Dark Shadows - Barnabas Assures Elizabeth Willie Will Behave

Okay, so I got a little ahead of myself. Episode 224 isn’t the episode for which I was referring in the previous episode’s review. Still, all in all, it isn’t bad at all. Barnabas once again the chief focal point and so certain characters continue to suffer as a result. Caroline, Roger, and Joe, as examples, are almost written out of the show, damn near. But what we do get is Barnabas interacting with many of the Collins family and those in their orbit. Jason returns with that devilish grin that torments Elizabeth, as always, quite happy that she is setting up a Swiss bank account for him with cash. He is startled that Willie is under Barnabas’ employ, eventually going over to The Old House to get some answers…answers Willie will not provide. I love the dialogue between Barnabas and Jason because, while Willie is in the middle (both use him as he has used others in the past, so it is all quite ironic), they are clearly sizing each other up. Willie is completely under Barnabas’ command, and Elizabeth is assured that he will be no trouble to her. Jason is also assured that Willie will continue to behave himself as Barnabas is quite confident that he’s in complete control. Willie, doing what he can to try and protect those that come in contact with Barnabas—like in this episode when Barnabas surprises a frightened, and teary-eyed, David as the howling hounds eventually cease—often irritates the vampire with his interference. I was amused when Barnabas told Willie that he worries too much. Barnabas and Elizabeth have a brief conversation about Willie and so it does appear Elizabeth will give him the benefit of the doubt, although she tries to persuade him otherwise at first. Hmm, I said Barnabas is the focal point, but Willie sure is as well. The conclusion is another strong part of the episode as Maggie, clearly haunted by some sort of presence, has a nightmare regarding her visiting a fog-accumulating cavern with a coffin containing what looks like the sleeping, lovely corpse of Josette. And speaking of Josette, a good tie-in to the eventual episode featuring Barnabas’ speaking about the past regarding her, her portrait is missing and David is promised by Barnabas that it will at some point return to a wall in one of the rooms in The Old House. And Maggie’s Pop returns to paint Barnabas, as Barnabas can’t help but talk about her some more, quite sure she’ll marry the “right guy”. Barnabas clearly has his plans and Maggie’s resemblance to Josette doesn’t help her cause at all. 3/5