I liked Bert Convy best in Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood (a low budget classic). He played an undercover narco cop in a beatnik coffee shop and was offed via a frying pan to the head.

I haven't been watching much TV or actively seeking out trailers, but I saw one last night with some things that I haven't seen mentioned here. One is Liz with the shotgun and the other shows Barnabas standing with his back or shoulders on fire. Someone offscreen (Liz, perhaps) says "do you know you're on fire?" then he's doused with a bucket of water.

[spoiler]I  forget the exact circumstances as to why she was so weak.  I think Quentin had destroyed the container in which she kept a flame.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]If I recall correctly, Dirk got the urn back at some point. A bit later, Barnabas had Magda steal the Egyptian scarab from the cottage and that's when Laura grew very weak. Barnabas then instructed Edward to extinguish every fire in Collinwood in the hopes of killing her.[/spoiler]

Good thing Burke and Joe aren't in law enforcement, because that was one lousy search of the fishing shack. I mean, it's David they're looking for, after all.

I suppose the men searching, the women fretting and Vicki communicating with Josette was meant to heighten the tension/suspense, but it kind of misfired (no pun intended). I've never been keen on this story line, I'm glad it's winding down.

It's almost like an episode of Lassie, but without Lassie

"What? What's that, Josie? Davey's stuck in a burning shack?"

Interesting that every century, some unsuspecting couple in the Murdoch family had a daughter, who they had no idea was really a Phoenix!  Perhaps they are another cursed family.

Good thought. DS mined just about everything, why not mythology? The gods were always siring offspring with mortal humans and another angry god or goddess would take out their ire on the child in some way.

Thanks MB and Magnus for the welcome. I've read some interesting, insightful and entertaining posts and have wanted to jump in for a while.

Laura is difficult to figure out. She engages in such harmful, destructive actions to whomever gets in her way, but there could be so much more beneath the surface. Although a great concept, I didn't care much for the Phoenix story line, in any century, but Diana Millay is quite good. It's interesting that Laura, with such an intimate relationship to fire, can be so icy.

I know this is an old topic, but since Chris is one of my favorite characters:

1) My favorite is Chris' initial story line. I thought Briscoe really conveyed the inner torment and anguish of the character and several of the scenes with Amy were very sweet and organic. They really felt like a big brother/little sister.

2) I would have liked to see the Jennings acknowledged as Collinses and for Quentin and Chris to interact more. Even if not on screen, mention could have been made that the two spent some evenings talking. Which brings me to a rather radical thought. Had the show ended in present time, I would have wanted Chris to be cured, via Quentin. As controversial as it may be, I had the idea that Quentin, just as a full moon is rising, destroys his portrait and kills himself with a silver bullet. His sacrifice for his family permanently lifts the curse.

3) Leaving the actress out of it, I can't deny Sabrina was devoted to Chris, so she didn't bother me that much. After a point in the Leviathan era, she was really the only one helping him. It irked me that Julia tried to help Jeb through blood analysis, etc. and all she seemed to do for Chris was lock him in a padded cell at Windcliff. I did like Chris and Carolyn, though. I'm undecided, maybe someone else completely. Perhaps Chris kills Sabrina, which leads to Quentin's actions stated above.

4) I accept the car accident. It happens.

5) The show was already on the decline, but I think Briscoe could have added something to PT. I don't know how much his sudden departure changed the game plan down the line. I was sorry to see him go, but I don't think the show would have lasted longer or been markedly improved if he hadn't.