DG_     Devlin Got Railroaded     GR_

I don't know how this fits in, but I feel as though this is fast becoming a kiddie soap at this point. And I think it might pay to factor it in when trying to evaluate.

Barn & Lang talk Julia back from over the edge once again. But Julia only promises not to inform the police. She tells them that she will do everything in her power to stop the ‘experiment’. Cassandra eavesdrops on Barn & Jules discussion re: the plan/experiment and its implications and risks. Barn busts her but we know she’s heard enough to ruin everything. You’d think Julia would be more suspicious of Cassandra, I for the life of me cannot figure out why she doesn’t believe she is Angelique, or have I missed something? Cass summons Tony to Collinwood and directs him to steal Lang’s talisman. Lang, prompted by a phony phone message arrives at the Old House. Barn figures out that Cass has orchestrated Lang’s being there. Upon learning that Lang does not have the talisman on him Barn decides that they should go to Lang’s office to get it. Meanwhile, Tony retrieves the talisman from Lang’s desk and the episode closes with Cass, talisman in hand, smiling in victory.
 
Yikes! I thought this ep was pretty bad because the cast and crew didn’t seem to have it together. And when that wasn’t distracting me, I was pretty bored. Hall was the only cast member on her game today – there wasn’t even a close second. Story-wise, a big shucks at Cass learning that there is a plan and so quickly gaining the upper hand. The ten-year-old DS fan in me was very upset with that development. Never mind Barnabas always winning (as stated by temporarily defeated Julia), Angelique has a pretty good track record so far. You’d think the talisman would have protected Tony from Cass or at least have broken the spell once in hand. And, one might think that Cass would not be able to even hold the talisman. I liked the dialogue between Barn & Jules on the terrace. Three major video glitches, two with loss of dialogue – anyone know if the DVD contains said glitches? The first while Lang spoke of his experiment to Julia in his office, and another was during the terrace scene (Barn/Jules) and then another when Cassandra was waiting for Tony on the terrace. (BTW, if you’re not satisfied with just giggling at A. Powell as Lang, he is also a hoot to watch in fast motion – in case you are really bored and have nothing else to do.) Has Julia always worn nail polish – or is this part of the new Julia? Barn’s red robe – love it.
 
Just wondering - does it peeve anyone to hear the opening voice-over person reference themselves in the third person or at all– it bugs the shit out of me. I think Magnus referenced this a bit ago.

So JClark doesn’t die, eh? Too bad. Though if JC becomes the monster and then kills Lang, that would be fab. I won’t hold my breath. Geez, Lang’s new best friend (Barnabas) is a big pain in his ass, eh? Barn has a brief moment of humanity and has a change of heart regarding using JC’s face for the experiment. But Lang changes Barn’s mind back. Vicki shows up looking for JC and pleads for Lang’s concern. Barn hears this and sets JC free. Hooray! Good Barn is back. Lang of course is furious. JC wakes up and thinks he is in a production of West Side Story. Oh My Goodness, is this one of the worst acting segments this show has ever produced? Frid must have gone home and cried. If he wrote home to mother I do hope that letter will be shared, lol.
 
Barn: Listen to me Jeff!
JC: In a minute, I’m busy right now!” (ROTFLMFAO!!!)
 
Dear Lord, even JC is double-speaking. And Powell tops himself by triple-speaking. Oh yeah, this has got to be the worst ‘acting’ episode since the show’s start. And I imagine in the top five of the ‘worst of’ in the show’s five-year run. No one can remember their lines, even while reading the teleprompter, lol. The last scene was so bad that it was wonderful.
 
Afterthought: Love the flimsy wall in the lab. There was a missing moment during Barn’s opening scene. Is this glitch on the DVD too?

Happy belated birthday Nancy!

The women all look so ’68 contemporary and quite fabulous.

I picked up on what seems to be a lackadaisical tone to AM’s OVO. As if she started with a deep sigh and rolling eyes. Cass meets Maggie and decides she will start the dream curse because of her resemblance to Josette, noting the irony. Vicki asks Maggie to room JC temporarily and Maggie says she’ll do her best to convince Sam to comply. The JClark & Lang shout fest was a big bore. Lang subdues JC with an injection and straps him to a gurney. Jeff wakes and realizes that his face will put the finishing touch on Lang’s creation. Did I say I hate the dream curse? I loved the first dream – KLS, is a natch for this type of scene. I loved the whole thing except the skull at the end (the eyeballs really made it silly). I was a bit put off seeing JClark in the dream thinking it was stupid but knowing that he is supposed to move into the Evans cottage I can see where it will come into play later. I also very much enjoyed Cass/Ange’s incantation at the drawing room window. Did you catch the lilt in her voice as the scene faded into Maggie’s dream, as if she were starting to sing? It made me giggle – in a good way.

Afterthoughts: The wig is still holding up. As a kid my intro to these 1968 characters was 16 Magazine – this was during the 1897 storyline. I used to get back issues at a flea market and I think perhaps also saw photos when 16 ran the “Whole True Story” series. I was so taken with Parker as Cassandra in that wig that I fell in love with the name and was determined to name my first female child Cassandra, lol. This episode started with a bang but the whole Lang/JClark thang brought the episode down. Two mediocre talents together in the same scene - there was more ham in their scenes than on the table at a three family Easter dinner. It was so comforting to see Maggie again. I’m beginning to wonder why so many wigs? Is it less work than styling the actresses hair? I can see in some instances – like – Liz – where no one has that much hair to create such a style, and I believe Bennett goes natural eventually but ‘Vicki’ & ‘Maggie’? I don’t recall having seen ‘Carolyn’ in a wig. I wonder what the thought process and considerations are behind these decisions. And dig that crazy psychedelic ending credits! Groovy, man!Or was it far out?!!

Lang tries to sell Barn on his plan but Barn will not commit. He asks Julia’s advice regarding Lang as a trustworthy and competent MD, but when pressed refuses to reveal details of Lang’s plan. She asks and Barn admits that he could die (permanently, lol). This is all the info Julia needs to advise against cooperating with Lang. While he and Lang wait to dig up a freshly buried body at the cemetery, Jeff refuses to go thru with it, essentially terminating his association with Lang. We learn here that Lang’s hold over Jeff is that he was accused of murdering women – we also learn that this is according to Lang and that Jeff has no memory of it – or of his past for that matter as he latter explains to Vicki in the garden as a hiding Barnabas watches/listens. JC & VW close their conversation with a romantic kiss – pressuring Barn back to Lang’s to agree to take part in the experiment and requesting a face resembling Jeff’s. Lang says he can go one better and give him Jeff’s actual face. Barnabas smiles…fade to black.
 
Afterthoughts: Decent warm-blooded Barnabas – we hardly knew ye. Is Barn bad by nature? I hadn’t expected to dislike him again so soon. Again the lighting was horrible, the outdoor scenes were flattering to no one. Davis & Powell’s scene was ghastly written (IMO). And what’s with all the touching?  Swift & Russell are not new to the scene, correct? It seems more & more episodes lately have been lacking (acting, directing, writing, lighting) – starting during the final days of 1795. I wonder if this is a trend or if it is just my take? On the other hand I am, I marveled by the camera work. Go figure. The lifeless unfinished body can be seen breathing, especially in fast-forward.

If it were meant to be a wig, I imagine that Barn Or Julia would have pulled it off in some big AH HA! moment sooner or later.