I prefer to think that Willie's love of beauty is innate, even if deeply buried, rather than the result of a spell--it makes him more three-dimensional.

Joey and Lydia, I think you're both right. I haven't actually HEARD this ep. in a long time, so if you think Elizabeth says "great-great-great grandmother," I'm fine with that. Also if she says it was given to her without mentioning the giver. It's been a long time....

Ooooooh, shiny! 

Lydia, I understand what you mean about JK making the part his own. Very nice soliloquy about the jewels. And the heartbeat! I for one would never have suspected that deep within Willie's thuggish mind lurks a love of beauty. Too bad he doesn't respect women the same way.

When Elizabeth is looking for her brooch, which has an emerald the size of a dinner plate, she tells David that it's an heirloom, and that her great-grandmother gave it to her when she turned eighteen. However, this will change. [spoiler]Elizabeth’s great-grandmother was Edith Collins, who died in 1897--or perhaps 1840?[/spoiler]

The scene in the library with David and Willie is one of my favorites, perfectly played by both DH and JK. What I wish we could have seen in parallel time is the story of the pirate who supposedly gave the jewels to Naomi!

As if more proof of Willie's execrable tastes and manners is needed, he selects a horrendous fifties-style arrangement of the Beatles' "She's a Woman" on the jukebox.

Jason finally realizes he can't charm Burke onto his side, especially after Willie calls Burke a "jailbird." But we know that it is a truth, universally acknowledged, that Burke has never tried to conceal his past.

Joe leaves to make a phone call and doesn't return until Burke has thoroughly trounced Willie and he and Sam have thrown W. out bodily. So Joe misses his chance to defend his lady love.

Just take care of yourself, MT. I hope we see you on the boards again ASAP!

Roger at his best

And for once with an appropriate target.

WELCOME, PORTRAIT OF BARNABAS!!!

Famous conversation between David and Willie. However, several of the details that David mentions will be revised in the future. The name "Barnabas Collins" is mentioned for the first time!

The writers are giving us another clue to Jason's character (or rather, lack of same) by showing us that he never even thought to figure a mother's love into his calculations. 

And yes, the "Tell-Tale Heart" is a wonderful touch, though a bit ironic, because as we all know (or should know), [spoiler]vampires don't have heartbeats.  [/spoiler]

Alone in the foyer as he gazes at the portrait--especially the jewels--Willie thinks to himself that if it was up to him, he'd just grab "rocks like those" and run. He's been at Collinwood for hardly a day and already he's molested Carolyn twice, ordered the girls around as if they were his personal attendants, and been threatened with the police. He grabs his jacket and heads out for a drink. And so ends the Positively Last Appearance of James Hall as Willie Loomis.