Dark Shadows, Episode 23

“23.” Dark Shadows. ABC. 27 July 1966.

Roger is talking with Constable Jonas Carter, the local and only law enforcement official in the area. He rants about Devlin walking around freely and demands that Carter put a stop to it. Elizabeth tries to talk to her brother about a letter from the Foundling Home, which she stresses could cause trouble for Victoria, but Roger ignores her.

Victoria, meanwhile, is trying to quiz David on the history of Maine. David has more pressing questions for Victoria, such as if she ever tried to kill anyone and if she did, how did she do it? David also can’t figure out why his father doesn’t like him.

Downstairs, Carter is chewing out Roger for taking so long to contact him. David changes the topic of the lesson to his father’s wreck. He wants to know how the car failed, but when he hears about the police being in the house, he grows uneasy.

Roger and Elizabeth, unaware of David’s actions, are busy building the case against Devlin. Using circumstantial evidence, they seem to be bringing Carter around to their idea of Devlin’s guilt. Victoria and David come downstairs to offer a counterargument. Victoria makes it clear that she never heard Devlin threaten Roger and she can’t think of any reason why he would.

David, meanwhile, has just learned about fingerprints. Asking to see the wrench they found in Roger’s car, David grips it in full view of Carter, thus giving him an alibi when they find his fingerprints on it.

Questions asked: How stupid is Carter?

Review:  You know, for a while I wondered how much weirdness could go on at Collinwood and no one notice anything, but after seeing Constable Carter in action I believe I know why. He finds an important piece of evidence, and rather than lock it up or take it in for the case, he just hands to the first person who asks for it. David doesn’t have to be a criminal genius if this is the best the police can manage.

Also for the bloopers section, we see a stagehand walking past David’s window, which is supposed to be on the second story.