Dark Shadows has arrived!

[Willie Oleson]

Quentin is the family playboy opportunist but at least he doesn't try to hide it. I think this might be the most dysfunctional version of the Collins Dynasty we have seen so far. Quentin's older brother Edward returns from a trip together with a new governess (still Maggie Evans, of course) and they mention Edward's wife who needs to be forgotten Well, that sounds very familiar!

Barnabas has become part of the story and while the reason is very different -he's there to find a way to save David who's dying in the present time - the circumstances are almost identical to his first days on the show .

But whereas Barnabas '66 tried to hide his true identity from the Collinses & Co, that secret already exists in this time of the story . Funnily enough, Barnabas is not aware of it until the bedridden matriarch tells him that he IS the secret that's been the topic of discussion in these last episodes
It's really amazing how they turned the series' long lasting secret (the one that we knew from the very beginning) into a jawdropping bombshell.

And of course there's a tragic encounter with a scarlet woman on the misty docks of Collinsport We've seen it before but we also knows the cured version of Barnabas and that's what makes it so different

 

[Willie Oleson]

Angelique and Josette (and that damn music box) have become part of the 1897 timeline, and my first reaction was "oh please, not again".
However, the writing for this DS chapter is terrific so maybe it's going to look better this time

Even though Quentin is introduced as the black sheep of the Collins clan, I can't say that his relatives are much better people
Brother Edward is a pompous tyrant and sister Judith is a bitchy snob Willie Loomis is fantastic as nerdy brother Carl who fills his time with practical jokes - and they're actually quite funny .
Then there's David as Edward's son Jamieson, and his sister Nora but I haven't seen her yet
I got the impression that there's another child and there's something mysteriosly secretive about it

Everybody is interestingly connected with the story, it's all very Agatha Christie-esque soap hence my worries that it's going to be hijackwd by Josette and Angelique who have already done their part in the DS saga
I want to see more about Beth who's in an abusive relationship with Dirk played by Jeff Clark.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Then there's David as Edward's son Jamieson, and his sister Nora but I haven't seen her yet

I don't know if they've worked this detail into the 1897 arc yet, but it is worth knowing that Jamison is the father of Elizabeth and Roger. There is therefore a bit more urgency on Barnabas's part to make sure Jamison is not harmed/damaged because otherwise, Barn may have no family to return to in 1968.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Judith Collins inherits the family fortune and without hesitation she goes full-on Angela Channing. It's great to see Joan Bennett in a more villainous DS role
I was right about the mystery person, there IS someone (or should I say "something") in the forbidden towerroom .
In fact there is so much goodness going on that there isn't enough screen time for everyone, and on Dark Shadows that's saying a lot
No sign of Carolyn or Joe Haskell yet (I can't say "Joe" without the "Haskell", just like you wouldn't mention "Lane" without the "Balou").

The crew commentaries on these discs are priceless, this one had Lara Parker and she approaches the soap in a very bloody and macabere way. I think I felt a bit hypnotised by it

 

[Willie Oleson]

Jenny Collins is sort of what I expected Eve to be: child like, unhinged and very dangerous
Marie Wallace is clearly having a ball in this storyline and it usually makes a big difference, I think.

Angelique throws herself at Barnabas once again but of course she can't be trusted Not that Barnabas is interested or anything, but it's in those moments of vulnerability that I almost find myself rooting for Angelique. She just wants it so, so bad

If they would include Jamieson's mother in this story (Laura, presumably) the madhouse would be complete.

On a more treacherous note, I 've also spent a few hours watching the BBC version of The Day Of The Triffids

 

[Daniel Avery]

If they would include Jamieson's mother in this story (Laura, presumably) the madhouse would be complete.

This is where the family tree becomes...a wreath? Laura is Jamison's mother, but she's the same Laura who later marries her grandson Roger to produce David, giving birth to her own great-grandson.

Laura and Angelique. The two blond, wicked ladies who seem to be "Collins family groupies". Imagine what would happen if the ambitions/obsessions of these two were to collide....

Oh, how I enjoyed Crazy!Jenny....my kingdom for a hairbrush!

 

[Willie Oleson]

Three former and dangerous wives (Angelique, Jenny, Laura) makes Dynasty seem like child's play

 

[Soaplover]

Unpopular opinion.... Dark Shadows pre-Barnabas was a stronger show. It was a super natural mystery thriller in a soap opera format.

The Bill Malloy murder myster morphs into the Matthew Morgan holding Victoria hostage as the merry widows, Malloy, and Josette protect Victoria until they strike... even the Phoenix story is strong and ties into the Burke/Roger feud and is an effective Victoria vs Laura story for David's soul.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Unpopular opinion.... Dark Shadows pre-Barnabas was a stronger show

Yes, but it feels like two different things now. With Angelique and Laura Collins in the same episodes the soap has become pure insanity (though I'm not sure if these characters will ever share a storyline).
I'm not sure what happened to crazyJenny because I missed a few episodes, but that doesn't mean anything and they can bring it back whenever they like.
Also, I don't understand the feud between Laura and Quentin, unless he's sincerely concerned for Jamieson's well-being.
But it's entertaining in a "Wayne vs. Alison Carr" sort of way.

Angelique was brought back in order to help Quentin with something-something but she's back in her comfortable role of rascally stalker.
Lots of platinum blonde trouble especially now that Carolyn Stoddard has joined the mix as Reverend Trask's daughter. Somehow I can't figure out if her name is Chastity, Clarity or Charity.

 

[Daniel Avery]

* Her name is Charity Trask.

With Angelique and Laura Collins in the same episodes the soap has become pure insanity (though I'm not sure if these characters will ever share a storyline).

The Battle of the Wild-Eyed Blondes has a sort of "rock/paper/scissors" quality since they both have such odd powers that can cancel the other's. Or put another way, just when you think Laura has the upper hand, Angelique holds up a mirror to Laura's scheme and the feud re-sets itself again.

 

[darkshadows38]

i don't think Pre-Barnabas is a stronger show at all however i do enjoy it. at times it can go slow as hell and it takes forever for things to happen but that's before Laura came onto the scene and they introduced the supernatural. i'd say when it started to pick up was the murder of Bill Malloy but even that started out really slow as well

 

[Sarah Danner]

I wish the show had never switched to color.

 

[Willie Oleson]

The story with Laura, Quentin and Barnabas was about to reach a climax, but then it stopped and they picked up the story of Quentin, Jenny and the gypsies.
Jenny is dead and Quentin is cursed so this was also looking very exciting, and then suddenly, without making any sense, Trask and Rachel become the main characters with a background story about disobedience and Daniel cheating on his exam and that's why Trask hates Rachel (???)
Speaking of children, it seems that Quentin and Jenny actually had children, but Quentin is unaware of it. Or did I completely misinterpret the conversation?
But if it's true, are these two children going to be played by the same child actors? I'm very confused right now.

I wish the story would return to Laura who was trying to take her children away from Collinsport, which would endanger Daniel in the same way it endangered David in the black & white episodes. And Barnabas needs to stop her, that's what the whole mission was about - although initially to change the history of Quentin.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Or did I completely misinterpret the conversation?

Watched it again, it's mentioned when Judith fires Beth. The children are still in Collinsport, in the care of a Mrs. Filmore. Well, it sounded like Filmore.

which would endanger Daniel

I mean Jamieson.
Who is Daniel?
Where is Joe?
Who am I?

 

[Daniel Avery]

You ask questions I want to answer. But if I answer, invariably I'm spoiling the fun---which I would hate to do. So I'm stuck making up vague, half-serious answers that you may or may not believe. It's like being a member of the Biden administration.

So I will only say that the twins are still babies/toddlers at this time. Unless you count the dolls, no one gets cast as the babies. There would be no budget for babies to be cast; they could not even afford a comb for poor Jenny.

Who am I?

Spoilers, spoilers....

 

[Willie Oleson]

So I will only say that the twins are still babies/toddlers at this time

Oh, right, Judith mentioned infant children. So I guess crazy Jenny gave birth to the twins in her hidden room when Quentin was away. That is indeed very dark.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Oh, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.

 

[tommie]

without making any sense, Trask and Rachel become the main characters with a background story about disobedience and Daniel cheating on his exam and that's why Trask hates Rachel (???)

I *suspect* that had to do with Kathryn Scott's vacation days, which meant they had to speed certain stories along. I think it's worth remembering that these past time travels often lasted much longer than they originally meant for them to. I don't think the originally planned on Laura 2: Electric Boogaloo in this time line, so when the actress allegedly approached Dan Curtis to come back, they just threw her in there and it threw other things off.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Oh, yes....1897 was "extended" much more than originally intended, which makes this plot arc equally exciting and annoying. DS was never one to stick too close to plans, but 1795 had been "just right" in terms of beginning, middle, and end. 1897 kept being extended beyond its original plan.

 

[Willie Oleson]

so when the actress allegedly approached Dan Curtis to come back, they just threw her in there and it threw other things off.

Yes, there was something jarring about her re-introduction, there was too much going on with Barnabas and Quentin and Angelique.
But I find her the most frightening Dark Shadows villain and once she starts scheming it becomes the most organic storyline in this DS chapter.
She's also remarkably low maintenance, all she needs is her fireplace.

But I'm not complaining that Maggie/Rachel is back, she's a terrific screamer who needs to be tortured.
I'm not a fan of the actor who plays werewolf Chris in 1960s DS (forgot his name in this storyline) I think he's even worse than Dr. Eric Lang, but not in a funny way.