Maggie Evans Collins is upset. Her husband, drunken sourpuss Quentin Collins, has stormed out of the house yet again, as usual for a reason he refuses to explain to her. Quentin’s brother, high-born ne’er-do-well Roger Collins, taunts her with invidious comparisons to Quentin’s first wife, the late Angelique. Housekeeper Julia Hoffman keeps setting Maggie up to remind Quentin of Angelique, one of the most reliable methods of triggering his tantrums. Worst of all, but unknown to Maggie, Angelique herself has come back to life and is casting spells on her. Angelique murdered her identical twin sister Alexis and took Alexis’ place as Quentin’s houseguest. Maggie is desperate for a friend and keeps behaving as if “Alexis” were one, leaving her exposed to attack. We end today with Maggie standing at an open window, hearing Alexis’ voice urging her to jump. The angle makes it look like Maggie is already in her coffin and is opening its lid.
Dark Shadows was unusual among soap operas in that Friday’s episode was often the least eventful of the week. This one is a case in point. It doesn’t feel slow, though. The dialogue is well-crafted and expertly delivered, leaving us with the feeling that we are getting to know Maggie and each of her tormentors better with each scene.
Dark Shadows Commentary 
Reliving this through your series has me wondering why Angelique didn’t stick a pin in QUENTIN’S brain a long time ago. If he died she’d get the house and money, at least until Daniel came of age. She’d have the prestige and respectability of being a Collins. She could have had her flings and kept them secret the way she seems to have done during her marriage. I could see wanting to keep OG Quentin, but this one is a drip and I don’t think she loved him. Yes, I suppose she wanted to control him, but good lord, if he treats Maggie, who he “loves” this way, how did he treat Angelique, who, it turns out, he hated? She’s a witch with the power to bring herself back from the dead. She had to realize that Quentin was not going to love her, and that she could get a far better bargain if she dragged out a doll and had him die of a heart attack.
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Good question! “Drip” is the word that comes to my mind when thinking of Parallel Quentin also. It’s a testament to David Selby’s acting ability that he was able to render a character who was almost entirely devoid of charm, you’d think that would be an impossible stretch for someone of his personality.
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