DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '26 I => Current Talk '13 I => Topic started by: Watching Project on March 27, 2013, 03:18:00 PM
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Robservations #422
And if you'd care to look back, the first WP discussion topic for this ep:Re: Discuss - Ep #0422
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Joshua is wearing a very nice gray velvet coat when he comes downstairs and finds Natalie staring at Barnabas's portrait--particularly the onyx ring. Joshua quietly tells her that the portrait is only a few months old. Then Josette comes downstairs and faints. Joshua is stunned when he sees the ring on Josette's finger. Natalie asks him about the ring. His voice trembling, Joshua tells her, I placed it on Barnabas's hand when he was buried.
The admirable Riggs stands guard outside Josette's door and even has a few lines of the "yes, ma'am," "no, ma'am" variety. Josette is so frantic to get out that at first she doesn't notice when the secret panel opens and Barnabas steps into the room, arrayed for the first time in all his dark splendor. They leave through the secret panel.
Poor Joshua must go to Eagle Hill, where both his children are buried and as he thinks, in eternal slumber. After pausing to look at Sarah’s grave marker, he reaches up and pulls the ring that opens the secret panel. Joshua looks around for a moment. Barnabas has apparently been entombed for some days, but Joshua--perhaps distracted by grief and fear--fails to notice the lit candles in the secret room. I saw the ring on Barnabas' hand before I closed the coffin, he recalls. Who would dare defile the dead? Standing by his son's coffin, he murmurs sorrowfully, I never gave you love, but I wanted to give you peace. He adds fiercely, I swear revenge on whoever has desecrated my son's resting place. After pausing one final moment to gather his courage, Joshua steels himself to open the coffin--and is horrified to find it empty.
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I liked Josette's line about whatever various forces are arranging themselves for her, they will find her there.
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My favorite mirror appears on the wall at the foot of the stairs after being shifted about the house in the future. The picture of Barnabas is in the place of the old capped lady which hung there in hall to the right of the door in a previous episode. That picture is sometimes to the right of the drawing room door where the liquor cabinet spends most of its time. There is much ado about the onyx ring that went to the grave. The house was just built by Jeremiah for Joshua and Barnabas seems to be the only one who knows there is a secret panel in Josettes room. What was the purpose of that and other panels and wouldn't the builders have discussed why they were installed? Barnabas and Josette plan to spend eternity together while Joshua goes into the candlelit crypt to find an empty coffin.
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Collinwood was built during the war, so the secret passage was built so they could escape if the house was entered by redcoats.
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Now Josette is acting more like I want her to - not all wistful & pensive - but strong and willful and practical to convince her aunt that she is okay and capable. I loved the opening scenes with Josette and Natalie in Josette's room. You have to feel for Natalie's circumstances. Trying to save someone who is knowingly resisting your attempts at rescue. The brick wall outside Josette's window seems out of place for Collinwood. I agree MT, Josette's line about the forces finding her there where she intends to let them find her is a great line.
I totally forgot that Barn is not aware of the future.
I loved the writing for Edmond's Joshua in the scene with Natalie in the Foyer. It was a kinder, gentler - dare I say - playful pompousness. He even called her "My dear Countess." Edmonds is superb throughout the episode. As a matter of fact, everyone does a great job.
How does Josette know about the secret panel? KLS looks fab in black. Frid & Scott are still batting 1000 together. And I am still loving the writing for their scenes together - it is so romantic (as a matter of fact).
Edmond's closing scene was perfect. The writing: the voiceover: the acting: BRAVO!
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I totally forgot that Barn is not aware of the future.
LOL... Only in DS...
I loved the writing for Edmond's Joshua in the scene with Natalie in the Foyer. It was a kinder, gentler - dare I say - playful pompousness.
And what a time to be that way...! That might have been inspired, having Joshua cheer up just as death and depression are settling over the household.
How does Josette know about the secret panel?
Maybe Vicki explained that that's how she got out of there with the family history?
All this (B&J) is making me wonder about whether this big, sweeping, epic, romantic love really exists or is just a fantasy ideal serving as an opiate for us throughout history. Love stories always conclude with the wedding, and we don't see what happens later. Josette thinks all she needs in life/death is Barnabas. But if all they have is each other, aren't they going to tire of each other fairly quickly? They can't interact with society.