Barnabas' On again Off again powers

Barnabas' powers seem to come and go.  At the very beginning of his being a vampire, Joshua went to the mausoleum and talked to Ben, and Barnabas had to hide inside the secret room.  He suddenly came out as a bat.  He also suddenly materialized right next to Ben, so he learned of his powers quite quickly.  Yet, when Sarah saw him from the window, he hurried aside to try to keep from being seen, instead of disappearing.  So, today, when Angelique "locked" the gate, why couldn't he just dematerialize and escape?  He did it when Millicent saw him shortly afterwards, so . . . does he realize he has these powers or doesn't he?!!

Lol!! Josette, you read my mind! I thought the same thing while watching today's episode. Good question, why didn't he just "fly" out of there as a bat? ?!? Or better yet, just disappear out of there. If I had those powers, I would be using them left & right!   Forget about opening doors, or walking through the woods!   Okay, well the only logical explantion I can think of here is that Angelique's powers are stronger than his are now that she's a ghost and he couldn't use them at will like he did before.   :-/

. . . does he realize he has these powers or doesn't he?!!

Barnabas recently became a VAMPIRE. He is gradually finding out about all the powers he has as one.

Oh dear, am I being WAY too cynical if I suggest that it is the WRITERS who have trouble remembering Barney's powers?

After all Barney became a bat when he didn't even know that he could do so.