You Would Be Wise To Stop Asking So Many Questions

Tonight's episode was all about the first 200+ episodes.  Mentioning some loose ends that were wrapped up, teasing us about a few more (WHAT is in the basement??), and introducing us to other cast members.  In case you need an explanation, the show barely struggled along until Barnabas was introduced, when it became an overnight sensation.  When they made the DVDs all anyone wanted to buy was the Barnabas episodes, or so they assumed.  I haven't researched if the earlier episodes are available or not, but I'm of the group where I'm not interested as all the supernatural spooky stuff began with Barnabas.

I believe I said in an earlier post that Victoria was Barnabas' reincarnated lost love, and realized in today's episode that it was Maggie.  How could I forget?  As soon as they said her name (as she never made an appearance on this show) it all came flooding back.  I can't recall how Maggie is involved with the Collins family, as it made sense that she was David's tutor.  Clearly that's not the case.  Maybe she is Elizabeth's secretary?

We met Caroline tonight (and that's "line" with a long i), she of the beautiful bouffant blonde hair do, past shoulder length but perfectly flipped up and over at every single tip.  I don't know how they got it all done like that, I never have been able to get the bottoms to flip up in a giant curl, much less get it to stay and NOT move, not a single hair.  It was awesome.  And the 60's - times of heavy heavy eye makeup for young rich girls.  I noticed the tutor's eye makeup was nowhere near what our beautiful blonde's was like.  Another status/class indicator?  How much eyeliner can you use on an eye as a sign of how much money you have?  (I tickle myself.)  Again, I LONG for the color episodes!

Barnabas did not appear for the whole episode, I was very saddened by that.  I really thought Caroline was going to go out in the night and end up being a tasty snack for him, a la Mina in Dracula, and become his slave.  It sounds familiar, but I don't think that actually happened.  The joys we have in front of us as we re-discover Dark Shadows!dark-shadows-carolyn-3.jpg

Episode 213, aired 4/20/67
20 min on elliptical at 41 rpm

postscript:  researched the show on amazon, there are 1036 episodes still to watch!  Nearly 3 years if I do one a day.  26 boxed sets of DVDs.

My Roots Are Here and Perhaps My Destiny

Barnabas was a bit pensive in this episode, where he finally introduced himself to members of the family.  Courteous, charming, and pensive.  I laughed when he and his cousin Elizabeth finally met, she reminded me too much of myself!  She immediately pestered him with about 6 questions, gave him time for one answer and then asked about 4 more.  Shameless!  And I chuckled, that's me!

I had forgotten how irritating I always found "cousin David", the boy.  I remembered how they didn't go for the perfect take on this show - no wasting film here.  Get it close enough, or correct it so it seems natural, and we'll print it.  You see it much more with the child actors, and I recall the older actors doing it as well.  Can't wait for some of the flubs.

We were introduced to the apparent reincarnation of the love of his life, Vicky, or "Victoria - I can't stand to miss a single syllable".  What a line that was.  We visited the old place, decrepit, dusty, dirty, broken things everywhere, yet a perfectly intact portrait over the mantel of Josette.  She talks to David sometimes, always to try to help him.

Episode 212, original air date 4/19/67
1 mile total distance
2 min at 3 mph
6 min at 3 mph and 3 incline
2 min at 3 mph and 5 incline
10 min at 3.3 mph

I think I need to get new shoes.  And I can hear my right knee crunching!

This Is Working

I worked out at the gym today. A very hard workout but the whole time I kept thinking "will I have the energy to walk tonight on the treadmill?" and it was NOT about getting more exercise. Barnabas is calling me. He's like a new crush. I'm infatuated and can't get enough, yet I'm older now. I've learned the rewards of patience, and savoring the moment. I will see him again. Tomorrow.
Progress: 5 min on treadmill at 3mph. 45 min weight lifting workout with some cardio. I will be sore tomorrow in hips, I can already tell.

"Evil hovers there, can't you feel it?"

Ah, there are so many many classic lines in Dark Shadows!  Quote above is from the graveyard caretaker, he knows evil is there, yet he doesn't know.  And the sound effects - the heart beat, drumming a siren call, luring poor Willie to his doom.  I remember others from the series, the sound of a gramophone playing an old record.  They loved to do special sounds to signify 'here comes the spooky stuff'!

I can do a whole series on the clothes alone.  Mr. McGuire, Elizabeth's shady friend, and his dark paisley shirt with wool suit coat AND tie.  I don't think I've ever seen a paisley shirt under a suit/tie combo.  If only this episode was in color so I could fully soak in the glory of the spectacle.

Episode 211 (Originally aired on 4/18/67)
Took it easier on legs today, 20 minutes at a 3.0 mph pace.

Walking To Dark Shadows

I must start exercising, so I got on the treadmill tonight for the first time in months? Or has it been years? I honestly can't remember. I was flipping thru the tv, settled on watching Mash, thinking on what I was going to do to get my butt back in that room tomorrow. I ain't easy, you know. It's a chore, and I go out of my way to avoid those. I don't know how I got from Mash to Dark Shadows but I did. I realized each episode is probably only 20 minutes long, just about the right amount of time that I'm willing to give that darned machine, especially if I can alternate speeds and inclines as Jake has taught me to get more bang for my cardio buck.

Hopped off, grabbed collection 1 and turned it on. Oh, the sweet sound of the so familiar music, it was like being in church when the huge pipe organ starts playing and the light shines brilliantly thru the stained glass. I had come home. It felt so good.

Victoria's voice over begins. We see the interior view of the front door. The door opens, Willie Loomis walks in. It begins. Seeing Willie was like welcoming in a long lost friend. One I hadn't seen in twenty years but was as familiar to me as if we had never been apart.

I'm truly going to enjoy this, and the treadmill will hold them all hostage. They can't take me down memory lane unless I walk by their side.

Some thoughts? Why does Willie look greedily at a chained up coffin? Does he really believe treasure is stored in a coffin? Who does that? And Tim Burton if you're listening, Willie Loomis = Christian Slater. Mirror images.

Today's progress: episode 210 (originally aired on 4/17/67).
24 minutes total, 12 min at 3.0 mph and 3.5 incline. Two sets of 2 min at 3.5 mph and 3.5 incline (that particularly sucked) and finished off with 6 min at 3.0 mph and no incline.