Dark Shadows has arrived!

[Daniel Avery]

So I was reading an article about 1889, the spin-off/prequel series based off Yellowstone. The show-runner of both shows announced that 1889, rather than being a traditional spin-off that would keep going, was basically a limited series, and there won't be a second season. He had not shared this information earlier, apparently, because people were getting really upset. He is now focusing on another prequel series, 1932, which will focus on the family dramas that occurred in the Great Depression, and I can only assume this will be a limited series as well.

It occurred to me while reading this stuff about Yellowstone and its prequels that these trips to the past to see what happened to the family ancestors was already done on DS. This show-runner acts as if he's come up with some unique way of telling multi-generational family stories, but DS did it in their own way fifty years ago. The 1795 arc, the 1840 arc, and of course 1897 were doing much the same thing, the only differences being they told the stories within the parent show (no spin-off). YS can (in theory) run the parent show alongside a prequel, while all "present-day" 1960s action on DS had to be suspended once they entered into the past-time arcs since they did not have the luxury of having two casts--all the DS actors did double duty as their ancestors. That was part of the gimmick back then, but I'm sure if YS had attempted the "lookalike ancestors" angle, people would have been rioting in the streets. They take YS very seriously! But DS did it first.

 

[tommie]

So I was reading an article about 1889, the spin-off/prequel series based off Yellowstone. The show-runner of both shows announced that 1889, rather than being a traditional spin-off that would keep going, was basically a limited series, and there won't be a second season. He had not shared this information earlier, apparently, because people were getting really upset. He is now focusing on another prequel series, 1932, which will focus on the family dramas that occurred in the Great Depression, and I can only assume this will be a limited series as well.

It occurred to me while reading this stuff about Yellowstone and its prequels that these trips to the past to see what happened to the family ancestors was already done on DS. This show-runner acts as if he's come up with some unique way of telling multi-generational family stories, but DS did it in their own way fifty years ago. The 1795 arc, the 1840 arc, and of course 1897 were doing much the same thing, the only differences being they told the stories within the parent show (no spin-off). YS can (in theory) run the parent show alongside a prequel, while all "present-day" 1960s action on DS had to be suspended once they entered into the past-time arcs since they did not have the luxury of having two casts--all the DS actors did double duty as their ancestors. That was part of the gimmick back then, but I'm sure if YS had attempted the "lookalike ancestors" angle, people would have been rioting in the streets. They take YS very seriously! But DS did it first.

Another thing that's similar to the Yellowstone / 1883 situation is that in the later they seem free to pretty much kill off anyone they like, just like they do in the time travel stories on Dark Shadows. Of course the same thing sort of happens - in the current day timeline they don't want to off anyone really because they don't know where the story is headed, while with 1883 they know it's a temporary thing so they can go more loose with the story telling as long as they avoid killing off a direct (child-less) ancestor to the current day Dutton / Collins family.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I think it would be a great "stunt" to have one of the current cast of Yellowstone appear in one of the prequels as one of his/her ancestors. Having one actor do this would have the same curiosity factor of having the whole cast playing alternate roles. It could even be like you describe---a character who is obviously the ancestor of that current character and gets quickly killed off once the fun of seeing that actor playing someone else wears off. I LOVED seeing the DS actors getting to play other characters, though I know a lot of viewers don't react well to such gimmicks. At their best, DS would write a more substantial/central character for someone who had been (in the 1960s storylines) a more minor character, which was likely a thrill for that actor since they got the chance to show their range.

 

[darkshadows38]

1889 he he he he it's 1883. as for DS I think there's more than one where damn near the entire cast of either the PT or going back in time where damn near they all die pretty much. at least in that particular timeline that is

 

[darkshadows38]

now Mitchell Ryan has died at 88 yesterday of Congestive Heart Failure apparently this breaks my heart he is my favorite Burke Devlin i know that was made almost 60 years ago but still ya know that's my favorite role of is the 2nd i'd say would be Gregg's father on Dharma & Greg

 

[Willie Oleson]

Elizabeth is about to reveal the circumstances of Paul Stoddard's death.

It happened in this very room....there was a storm

*howls with laughter*
Can't they say anything without cheesing it up to the hilt?

Maggie Evans has lost the plot but she's in the capable hands of Doctor Julia Cumson, a woman who always raises her head when she talks. I fear some day she's going to talk to the ceiling.
She talks a lot about things she doesn't want to explain (yet) and Collinsport resident Dr. Woodard is still none the wiser.

Liz and Jason's upcoming wedding has caused a lot of frustration - as ReBurked Devlin asked Vicky "what's the latest crisis?" - and at some point death seemed to be the only solution! It was very suspenseful to watch Liz and Vicky almost falling off the floor cliff edge.

Back to the reveal...

 

[Willie Oleson]

What could this be?

I don't understand.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Oh how frustrating, they don't show Paul Stoddard's face! I wonder if he was played by one of the regulars, and probably uncredited. But, surprise surprise, it's soapshifter Joel Fabiani.

We don't see the actual burial and neither does Liz, all we know is that Jason has dug a hole of sorts and anything or nothing could be in it (in case Paul had regained consciousness). Is he really buried or is there going to be a surprise return from the death?
Either way, it looks like it's going to be the end for Jason McGuire and I'm really going to miss this entertaining villain. He was almost killed by a handbag gunshot, what a gay way to die.

Btw, Barnabas was not invited for the wedding.

 

[Daniel Avery]

What could this be?

Looks like Night of Dark Shadows, with Kate Jackson cleverly trying not to be seen despite being front and center. And Dr. Hoffman trying to make off with Elizabeth's antique tablecloth. Oh, and James Storm in desperate need of a visit from the Hand of Count Vidal Sassoon.

I'm glad they're finally letting you in on what's in the mysterious room in the cellar, but let's face it: every square inch of C-wood has some sort of horrible secret attached to it. Or a horribly funny one, depending on that day's acting.

Btw, Barnabas was not invited for the wedding.

Daytime weddings just are not his thing. The best he could do was send a gift from her registry at the Smith and Wesson Gift Shop in Bangor.

 

[darkshadows38]

that's exactly what that is from that (1971) film is awful and it really angers me to the core on why it ended up that way. that's the film that and this happened to Dan Curtis on both films the studios insisted for whatever reason for both to be 90 minutes long and the 1st film is a mess and is edited so bad that you can't tell what is going on, the 2nd is edited even worse and that makes even less sense but with that one the film was 130 minutes he was forced to cut 40 minutes i think? out and there is a cut that has it all back in i believe or at least nearly all of it and they are just keeping it cause they are just to damn cheap to remaster it to put out for us fans to buy.

here's a bit on info on the basement when they have that last shot coming up on what is in that room that's the last time you see the basement i do not remember what they ended up changing it to much like the Kitchen one of them i think was Liz's room i think? i really don't remember anyways here's something you should look up online if you can find it that is, somewhere around here i have no idea where i even put it is a list i printed years ago i was in my 20's at the time that's how long it's been

anyways it's called you know watch dark shadows too much when you.... and it's got a list of like 20 things and it's really funny. there used to be a site that i wish still was around where someone had made a comic strip of sorts of the show and had screen capped certain parts of the show and put bubbles and created their own bubbles it was for humor and it was the 1st time i read those i could not stop laughing the site was called Julia Hoffman.com but it's been down for years sadly.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Are we going to see Liz Stoddard in the Blue Whale now that she's no longer a prisoner of Collinwood?
It looks like the new storyline is going to be "Sarah Collins". I still hate the London Bridges song but I like the way it's been reworked into a score.
Foreshadowing words from Dennis Patrick when he mentions a "little oil deal in Texas" to Willie Loomis (aka one of the most destroyed soap characters ever).
Barnabas is planning a costume party and somehow I get the idea they're all going to be catapulted back into the 18th century. But I could be wrong.
Unfortunately I couldn't watch any more episodes because I was attacked by the flu in a very mysterious way.

 

[darkshadows38]

i can't remember one episode she ever even walked into the blue whale to be honest, now she does go shopping to Bangor and in a (1970) episode she is seeing walking in town. but i don't think she ever goes into the blue whale. i'm on episode #158 right when she goes into her coma of sorts from Laura

 

[Daniel Avery]

Teasers for next week:
"Liz is happy to run into Jason while making her first trip to Collinsport in fifteen years. Happy because she's behind the wheel of a 1967 Buick at the time."

 

[darkshadows38]

lol ya know what's funny is that the show's timeline started in (1967) i'm not even kidding we all know what year the show started but it didn't start out in that year but in (1967) i dunno why but it did

 

[Willie Oleson]

lol ya know what's funny is that the show's timeline started in (1967) i'm not even kidding we all know what year the show started but it didn't start out in that year but in (1967) i dunno why but it did

I'm not sure what this means....

Episode 300

My previous comment was about the costume party and I'm afraid these last 20 episodes haven't been the most entertaining ones.
There were Vicky and Barnabas indulging each other with their appreciation of the "good old times", and I also feel that the whole Josette Collins saga has worn itself out completely.
Unlike the Phoenix storyline there aren't many surprises and intrigues with vampire Barnabas, but to be honest I think I had anticipated that.

Furthermore, I think soap opera is more than putting characters in problematic situations and because it's all about danger and distress there isn't much room for anything else e.g. greed, jealousy, revenge and emotional confronations.
It should be noted that Carolyn, who's always good value for the soapier parts, barely features in these episodes.

It's funny because I almost started to consider to call it a day but in episode 300 the romance part between Vicky and Burke comes to life again and he even asked her marry him.
Dr. Hoffman's treatment seems to work because Barnabas' reaction to that romance is human jealousy instead of an obstacle in his plan to make Vicky is un-dead bride.
When Carolyn realizes that Burke wants to buy the house for Vicky there's an expression on her face that suggests that she isn't too enthusiastic about this latest development, so maybe there's still enough traditional soap lurking in the shadows.
I really hope they're going to split up the Willie/Barnabas combo because their scenes together are the worst I've seen so far.

But I also need to mention two very good scenes.
After the escape from the clinic, courtesy of Sarah, they're heading towards Collinsport but I assumed that was going to take forever, if they'd get there at all.
And then suddenly totally unexpected she walks into the Blue Whale!

Such a great jaw-dropper.

The second scene is great for its sheer hilarity. After Julia had sabotaged Maggie's memory Dr. Woodard explains that she's been kidnapped, escaped, taken to a secret clinic and then they pretended that she was dead - oh well, I guess it could happen to all of us.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Hello operator, connect me with the overseas operator. I want to place a call to London.

That is such a "Dynasty" thing to do because it could be the upcoming introduction of a Mark Jennings, a Rashid Ahmed, a Ben Carrington or a corrupt Chinese ambassador.

I think Burke#2 is more believable as the sophisticated business man but perhaps it was the lack thereof that I appreciated in Burke#1. Kinda like, you can take the man out of Collinsport but you can't the Collinsport out of the man.
Burke#2 hasn't been involved with big drama yet so maybe the comparison is unfair.


There also need to be some moments of joy or camaraderie or burying the hatchet because that's the perfect set up to let things go (terribly) wrong (again).
Non-stop disaster will create a feeling of numbness because there's nowhere to go from there to make it more exciting or suspenseful.

The colours are beautiful, as is to be expected from a 1960s production, and it also creates more depth in the sets and set pieces. Still, I could never have imagined Joe Haskell with blue or grey eyes, that was a bit of a shocker.

I thought there was something familiar about Julia Hofmann, which seems impossible considering her unique appearance, but I think I've seen a little bit of her in Miss Hopewell.

She had that same so-serious-it's-funny way of playing her role.

 

[darkshadows38]

yeah they had a habit of having story lines arcs if you will last longer than they needed too at times. some of them felt like they went on damn forever. it's gonna have some filler episodes where it takes time for the new arc to start up but give it time. you are further than me cause i'm on i think i episode #161 i think?

 

[Willie Oleson]

you are further than me cause i'm on i think i episode #161

Yeah, but you have already watched everything 5 or 6 times!

 

[darkshadows38]

true i have but i'm not gonna lie that there are some filler episodes you aren't going to like every story arc either just like any show really.i don't really know the number but it has to be more than that by now lol. but i haven't watched the entire show in years though to be fair. it took me 15 years to get them all on dvd i had all the Barnabas ones so those i watched and the last batch i needed that i bought in Spring of (2019) i think it was? was The Beginning set volumes 4-6 those were my last 3 i needed

 

[tommie]

It's a daytime soap, so yeah, there's going to be slight down periods at times.