audio the stunning opening and closing themes and other musical cues composed by robert cobert,the silly sound effects,but what most struck(and strikes)me was the quality of the writing,the articulation of the characters,the perfect,crisp diction.with many of the actors being theater trained the way the characters express themselves often comes across as grand and even almost regal.

so to answer the question at hand watching d.s. didn't improve my vocabulary per se but the quality of the writing and the actors articulation of it are very much part of the recipe for my fondness.

You said so very well what I was trying to say, Mscbryk!

The way the actors portrayed their characters was perfect, giving the show that extra bit of intrigue and depth.

Have a happy birthday, 4everfridean! 

I don't know about it improving vocabulary, but some of the introductions to the show were just so eloquently phrased, that I just love to listen to them simply for how well said they are.

Also, Barnabas got some of the most awesome lines to say, and the way he got to say them, because he was from another century, that was neat. Some of the statements he says are almost poetic. 

Wouldn't itt have taken quite a bit of time for the makeup artists to remove Jonathan Frid's makeup? It doesn't seem like very much time passed between when he bit Carolyn, to the time when he reappeared.

Mrs. Johnson got fed up that too many people were just leaving it around the house, so she tossed it in the junk. 

What? That was a priceless antique!  LOL!

Do you think if Carolyn would have had the soldier with her, and showed it to Barnabas, he might not have bitten her? Obviously Sarah thought it would protect David, so wouldn't it do the same for Carolyn?

I think it's very possible that Josette was in the room with Julia. Too bad she didn't allow Julia to see her.

The sudden withering of the flowers was unnerving. I guess so many strange things happen at Collinwood that no one could be bothered to think about why the flowers would wilt so fast.

Why does Barnabas have to keep shoving Dr. Woodard in Julia's face? Maybe a bit of his own guilt is tugging at him, so he has to remind her of her share in the death so he won't feel so alone, but still it's terribly cruel.

SPOILER ALERT:

Barnabas says he isn't gentle or forgiving, but we see a different side to him once we travel back to 1795. Very interesting.

Poor David! It's like he's completely given up on everything. Nobody will believe him, so he's stopped trying to convince them.

The widows' wailing is creepy too.

I don't know if it's such a good idea for Burke and Vicki to move in to the west wing. Obviously Burke doesn't think so either. Vicki would get too wrapped up in the past, and I don't blame him for not wanting to stay there.
It annoyed me though when Vicki said Burke doesn't want to move in to the west wing, and whatever he doesn't want or care about, she doesn't either.

We got two treats in this episode today, we got to hear the cool fountain and the clock! 

when Julia was standing outside, I think she was by the fountain, was there really someone near her?

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Sheenasma!