A GREAT episode, and the high point of the Leviathan story! It contains all the best elements of DS: it's atmospheric-- taking place at the Old House by candlelight and the lamplit docks at night, and the music is just right. Barnabas is at his angstiest, JF is flawless, and Marie Wallace is excellent-- Megan's fear of Michael is palpable yet not at all over the top. There's a black candle ritual,, a fanging, a future multiple Oscar nominee in a small role, and not simply a dream but rather a dream within in a dream; also, impressive camera work (i.e., drawing our eyes to Megan's neck), nice FX (the mirror that does not reflect Barnabas' image, and his portrait morphing into Josette's), and an amazing script with brilliant dialogue such as this from Adlar:
Before man, in a time before he existed, we ruled. When there was only essence and intelligence and nothing more-- none of these shapes that human beings wear today. Then there was only energy and power, and there was darkness. When man was formed, he became dominant; we had to submit or be destroyed. Some of us did, awkwardly, but in our hearts we were waiting... waiting, silent as the serpent, swift as the snake, powerful as a Leviathan. Some of us did not choose to take on what you call human shape. They went underground and kept their true shapes-- [he smiles] demons, fiends, creatures of the night, and of darkness, and of evil.At last, we see the pervasive evil promised in multiple voiceovers, and once again we're made to feel for Barnabas' plight while we fear for him as he faces one punishment after another. Is any fan not touched when Adlar gets around to throwing Josette in his face? Maybe Julia fans, who get a payoff/frustration dynamic in a final "I must obey ... Forgive me, Julia, dear friend." Barnabas is fierce is his loyalty to her, but ultimately she must take a backseat for Josette's sake.
There were no end credits (though in this case I would've hated to lose even the smallest of scenes in order to make room for them), so if not for outside sources we wouldn't know the names of the two new characters: Marsha Mason was Audrey the Leviathan/vampire, and Pierrino Mascarino (a future
Buffy alum) appeared as Adlar. It was penned by Violet Welles and Lela Swift directed.
Boss Wraith says Barnabas's new vampire progeny isn't "up to his usual standards"-- huh?
Because she's a tramp-- someone that Barnabas would have discarded and not turned.
The SW Emperor, snort. LOL for the Morrison/Them reference.