Setup:

When Maggie's beloved afghan was destroyed during a particularly rowdy night at the Tool Shed Bar & Grille, Sam and Joe didn't know how they could keep Maggie from finding out – but finally they decided...

I'm sure Abe Howell wishes you were right, Sally!

Setup:

Magda was doubtful, but Jenny proved to her that the coffin was big enough to hold Sandor's ________

M: (singing) "The Hill is alive, with the sound of widows!!  With wails that have been wailed, for a hundred years!!!"
Widows: "A hundred years?  Speak for yourself!  The oldest of us no more than ninety-seven and a half!!!"

Wasn't the reason Rachel turned up in Dirk's hideout that she was bringing aid and sustenance to escaped murder suspect Tim?  So if Trask hadn't had Evan make Tim kill Minerva, Rachel would have been home sleeping safely in her bed...although it's debatable how safe her bed was with Trask in the vicinity.  At any rate, it's a stretch to blame Rachel's death on Trask, but it can be done.

When Petofi gave Abraham Howell's hand to Tate for the touch-up, I was suddenly reminded of Jeff Clark bringing the arm to Dr. Lang.  Petofi said something about how he might be better advised to take to take the hand to an undertaker, and I think he was right.  Why should an artist (especially one like Tate) know how to preserve human remains?

I wondered why she didn't hide or escape when she had the chance using one of the secret passageways or panels.

I imagine that Magda felt there was simply no escape from the wrath of King Johnny once Petofi wouldn't help her, so there was no point in trying.  Why Magda thought Petofi might help her, however, is beyond me.  And I notice that Quentin was nowhere to be found in this episode, even though he knew Magda was scared to death.

Tim said the hand was essential for his plan of revenge to be carried out.  Was Amanda supposed to hold onto Trask by the short hairs while Tim placed the hand on his chest?  And where was Evan Hanley supposed to come into this?

Charity's trying to walk a fine line between not telling on Quentin lest he kill her (or whatever) and warning people about him.  And, being the same Charity who was so obvious about her crush on Quentin, she's doing a lousy job of it.  Poor thing, I'd like to feel sorry for her - she really could use a stay at the Rushmore Sanitarium - but I just don't like her enough.  What on earth did Barnabas ever see in her?

Tate thinks the portrait he has painted is Quentin Collins, but I disagree.  There are no sharp edges in it.  Petofi seems satisfied with it, but I'm not sure what Petofi requires of it.  Anyway, I was thinking today: Petofi gave Tate his talent, but he didn't necessarily give him any accompanying artistic appreciation.

I was surprised when Charity reacted so strongly to the sight of Petofi.  I can't for the life of me remember what she had against him.  When Victor Fenn-Gibbons left Collinwood, he was still an honored guest.  What am I forgetting here?

I know, I know... It's proper English. But I still find it weird to hear Tim say, "I shan't be happy..." instead of, "I won't be happy..." However, it is rather neat, too. It illustrates how differently people spoke in 1897.

Actually some people still talk that way - myself, for instance.  But then, I've got an ultra-finicky mother.

It was amusing to see Tim looking for the hand when we knew he would not be able to get it back, unless he was able to cut it off of Count Petofi.  If he did that, would the hand still have any power?

What does Petofi want?  I know he wants to go the future and be 70 years ahead of the gypsies - although I don't think it works that way: I daresay that in 1969 the gypsies will still be on the lookout for the hand.  But assuming Petofi ever gets free of the gypsies - what does he want?  He merrily throws away opportunities to make friends and has no objection to making people hate him.  I've thrown away zillions of opportunities to make friends, but even if I had Count Petofi's power, I'd think twice about making people hate me.

It was surprising to see Barnabas get something right for once.  I remember all those weeks when he and Julia couldn't grasp the connection between him and Adam ("Julia...Julia..."), but today he figured out the connection between Petofi and Jamison in the wink of an eye.

Jamison's life was dependent on Petofi's, and David's life is dependent on Quentin's.  It's a pity that Barnabas couldn't go back to 1797 - to the time when Petofi's hand was cut off - and find another vital connection to add to the pile.  Granted, Petofi's hand was cut off in the Forest of Ozhdun (out come the fake trees and the green mat) but I'm sure the writers could have managed to make it all contingent on something that happened at Collinwood.

Aristede mentioned that the hand had touched the Sphinx.  Was that when it acquired its power?  And why do I keep wondering what part of the Sphinx the hand touched?

It was very poignant when Quentin showed how much he loved Jamison. Quentin was willing Jamison to live. Yes, indeed, Quentin would have been a great father to his son.

I don't think we can assume that Quentin would have been a good father.  Quentin's too easily distracted.  And anyway, even though Quentin loved Jamison (it's interesting, by the way, that he forgets about Beth, and even says that Jamison's the only one he ever cared about, let alone loved) he still put him through some nasty Satanic ceremonies.