I've really been anticipating this episode. Bennett's been doing more than her share of OVOs - I guess that has something to do with being the only woman cast member on set. Well, practice makes perfect.
Barnabas rises and a confused & mortified Joshua (donning a pinky ring, that sparkles beautifully, that I've never noticed before) tries to come to grips with what he is seeing. (I am impressed with the reverb in the basement scenes). Frid & Edmonds and the tech staff are all at the top of their craft (remember how awful the eps were when the techs were on strike?). All their scenes are totally engrossing, so engrossing in fact that the episode seemed to last no more than ten minutes. (I wonder if this was taped on a Monday?) I was tearing up at times, especially in the closing scene. At my older age the gut-wrenching father & son stuff easily gets to me.
The whole episode is quite superb for content & craft. Though Bennett stepped on her dress and took many looks toward the TP in the Old House scene neither affected the quality of the scene, IMO. As a matter of fact, the line about Joshua looking over his shoulder kind of (inadvertently, I'm sure, lol) took care of that 'issue'. She had no vocal mishaps and her performance at Collinwood in the foyer with Edmonds and Crothers was flawless. And my goodness, she looked even more breathtaking in this episode than in the previous episode, if that's possible. Crothers did extremely well again - I count three pretty much flawless performances by Crothers so far. Frid's & Edmonds' scenes and performances are among the finest I've ever seen on the show and definitely places said scenes on my 'Best Of' list. But in the end, the episode goes to Louie, with Jonathan right on his heels. And much to my chagrin, I give props to Sam Hall for writing this wonderful episode. The dialogue is fantastic. Barn explaining his condition and it's side effects answering Joshua's inquiries and accusations is superb. Louie's emotionally charged vocal performance is beyond reproach, as is Frid's.
Random thoughts - Anyone care to guess why the writers would have Joshua state that he'd never tell Barnabas who told him he was at the Old House? I read much ado about the word vampire not being used, etc. Frid as Barnabas called himself a vampire in this episode, is this the first mention of the word on the show? Geez, the west wing sure does get it's share of proposed inhabitants, eh?
