Dark Shadows: Episode 6 - Victoria Confronts Elizabeth about the Past

The grump hears a noise in the basement

Elizabeth dismisses the notion that Victoria is tied to her through a financial benefactor for over 18 years. Burke Devlin has taken a back seat to Vicky's story. David is still avoiding the governess while Liz tries to talk him into giving her a chance. Matthew, the caretaker, is all grouchy and misanthropic, not exactly ingratiating himself to Vicky although she tries, bless her heart, she tries.

Grumpy Matthew, the Caretaker, demands to know why Victoria is down in the storeroom basement, where a locked door with chains exists, but what lies on the other side of the door? This doesn’t seem all that important once Elizabeth Stoddard finds David hiding when Victoria and Matthew leave the basement. Discussing accepting Victoria as his new teacher, Elizabeth finally addresses the missing mother and how David needs to come to terms with her becoming a part of his life. Victoria also has a rather intense discussion with Elizabeth over if there’s a connection between the money sent to her orphanage by a mysterious benefactor and the missing husband who left 18 years ago. This is Matthew Morgan’s first appearance, wholly beholden to Elizabeth for employing him after years of cleaning the local cannery, his house not far from the Collinwood manor. We learn that David’s mother is away because she is “not well”, with David not at all pleased with Victoria’s hiring. Elizabeth tries to pry the reasons behind such feelings but David simply doesn’t feel she will understand. Nothing spectacular about this episode and poor Joan Bennett just struggles with her lines and seems awfully uncomfortable in her scenes with the actors involving long lines of dialogue. We really get no answers regarding Victoria and the mystery of her past remains just that.  Joe Haskell has something he wants to share with Carolyn and Elizabeth while Victoria wants to go into town where she can have some privacy and pursue whether or not her new employer is accurate in the hiring of her. This episode doesn’t necessarily progress anything story-line wise,  although it is clear Elizabeth’s patience with Vicky has deteriorated a bit, particularly the more questions that are aimed in her direction.