1109 is where my "head canon TARDIS fanfic" reaches its climax. When Quentin opens the door, it is a playroom; when Julia does, its a stairway; when Barnabas does, a closet. At first, the TARDIS is in the shape of a room (as Professor Chronotis' in "Shada"); when Julia enters, the interior reconfigures itself (as in "The Masque of Mandragora") so that she exits from the same hallway she entered, but it also travels in time (from 1970 to 1840); by the time Barnabas opens the door, the TARDIS is gone.
For my birthday this year, Tracy bought me a TARDIS (specifically, this print on canvas):
If you ever change your mind and start to miss Hallie Stokes, she returns in "Tainted Love."
Thanks! I'm sure she's a much richer character as an adult.
I was half joking when I said that, but "Tainted Love" occurs at a high point in the (audio) series. Here is what I had to say about it in 2015:
As good a job these audios do of presenting character arcs as the characters develop from story-to-story, the format has made it difficult to pursue any extended story arcs… until now. “Tainted Love” covers the span of nearly a year, starting on Halloween and jumping from holiday to holiday as a sort of “Holiday Inn” with an occult twist. Kathleen Cody has reprised her role of Hallie Stokes. She appeared previously in the audio “Carriage of the Damned” (in which she met Amy Cunningham), but now she returns to Collinsport at last.
Ever since David Collins met the ghost of Sarah Collins, the scriptwriters of the TV had always given Actor David Henesy a distaff playmate or companion of his own age, regardless of the era the story was set or the role he was playing. A bit of a love affair is developing between David and Amy, until Hallie comes along to create a triangle. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the year, and the listener will find himself changing allegiances as the story moves along. I won’t say which character it is, but the fact that a formerly sympathetic character from the TV show becomes twisted as an adult makes for an effective storytelling device.
I generally prefer the full-cast dramas to the "dramatic readings" (which feature one or two characters), plus they get really good circa 45 or so. If you don't mind, over the next couple of days I will recommend some of my personal favorites.
The first Dark Shadows audio I ever heard was "Return to Collinwood," not from Big Finish but from MPI, the outfit that released the entire series first on VHS then on DVD.
A 2-CD audio drama with the original cast members in the first-ever sequel to Dark Shadows!
Starring David Selby (Quentin Collins), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), John Karlen (Willie Loomis), Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard), Roger Davis (Ned Stuart), Lara Parker (Angelique), Marie Wallace (Jessica Loomis), James Storm (Dr. Harper), Donna Wandrey (Mrs. Franklin), Christopher Pennock (Sebastian Shaw) and Terry Crawford (Violet Chavez). With original Dark Shadows music by Robert Cobert.
Following the passing of matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, family and close friends gather at the great house of Collinwood for a seance to contact her spirit. The wandering Quentin Collins returns from South America after an unsuccessful search for the clan‘s youngest heir, David Collins. As mysteries surrounding the Collins family unfold, including the reading of Elizabeth‘s will, the future of Collinwood is threatened with the unexpected arrival of Cassandra Collins. Alias Angelique, the immortal witch, Cassandra shares a secret with Quentin about each other‘s dark, supernatural pasts. Quentin‘s girlfriend, Maggie Evans, finds herself looking for answers to the strange and frightening events unraveling around her.
This was first performed on stage at a Dark Shadows festival (not as a play, but more of a "table read"). It was later recorded in the studio and released on CD. It's still available (for $10 less than I paid for it). Many original cast members reprise their roles (or play new ones) and gather together for the reading of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard's will... and of course there's a seance. Barnabas and Julia are off travelling the world (Barnabas is no longer a vampire), leaving the old house to Willie Loomis and his wife (played by Marie Wallace). Willie has installed a hot tub in the cellar where Barnabas' coffin used to be. It is co-written by Jamison Selby, son of David, and reveals the exact nature of the relationship between Elizabeth and Victoria (which I don't agree with, but I can live with it).
I've seen through episode 1111 now... and we're in 1840! Or rather, Julia is.
Gerard waved the flag, and raised the dead pirates to destroy Collinwood... which they did, although we mostly saw them knocking over furniture and tearing down tapestries. But they chased Barnabas & Julia upstairs, and Julia escaped onto the mysterious staircase, landing in 1840. Barnabas was initially overwhelmed by the zombies, and when he broke free, the stiarcase was gone.
Now Julia is alone in 1840, where she observes Carrie talk with another Collins, Gabriel, who's nasty and uses a wheelchair. He goes to see Ben Stokes, an old man since we last saw him, to go tell the patriarch of the Collins family that his son Quentin is dead; he's hoping he'll be given a more prominent place in his will. (Later on, we learn that Gerard has said that both Quentin and Tad have been lost at sea.) Julia approaches Ben, and tells him her tale; he tells her to hide out for the night and he'll find suitable clothes for her in the morning. But then another Collins eascapes (I guess they've always got a madman locked up somewhere) and captures Julia.
We also learn that the kids' governness isn't Daphne, it's someone named Hortence. And there's another woman in the house, Samantha (Quentin's wife/widow?), who is opposed to Gabriel.
Oh, and Barnabas is alive in this time, of course -- just chained up in his coffin. So right now it's anyone's guess whether we'll see 1970s Barnabas in the immediate future, or whether we'll be unchaining his 1840s incarnation...
Now Julia is alone in 1840, where she observes Carrie talk with another Collins, Gabriel, who's nasty and uses a wheelchair.
I have spoken before of how I usually associate most Dark Shadows actors either with the role they originally played, or the first time they played a Collins. For Christopher Pennock, it is definitely the latter. In the present day, I prefer Sebastian Shaw to Jeb Hawkes (his first role), but Gabriel Collins is my favorite of his roles.
He goes to see Ben Stokes, an old man since we last saw him...
Dark Shadows' "old man" make-up isn't nearly as good as the first time they used it (IMO), when they aged Barnabas to his true age.
...the patriarch of the Collins family... then another Collins escapes (I guess they've always got a madman locked up somewhere)...
You know by now that the patriarch of the Collins family and the escaped madman are one and the same, Daniel Collins, the role first assayed by David Henesy in the 1795 storyline.
And there's another woman in the house, Samantha (Quentin's wife/widow?)...
...a role originally intended to be played by Kathryn Leigh Scott.
So right now it's anyone's guess whether we'll see 1970s Barnabas in the immediate future, or whether we'll be unchaining his 1840s incarnation...
1112 is one of my favorite episodes. I'll tell you why after you have seen it.
I've seen through episode 1112 now. (I was mistaken earlier, and had just seen through episode 1110.) Julia agrees to Ben's plan of dressing in period clothes and introducing herself as a Collins cousin from Philadelphia, but then, at the time she's supposed to show up, goes to the mauseleum instead, to unchain Barnabas's coffin, thinking he'd be possessed by the spirit of his future self. But he hasn't, and he begins to attack her, only to be stopped when Ben appears and tells him to calm down. Barnabas storms off and bites someone in the woods. Samantha eventually sees the victim.
Julia goes back to Collinwood to introduce herself to the family; she's Barnabas's sister, she says, and Barnabas is the son of 1790s Barnabas, and shouldn't he be along by now? But he hasn't shown up.
Gerard confronts Julia about an earring she dropped in the playroom, getting her to almost say it's hers, and quizzing her about Philadelphia, including a restarant on Chestnut Street. I don't know which restaurant he'd be talking about, but there is a Chestnut Street in Philly, and it's very plausible a well-known restaurant would be there. It runs through the heart of the city.
I can see a little bit of why you like this episode so much, Jeff -- it's really strongly written & acted. Here at the beginning of 1840, everyone has brought their A game.
The Baron > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)April 16, 2025 at 3:38pm
Barnabas storms off and bites someone in the woods.
I bet that hurt.
I don't know which restaurant he'd be talking about,
Replies
...episode 1109, which I watched last night.
1109 is where my "head canon TARDIS fanfic" reaches its climax. When Quentin opens the door, it is a playroom; when Julia does, its a stairway; when Barnabas does, a closet. At first, the TARDIS is in the shape of a room (as Professor Chronotis' in "Shada"); when Julia enters, the interior reconfigures itself (as in "The Masque of Mandragora") so that she exits from the same hallway she entered, but it also travels in time (from 1970 to 1840); by the time Barnabas opens the door, the TARDIS is gone.
For my birthday this year, Tracy bought me a TARDIS (specifically, this print on canvas):
Oh, that's gorgeous!
And when I was watching last night, and I got to Julia's escape (and Barnabas's failure to escape), I immediately thought of your TARDIS theory.
If you ever change your mind and start to miss Hallie Stokes, she returns in "Tainted Love."
Thanks! I'm sure she's a much richer character as an adult.
I was half joking when I said that, but "Tainted Love" occurs at a high point in the (audio) series. Here is what I had to say about it in 2015:
As good a job these audios do of presenting character arcs as the characters develop from story-to-story, the format has made it difficult to pursue any extended story arcs… until now. “Tainted Love” covers the span of nearly a year, starting on Halloween and jumping from holiday to holiday as a sort of “Holiday Inn” with an occult twist. Kathleen Cody has reprised her role of Hallie Stokes. She appeared previously in the audio “Carriage of the Damned” (in which she met Amy Cunningham), but now she returns to Collinsport at last.
Ever since David Collins met the ghost of Sarah Collins, the scriptwriters of the TV had always given Actor David Henesy a distaff playmate or companion of his own age, regardless of the era the story was set or the role he was playing. A bit of a love affair is developing between David and Amy, until Hallie comes along to create a triangle. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the year, and the listener will find himself changing allegiances as the story moves along. I won’t say which character it is, but the fact that a formerly sympathetic character from the TV show becomes twisted as an adult makes for an effective storytelling device.
I generally prefer the full-cast dramas to the "dramatic readings" (which feature one or two characters), plus they get really good circa 45 or so. If you don't mind, over the next couple of days I will recommend some of my personal favorites.
RETURN TO COLLINWOOD:
The first Dark Shadows audio I ever heard was "Return to Collinwood," not from Big Finish but from MPI, the outfit that released the entire series first on VHS then on DVD.
A 2-CD audio drama with the original cast members in the first-ever sequel to Dark Shadows!
Starring David Selby (Quentin Collins), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), John Karlen (Willie Loomis), Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard), Roger Davis (Ned Stuart), Lara Parker (Angelique), Marie Wallace (Jessica Loomis), James Storm (Dr. Harper), Donna Wandrey (Mrs. Franklin), Christopher Pennock (Sebastian Shaw) and Terry Crawford (Violet Chavez). With original Dark Shadows music by Robert Cobert.
Following the passing of matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, family and close friends gather at the great house of Collinwood for a seance to contact her spirit. The wandering Quentin Collins returns from South America after an unsuccessful search for the clan‘s youngest heir, David Collins. As mysteries surrounding the Collins family unfold, including the reading of Elizabeth‘s will, the future of Collinwood is threatened with the unexpected arrival of Cassandra Collins. Alias Angelique, the immortal witch, Cassandra shares a secret with Quentin about each other‘s dark, supernatural pasts. Quentin‘s girlfriend, Maggie Evans, finds herself looking for answers to the strange and frightening events unraveling around her.
This was first performed on stage at a Dark Shadows festival (not as a play, but more of a "table read"). It was later recorded in the studio and released on CD. It's still available (for $10 less than I paid for it). Many original cast members reprise their roles (or play new ones) and gather together for the reading of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard's will... and of course there's a seance. Barnabas and Julia are off travelling the world (Barnabas is no longer a vampire), leaving the old house to Willie Loomis and his wife (played by Marie Wallace). Willie has installed a hot tub in the cellar where Barnabas' coffin used to be. It is co-written by Jamison Selby, son of David, and reveals the exact nature of the relationship between Elizabeth and Victoria (which I don't agree with, but I can live with it).
Sounds really cool! I know I'll be dipping into some post original series material once I'm done with the show, so thanks for these recommendations!
I've seen through episode 1111 now... and we're in 1840! Or rather, Julia is.
Gerard waved the flag, and raised the dead pirates to destroy Collinwood... which they did, although we mostly saw them knocking over furniture and tearing down tapestries. But they chased Barnabas & Julia upstairs, and Julia escaped onto the mysterious staircase, landing in 1840. Barnabas was initially overwhelmed by the zombies, and when he broke free, the stiarcase was gone.
Now Julia is alone in 1840, where she observes Carrie talk with another Collins, Gabriel, who's nasty and uses a wheelchair. He goes to see Ben Stokes, an old man since we last saw him, to go tell the patriarch of the Collins family that his son Quentin is dead; he's hoping he'll be given a more prominent place in his will. (Later on, we learn that Gerard has said that both Quentin and Tad have been lost at sea.) Julia approaches Ben, and tells him her tale; he tells her to hide out for the night and he'll find suitable clothes for her in the morning. But then another Collins eascapes (I guess they've always got a madman locked up somewhere) and captures Julia.
We also learn that the kids' governness isn't Daphne, it's someone named Hortence. And there's another woman in the house, Samantha (Quentin's wife/widow?), who is opposed to Gabriel.
Oh, and Barnabas is alive in this time, of course -- just chained up in his coffin. So right now it's anyone's guess whether we'll see 1970s Barnabas in the immediate future, or whether we'll be unchaining his 1840s incarnation...
Now Julia is alone in 1840, where she observes Carrie talk with another Collins, Gabriel, who's nasty and uses a wheelchair.
I have spoken before of how I usually associate most Dark Shadows actors either with the role they originally played, or the first time they played a Collins. For Christopher Pennock, it is definitely the latter. In the present day, I prefer Sebastian Shaw to Jeb Hawkes (his first role), but Gabriel Collins is my favorite of his roles.
He goes to see Ben Stokes, an old man since we last saw him...
Dark Shadows' "old man" make-up isn't nearly as good as the first time they used it (IMO), when they aged Barnabas to his true age.
...the patriarch of the Collins family... then another Collins escapes (I guess they've always got a madman locked up somewhere)...
You know by now that the patriarch of the Collins family and the escaped madman are one and the same, Daniel Collins, the role first assayed by David Henesy in the 1795 storyline.
And there's another woman in the house, Samantha (Quentin's wife/widow?)...
...a role originally intended to be played by Kathryn Leigh Scott.
So right now it's anyone's guess whether we'll see 1970s Barnabas in the immediate future, or whether we'll be unchaining his 1840s incarnation...
1112 is one of my favorite episodes. I'll tell you why after you have seen it.
I've seen through episode 1112 now. (I was mistaken earlier, and had just seen through episode 1110.) Julia agrees to Ben's plan of dressing in period clothes and introducing herself as a Collins cousin from Philadelphia, but then, at the time she's supposed to show up, goes to the mauseleum instead, to unchain Barnabas's coffin, thinking he'd be possessed by the spirit of his future self. But he hasn't, and he begins to attack her, only to be stopped when Ben appears and tells him to calm down. Barnabas storms off and bites someone in the woods. Samantha eventually sees the victim.
Julia goes back to Collinwood to introduce herself to the family; she's Barnabas's sister, she says, and Barnabas is the son of 1790s Barnabas, and shouldn't he be along by now? But he hasn't shown up.
Gerard confronts Julia about an earring she dropped in the playroom, getting her to almost say it's hers, and quizzing her about Philadelphia, including a restarant on Chestnut Street. I don't know which restaurant he'd be talking about, but there is a Chestnut Street in Philly, and it's very plausible a well-known restaurant would be there. It runs through the heart of the city.
I can see a little bit of why you like this episode so much, Jeff -- it's really strongly written & acted. Here at the beginning of 1840, everyone has brought their A game.
Barnabas storms off and bites someone in the woods.
I bet that hurt.
I don't know which restaurant he'd be talking about,
Chez Boiardi, perhaps.
That's using your noodle!
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