_boink the female servants_

_head & body lice_  _turning them into a full-time werewolf!!"

...a box full of the latest witchcraft accessories from Salem...

Thanx!

(Magnus deserves 99% of the credit!)

_nut job_

_fruitcake_

I'm so glad you talk about the clothes DL, I never know what specific color to call things or what they are properly referred to as. If AG had any lines during the opening bedroom scene I wouldn't've noticed as I was mesmerized by his nightgown and dressing gown. Can you imagine M. Ryan in that getup? LOL! All that was missing was a Santa-style nightcap and lit candle in a hand-held candleholder.

Ben & Ange: More acting perfection from TD. Ange explains the benefits and duties of being her slave and asks Ben if he understands. He shakes his head, no. How genius is that? Not the standard zombie-ish "Yes master" answer one might expect. Next comes my favorite comic moment in the episode. A beaming Ben brings Ange an unbroken spider web from an oak tree as requested and when Ange says it will be a dress, Ben salaciously states that he'd like to see her walking around in it. LOL. I don't know but in my mind I am thinking Ben would like to see her walking around in a see-through gown. You must wonder if David is writing his own character quips because they take the character to another level. I mean, I'm wondering if the lure of sex with Angelique is more the reason Ben is in her thrall than the actual spell. After Ange reveals her long-range (evil) plans, Ben protests, refusing to be any part of it and Ange reveals that she is a witch by muting him by just raising her hand to his face. We see that Ben is no wimp and more than likely will become a thorn in her side, if not, a reluctant slave at best.

Joshua & Jeremiah -- Fun, telling scenes. Cute display of family dynamics throughout the episode providing many great zingers, lol- not terribly well acted, but very engaging nonetheless; Millicent, Joshua, & Jeremiah -- More cuteness and Nancy as per usual does not disappoint, but ultimately a lackluster intro for Ms Barrett and that's too bad. Enter, Vicki, and her stock reaction to a new character; Vicki & Jeremiah -- I'm liking the interplay between the characters - well, it makes me like Jeremiah - but wasted emotion really, knowing that Ange is going to make Jeremiah fall for Josette. Re: Vicki - Don't you think she should be blaming her carriage accident for her reckless musings about the future? Obviously the writers have something planned that makes it necessary for Vicki to be so stupid, but I still have to roll my eyes and sigh when she recklessly opens her mouth time & time again, and then offers a lame reason, time & time again. Vicki is on my list of favorite characters so it is always very disheartening for me. Joshua tells Vicki she shouldn't expect to have any more free time with Daniel's arrival. I wonder if he is trying to thwart what he perceives to be a budding attraction between Vicki & Jeremiah or if he is simply reminding her of her station. One has to wonder if the smirk on Edmond's face in his closing scene with George is partly the result of witnessing a fly walking into George's nose, lol.

More Ben & Ange: Ben enters Angelique's room with Jeremiah's nightly toddy in a goblet on a tray. Ange is wearing Josette's Parisian haute couture hat -- "How do you like my new hat, Ben?" Ben: "It don't match the rest of ya." -- my second favorite line in this ep. lol, LOVE IT! Ange vows to improve her station and win Barn's love & devotion, hence Ben's reason for being there. She spikes Jeremiah's toddy and my favorite line of this episode is uttered, once again by Ben, worried that J might taste the difference: "He's awfully particular about his toddies." (I was on the floor!) This will put J in a deep sleep so Ben can take his ring and a lock of hair for Ange's love spell for Jeremiah & Josette. The interplay between Ben & Ange is so riveting in a fun sort of way to me. Even though he knows it's pointless he still challenges her every order and is so blunt with her. Ange casts her first spell. This is one busy witch -- voodoo, potions, spells, and out-and-out witchcraft. What a fascinating character.

That fireplace in Ange's room is sure spewing out a lot of soot!

More on Ben & Ange: I couldn't resist re-watching their time together in this episode. It made me think back to a recently revived topic re: favorite actor or character pairings. Ange/Ben or David/Parker get my vote. I'm wondering who should get the credit -- the actors or the writers or director? I can't imagine this level of craft coming anywhere but from deep within the actor, but perhaps it's the prefect melding of all three?

In the woods, Ange flirts with Ben to get him to warm up to her. I really enjoyed TD's nuanced performance here. It's made obvious that he is puzzled by her action's not believing he's worthy of romantic overtones, or perhaps from experience with rejection and generally being shunned by women. Yet he still manages an almost unseen smile at the thought and pleasure of her attention and even comes back after turning to leave to bid her adieu as a sign of respect and maybe even romantic hope (as I interpret it).

After concocting a potion, Ange summons Ben to her room -- B: "I don't know what I'm doin' here?" A: "You're here because I wanted you to come here." B: "You did?"  A: "Didn't you hear me calling you?" B: "You, wanted, me?" A: "Does that seem so strange?" B: "Yes...but it doesn't matter." Ben reaches out to embrace her. Ange stops him and says "Later", he must first drink her potion. He does, no doubt in anticipation of her affections, and becomes her slave. I love this scene. At first watch, I laughed out loud at Ben admitting that it is strange to him that she wants him there and says it doesn't matter and goes for it. Now, I am thinking about how Ange played the sex card and I am wondering if she also played that card to get Barn in Martinique -- like, is all this mess on her? Not that it really matters, it's just where my thoughts went after re-watching the scene.

...that it was just envious of the New House."