Here we have Frid's debut as Barnabas and what an outstanding performance. He plays the charming visitor from merry old England so convincingly, one is apt to accept his story as reality. And so, Liz welcomes Barnabas into her home.

Liz is so gracious. I love that. She is the consummate hostess.

One horrible thing occurs as Barnabas sits down on the sofa. A loose spring - BOING! You have to really listen for it though, because Liz is talking when it happens.

Barnabas tells Liz that he "prefers more independent quarters". I guess a coffin is about as independent as one can get, eh?

He "indulges in fanciful attitudes from time to time". Yeah, like transforming local girls into long lost lovers.

"¢â‚¬¦but at sunrise, when the water - when the ocean - when the sun comes over the ocean, everything begins to change color--right in front of your very eyes." I love how the kid just keeps going - what a trouper!

Looking at the Old House in its current state, one can truly appreciate the work that Willie ends up doing here.

Barnabas tells Josette to tell Joshua's ghost - if he's there - that he has come home and intends to live the life previously denied to him. Cobwebs and all.

For me it's always a treat to recognize DS music in other settings.
The only time it becomes tiresome is in The Picture of Dorian Gray when Pansy's Theme is played constantly throughout the movie.

However, does anyone else think Barnabas waited to long to yell out to Mrs. Johnson that he was Barnabas Collins? By the time he yelled that out to her, I would have already imagined that she was in the hall way almost to Liz's door. It doesn't take that long to go up the stairs and into the hall way.

The way Missus Johnson was moving, I suspect she was barely at the top of the stairs. 'Sides, you gotta give Barn time to reflect on his portrait and the mood.

    This is episode # 76 on the slate - I mean the VHS tapes, so it took me a little while to find it.
You get the father/son thing going on there with Jason and Willie? If I had been Willie, I would have said, "Yes, Daddy."
Jason thinks Willie is up to something. Willie swears on a stack of sawbucks that he isn't. Liz hands over 500 bucks to Jason to make Willie leave Collinwood. Now she ought to know better than that. All the conniving Jason has done up to this point. Tsk tsk, Liz.
    Is that Joe Haskell's duffle bag Willie is loading up in the shed? You know - the one Joe and Dr. Guthrie carried to the caretaker's cottage when they were searching for clues about Laura Murdock. Oh, well. You seen one duffle bag carried to a cemetery, you've seen them all. I always say.
    Vicky doesn't let us down. She gives us a "What do you mean?" in this episode. Go, Vicky! She also brings to our attention that Willie is fascinated with the portrait in the foyer.
    Willie trying to open Naomi's coffin: Can you say hernia?
    I have to say that Willie is a pretty smart cookie. I would never have thought to bring a block and tackle to rob a mausoleum.
    There's Jason standing at the front door to Collinwood. Is he coming or going? Looks like he's putting his hat to his head - no, no¢â‚¬¦he's taking it off. He's coming inside. "Quiet on the set! Roll ¢â‚¬Ëœem! You can come in now, Dennis!"
    Jason assures Vicky that Willie will be gone that night.
    John Karlen is superb in this episode. His Willie is frightened to death, yet his lust for the jewels presses him onward. And then he becomes half crazed with greed once the sound of the heartbeat stops.  Whose hand is that coming out of the coffin?

Count me in. Especially since you're starting off with a Willie episode.

Other -- Victoria Winters' trench coat

With the button missing?

I love, love, love the location shots. Vicky Winters pulling up in a  car along the Collinsport Inn, wearing a completely different outfit(and hair-do)than she is when she visits Burke Devlin at his hotel room at the inn. Continuity! Please!