Carolyn Eyes Burke; Vicky and David Settle Their Differences

Carolyn is all google-eyed over Burke Devlin, which is certain to cause even more friction between her and current boyfriend Joe. I think this episode lays the groundwork for a future relationship for Joe and Victoria who meet cordially while Carolyn gets dressed. Carolyn is the typical blond hottie attracted to danger and Devlin just oozes “stay away”. Tall, dark, and handsome, with a sense of sinister, Devlin’s supposed olive branch to the Collins’ family can easily be seen, I believe, by the viewer even if Carolyn is totally duped (primarily because she is so overwhelmingly attracted to him, the young woman swept away by the older, dreamy, wealthy man) as a ruse to get revenge on Roger. Joe and Victoria, on the other hand, both seem to have this innocence about them that cries aloud “perfect match”. Joe just wants a girl that will love him and be loved while Victoria has never had companionship or parental charity so he could provide what has always been lacking in her life. Anyway, this episode hints at something perhaps moving about the house practically unnoticed except by Vicky who catches the door to the locked away “rest of the house” (the wing not used by Stoddard) open momentarily before closing shut as she goes to see who is there. Along with the woeful moans heard seemingly only by her several episodes back on her first night, and the tea cup shattering on the floor while Devlin was over (the blame by Elizabeth on David, who seems to be a likely candidate), the door, normally locked, open, then shutting on her, maybe illustrates that whatever possible spirits (or snooping human, sneaking around) haunt the Collinwood mansion, Victoria seems to stumble upon them while the others who occupy the house (except David, but who would believe him anyway?) are unaware of their/its presence. Sure, you hear members of the Collins family (Roger, Carolyn…) talk about the ghosts who haunt the place, but this is mostly talk to chill Vicky’s bones a bit. The show, however, proposes that ghosts may just occupy the mansion and grounds of Collinwood.

The episode has Carolyn purposely motivating Joe to go to the Blue Whale instead of a movie just because Devlin is there, sure to incite anxiety in Joe, already frustrated with his girlfriend’s lack of commitment and ultimate interest in him. The moment when these two are split apart will be welcome by me because this is one of the love triangles known to exist in all soap operas. I’m starting to get antsy for Barnabas, I must admit, as the Devlin/Victoria storylines have both kind of grinded to a halt. Sure, Devlin still seems on the verge of dueling out some punishment on those he hates, doing so cleverly and deceitfully, but the air of mystery surrounding the murder and his trial isn’t producing the kind of dividends that will keep me gripped for the long term. I am glad that the producers and writers have included the angle involving something ominous existing in the Collinwood mansion. This episode does bring together Victoria and David; it does make sense as we know that Victoria is not about to leave the show so it was a given that eventually she would bond with the bratty David. It does show that Vicky has a way of gaining favor with others, even if she has a tendency to also earn discord through this need to find a relation between her and the Collins family besides her simple hiring.