That scene when Barnabas asked Angelique if she would have him taken out to the woods to die if she found someone else was quite telling. Hooray to Barnabas for thinking of it!
I did like that. It's hard to write lines that indicate a realistic, believable way for someone to work his/her way out of a "controlled" or possessed state.
It's a good point, that we needed Barnabas to see what being a vampire victim is like this early in DS (and I may be finishing out someone's thought here), to assist in his gradual reformation. I don't think 1968 Barnabas is reformed yet, except in terms of the most extreme acts. He's stopped those, but even now he's willing to consider killing an innocent to stay alive or out of jail. Anyway, he's on his way, but somewhere in the middle. Like most people, he's still more concerned with protecting his interests and those of family and those who have helped him. He cares about family and will go a long way to protect them, but this whole Adam thing is mainly an irritation to him, and he just wants it over so he can pursue his interests and pleasures again, pricey ones I'm guessing (when will those jewels run out?).
Later I think he becomes the guilt-ridden former vampire, who is more than willing to move heaven and earth to help others in order to atone. This may be for Taeylor: in 1968 he was Red Sonja, mainly self-centered but drawn reluctantly into helping people, in 1969 he's Xena...
Part of my problem is the hyper-marathoning I do. It all goes by so fast that 1968's a short time. I guess he has been human awhile by this point after all.