Barnabas was NO LONGER A VAMPIRE upon his return to 1971 from 1840. Angelique had lifted the curse before she died.
Yea, I had a feeling about this too. But I wasn't sure as I haven't seen those episodes in quite a while. I'm currently rewatching them so I'm sure I'll see it soon. Apparently LP didn't watch enough of the episodes during her research.
Brandon Collins and BARNABASLIVES,
Whether or not Barnabas was still a vampire in his final appearance has been much debated in fandom. Though Angelique lifted the curse in 1840, the present-day Barnabas [spoiler]was actually under Jeb's vampiric curse. It seems to me (though even this is up to interpretation) that it was nighttime when Barnabas, Julia and Stokes returned via the staircase in 1971,[/spoiler] so that's no help.
Sam Hall made it quite clear in his TV Guide article that he believed Barnabas was still a vampire when the series ended. And if fan fic is any indication, most of the writers whose stories I've read believe the same thing.
I think LP got this one right.
Here's something else from TSB that perhaps should have been caught during the editing process. SPOILERS!!! While visiting Salem, David and Barnabas spotted a crying Antoinette at a gravesite. After she left, Barnabas read the inscription on the tombstone: it was an infant of Miranda du Val's, who died in 1692. Then, at Gallows Hill (from p. 112)--
"... Mirand du Val. Hanged October 31, 1692. 'If you take away my life, God will give you blood to drink.'"
Barnabas stopped and stared long and hard at those words. God will give you blood to drink. A cold shudder ran down his spine. Who was this Miranda du Val and what sort of innocent victim had she been? What a vivid and remarkable thing for her to say. God will give you blood to drink. Of course, it was a curse! From the gallows, in her last breath, she had cursed those who hanged her.I know that Barnabas can be dense at times, but a light should have gone on in his head. Julia told Barnabas about a girl known only as Miranda who testified against Judah Zachery in 1692. Later, after Angelique lifted the curse, he told the witch, "You were Miranda," recalling the newspaper stories that Julia had told him about.
Curse... Miranda... blood... 1692... witch... Angelique. Duh, Barnabas. I think the name Miranda should have been instantly recognizable to him.