DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '26 I => Current Talk '12 I => Topic started by: Watching Project on February 07, 2012, 01:08:20 AM

Title: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: Watching Project on February 07, 2012, 01:08:20 AM
Robservations #141
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: tragic bat on February 07, 2012, 03:41:06 AM
I'm sure Josette has a lot to say to Laura,

[spoiler]After all, they were both married to the same man, and surely Josette is aware of Laura's past exploits on and off the estate.  Laura once lived in the old house, perhaps she even belongs with the spirits there, and is surely wary of them welcoming her too much.   [/spoiler]

Sam really annoyed me in these episodes.  Has he never seen Picasso's paintings, for instance?  Why not paint a woman with flames around her; don't be so damned uptight about it.  From the way he described his paintings to Laura when they ran into each other at the coffee shop, it sounded like he could use some inspiration and experimentation.  But I guess he would prefer to be a dull, mainstream, boring "artist" instead of someone with interesting work. 
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: DarkLady on February 07, 2012, 04:34:04 PM
Well, Sam is aware of the type of market he's painting for--mostly tourists, I'll bet, who would much sooner buy ordinary seascapes than bizarre pictures of a woman with flames around her.

Josette's portrait glows in rapid blinks, like a strobe light, while Laura stares at it. Is Josette trying to communicate with her? Or just warning her off?
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: tragic bat on February 07, 2012, 09:21:02 PM
Well, I'm sure Sebastian Shaw and Roxanne would prefer the paintings of women in flames; Sam will have to adapt to the changes in the local market if he wants to survive as an artist. 
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: MagnusTrask on February 08, 2012, 02:42:48 PM
T. Bat--  I think the disturbing things about the painting are supposed to be that (1) Sam painted it under remote control, and (2) that it portrays a woman (whom they knew) on fire, presumably being burned to death.   I don't think that being unconventional in his artwork had anything to do with it.

Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: Janet the Wicked on February 08, 2012, 05:04:19 PM
T. Bat--  I think the disturbing things about the painting are supposed to be that (1) Sam painted it under remote control, and (2) that it portrays a woman (whom they knew) on fire, presumably being burned to death.   I don't think that being unconventional in his artwork had anything to do with it.

He's also under extreme duress to paint this thing. He doesn't want to and doesn't understand what's making him do it or why.

I have been to many a museum, seen all of the masters, yet I prefer my own style. And I've sold stuff. So if Sammy can eck out a living selling seascapes and whatnot, well, why not?
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: MagnusTrask on February 08, 2012, 07:03:37 PM
I have been to many a museum, seen all of the masters, yet I prefer my own style. And I've sold stuff. So if Sammy can eck out a living selling seascapes and whatnot, well, why not?

I was going to get envious and say I hadn't ever sold anything, but ONCE, years ago, someone bought one copy of a drawing-- I almost forgot.   Anyway, I'm glad you've sold things.   And I'm envious.
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: Lydia on February 18, 2012, 06:46:13 PM
Well, I'm sure Sebastian Shaw and Roxanne would prefer the paintings of women in flames; Sam will have to adapt to the changes in the local market if he wants to survive as an artist.
I 'm not so sure about Sebastian Shaw; I suspect that when he has only himself to please, his tastes are rather old-fashioned.  But that's a few episodes ahead of this one.

I liked the picture of the phoenix that David drew.  The plumage of the bird seemed similar to the flames around it.

Laura was a like a different person at the Old House.  Before, she's always been totally absorbed by David and by her need of him, but at the Old House, she was a typical impatient mother.  But despite her nervousness, so far as we can tell, Josette's portrait only glowed at her, and did not harm her.  Meanwhile at the Evans cottage we've got the picture that Sam unwillingly painted of Laura.  If you put those two portraits - Josette's and Laura's - in the same room together, what would happen?

Oh, dear, Maggie shouldn't have talked so much to Vicky, and she shouldn't have shown her the picture.  Does Maggie blab this much to everybody about personal stuff, or has the friendship between Maggie and Vicky become closer than we have previously seen?  And if that's the case, it's worth thinking about.  Why is Maggie good friends with Vicky rather than with Susie at the coffeeshop?

At the end of the episode, I thought Laura was going to tell David that all he had to do was tap his heels together and say, "There's no place like home."
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: DarkLady on February 19, 2012, 12:07:16 AM
David will demonstrate his artistic talents again in the future. I always waited for the writers to make something of it, but they never did. Too bad, because portraits play such an important part in all the story lines.
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: Lydia on February 19, 2012, 12:22:16 PM
portraits play such an important part in all the story lines.
I was thinking about this as Sam, Vicky, and Maggie talked about the picture of Laura, and I thought about the number of senses of which the series avails itself as part of the story.  Sight - portraits galore.  Hearing - starting with the storyline after this one, many storylines introduced a new theme.  Smell - that also starts in the storyline after this, though is used less than sight and sound.  Taste and touch - nothing there.  I was thinking, "It's so hard to portray the taste or feel of something on TV," but you could say the same about scent.  Someday everybody may know when Mrs. Johnson's ghost is around by the taste of burnt Brussels sprouts that they get in their mouths.
Title: Re: Discuss - Ep #0141
Post by: DarkLady on February 19, 2012, 07:00:26 PM
Smell - that also starts in the storyline after this, though is used less than sight and sound.  Taste and touch - nothing there.  I was thinking, "It's so hard to portray the taste or feel of something on TV," but you could say the same about scent.  Someday everybody may know when Mrs. Johnson's ghost is around by the taste of burnt Brussels sprouts that they get in their mouths.

Scent: In the early story lines, Vicki catches the scent of Josette's perfume. And much later, the scent of lilacs will almost drive one character out of his mind.

Nothing much in taste, but then again, almost nobody on this show ever eats!