Dark Shadows - Barnabas Commissions Sam to Paint His Portrait

Episode 222 gives us details describing the activities of Willie Loomis and Barnabas Collins. Barnabas’ ability to gain the trust of those at Collins Port (and Collinwood, specifically) is important if he wishes to set down roots and continue to feed when the vampire hunger comes upon him. Willie, as his servant set out into the area to find him fresh victims, it would appear, early in the episode shoos Victoria away when she arrives at sunset to tell Barnabas that he’s invited to dinner by Elizabeth. But Barnabas does appear to be attracted to Maggie, as she reminds him of a past love. To be closer to Maggie (who is romantically involved with Joe), Barnabas commissions her father, the artist, for a portrait of himself. His obvious demands are to sit for Sam Evans at the Old House for the portrait, offering to take him home before sunrise. But Sam sees a certain line in Barnabas’ face and feels the absolute need to get it down on canvas…once he does, Sam no longer finds Barnabas sitting in the chair next to the fireplace. Right before Sam went to his canvas you can see Barnabas at his most unpleasant…the fear of the sunlight brings out the ugly side. As does Willie: never do we see Barnabas any worse than when he confronts Willie or approaches him malevolently or mockingly. Around his family, Barnabas perhaps puts up a front. This “nice guy” (a conversation in the episode has Maggie, in a rare occurrence for the show, visiting Collinwood manor, talking with Vicky about Barnabas and the portrait of his “ancestor from the European side of the family”) Barnabas tries to exhibit to continue his façade as a long-lost relative is lifted when he eggs on Willie after Vicky is told to leave with great authority. Vicky can’t seem to figure Willie out. She has no clue what he’s trying to protect her from. This greedy louse, a mistake to visit at certain mausoleum in a certain cemetery, opening a specific coffin, letting loose a monster; Willie now has to try and keep safe those at Collinwood. But can he? The episode emphasizes Maggie’s concern (as well as her father’s) about what is going on in the area, another female attack on top of the previous one, and, mentioned in dialogue, animal killings. Barnabas being in the house as Maggie and Sam discuss that makes for compelling television to me because he’s the actual reason for everything sinister and scary. It is for his bloodthirst that such fear and danger lurks the moors, roads, woods, lands of Collins Port and Collinwood. 3/5