Dark Shadows (TV Series) Episode #1.6 (1966) User Reviews

"What's So Sacred About the Basement?"

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 24 July 2011]

The second week of the series begins with Vicki (Alexandra Moltke) looking for David in the basement of Collinwood. Vicki has decided to stay in the governess position and investigate the cause for her placement there. Surly caretaker George Mitchell (as Matthew Morgan) descends the stairs and accuses Vicki of snooping. Liz scolds Vicki and locates David (David Henesy). We see that Liz keeps a door in the basement locked at all times. The basement set provides an excellent time to praise production designer Sy Tomashoff as well as director Lela Swift - their work is outstanding...

We learn how fiercely loyal Matthew is to Liz, and that she fired the all of the servants 18 years ago, employing Matthew from the cannery. Interestingly, Matthew tells an inquisitive Vicki that Liz let go the Collins' maid, chauffeur and gardener. He does not mention either family butler Hanscomb or Betty. Vicki is reading "America Sails the Seas" while Liz recommends David (who misses his mother) read one of "The Rover Boys" series, both real books. Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) again urges Vicki to confront Liz with questions connecting her abandonment with Paul Stoddard's disappearance…

******* Dark Shadows 1966 ABC #6 (7/4/66) Lela Swift ~ Alexandra Moltke, Joan Bennett, George Mitchell, David Henesy...

Perhaps Elizabeth should have taken care of David.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 23 October 2019]

There's a close bond established in the first scene between Joan Bennett and David Henessy as Elizabeth and her nephew David Collins, and the audience gets to see the deep compassion inside the mysterious Elizabeth. Victoria makes the mistake of following David down to the basement where the soul servant (George Mitchell) catches her and frightens her deeply. Elizabeth is a bit more understanding but firm, and Victoria does manage to pick up a few hints about the family through Mitchell's blunt words. But Elizabeth is certainly on Victoria's side as she tells David that Victoria would never hurt her because she is an orphan and knows what it's like to be without a mother herself.

This is the episode that insinuates that there is a close relationship between Elizabeth and Victoria that was never confirmed. Victoria tells Elizabeth about how she was abandoned at birth, yet how money was sent to her every month. It is obvious that Victoria suspects that Elizabeth is connected to her in a way she does not understand, and Elizabeth assures her that she has no involvement in Victoria's past other than finding out about her in order to hire her as David's nanny. It's an idea of what might have been in the story and presents many unfulfilled conflicts that will occur down the road.

Victoria Wants Answers from Liz

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 15 August 2016]

Grumpy Matthew, the Caretaker, demands to know why Victoria is down in the storeroom basement, where a locked door with chains exists, but what lies on the other side of the door? This doesn't seem all that important once Elizabeth Stoddard finds David hiding when Victoria and Matthew leave the basement.

Discussing accepting Victoria as his new teacher, Elizabeth finally addresses the missing mother and how David needs to come to terms with her becoming a part of his life. Victoria also has a rather intense discussion with Elizabeth over if there's a connection between the money sent to her orphanage by a mysterious benefactor and the missing husband who left 18 years ago.

This is Matthew Morgan's first appearance, wholly beholden to Elizabeth for employing him after years of cleaning the local cannery, his house not far from the Collinwood manor. We learn that David's mother is away because she is "not well", with David not at all pleased with Victoria's hiring. Elizabeth tries to pry the reasons behind such feelings but David simply doesn't feel she will understand.

Nothing spectacular about this episode (the basement is another room with plenty of Gothic mood to it), as it doesn't really take any storyline further. Vicky doesn't learn anything and Liz conceals information that could provide answers she has longed for. Matthew, the grouch, grabs Vicky's arm with a vice-like grip and Liz isn't happy she was down in the basement. The first six episodes have not exactly been kind to Vicky. Ups and downs, for sure.

We really get no answers regarding Victoria and the mystery of her past remains just that. Joe Haskell has something he wants to share with Carolyn and Elizabeth while Victoria wants to go into town where she can have some privacy and pursue whether or not her new employer is accurate in the hiring of her. This episode doesn't necessarily progress anything story-line wise, although it is clear Elizabeth's patience with Vicky has deteriorated a bit, particularly the more questions that are aimed in her direction.

New characters introduced; old mysteries explored

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 5 February 2018]

Episode 6 of DARK SHADOWS marks the beginning of the second-ever week of broadcast of the show. Hard to believe it was as long ago as 1966. This one continues to develop existing characters as well as introducing new ones; here, we meet up with the curmudgeonly caretaker Matthew, who blows a gasket when he finds Victoria exploring the basement. Victoria's foundling background is once again explored, and appears to be linked to the continually evasive Elizabeth Stoddard (who is played well by Joan Bennett, a former film noir starlet of the 1940s).