Dark Shadows - Willie Recovers/Barnabas Gets the Keys/Willie, the Servant

The 220 episode of Dark Shadows is important in that it begins with Willie recovered from the vampire bite of Barnabas, trying to avoid Jason’s questions about what he is hiding and why he is acting so differently than before (he doesn’t even want his money, and any attempts to draw from him what happened in the cemetery is met with silence and “I’m sorry.”), attempting to inform Elizabeth of the truth regarding the “long lost ancestor”, and Jason rushing him out of the mansion before he might spill something that he shouldn’t. Barnabas, giddy that Elizabeth will allow him to stay in his “family’s” Old House, receives the keys, mentioning to an astonished Victoria (she tells Elizabeth that she was in awe of just how much about the Old House Barnabas knew, as if he belonged there) he might even restore the place. And once Barnabas arrives at The Old House, Willie arrives at his command, eventually told to go and return with what he desires…a hint but it is obvious a victim to feed from. Willie tries to resist but relents because Barnabas is “in charge”. Very much Renfield, Willie Loomis has no longer the will or strength, it seems, to resist the control of the vampire that “sired” him. Willie was always a questionably immoral creep, so his treatment as a victim forced to listen and obey Barnabas won’t necessarily elicit much sympathy. But a conversation included between Elizabeth and Victoria speaks on how Willie seemed genuinely defeated, remorseful for his actions, no longer the man he once was. I think for the viewer, the story would request that despite Willie’s misbehavior even he didn’t deserve this sort of fate. Barnabas, who can turn on the charm and gain the trust of Elizabeth and Victoria, also had the ability to reveal such a dark side, a malevolence that emerges on a dime. The way he bosses Willie around after quietly “encouraging” him to enter his abode, just recently speaking kindly and without a clue of the evil nature lurking behind the surface to Liz and Vicky is quite a seesaw preparing the viewer for just what to expect from him in the future. 4/5