Discuss - Ep #0180

[Lydia]

Robservations #180

[Lydia]

Did Laura feel Laura Murdoch Stockbridge’s coffin being opened?  Is that why she came to the crypt?  If so, and if her existence dates back to ancient Egypt, then Egyptian archaeological expeditions must be very uncomfortable for her.

The caretaker (whose feet I would gladly anoint with precious oils) doesn't know why the three amigos are opening up Laura Murdoch coffins right and left.  No clue.  A desire to reach logical conclusions does not seem to be any part of his mindset.  He seems to live in a non-linear world, which just sort of gently swirls around him.  Someday, like Professor Binns at Hogwarts, he is going to die and continue doing his job because nobody, including himself, will have noticed that he died.

[DarkLady]

The caretaker (whose feet I would gladly anoint with precious oils) doesn't know why the three amigos are opening up Laura Murdoch coffins right and left.  No clue.  A desire to reach logical conclusions does not seem to be any part of his mindset.  He seems to live in a non-linear world, which just sort of gently swirls around him.  Someday, like Professor Binns at Hogwarts, he is going to die and continue doing his job because nobody, including himself, will have noticed that he died.

 

Sadly, this episode marks

[spoiler]the positively last appearance of Frank Garner. I suppose they originally brought him in to be an alternate boyfriend for Vicki, but evidently his only purpose was grave-robbing??? In any event he vanishes from the show with no explanation. Although the character will be mentioned in ep. 252, he is never seen onscreen again. Perhaps the death of Peter Guthrie and the supernatural happenings at Collinwood became too much for strait-laced Frank?[/spoiler]

Dr. Guthrie notes that there isn't even any dust in the bottom of the empty coffin. I'll bet there isn't any dust in the second one they dig up, either. Poor Joe seems resigned to his new career as a resurrectionist.

The masthead of the Collinsport Chronicle from 1867 features a rather modern-looking powerboat. The caretaker makes an awful discovery!

Laura is really and truly scary when she rhapsodizes to the poor caretaker about how beautiful fire is. A nice moment too when she strokes the interior of the coffin, although she does seem unnerved that it's open.

[MagnusTrask]

The caretaker (whose feet I would gladly anoint with precious oils) doesn't know why the three amigos are opening up Laura Murdoch coffins right and left.  No clue.  A desire to reach logical conclusions does not seem to be any part of his mindset.  He seems to live in a non-linear world, which just sort of gently swirls around him.

LOL, Lydia, and interesting....

[alwaysdavid]

Guthrie finds out that Laura Radcliffe is buried outside and Joe knows where this is going. They pull up a very modern casket which of course is empty. Laura makes a surprise visit to the crypt. She seems startled to see Laura Stockbridges coffin.  So apparently she was drawn to come there but did not know why. 

[DarkLady]

It seems as though Laura forgets her previous lives after she moves on. I wonder if she is reincarnated as an infant or as a full-fledged (as it were) adult.

[MagnusTrask]

I doubt Laura forgets former lives-- she just doesn't have any allies to confide about them to.   I don't think we ever see her startled, either.   I think anyone would pause when confronted with one's own coffin, and I think that's all we're seeing.   Maybe a bit of surprise, as if she knew things concerning her were being disturbed, but couldn't get precise information until she went in person.

Were coffins really sealed with wax, like letters?  A burned, unidentifiable body could be anyone's, otherwise, I guess.   Joe sees a coffin open itself, despite being nailed shut, in front of their eyes, and then he wants a "logical explanation" for the body's disappearance!

I like the perfectly effective no-budget special effect of having Laura stand in the dark, then shining a bright light on her, to have her "materialize".   She can mesmerize the caretaker with the mental image of fire, apparently.   Dr. Guthrie, fire is not a very powerful source of light that can bleach newsprint.   Fire's dim, that's why it's romantic.  An arc light, maybe.   A Saturn 5 backblast, maybe.

[Watching Project]

The Robservations caps for this ep have finally been posted. 

[Janet the Wicked]

Were coffins really sealed with wax, like letters?  A burned, unidentifiable body could be anyone's, otherwise, I guess.   

I was wondering about that myself. Maybe it's wax from a candle that dripped onto the coffin when they were burying her.

[DarkLady]

I think the coffins of important people might have had a wax seal, but that wouldn't have prevented grave robbers from opening them.