I love how complex a character Barnabas is becoming in these episodes - all that outward wrath covering up a slowly crumbling interior of fear, vulnerability and desperation.  That's quite a tall order for a mere "soap opera" character.  Very intelligent writing and superb understated acting by Frid.

His scene with Willy was great.

I love KLS but why do her eyes dart so much when she is in closeup?

I loved the way David just casually said, "I never thought of that," in response to his dad's comment about the mausoleum not being a logical choice for a person to go to get warm (though if it were windy outside, it might make some sense), then went on dreamily articulating his suspicions about Barnabas.  Very well written and played, as was the scene between Barnabs and Willy, very complex and intense.

These are very good episodes.

Definitely one of the best plotted DS episodes ever.  So many different lines of suspense operating at one time. I'm surprised they didn't end the episode a minute or so earlier, however, with Barnabas staring at the clock sweating bullets as the sun rises.  (Personally, I think it was strictly for economic reasons.  They had to find a way to clear all the actors from the set so they wouldn't have to pay them for the next episode).

Instead they go and pull one of the greatest deux ex machinas of all time to get Barnabas out of his pickle!

This episode demonstrates just what an extraordinary actor Jonathan Frid could be in this role when he remembered all his lines.  He must have studied extra hard for this day's work since there was not a single stumble or desperate look towards the prompter in the entire episode.

In fact, I thought all the scenes this day worked well because they were all understated in both the writing and the acting.  Even the "spooky" scene came across well because it was kept simple and eerie.

I must say, though, that Julia sure does twitch a lot when she's trying to appear "untroubled" and "unworried."

I think we can't let go of this discussion without at least mentioning John Karlen's remarkable performance in this episode.  I doubt he has ever been better than he is here, sincerely and logically pointing out to Barnabas the absurdity of his plan to do away with Burke.  It's a great switch to at last see the pupil teaching the teacher, so to speak.

A truly riveting scene!

i suppose it's meant to illustrate that julia can react to a potential crisis effectively but it's a very oddly written little episode.and for some reason maggie doesn't seem to remember that julia is her doctor.

Actually, Maggie was told by Julia not to acknowledge in public that she is her doctor and to go along with the sham that she's just an interested historical researcher.

Katherine Leigh Scott gives a very poignant performance in this episode.