Dark Shadows - Victoria and Carolyn visit the Old House

In episode 238, Elizabeth wants Victoria and Carolyn to promise not to be out at night alone. This after Maggie's story is in the local newspaper, Victoria wanting to get fresh air, convincing Carolyn to accompany her to the Old House to visit Barnabas to see the renovations. They don't find greetings upon knock at the front door, Victoria going in while Carolyn nervously and hesitantly follows. The living room, with its crystal chandelier, candelabras, repaired furnishings and furniture, has been restored meticulously as has Josette's room upstairs. Victoria is persistent in her interest and desire to see the renovations and restorations underway, as Carolyn is always nervous about any walkabout due to no one being home. While Victoria has been quite friendly with Barnabas, Carolyn hasn't been around him much. Both are impressed with how Josette's makeup, perfume, brushes, and bedroom accessories, with the portrait on the wall, are all so time-accurate and period-detailed. Willie finds them, rudely and worriedly shrugs them out downstairs, as the ladies eventually encounter Barnabas. Barnabas clearly and affectionately talks about the room, the work on the house, especially fond of any mention of Josette, his voice and face lovingly thinking about her. He still can turn the switch when Maggie is brought up, asking about news regarding her while Willie remains guilt-stricken and nervous, knowing very well where the missing Ms Evans is. Barnabas has Willie prepare the evening meal for his "dinner guest". The fire lit in the fireplace, the candles luminous, and the table set as Barnabas' bride descends the stairs...

This episode features a neat outside walk as Victoria and Carolyn make their way to the Old House exteriors, a rare chance to see them off-set. Since I love the Old House, this was a treat, and I always enjoy the storyline touches where characters of the current date unaware of who Barnabas really is notice things, like how the fresh portrait, not yet finished by Sam, resembles the Barnabas portrait at Collinwood on the wall in the foyer. Elizabeth has a couple scenes, a second late in the episode wondering why Barnabas is renovating and restoring Josette's room. Barnabas so obsessed with bringing back Josette he'd force Maggie as a replacement seems doomed from the start just because of the difficulty keeping her absent from discovery but it just shows the lengths he's willing to go. 3/5