Just How Powerful is Cassandra?

[ProfStokes]

As I've been watching recent episodes, I've seen several things happen to complicate the progression of the Dream Curse, things that I think could have been avoided, and to make me wonder about just how this spell works.  Does Cassandra have control over the order that the dream takes?
 
I know that she was able to first direct it to Maggie, and that the final dreamer in the sequence has been selected in advance, but can she also chart the rest of the course?  For instance, wouldn't it have been easier to give Mrs. Johnson a beckoner other than David? (e.g. Harry, Elizabeth, Roger)  This way, Cassandra had to cast a second spell to free David and give him amnesia (and it seems to me that it would have been much easier to have done that in the first place) so that he could be able to later hear and repeat the dream.  Now two days have passed, David doesn't remember any of his strange behavior during that time, but everyone around him is aware of it.  Surely somebody has got to recognize that something strange is happening to him.  That represents a risk to Cassandra.  If she had the power to send the dream to whomever she chose, I think it would have been easier not to include David.  However, if the dream has a life of its own and David has got to follow Mrs. Johnson no matter what, then I can understand why Cassandra would have to go to the extra trouble.  

Furthermore, how could Cassandra have been certain that Dr. Lang had told Julia his dream before she began 'needling' him in her voodoo spell?  Suppose he hadn't mentioned it by the time Cassandra killed him?  Wouldn't that have complicated her spell?  (A similar situation occurs later on and she does get around it, but still...)  

ProfStokes

[Dr. Eric Lang]

I guess "How Powerful is Cassandra" begs the question - could Cassandra cast a spell so powerful that she herself couldn't lift it?


I can only guess that ALL of the participants were selected in advance.

As far as Angelique/Cassandra's powers go, though, I've been wondering about something myself. Notice sometimes Ang/Cass needs a personal belonging or a voodoo doll to cast her whammy on someone, yet at other times she needs nothing but the force of her will. For instance, back in 1795 she had to brew a potion and make Ben drink it before he became her slave; in 1968 all she needed was a cigarette lighter and the power of suggestion to control Tony Peterson. And with David, she simply told him to become mute and he did!

[Craig_Slocum]

It appears that Cassandra has control over the order of the Dream Curse. She always seems to know who had the dream last, and who's supposed to have it next. That's a good question regarding Mrs. Johnson's beckoner in her dream. I wish it had been Harry. That makes a lot of sense since he was her son and living at Collinwood. I wonder what would have been behind the door if he had the dream. That would have been fun.

[Midnite]

This way, Cassandra had to cast a second spell to free David and give him amnesia (and it seems to me that it would have been much easier to have done that in the first place)

Ah, but if she had simply made him forget about the gazebo incident in the first place instead of striking him mute, how would she have postponed the glorious honeymoon trip that Roger had planned?

[Luciaphile]

Well, I don't know how far in advance we are to assume Cassandra had this planned--it was only after her possession of Roger was unsuccessful (I refer here to the harpoon incident), that she appeared in the flesh.  And then we had that "It shall be a dream curse!" speech, so I'm guessing it was all thought up at that moment, but I have to question some of her selections (Mrs. Johnson??? but not Elizabeth?).  

I always get the feeling that Cassandra's not the best at adapting to outside circumstances.  She manages and thinks on her feet, but it always seems to take her unawares, mainly because she's focused on one goal, whereas Nicholas has the opposite problem, but I'll get into that later

Luciaphil

[Cassandra]

I think she knew in advance who was to have the dream. She did seem to notice that Mrs.Johnson didn't have the dream yet when she kept asking her those questions about how she was feeling and so on. Just knowing this, would tell me that she does know who is to have the dream and who they must tell it to you.


As far as her powers go, I don't think Cassandra thinks too much before she acts. I feel she acts alot on impulse and pretty much to as she is feeling at the time. One does have to wonder though as to why she does certain things sometimes, and at other times, she chooses a different approach. Back in 1795 she seemed to be pretty new at all this spellcasting. However, since she has been "killed" and now resurected again, her powers seem so much stronger now,  therefore she no longer needs special items belonging to the person whom she wishes to cast a spell on.

I found it strange that Elizabeth and Roger didn't have the dream, while Dr.Lang and Jeff Clark did.

[jennifer]

As I've been watching recent episodes, I've seen several things happen to complicate the progression of the Dream Curse, things that I think could have been avoided, and to make me wonder about just how this spell works.  Does Cassandra have control over the order that the dream takes?
 
I know that she was able to first direct it to Maggie, and that the final dreamer in the sequence er)  This way, Cassandra had to cast a second spell to free David and give him amnesia (and it seems to me that it would have been much easier to have done that in the first place) so that he could be able to later hear and repeat the dream.  Now two days have passed, David doesn't remember any of his strange behavior during that time, but everyone around him is aware of it.  Surely somebody has got to recognize that something strange is happening to him.  That represents a risk to Cassandra.  If she had the power to send the dream to whomever she chose, I think it would have been easier not to include David.  However, if the dream has a life of its own and David has got to follow Mrs. Johnson no matter what, then I can understand why Cassandra would have to go to the extra trouble.  

Furthermore, how could Cassandra have been certain that Dr. Lang had told Julia his dream before she began 'needling' him in her voodoo spell?  Suppose he hadn't mentioned it by the time Cassandra killed him?  Wouldn't that have complicated her spell?  (A similar situation occurs later on and she does get around it, but still...)  

ProfStokes

not noticing anything stange is happening to David
is what happens all the time at Collinwood!

As for making sense about the Dream Curse i can't
I never liked it !

jennifer

[Dawn]

OK, dream surse sequencing appears to be predetermined.  Angie always knows who is getting the dream next.

Next: Angie's powers.  Not being a specialist in voodoo or black magic, I really have never given this a lot of thought.  However, I wonder if the severity or duration of an intended curse could have something to do with the methods she employs.  Sometimes a potion, sometimes a voodoo doll, sometimes the power of suggestion...rendering mute must be pretty easy because it appears to always be a simple incantation.  Wish I knew that secret for some people I work with......  

Lastly: an observation.  I really don't think Ang is that great of a sorceress.  IMHO.  She seems reckless to me.  I think her longest curse was poor old Barnabas and she even tried to reverse that with no luck. :-/

Dawn