SPOILERS!!!!!!!!

DS villains are unique.  Whether it's the human Nathan Forbes performing heinous human deeds for the sake of greed or Angelique working her spells to attain a very human life (imagine her a Samantha Stephens, pretending not to use her powers, but bringing them out every time Barnabas needs help with a business deal?) when you boil it down, except perhaps for Count Petofi, all of them are simply looking for love.

Consider--Barnabas did evil things in order to turn Maggie Evans into his long-lost Josette.  Why?  For love.  

Nicholas Blair wanted to be with Maggie, but when his Big Bad Master ordered him to bring her down to hell, he cooked up a Big Bad Ceremony to comply.  It didn't work, but ultimately, love foiled Nicholas Blair's plans for a race of superpeople--and resulted in his destruction.

Angelique wanted nothing more than to love and be loved by Barnabas, and everything she did for nearly 200 years was in pursuit of that goal.  When she finally got to hear him say those words to her, she had been shot by Lamar Trask and was probably dead and didn't hear them.  Love was what kept her going, and love killed her--more than once, when you consider that Barnabas strangled her to death in 1796 once he learned she'd cursed him as a vampire.  Sigh.  

I adored Jason McGuire.  He was slick, wicked, greedy and deceitful.  Another human villain, his goal was not love, but money.  He ended up in an anonymous grave, strangled by Barnabas Collins.  I think in his own way, Willie loved Jason (as a friend), but Jason loved no one but himself.  He was a charming fella, and I maintain that Liz might have finally smiled if she'd married Jason and let him into her bed.  Too bad he didn't turn on the Irish charm instead of the blackmail.  They could have made beautiful music together, and surely she had enough bucks to keep them both happy.

Jeb Hawkes was another supernatural creature/villain who succumbed to loving Carolyn and begged Julia to turn him human.  He turned Barnabas back into a vampire, but even Barn tamped down on his fury when he saw Jeb's love for Carolyn (who actually married the non-Leviathan Leviathan leader).  Jeb's love didn't keep him alive, however, and after battling Angelique's shadow (don't ask), he ended up in a watery grave at the bottom of Widows' Hill.  All Jeb truly wanted was Carolyn, and she was devastated when she lost him--another supernatural guy who just wanted love and was the vixtim of destruction.

Laura wanted to burn her son along with her, but for love; she sought to give both of them eternal life.  She meant well, but in the human world, no mother who truly loves her son does such a thing, and we were glad to see her perish--alone and loveless.

Now, as to which was the worst of them, I'd actually have to say Cassandra, Angelque's alter ego who showed up in Collinsport and married poor Roger by putting him under a spell.  Her efforts to restore the vampire curse on Barnabas fell apart because of Adam (another poor shnook just trying to find someone to love); failing that, she attempted to shoot the now-human Barnabas, but ended up her true age and was spirited away by Mr. Blair; Nicholas turned Angelique into a vampire and allowed her to go after nearly every man on the show before siccing her on Barnabas; her plan to turn him back into a vampire failed AGAIN; she tattled on Nicholas for daring to succumb to the human frailty of love (and of which she was equally guilty); she made a deal with Diabolos, and never did end up with Barnabas, not at this point in the story, anyway.

Quentin was handsome, devil may care, a womanizer; he loved Beth, Jenny, Amanda, Rachel, but the one person he couldn't love was himself, and that was his undoing.  When he finally hooked up with Ms. Corey in the future, she ended up dying, leaving him alone.  Quentin never did find love, but I'm sure as long as he roamed the earth, he was forever looking.

Love, Robin

I'm rambling, I know,

No doubt, like many of you, I've just abot had it with Barnabas' capricious romantic whims.  He loves Josette, but has a fling with the maid Angelique, on the side down in sunny Martinique.

Now in Barnabas' defense, he loved Josette, but was unaware his feelings were requited, and he didn't find out until he'd already left Martinique, and his affair with Angelique behind him.  He and Josette apparently wrote and revealed they felt the same, and agreed to wed via letter.

Josette runs off with Jeremiah and old Barn is ready to get it on again with the beautiful Angelique.  But no, now Barn's, once again, mesmerized by those lovely brown eyes of Josette.  Jeez, make up your mind already, Mr. B.!

Barnabas considered trying to get together with Angelique (who let's face it, pushed him into saying he hated Josette) and told her yes until he saw Josette and realized he still had intense feelings for his former fiancee.  I mean, heck, who bought it when Barnabas repeated after Angelique, "I hate her!" (Josette)?  We know he doesn't, and can't, despite everything.  He could have gone back to Angelique's room and had his way with her as he did in Martinique, but he was honest enough to admit that, since he still cared about Josette, he couldn't do THAT, either.

That being said, as drop-dead gorgeous as Angelique is, what she did to little Sarah today goes beyond the pale.  Letting a child suffer horribly to win back the reluctant (and somewhat, doltish)  Mr. B. is intolerable.

Agreed.  I know Angie didn't want Barnabas if she had to cast a love spell on him, but it sure would have saved a lot if misery and lives if she'd just taken that shortcut--but we wouldn't be having this discussion, would we?  

Love, Robin

388 - (KLS) - A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces-and in a house where terror reigns.  For unknown to all, there is one in this house who has secretly plotted to destroy the Collins family in order to gain the love of a man.

Barnabas' room - Barnabas sits in a chair in his room, eyes blissfully closed, as Angelique rubs his temples, ridding him of his headache. She points out how useful she can be, and Barnabas makes a face. Trask is on his way, he says sourly. Angelique is sure Vicki is the evil-intentioned witch in the house and thinks Barnabas should cooperate completely with the Reverend. What else has caused all the strange things that have happened? Barnabas doesn't know, but he does know Vicki isn't responsible. Angelique points out that he isn't the best judge of women--he thought Josette faithful, and she wasn't, right?--she deceived him with a member of his own family! He denies that he still loves Josette, and when Angelique forces it out of him, he admits he hates her. "Say it!" she cries, and he does--he hates both Josette and Jeremiah! She hopes he'll believe that someday, Angelique says, then tosses herself into his arms and begs him to accept her love. I'll make you happy, give me a chance! Pleads Angelique. "Yes," Barnabas growls, and kisses her hard. He'll never be sorry, she promises, and tells him to come to her room later and she'll show him how very unsorry she can make him. : )   (That's one thing he couldn't get from Josette without a wedding ring, but Ang is more than eager to share with Barnabas the favors she shared in Martinique.)
Drawing room - Trask warns Nathan, who insists he knows nothing of Victoria Winters' whereabouts, he might be seriously jeopardizing his career in the Navy if it's learned that that he's shielding the. The Collins family wouldn't appreciate his being part of such a scandal, so he if he knows anything, he'd better speak up, adds Trask.  Nathan thinks hard about these words.

It's Josette's turn to be interrogated, and Trask is clearly smitten by how pretty she is. She barely knew Miss Winters, she says, so his insistence that the governess is the witch and meant her harm seems to make no sense. He gazes at the pitchfork on Josette's hand, the devil's brand, he calls it, and says the devil wants to entice her. The brand comes and goes, she explains, and she does feel differently when it's there than when it isn't. She is being possessed by the devil, Trask says, and he must exorcise it from her!

Nathan goes to tell a distracted Barnabas that he found Vicki safe in the stable-but she isn't safe there, Nathan says, and they can't keep hiding her, either. Trask is dangerous, and has already threatened him.  Barnabas asks if he still wants to help Vicki, and while Nathan assures him he does, he also says he might be forced to tell Trask the truth if questioned again.

Being bewitched would explain a lot, Josette tells Trask. She has no will of her own when that pitchfork is on her hand. She seems to find this interesting; she wants to believe she wasn't responsible for certain things, but. . .the shameful things she did, she did willingly, and wasn't under a spell. It's possible, Trask insists. The brand is gone, Josette notes and tells him she feels more clear-headed, able to think with more clarity. Trask wants to cleanse her body (you sense he'd love to take off her clothes and give her a bath). He wants to exorcise the devil, and puts his hands on her forehead and prepares to do some sort of ritual (you get the idea he's just a dirty old man who wants to touch Josette). Barnabas comes upon this scene and shouts, "REVEREND!" Josette is under a spell, Trask tells Barnabas, and acted against her own will. Barnabas pounces on this, asking Josette if she believes it, and, if so, WHAT did she do against her will? Nothing, Josette mumbles. Then there is no reason for what Trask was about to do, Barnabas says. Barnabas orders Trask out of the room, and he goes, dourly telling him he hopes it won't be too late. He's going to find Victoria Winters!  Barnabas surveys Josette and says it was cruel of her to pretend she was bewitched. When was she bewitched, he pursues. When she fell in love with Jeremiah, when she married him? Surely you love him, he says.  Josette responds that Jeremiah is her husband and he's dying now, and that's all there is to say. "You never loved me?" he asks sadly, but Josette seems unable to answer that or his question about loving Jeremiah. Well, let's hear no more talk about being under a spell, then, Barnabas says harshly. "I was never under a spell," Josette confesses. "That's what I thought," Barnabas answers. Josette, tears in her eyes, murmurs that she wishes she could change many things, but. . .she married the man she loved. There's nothing she could change. .  .now.
(This scene is so very sad, you just feel miserable for both of them. It's so damn tragic!)

Barnabas broods in his room. Angelique comes knocking at his door, and you can tell his attitude has changed. She kneels at his feet--she was waiting for him. It won't work, he tells her sadly. There will be no "us." Despite everything, he still loves--worships--Josette. What did she say? Angelique demands, but Barnabas insists it was nothing specific. He still wants her; perhaps the deception wasn't her fault. Angelique is clearly pissed to hear this, but she makes a last-ditch effort--let her make him happy! No, he says, he can't love anyone but Josette, even though, according to Angelique, she's nothing but a scheming, conniving woman. Barnabas tells Angelique she's beautiful, but before he can add more, Angelique says, venemously, "Don't tell me you wish you could love me." He hopes they can still be friends, and she says, sure, why not. She spots Sarah's doll on a shelf in his room and takes it, saying she'll bring it back to the nursery. He explains that he could pretend to care, but that wouldn't be fair to Angelique. She understands perfectly, she says icily, and leaves, doll in hand. She returns to her room, steaming.  There will be no friendship, she promises. Barnabas will pay, but not through Josette this time. She's going to get him through his dear sister Sarah, and seeing her suffer will be the worst agony he'll ever know!

NOTES:  Excellent ep. Barnabas seems so happy to give a relationship with Ang a shot before his conversation with Josette, and just think, he could have had sex with her that very night. He's too honorable a man to pretend, however, and here's another case where he's trying to do the right thing--and inciting the vengeful witch to worse deeds.  Those who like Angelique, do you really think she's justified at striking out at Barnabas through his innocent sister?  Be honest, now!


389 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins family members resembles a present-day member of the family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces.  She finds a family gripped by terror, for, unknown to all, there is one who plots to gain the love of a man.  Thwarted in this, she seeks a terrible vengeance, the death of an innocent child.

Drawing  room - Naomi relates a story about a princess to a fascinated Sarah, Angelique, in her room, puts her diabolical plan in motion by stabbing hat pins into the little girl's doll. The child begins to moan, "It hurts!", and Angelique relentlessly thrusts another pin into the doll. After the third pin finds its mark, Sarah collapses, unconscious, and Naomi calls out for Barnabas.

Sarah's room - Sarah lies in bed, Naomi worriedly watching her. Barnabas comes in and tells his mother the doctor has no idea what's wrong. Perhaps Sarah will recover from her illness as swiftly as he did from his. Naomi wonders if witchcraft isn't responsible for all that has gone on. Sarah awakens, in terrible pain. Her mother and brother promise to stay with her, but Sarah wants Vicki. Barnabas promises to bring Vicki to her bedside, a promise Naomi says he shouldn't make, since he can't keep it.  Oh yes he can, he says. He knows where Vicki has been hiding.  Naomi wonders if they should allow Miss Winters into Sarah's room, but Barnabas staunchly defends the governess; he would never let Miss Winters in to see Sarah if he believed she would cause her any harm. Trust my judgment, he begs his mother.  As Barnabas is leaving Sarah's room, Ben asks how the child is, and if he can help. Barnabas says no and goes on his way. Ben knows who is doing this, and hastens to Angelique's room to search her drawers for evidence that she's making Sarah ill. Angelique catches him and is furious. He demands to know why she did it. She wants Barnabas to see Sarah suffer, she says cruelly. She wants him to come to her willing to do ANYTHING to make Sarah well again. When she says she might let the little girl die, Ben goes ballistic and says no wonder Barnabas does want her, she's such a witch--he'd kill her if he knew what she was doing to his sister!  When she shows Ben the doll with the pins sticking out of it, and explains that removing the pins would make Sarah better, he orders her to do so, or he will kill her! He approaches her threateningly, hands outstretched, but she brings him back in line by making his heart pound so hard, he could hear it. Ben clutches his chest as she assures him she has the power to make it burst and kill him. Only she can spare him, and she'll do it only after he begs for her help and promises to obey her. She waves her hand, releasing him from the spell, and he falls to the floor, gasping. She can be merciful, she assures him, but next time she'll allow him to die!
Barnabas sneaks Vicki into Sarah's room, and the little girl and her governess are very glad to see each other. She asks Vicki to tell her a story about her doll, Samantha, and Barnabas goes to get it. Sarah feels another sharp pain in her chest, and Vicki urges her to go to sleep. Sarah promises if Vicki will tell her a story when she awakens.  Naomi apologizes to Vicki for thinking her a witch--she knows she could never harm Sarah. They both wish they could do something to help the child.
Angelique hides the pin-filled doll when someone knocks on her door.  It's Barnabas, asking her where she put Sarah's doll. In the nursery, says Angelique, but he was unable to find it there. He tells her about Sarah's illness and how fearful he is that she's going to die. No one can help her! Angelique points to places on her own chest and stomach, asking Barnabas if the child is feeling the pains here. . .and here. Yes, he says. Well, I had the same thing as a child, Angelique says, and my mother brewed me a tea made from herbs--and it cured me! Would she like him to make a cup of this tea for Sarah? Of course, says Barnabas--and he'll be indebted to her for the rest of his life! Well, then, Angelique says, pouncing, marry me if I cure her.  Barnabas turns away, not expecting such a enormous payment, but when she asks if the price is too high, he responds that no price is too high for his sister's life--he'll marry her. As they leave the room, the camera focuses on the pillow behind which Angelique hid the doll.
Naomi tells Vicki she fears Sarah is going to die. Barnabas brings in the tea, and although his mother is skeptical about it helping, says it can do no harm. He helps Sarah to sit up and has her sip the steaming fluid. As Sarah drinks it, Angelique is slowly removing the three pins, one at a time. Sarah tells Barnabas, her mother and Vicki that the pains are gone. Naomi hugs her daughter, relieved and grateful.
Angelique surveys the doll and praises it for serving her well. Now she'll collect payment from Barnabas, and become his bride!

NOTES:  Terrific episode, but Angelique is so totally hateful!  You've got to give her credit for being resourceful, but oh, she's such a bitch!

Love, Robin

Let me offer my condolences, Gerard, on your mother's sad passing.

Love, RobinV

384 - (KLS) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795, where she watches an oft-read story in the family history become a living nightmare.

Angelique goes into Josette's room and overhears Andre and Josette discussing the plan for Barnabas and Jeremiah to engage in a duel. Josette wants her father to stop it--they were as close as brothers, and look at what's happened, thanks to her! Which man does she most fear dying? her father asks pointedly. He assures her he's still puzzled by her elopement, but loves her as he did before--what's between them must be settled, by blood.
Angelique, very upset, runs from the room.  Barnabas is examining his pistol when she comes in and begs him not to fight. She reminds him she told him she loves him and cares if he's hurt or killed. She assures him she still believes in blood and scathingly says he is enjoying his self-pity. It's pride, he must fight, he must do SOMETHING, isn't that right? Yes, he says. If they were in Martinique, she says bitterly, he'd just find another woman, but damn it, they're not. He asks her if she knew about them, and she tells him Josette went to Jeremiah's room. He doesn't want to hear this, and she points out this is clearly how he'd have reacted if she tried to tell him about it at the time. She forces Barnabas to admit he's never even seen a duel or killed a man. Although he knows Josette wouldn't have him if he killed her husband, he would still have her, he confesses, making Angelique totally furious, I'm sure. She gives Barnabas an amulet to wear to the duel, for luck. It's always worked for her. He slips it around his neck and thanks her. Andre comes in, is wondering what she's doing in Barnabas' bedroom (she claims she's returning a book), and he sends her to Josette. Andre tells Barnabas he feels the duel is ridiculous, and asks him if he loved Josette and wishes happiness for her. "She ruined my life!" bleats Barnabas. Don't save some pride by destroying Josette's life, cautions Andre.
Josette's room - Josette and Jeremiah quarrel about the duel. He has no choice, Jeremiah explains--they broke the rules, and now they have to pay the piper--Barnabas has asked for satisfaction, and this must be done.  People can't be brought back to life, she wails. Josette is only too aware of how close Barnabas and Jeremiah were before she came into their lives. No, Jeremiah says, he begged her to elope, they shared some kind of madness--but not love. If she still loves Barnabas, she says, she won't even admit that to herself. Jeremiah tells her that if he lives, they'll have a good life together, and if not...well, she'll be free.  She gets very upset at this remark and threatens to go to Barnabas herself to stop it. No, because Barnabas will think him a coward for sending his wife. This is payment due, a little sooner than they expected, but. . .Josette accuses her husband of wanting to sacrifice himself, but he says that's what Barnabas wants.  Andre comes in and tells his son-in-law that Barnabas wishes to see him.  Jeremiah is reluctant, but Andre says he must--settle it without violence, perhaps, so the men can live without each other's friendship.  Jeremiah refuses to go, but Josette begs him to let their lives together be their punishment, not his death (how depressing is that)?

Barnabas' room - Barnabas is holding one of the pistols when Jeremiah comes to see him. Jeremiah tells him he's sorry, and Barnabas curtly says this really gives him a reason to hate his uncle, because if he doesn't love Josette, he's ruined their lives for nothing! Jeremiah couldn't avoid it; Josette came to him. Barnabas refuses to believe this, but Jeremiah tries to explain--he attempted to go away, but Joshua disappeared. He couldn't go to Barnabas--it was as if they were under a spell! Blaming witchcraft? Barnabas asks sarcastically. No, it was a lack of character--you saw Josette, wanted her, and made her love you. You took advantage of her--"You must have hated me all of your life", accuses Barnabas.  Jeremiah, heartbroken, denies this. He and Josette HAD to be together, there was no choice! Barnabas says he has none, either, and takes the pistol from the case.
Josette sits at her vanity, brooding about the mess her life has become.  Angelique runs in and reports that Barnabas and Jeremiah have left, pistols in hand, on their way to duel! Josette faints and Angelique takes the love potion/rosewater and revives her by sponging her forehead with it. This causes Josette to awaken, calling, "Jeremiah!" They must stop the duel! Cries Josette--"He will kill him!" (Who will kill WHOM?)

Woods - Barnabas and Jeremiah stand back to back, discussing the Duel Rules. Ten paces, turn, count to three, fire. Jeremiah tells Barnabas he never lied to him, and this one lie made them strangers. Then it's a stranger he will kill, vows Barnabas, face stony. They count the paces (I don't think they made 10, the set wasn't large enough), turn, count to three--but only Barnabas fires. Josette and Angelique come running onto the scene, Josette screaming "NOOOO!" as Barnabas' pistol goes off.  Josette, the love spell back in force, kneels beside her fallen husband, sobbing. When Barnabas tries to help, she insists he back off and sends Angelique for help. "You monster! You madman!" she accuses Barnabas--"You were so full of pride, you couldn't stand to see us happy! You've killed the only man I've ever loved. I will take care of him, my husband, my life!"  "He'll die without my help," says Barnabas miserably.  "And you will have killed him," retorts Josette, her face set in spell-twisted fury.
Barnabas walks slowly away from his fallen uncle, his face contorted with sorrow.

NOTES:  Another class DS episode! Doncha just HATE Angelique today?


385 - (Clarice Blackburn) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795.  Sadness and fear pervade the old Collins mansion on this day.  There has been a duel between two men.  One of them has been mortally wounded.  There are those in the house who believe that witchcraft is at work here, and they have taken steps to see that the witch is found and destroyed.

Natalie paces the drawing room. Nathan comes down to report Jeremiah is hovering between life and death. When Natalie tells him she believes someone in the house wants Jeremiah to die, he calls her superstitious and says that, given how Barnabas was treated, the duel was inevitable.

The Reverend Trask, on of DS' most enduring and beloved villains, arrives dressed in black from hat to shoes. Nathan assumes he's there for Jeremiah, but Natalie reveals he's there to get rid of the witch.  Nathan questions Trask, and realizes he's a self-appointed cleric, not affiliated with any church "but his own".


Vicki is perusing the Collins history book when someone knocks at her door. She puts it away. Nathan burst in to warn her that she's in big trouble now--he wants to take her to the Collinsport Inn or she'll be accused of witchcraft! Vicki thinks this is another attempt on Forbes' part to get her into a bed at the Collinsport Inn, and tells him that, since she isn't a witch, she has nothing to fear. Stay and find out, says Nathan, irritated that his offer of help is being pushed away. Oh, she can take care of herself, Vicki assures him (oh, yeah, right)!
Drawing room - Natalie and Abigail talk to Trask, who asks for evidence of witchcraft.  Abigail gleefully regales him with all that has been happening, focusing on the mysterious disappearance of Joshua, who was turned into a cat, then transformed back. Of course, Abigail could see the devil possession in Miss Winters' eyes the day she arrived! Barnabas overhears what's happening and reluctantly shakes "Mr. Trask's" hand. It's absurd, he scoffs, Miss Winters is a fine young lady, no more a witch than he is!  The devil can appear in the guise of purity and innocence, Trask warns Barnabas. Barnabas refuses to give credence to the idea that his choking was caused by black magic, even though it disappeared as suddenly as it came. Natalie reminds Barnabas about Josette's odd behavior, but Barnabas puts that down to lack of character on her niece's part (OUCH!)  Natalie disputes this, but Barnabas says it's indisputable. Natalie did see evidence of an evil woman in the house the day she arrived! Trask agrees, but Barnabas says his aunt and Natalie both have vivid imaginations. Abigail haughtily tells her nephew that Joshua gave her permission to take care of this matter as she sees fit.
Despite Barnabas' protests, Natalie, Abigail and Trask all barge into Vicki's room. Trask immediately gets into Vicki's face, accusing her of lying, of being responsible for the evil that has happened in the house. He examines her shocking, immodest clothing, and she refuses to tell him where she got it. She refuses to tell him anything, and orders him out of her room. He orders her to deny Satan and seek God's salvation, then tries to push her onto her knees to pray. Things escalate into violence.  Trask grabs her, she slaps him, calls him a fantatic; he slaps her back.  Natalie is especially troubled to see this, but things get even more out  of hand--he and Abigail gag Vicki, tie her hands behind her back. Then, saying he is going to prove her a witch and exorcise the evil demons from her, he drags Vicki bodily out of the house.
Later, waiting for Trask to return from his task, Natalie frets about how vehemently Vicki denied being guilty, and says he was unnecessarily violent. She might have reacted the same way Vicki did, under those circumstances. She wishes she knew what he was doing to her.

In the woods, Trask has Vicki bound to a tree. He gives her one last chance to confess and repudiate Satan, and she calls him insane. He's going to leave her tied to that tree all night, he vows. If she is guilty of witchcraft, in the morning the tree will be dead. She starts begging him not to leave her there, and he, hand on her head, goes into a long, long speech ordering Satan to depart from Vicki's body. Vicki screams for help, and he says, "Scream all you wish--there will be none to hear you. . .none but the Lord!" Vicki continues to scream for help as he walks away.

NOTES:  Trask is one fun villain, isn't it? No church but his own, he says? HA!

Love, Robin.

382 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795, where the doomed love of two people caused wave after wave of mystery and horror and death.

Vicki comes in from visiting the post office bearing more wedding presents for Barn and Josette. She muses that if she ever gets back to her own time, she'll never again want to know anyone's secrets. Natalie enters and says the gifts will have to go back. How long have you known about Jeremiah and Josette plans to elope?, the Countess demands of Vicki, who denies knowing anything.When Natalie, citing the terrible, tragic things that are about to happen, demands that Vicki admit she knows the future and changed the cards, Vicki denies everything.

Naomi drinks in her room. She hides the bottle when Abigail knocks at her door. Her sister in law comes in and begins to blather heatedly, hatefully, on and on about the cat, the devil, and Naomi's drinking. Naomi suggests Abigail must be quite an authority on the devil by this time and SHE drinks as a tonic for her shattered nerves. She thinks she and Abigail should bond together instead of arguing.  Josette and Jeremiah were drawn together by lust, spits Abigail. Natalie joins the hen party; she agrees with Abigail that the devil is at work here, in the form of a minion--a witch.Yes, and it's Vicki, Abigail insists. Natalie tells the other women she wants Naomi to question Vicki about the future, and that if she doesn't, she's inviting tragedy.

The cat is sitting on Vicki's bed, balefully moving its tail, as Vicki gazes at Sarah's photo in the Collins family album. She remembers how much she used to enjoy looking at the book, and now, here she is, living with them! It's horrible to know their fate but to be unable to do anything about it. Abigail knocks on Vicki's door and Vicki scrambles to hide the book. Naomi wants to see her, says Abigail, and what is that cat doing in your room? Foolishly, Vicki says she likes cats, but Abigail insists she hates them. Vicki wants Abigail to leave her room when she does, but Abigail reminds her they own the house and can go into any room they want. She tells Vicki to tell her master that she, Abigail, is his enemy, and orders Vicki to go to Naomi. After Vicki leaves, Abigail informs the cat it won't stop her, and she begins searching Vicki's dresser drawers. There is a horrific screech, a puff of smoke and the cat disappears;Joshua, confused and dazed, is sitting on Vicki's bed in its place! Abigail promptly faints in her brother's arms.

Naomi questions Vicki about her past life, and Vicki says she wishes she could tell her everything--but can't. Natalie says Vicki WON'T tell, and hasn't explained away her clairvoyant remarks, such as stating that Josette wouldn't marry Barnabas, but Jeremiah (Vicki put this one down to being confused about all the new people and new names), but is satisfied that Vicki was trying to be kind in each instance.Naomi doesn't like the way Natalie is interrogating Vicki--a good woman who has offered acceptable explanations as far as she is concerned. Natalie thinks it's a good way to ward off suspicion, but everything comes to a halt when Joshua comes in and Naomi hugs him, delighted to see him. He wasn't even aware of being away a week! Abigail orders Vicki the witch to tell Joshua what she did to disrupt the household, and screeches to her brother that Jeremiah and Josette eloped. Naomi says they don't know that for sure, they disappeared, just as Joshua did. Yes, but he didn't take his clothes, as they did, Natalie reminds her. Joshua is appalled at this terrible news. Abigail maintains that witchcraft made it happen, and Vicki is the witch! See, the cat is gone! Natalie tells Joshua she's glad he's well. Naomi asks Vicki to order cook to prepare some broth for Mr. Collins (nah, give him a nice fat mouse), and Abigail follows Vicki out of the room--she's gonna watch her closely! Joshua tells his sister the witchcraft-Vicki business will wait for now. (Joshua does ask about how Barnabas is taking all this, so he does care.)

Abigail and Natalie, who predicts the cat will never be seen again, search Vicki's room. They find her shocking outfit, as well as a Zodiac bracelet. Abigail is horrified to see a devil depicted in one of the charms and hastily drops it. She tells Natalie she's going to send for Reverend Trask, expert witchhunter from Salem, to help them. Natalie looks pleased to hear this.

NOTES: Trask! We all know that name well, don't we, at least those of us who have watched the series before? He's going to stir the pot!

Why didn't Vicki better hide her things from 1967? She should have known they would only get her into trouble.


383 - (KLS) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795, where a strange, haunted honeymoon followed the marriage which cannot logically be explained.

Josette and Jeremiah Collins, wearing matching wedding rings and pitchforks on their hands, make love, over and over, at the Collinsport Inn. They consider staying in that room, where they've been since they were married 2.5 days ago, raising a family and living to be old, but after making love, Jeremiah sleeps and Josette sits staring into the fireplace. She hears her father and Barnabas chastising her, asking her how she could have done this to everyone. Barn's voice accuses her of not loving him, and she denies this. When Jeremiah awakens, her entire mood, once lighthearted, passionate and flirtatious, has changed--she wants to go back to face the music at Collinwood. She's crying, wishing she had told everyone before they eloped. He reminds her they tried to fight it, but it didn't work. When he tries to touch her, she orders him not to, but he reminds her they're married (so that gives him the right to, I gather)."Take me back, tonight, now," she demands. She tells him about hearing Andre's and Barnabas' disapproving voices, and feels they have no right to happiness. Does he love her, she asks, and he assures her he does. They must not forget they love each other, they agree, but when he kisses his wife's hand, the pitchfork love brand is gone!

Andre and Barnabas have a talk in the study. Josette told him how much she loved him, Mr. duPres assures Barnabas, who was concerned that Josette had changed her mind about him after arriving in Collinsport. Nevertheless, Barnabas refuses to consider that his uncle and fiancee ran away together. Joshua comes in and announces he, Natalie and Abigail think Josette and Jeremiah were the victims of witchcraft--and that Miss Winters is the culprit! Reverend Trask will be there shortly, and he will ferret out the witch! Barnabas defends Vicki staunchly,but his father orders him to keep out of it--and if he does protect Vicki, as he threatens to do, he will consider his son an enemy, too.

Jeremiah enters the drawing room and greets Riggs, who is dusting. He sends him to find Joshua. Jeremiah finds the brand has disappeared from his hand, too, so the spell is broken for now. Josette comes in and he reminds her he told her to wait in the carriage. Their feelings for each other have clearly evaporated, which she realizes when she clings to him and he behaves coldly toward her. Though they now realize they feel no love for each other, they resolve to try to be kind. Andre enters and hugs Josette, and Joshua, calling Jeremiah "the prodigal brother", demands to know what's what.When they hear that the couple have married, they are both stunned. Andre reminds Jeremiah of his promise to keep away from Josette, which clues in Joshua to the fact that he knew something was going on between the pair. Jeremiah has no explanation for their actions, but they are fully prepared to leave town. No, says Joshua, there will be no grist for the gossips--they are family and will live under the Collins roof, presenting a united front! Barnabas walks in on this upsetting tableau.Joshua immediately reveals that they are married, and Josette quickly turns away, unable to face her former fiance. "No," Barnabas says, and demands that Josette admit it. It's true, she says. "Why?" he asks. He didn't know her, was wrong about her! Jeremiah can offer no explanation for why he stole Josette from his nephew; they simply couldn't fight what they felt. "Then you will fight me," Barnabas announces, and slaps his uncle across the face. "Choose weapons!" Joshua forbids a duel, Andre tells his daughter it's between men now (!), Josette screams, "No!" and Barnabas turns to her and tells her she lost the right to ask anything of him. They are going to duel, he firmly tells his father, and he can't stop them!

NOTES: Loved the high drama, but didn't Barnabas look totally betrayed? By the way, Jeremiah didn't kiss Josette with anymore passion than he kissed Vicki.

Love, Robin

I never did understand why Angelique had self-esteem issues, unless she was really mistreated as a child (which I suppose can be explained in ANGELIQUE'S DESCENT, if you want to believe Lara Parker's version).  She was gorgeous, charming, and certainly could have had a man fall in love with her on her own terms.   She set her sights on BARNABAS, and he was the beginning and end as far as she was concerned.  The problem was, and a spoiler is coming for those who haven't seen the entire 1795 storyline,




even when she blackmailed Barnabas into marrying her, she still didn't trust him or believe he cared enough.  When she learned he was giving santuary to Vicki, she was furious enough to make sure Vicki was captured by Trask and removed from HER home.  Angelique could never relax, even when she got what she wanted.  I think she would have been happy as Sky Rumson's wife, coddled in luxury by a rich man, but that fell apart on her through no fault of her own.

Like everyone in DARK SHADOWS, Angelique was looking for love, but in all the wrong ways, and even when she finally got the man she wanted, instead of dropping the use of witchcraft (which she even told Ben she would after the Jeremiah's ghost fiasco), she couldn't do it, and it proved to be her downfall and the end of her brief marriage to the man she loved.  Remember, Barnabas overheard her incantation, which piqued his suspicions and led to his realization that his wife was the real witch.

Love, Robin  

380 - (Lara Parker) - A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795. There, in the old Collins house, it is learned that a lasting tragedy can be averted if the course of history can be changed.

Josette's room - Angelique is helping Josette get ready when Andre and Natalie come in and tell her she must marry Barnabas tonight--before it's too late. Angelique overhears and is, of course, upset, eyes bulging.Natalie explains that someone in the house is convinced that, if Josette doesn't marry Barnabas, she will marry someone else. Andre asks his daughter if she loves Barnabas, and she assures him she does. What about Joshua? Andre frets, wishing they'd held the wedding someplace civilized, like Paris, and he's even pissed off enough to suggest they all get back on the boat and return to Martinique, except that both Josette and Natalie protest that it would be too embarrassing for his daughter to return home without a husband. Natalie assures Josette that Barnabas has no problem with them marrying tonight, but the bride to be wants to talk to him herself--this should be their decision. After Andre and Natalie promise to set it up, they leave. Angelique brings over the rosewater, all set to give Josette another of those "Jeremiah-lovin'" forehead massages. Josette refuses, even pushing Angelique away, then apologizes to her maid for being sharp with her. Angelique promises to think of something to help her mistress and Josette thanks her for being so sweet (gag me with rosewater, please). Angelique pretends to be grateful, but is clearly infuriated.

The Joshua-cat sits on Angelique's bed, and Ben comes after it with an axe. Angelique stops him, but promises he will eventually get his revenge against Joshua for his cruel treatment of him, she'll see to that! She orders him to get a handkerchief from Jeremiah's room for her latest spell.

Down in the drawing room, Barnabas assures Josette he'll gladly marry her tonight. She promises to make him happy, her face glowing with love, and they kiss. Beaming, he gets ready to leave and bring back the minister; they'll tie the knot at 9 PM. They hug and smile happily at each other,but Josette looks thoughtful.

Ben brings one of Jeremiah's blue handkerchiefs to Angelique in her room. She will turn it into a flower, sprinkle it with the "I love Jeremiah" rosewater, tell Josette it's an amulet, then pin it to her wedding gown. Ben isn't pleased; he points out that Josette didn't hurt her. "Except that she wants the man I love," Angelique says coldly, and when he reminds her Barnabas loves Josette, she assures him she can and will change the course of true love--Barnabas will hate Josette because she will belong to another man!Josette's room - Natalie helps a radiant, nervous Josette get ready for her wedding. She's anxious to marry Barnabas, and wishes he'd hurry back with the minister. Angelique tells Josette how beautiful she looks, and Natalie puts on and adjusts the bridal veil. When Angelique offers Josette the tainted blue flower, her only gift offering, Josette refuses to wear it--good luck notwithstanding, it will look too conspicuous on her gown. Angelique starts to cry over this rejection of her present, and it's Natalie who points out what a good, faithful servant Angelique has been to Josette and says wearing it will do no harm (oh, Natalie, you are SOOOO wrong)! Josette relents and agrees to wear the flower. Angelique, declaring herself honored, smirks as she kneels to pin it to the waist of her dress.

The minister has arrived, not at all pleased with this quickie wedding. Barnabas introduces Reverend Brooks to Natalie. Angelique pours some pre-wedding champagne, a shock to the scandalized minister, as an impatient Andre heads upstairs to fetch Josette for the ceremony. Barnabas, staring anxiously upstairs to where his bride will appear, refuses any champagne.

Andre knocks on Josette's door and, getting no response, opens it and walks in. There is no sign of Josette, and her trunk is empty of clothing. "Josette," he says, upset, wondering what she's done.

Natalie is downstairs relating the story of Marie and Andre's huge wedding, at which the Archbishop officiated. Andre reports that Josette is gone,then runs outside, calling for her. Barnabas stands there, clearly shaken, as Angelique raises a glass of champagne to smiling lips and drinks to the success of her plan.

NOTES: How much did you hate Angelique in this episode, or do you really think she's right in treating Josette this way? GREAT episode!


381 - (Lara Parker) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795. On this night, those within the Collins mansion will suffer the shock of discovery that deceit and betrayal are guests in this house.

In the wake of the aborted wedding and disappearance of Josette and Jeremiah, Andre questions Angelique about Josette. Barnabas enters and tells them that the Reverend was very upset and wants to be kept posted. Ben reports Josette's and Jeremiah's horses are missing from the stable. Despite all these revelations, Barnabas stubbornly refuses to believe his close-as-a-brother uncle had anything to do with Josette's leaving before the wedding. Andre goes upstairs to see if Jeremiah is in his room, and Angelique sidles over and grins at Ben, who tells Barnabas how sorry he is. Barnabas, saying insisting he's sure there's a simple explanation for it all, asks Ben and Ang to keep quiet about all this, and they both promise. Ben shoots Angelique a look of hatred. Andre comes down to report that Jeremiah and Josette's luggage is missing, but again, Barn insists Jeremiah couldn't be that deceitful and that this is a shocking assumption.Andre calls it a disturbing coincidence. Barnabas resolves to get his pistols and go into the woods to search for Josette--despite the fact that her horse is missing. It might have been stolen, he insists.

Angelique lies on her bed and Ben comes in without knocking, pissing her off. He calls her M'lady, sarcastically. He congratulates her for having them all dancing like puppets, and she tells him she always gets what he wants. Then he tells her that, in the meanness department, Joshua is a saint compared to her! She is angry that a convict dares to speak thusly to her and calls him stupid. He tries to strangle her for that, but of course can't follow through. She suggests he stick around and watch the fireworks. She wants Barnabas to know about Josette and Jeremiah before they return as a married couple, and she's going to hasten that. He'll feel humiliated and turn to her--without having to use a spell. She doesn't want to get Barnabas that way;she wants him to be truly hers, of his own free will--and it's going to happen! Ben is upset to learn Barnabas is alone in the woods, but Angelique assures him he has plenty of company...

In the woods, Barnabas calls to Josette. He hears a rustling and draws his pistol, demanding the person show himself. An apparition in a hat and coat appear to Barnabas, claiming to be his Uncle Jeremiah. "Poor Barnabas," says the ghostly figure mockingly-- Josette is gone, she has left you, she doesn't love you, she's in love with me. She has left you to marry me!"He mocks Barnabas, calls him a fool, bringing the distraught man to such a fever pitch, he fires at the apparition, which disappears, laughing at him. Andre joins Barnabas in the woods, hears the story of the disappearing man, and urges him to return home. Barnabas hears Angelique's voice calling. Andre doesn't hear it and wonders what the hell Barnabas is listening to. The voice orders Barn to go to the road to Collinsport, and Barnabas promptly drags Andre along to check it out. What Barnabas finds is Josette's torn, mud-splattered bridal veil caught in a tree branch on the road to Collinsport.

Angelique, watching from the fire, tells Ben now they have to wait--Barnabas will be changed. Upset, Ben says he doesn't want to see his master different, sad, but Angelique wants him to view her bitchy handiwork. He tells her again how mean she is. She says they must go downstairs separately, and he leers, "Why? Do you think they'll think there's somethin' between us?" She orders him not to make her angry, or she'll turn him into a moth, and he calls her a mean, unmerciful woman. Respect me, she warns.

Drawing room - Barnabas is holding Josette's veil when Andre joins him. Barnabas, unable to face reality, can't figure out how the veil got where they found it--perhaps Josette was abducted. Ben comes downstairs and asks Barnabas if he's all right. No, Barnabas responds, and Ben apologizes for not being there when Barnabas was looking for him to help search for Josette. They found nothing of importance, Barnabas says with dignity.  Angelique troops down after Ben has gone, and Barn tells her there's no news. Andre suggests to Barnabas that he rest, but Barnabas is determined to await Josette. After Andre has left, Angelique suggests, too, that Barnabas rest after all he's been through. Barnabas, clutching the veil, says quietly, defiantly, to Angelique, "In spite of what I've been through, I still love her. No matter what has happened or what will happen, I will always love her."Angelique, livid, just looks at him. Foiled?!

NOTES: Great acting on the part of Frid in that last scene. Everyone was great today.

Nothing works out the way Angelique plots for it to, does it? She assumes that her spells will bring Barnabas to her willingly, but fails to see how much he loves Josette, and how much she's hurting him. When you love someone, you want for them what they want for themselves.

Angelique is being exceptionally selfish here. Aside from hurting Barnabas, who she might have a semi-acceptable case against for unceremoniously dumping her, Angelique's treatment of Jeremiah and Josette is inexcusable.

Love, Robin