I was a bit skeptical at first, but I really like it! It's atmospheric and seems very well thought out and executed. The acting isn't bad either.

Pennock has even more fun in this episode when he's discussing monogrammed cufflinks with the hapless Daphne.

Next to Ben, Timothy Elliot Stokes is my favorite Thayer David character. Too bad they didn't make more use of him in this story line than to explain parallel time. I love his eagerness as he waits for some parallel-time business to happen! His and Julia's intellectual curiosity sets them apart from all the other characters, along with their (especially Julia's) willingness to follow that curiosity even if the trail leads them off the edge of the map. Nowadays, curiosity has become a dirty word (not to mention intellect).

I had to laugh, though, when our Julia so stringently warns Daphne NOT to hang out in the PT room when it's empty--earlier, Julia, Daphne and Stokes were standing around in it quite at their ease while Daphne was telling the other two about what she saw.

I'm pretty sure too that parallel Aunt Julia is wearing one of the countess's long and cumbersome gowns as well as one of her long and cumbersome wigs. What, they couldn't have found a different 1840s gown for her? Good grief. But I still love her frozen severity and seeming omniscience.

Isn't that the very same bit of statuary that Gerard tried to kill Julia with in 1995?

Of course Carrie doesn't know for sure that Quentin didn't kill Mordecai, but as Jeremy has become more irrational (yes, nicely done!), she seems to have become (somewhat) more rational and less easily led. I think we can also infer that she would never believe that a member of the family that was so good to her family (and especially to Grandfather Ben) would kill anyone. (I know that's convoluted!)

I really enjoyed Dawson's flamboyant summation for the prosecution. Humbert Allen Astredo really seemed to be enjoying himself--I've always loved his expressive use of his hands. Barnabas probably should have done all the things you suggest, Lydia, but I think his rather economical, restrained summation for the defense was intended to be a contrast with Dawson's.

Right, it was Winter's Secret--perhaps an homage to Vicki?

Zahir, I like your idea very much! Keep us posted!

I seem to remember another one called "A Death in Winter"--or at least "A [Something] in Winter."

And, I forgot to add, I love this bit of dialogue, featuring a wonderful moment from Virginia Vestoff:

Gerard: Do you want Quentin dead?

Samantha: YES! ... No .... I don't know.....