by Willie Loomis who says he must return the following night to continue working. 

I think I will now go watch an episode previous to 210 to answer my previous question.  Pin It

Dark Shadows Episode 221: Barnabas Starts To Mingle

"Nightime in itself can be lonely. But then one gets used to loneliness. It's part of existence" says Barnabas Collins to Maggie Evans after he has surprised her at the cafe as she is closing. She invites him in to have a cup of coffee. She is quite surprised to learn he is a Collins. That is big news in Collinsport. 

Maggie Evans comments that Barnabas' cane is very unique, and probably valuable. He says it is his prized possession, and quite valuable. Then dogs, not wolves begin to howl, and Maggie Evans wonders why they are baying so much lately. Barnabas says he wonders, too, slyly.

After Barnabas leaves Joe Haskell shows up and says he and Maggie should go to the Blue Whale, but as he says it Maggie discovers Barnabas has left his cane at the cafe. Maggie says they should return it to Barnabas that night, and Joe agrees. Joe wonder why the dogs are kicking up such a fuss.

Sidenote: Think I might watch Mannix and ride my Schwinn Airdyne after this.

The door to the Old House opens, and Maggie and Joe enter. No one appears to be home. They notice the candles are burning and conclude someone must be there. Barnabas startles Maggie again, and Barnabas is surprised to learn Joe Haskell is with Maggie. They leave quickly, and Willie appears and questions Barnabas while they were there and what he plans to do with Maggie.

The episode concludes with Barnabas forcing Willie out to feed again, and Maggie Evans telling Joe Haskell she has the feeling that someone is staring at her, someone she can't see. 

At two episodes a night my rudimentary math skills tell me I have two years of this still to go.







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Dark Shadows Episode 220: Willie's Strong Now

Willie Loomis seems to be feeling a lot better. He no longer looks ghoulish.

Willie seems to have made a miraculous recovery, and agrees to leave Collinwood. First he tries to apologize to Victoria Winters and Elizabeth Stoddard, but his words fall on deaf ears. Jason gives Willie the $500 and tells him to go to town.

After Willie departs Barnabas arrives to ask Elizabeth Stoddard has given any more thought to allowing him to stay at the Old House. She says she has decided to allow him to stay there, and gives him the keys. They are old and rusty. Barnabas says he has plans to restore the house. Victoria is very interested in this possibility, and Barnabas says she can come by any time she feels like it.

Barnabas returns to the Old House to find he has a visitor. You'll never guess who it is. "This will be our home from now on.There will be much for you to do." 

A wolf howls. 



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Dark Shadows Episode 219: I'm Not a Doctor, But I Play One On TV

"A dawn obscured by mists from the sea slowly creeps towards Collinwood. Through the morning mist a man emerges from the darkest pit a man can know." Victoria narrates the introduction of episodes she's not in. I wonder if she will be the narrator for many future episodes. So begins episode 219 of Dark Shadows.

Willie appears at dawn. Through the front door. It makes me wonder why for such a large estate, why there aren't any other entrances one might sneak into. Jason McGuire is waiting to confront him. He wants to know one thing, and one thing only: why he went to the cemetery. Will he get an answer?

"You were looking for the jewels, Willie." Contrary to my hunch that Jason McGuire had caught on to the fact that Willie is a vampire, he believes he is simply in it to rob the jewels that are supposedly buried in Barnabas Collins' coffin.

Personal feeling: I am happy to be watching these episodes, but saddened to think I will very quickly remember almost nothing of what I have seen. I will use this blog as an external hard drive. Perhaps the experience of typing these blogs will help me remember. I went to Cub Scouts with Jack tonight and we built a birdhouse. I was completely unprepared for the experience, but I remained calm, and we managed to finish it. I was proud of us. Back to Dark Shadows.

Willie sees a way to deflect suspicion from his real malady and agrees he was looking for the jewels. Jason insists he will now leave town on the next bus. Willie insists he is sick and returns to bed.

Roger Collins confronts Willie in the early afternoon and demands he leave. He applauds Willie's "performance." He does not believe Willie is sick. Jason McGuire tries to convince Roger Willie is suffering from a strange illness, and they agree to bring in a doctor.

The sheriff calls wanting to see Roger Collins. But he will not mention why he wants to see Roger.

Jason calls the doctor.

What I learned: There IS a phone at Collinwood.

Roger's meeting with the Sheriff does not go as expected. He is told the animals from many local farms have been drained of blood. The reason Roger would be consulted is because the Collins family owns many of those farms. 

Meanwhile, the doctor gives his diagnosis of Willie. He is not sick. He is suffering from a loss of blood. An enormous loss of blood. Why the doctor doesn't consider this an illness makes no sense, but what am I, a doctor? 

The episodes without Barnabas Collins seem more like they exist more to move the story forward and provide details than anything else. This one was slightly dull. 








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Dark Shadows Episode 218: Will Barnabas Move In?

"There are those who walk the path of darkness. Those who can never be good."

So opines Victoria Winters in the introduction to episode 218 of Dark Shadows. 

Will Barnabas Collins return in this episode?

The question is answered early in the episode as Barnabas has his eyes on Jason McGuire after he exits the Collins crypt where Willie Loomis seemed to disappear.

Meanwhile at the New House Roger and Elizabeth discuss inviting Barnabas to stay, unaware he has been staying at the Old House all along. 

As they discuss Barnabas, he arrives at the door, and Roger asks him where he has been staying. They invite him to stay at the New House, but he counterproposes that he'd like to stay at the Old House. They say it in in decay and uninhabitable. Barnabas disagrees. Barnabas gives an impassioned speech about his branch of the family and he feels such a connection to the Old House. 

Barnabas encourages Roger to talk Elizabeth into letting him stay at the Old House. Meanwhile, she has gone to ask Jason McGuire about Willies' whereabouts. She tells him she is going to end the nonsense, but he once again threatens her with going to the police. What is the secret they are hiding in the basement?

Roger Collins withdraws to get an address for a shipyard Barnabas intends to visit, and Jason McGuire enters the room. He meets Barnabas, and insists the two have met before. Have they? 

Jason remarks he has head some unusual stories about Barnabas Collins the ancestor. Barnabas asks what sort of stories, and Jason says he was supposed to have been buried with all his jewelry. Jason slyly insinuates that someone buried with such a cache of jewelry might invite a grave robber, seeming to indicate he has put two and two together and suspects Willie Loomis may have disturbed Barnabas' coffin and fallen prey to his vampirism. 

Will the two become foes? If so it seems Jason McGuire is destined to get the short end of that stick. But who knows.

Vampire rules: In one scene Barnabas exits the tomb and places his hand upon a stone cross. Does this violate the vampire's terms of service, or does the cross only apply to certain situations?

Overall, a very weighty and entertaining episode. I learned that Roger claims he, Barnabas, and Elizabeth Stoddard are the three remaining members of the Collins family, although I am sure in future episodes more appear. Where do they come from? I guess I'll find out. On to episode 219. 

Question: Will Barnabas Collins ever appear in two consecutive episodes?




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Dark Shadows Episode 217: Willie's Mysterious "Illness"

Episode 217 of Dark Shadows begins with Willie Loomis writing in bed. Jason McGuire examines him, and the removes the bandage on his wrist. The wound appears to be no more than a scratch, but his arm has turned gray. It is as if the blood had been drained from his arm.

Carolyn tells Vicky that Willie looks like a different person, a person who doesn't want to hurt anyone, and doesn't want to be hurt by anyone.

"Don't let it get dark again. I'm scared."

Victoria brings Willie a tray of food, which he shows no interest in, and Jason McGuire witnesses him fall into a deep sleep. As he leaves the room Willie awakens. It is now dark. He goes to the window and seems to answer the call of some master who beckons him. Could it be?

Jason catches Willie trying to leave the new house and confronts him. Willie says he just has to leave this house. Jason tries to coax him back upstairs, but Willie bolts from the house.

Interestingly, we hear the sound of a car being started and driving off, but no car is seen. We then hear the sound of a car slowing down and someone getting out at the cemetery, but once again, no car is seen. 

Jason follows Willie to the cemetery and witnesses him entering the Collins family crypt. Willie trips the mechanism that open the door to the secret crypt where he first found Barnabas Collins' coffin. Jason follows.

Unable to find Willie in the small, enclosed crypt, Jason seems to become bewildered and frightened. He leaves the crypt and we hear the sound of heartbeats. 

This is two consecutive episode with no appearance from Barnabas Collins, instead focusing almost entirely on the "sickness" of Willie Loomis. I got an answer to my query about cars. Maybe they will be shown later in the series, and they're certainly in the two movies, but so far the action is confined to four locations. On to episode 218. 

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Dark Shadows 215: Is Willie Loomis a Vampire?

Episode 215 of Dark Shadows opens at the Blue Whale, where we learn that Burke Devlin has previously thrown Willie Loomis out of the place. Willie has disappeared again, however, and Burke and Jason McGuire find themselves wondering where he has gone.

Then Joe Haskell arrives with some startling news. A young calf on his uncle's farm has been found dead with its blood drained.

Well, that's probably nothing.

Jason eventually confronts Willie at the Blue Whale and offers him the $500 Elizabeth Stoddard gave him to leave Collinsport. Willie refuses. Whatever has happened to him, he no longer wants to leave. Considering how desperate everyone previously was to get Willie Loomis out of town, his sudden determination to remain in Collinsport probably isn't going to improve anybody's situation.

Maggie Evans also appears in this episode. I'm still not entirely sure how she fits into the larger story, although I know she appears in the movie House of Dark Shadows as one of Barnabas Collins' victims. Since I'm watching the television series without knowing exactly how all these characters and storylines eventually fit together, I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself.

What I learned from Episode 215: Willie may be a vampire.

At this point, I officially have no idea who half these people ultimately turn out to be, what their relationships will become, or why Josette figures so prominently in both of the Dark Shadows movies and apparently in this storyline as well. I don't even know when Josette is going to appear in the television series.

That's actually becoming part of the fun of watching Dark Shadows this way. I know fragments of the mythology from the movies and from popular culture, but not enough to know how the television series gets from where I am now to the story I vaguely recognize. Barnabas has arrived, Willie is acting very strangely, livestock is turning up without blood, and everybody else is still trying to conduct their ordinary Collinsport business as though nothing supernatural is happening.

Dark Shadows 215 Willie Why Are There Specks of Blood On Your Sleeve?

“Willie, why are there specks of blood on your sleeve?”

That's probably nothing, too.

On to the next episode.

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Dark Shadows 216: Meet the New Willie Loomis, Who Is Definitely NOT a Vampire

Meet the new Willie. Victoria Winters once again narrates the opening, explaining Willie Loomis is no longer violent, but her words are belied by seeing Willie looking absolutely ghoulish, although he seems completely demured and cringes at the mention of blood or violence. Has he changed?

Thing I just noticed: the windows at the Blue Whale do not look outward, instead they have a swirling projection on them probably meant to emulate the sea that we know is outside. It creates a subtle psychedlic experience and closes the Blue Whale off from the rest of the Dark Shadows Universe. 

Jason convinces a reluctant Willie to return to Collinwood and apologize to Elizabeth and Carolyn, which he does, but collapses soon after and becomes bedridden. Definitely not a vampire.

Willie collapses after seeing the portrait of Barnabas and has to remain at Collinwood, against his wishes. hen Jason comes to take care of him he discovers...

I cut myself shaving

Seems like there are at least two vampires now at Collinwood. And where is David Collins? 

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Dark Shadows Episode 214: The Old House

Victoria Winters once again narrates the opening of episode 214, speaking in elevated language about the two Collins' houses. The new house, teaming with life, and the Old House, slowly decaying under the memory of forgotten times. We then see a panoramic shot of the Old House as Victoria enters looking for David Collins. Barnabas Collins descends the stairs, startling her. I wonder if it will be discussed why he's even there and why it doesn't seem odd that he appears to have moved in.

As Barnabas Collins assiduously describes the construction of the Old House it is apparent that the two houses are really the stars of Dark Shadows. Characters come and go in them. 

Barnabas Collins relates Victoria Winters.to the history of the construction of the Old House, the hatred and agony that resulted there, and the stairs where a father and son had an exchange that led to the "death" of the son. I realize referring to IMDB that I have already forgotten who some of these characters are.

Now Roger Collins appears. He seems familiar from the later episodes I have seen and one of the tv movies. House of Dark Shadows. But they all play different characters in the movies and various time lines. 

Wonder why they're not concerned that David hasn't shown up?

The episode ends with Roger Collins, Victoria Winters, and Carolyn Stoddard commenting on how Barnabas not only seems to be the likeness of the figure in the portrait, but the figure himself. There is then a dissolve to Barnabas on the moors in fog. Pretty good episode. 




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Dark Shadows Episode 213: The Blue Whale

Having watched almost twenty minutes of episode 213 of Dark Shadows it occurs to me this could almost be just another soap opera. The only thing that stands out is there are long scenes in The Blue Whale. And the music on the jukebox there is the only real solid indicator what year it might be. I suppose the clothes are also a hint, but after four episodes no one has turned on a television or gotten in an automobile. I wonder how much of this was a conscious choice to keep the timeline vague and how much is just limited budget. 

So this is the Blue Whale

Those who began watching at episode 210 as I did will meet several new characters at the Blue Whale, including Carolyn Stoddard, presumably mother of David and daughter of Elizabeth, who seems to be in a dysfunctional love triangle with two guys named Burke and Joe. I think the Burke guy was the stodgy father on Dharma and Greg. He's also got some sort of beef against the Collins family and was using Carolyn to fling it in their faces, although I'm not sure just whom the Collins family entails at this point, just Elizabeth, Carolyn, David, and now Barnabas are in the show. 

So, pretty standard and uninteresting episode except for the new characters, who I won't remember in about five minutes, anyway. On to episode 214. 

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Dark Shadows Episode 212: Welcome Back, Barnabas

Awesome episode. Watched it while riding my Schwinn Aerdyne on wireless headphones while watching traffic and snow flurries out the window. Victoria Winters narrates the opening of the episode with some lofty language about ghosts returning that would seem pretentious if it weren't carried through with deftness for the entire episode. I think it will be important going forward to take note of which writers wrote which episodes, because this one was distinctly different than the one which follows it, which seems like pretty standard soap opera cliches. 

Barnabas Collins meets Victoria Winters 

Then I was introduced to the boy David Collins, who returns later playing at the Old House, the house where Barnabas' ancestors lived. The scene where the two meet has a real melancholy feel as David correctly assesses that in the old portrait Barnabas looked angry, but his ancestor, who he correctly surmises is actually Barnabas, is sad. As if he had lost something long ago. The two share their fondness for the Old House, it's secret passages, and room at the top of the spiral stairs where one can see the starts and the sea and the sunrise. It is in this exchange we see Barnabas and his wish to see the sun again. We learn that he was unwittingly turned into a creature of the night. David sees ghosts in the Old House, including the ghost of Josette.

I have seen enough later episodes and the movie to know there is a history between these two. Whereas David sees Josette as a protector, Barnabas has quite a different history with her. It's an entirely detail packed episode filled with some great acting, and an introduction to a historic set piece in the Old House. Only four characters appear. It is probably the last time any of this will make any sense to me. 

Jonathan Frid completely owns the series in just this two episode introduction to the point where I wonder what the show was even about before. Episode 213 gives some clues that it was a pretty standard soap opera. Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be one of my favorite episodes even if I watch what is 1000 more to go. 

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Dark Shadows Episode 211: Meet Barnabas Collins

After 210 episodes we finally meet the character who will forever be known as the star of the series, Barnabas Collins. Trapped and chained in his coffin for 200 years, what will he do after being released from his horrific imprisonment by the rogue Willie Loomis? 

Trivia: Dan Curtis makes the credits as co-writer of this episode. Interestingly, the ring that is on Barnabas' left hand in the previous episode is on his right hand in the family portrait hanging on the wall at Collinwood. 

Is Elizabeth Collins Stoddard the only family member to inhabit Collinwood at this time? Why is this man 

What I learned: Barnabas Collins is the son of Joshua and Naomi Collins. He was supposedly buried in London, but was in reality buried in their crypt 200 years ago.

This episode mainly revolves around the search for Willie Loomis, who Elizabeth Stoddard wants banished from Collinwood forever. Not much else happens until there is a knock on the door...

Who can it be now?

He announces himself as Elizabeth Stoddard's cousin from England.

"Oh madam, if you would, you may tell her that it is Barnabas Collins."

What an iconic scene. And credits.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis production

My mother would have been 14 when she saw this episode, if she did. Three years later she would be married to my father and I would have just been born. I think I'll save episode 212 for another time. Only 500 hours of episodes left to watch. 

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Dark Shadows Episode 210

I will now begin watching Dark Shadows at episode 210 and watch the remaining 500 hours of the show. My mother used to watch it when I was a kid, but I couldn't possibly have been old enough to remember, then one year when I lived in Evanston and lived in a basement I watched it on Sci Fi Channel and periodically went to the Dominicks on Chicago to stock up on Maruchan Won Tons and Tab Cola. I'll have to do it without both of those products this time around as Maruchan no longer makes Instant Won Tons ans I can't drink Tab Cola with my medication. But here we go with episode 210. 

Episode 210 is where Willie Loomis becomes interested in the portrait of Barnabus Collins on the wall at Collinwood. It is said to be the real beginning of the supernatural episodes of the show. 

Only four characters in this episode, none of which I remember from the later story arcs I saw on Sci Fi in 2000. 

Willie Loomis becomes persona non grata at Collinwood. He is fired, and to be sent away, but before he can be found has entered the Collins family crypt to pry open the coffin of Naomi Collins. While attempting to do so he opens a door and we hear a heartbeat. The Dark Shadows theme comes up, and we go to commercial. When we return from what must have been a television commercial...

We see Willie Loomis excitedly working to remove the chains from a coffin. The heart beat continues, and after Willie excitedly pries open the lid of the coffin he recoils to find...

The Hand Of Barnabus Collins?

Interestingly Dan Curtis' name appears nowhere in the credits of this episode. Guess I'll have to watch episode 211 to see what happens. 

Interesting tidbit of trivia: the hand of Barnabus Collins is not portrayed by Jonathan Frid, but by Timothy Gordon. 

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