Hey JW,

not having had the time to read all the other posts in the current 1796 thread, I may be repeating something already stated:  Dan Curtis stepped in to direct for this week (so far as I am aware, this was one of his very few, and I believe first, stints directing the show).  After I found this out, certain elements of this flashback that seemed out of sync with the rest of the show started to make sense, due to DC's love of violence as an element of style, Grand Guignol imagery, and plot "twists" that don't always make sense. 

I chalk the notion of Ben killing the Countess and Forbes up to DC's active hand in those shows. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one who came up with that notion.  Some of the most drastic plot twists on the series were dictated by Dan.

cheers, G.

Ooh, that's a grand scene and a fabulous quote!

G.

A DS PS:  Set 12 of the regular DS series arrived over the weekend (a sale purchase from Amazon vendor), and last night in honor of All Souls Day I was test driving it.  I watched the brilliant scene where [spoiler]the ghost of Madam Finlay speaks through Mrs Johnson at a seance in January 1969.[/spoiler]  Clarice Blackburn fiercely rules!

G.

No idea at all what this thread is about ... but I will observe that chewing gum and fangs are sooo not friends...

cheers!

G.

Good one, Gerard!

G.

Fans,

Thanks to an incredible sale on Amazon Vendor, I found DVD set #22 (for seventeen bucks plus change!) and it arrived last night.  While test driving the discs, I revisited the episode where [spoiler]Barnabas met Regular Time Roxanne Drew for the first time at Sebastian Shaw's parlor.  I'd forgotten how poignantly Frid portrayed Barnabas' mingled joy and desire at meeting "his" Roxanne again.  I found myself thinking, "he's overjoyed to see her, and some girls would think he's a really creepy old man, but she's being nice." 

I have to admit I Laughed Out Loud at the scene where Julia picked up the phone on Roxanne's call to cancel her dinner plans with Barnabas.  The look on Julia's face was truly priceless!  And then, the scene where Barnabas comes in like a little boy with a new candy cane and Julia is trying so hard not to roll her eyes.  The dialogue actually gave her the line, "Barnabas, why does it always have to be me who tries to tell you ..."   Another priceless moment.

I have to admit that the crowning gem was when Barnabas, with visibly controlled anger, informed her:  "Julia, I am seldom wrong about people!"  It was a wonder Julia didn't choke on her reassuring-therapist response "That's true ..."[/spoiler]

I think of the Summer of 1970 as a less-than-successful period in the show's history, but this episode certainly was memorable ... and fun!

cheers, Gothick

Unfortunately "witch hunts" are more popular than ever in Nigeria today in 2008.  There was a link making the rounds on the Nets a few months ago about this. 

The pattern of unscrupulous ministers inciting mob hysteria against supposed "witches" in the community sounds frighteningly similar to what happened in Salem, only on a much bigger and more violent scale. 

G.

Hi Taeylor,

golly, I'm so sorry to hear about your injury.  My good thoughts and prayers are with you.  Visualizing safe, speedy healing and no torn ligaments!

hugs, G.