Dark Shadows - Maggie is Still in Bed/Barnabas Still Wants Her

I have to admit that the 234^th episode of Dark Shadows was a bit weak to me. Not strongly acted (I typically have no problem with the acting, even when it can be a bit over-the-top sometimes), with practically every actor/actress involved struggling with their lines and characterizations. You could tell Frid’s dialogue scene when Barnabas has beaten Willie and make sure he understands that Jason is to be kept away and stopped from asking questions gives him some fits although he does recover and that old menace returns in the nick of time. I can’t help but wonder how soap opera fans can tolerate so much time with characters in one location. I actually miss Maggie in the diner pouring coffee. Scott tries to present two different Maggies according to when Barnabas influences her, such as her begging Vicky not to leave her bedside one moment only for a mood swing into near rage demanding she leave her alone…Scott has to go from quivering in fear and begging to angrily ordering and bitchy. I guess I’m a bit tired of seeing her in bed going back and forth. I am patient as a viewer but that thought does cross my mind, “Would you PLEASE get on with it?” Barnabas is obviously obsessed with her. He just has to leave the Old House while Sam is struggling with a shade for his portrait, looking out his window, eyeing the next chance to sink his teeth in again. Willie is warned not to get in his way, the bruises on his face a reminder of what happens when he interferes in his plans for Maggie. Sam meets with the local doc who is puzzled by Maggie’s neck puncture wounds and requests she stay in bed and rest…and rest some more. Vicky hears the hounds howling, closing to Maggie’s bedroom window doors, calling Burke to come to the house immediately in a panic. Maggie’s bedroom door closes and  Vicky is cut off from her. Barnabas does appear to be on the verge of getting what he wants…or will someone be able to stop him? Briefly Willie asks Sam about Maggie’s condition and is flat told not to mention her name, just wanting him to go away. So Willie had this long, repetitious conversation with Barnabas about Jason, being responsible for Maggie getting away and being found. Maggie, under the influence of Barnabas, argues about having to stay in bed and be watched at night while seemingly a-okay during the day, very approachable and even-tempered. So the show is trying at that point to show us that Maggie’s dilemma is Barnabas, and so until he is stopped her life will be a living hell. Vicky banging on the door after it closes shut on her and the hysterics when the howling freaks her out is total soap opera melodramatic…it was the kind of acting, though, you see in soap operas so that is par for the course. 2.5/5. On a sidenote, this episode was loaded up with larger cast than usual, although restricted to the Old House and the house of Sam and Maggie.