Back when I first started watching Dark Shadows (on VHS in the '90s), I didn't have the discipline you have, to watch the entire series in broadcast order. I had the 30th anniversary Dark Shadows Almanac, so I had a list of all the storylines and episode numbers. I started out with Barnabas being released from the coffin, but quickly branched out to other storylines simultaneously: 1795, 1840, 1995, parallel time, etc. I would generally be following three storylines at a time and alternate among them. I would also often put together little "continuities" of my own, such as 365 (a seance sends Victoria Winters to 1795) followed immediately by 461 (Vicki returns to the present). Another of my favorite "transitions" is 460 (Ben Stokes chains Barnabas in coffin in 1795) to 1112 (Julia Hoffman releases Barnabas from Coffin in 1840).
Further proof (such as how could the "ghost of Quentin Collins" have haunted Collinwood in 1968 when he never died?) that Dark Shadows takes place across alternate dimensions. In this case, 1966 Barnabas should have had memories of 1840 (and Julia Hoffman) when released from his coffin by Willie Loomis.
The residents of 1840 Collinwood are just wild about the game of whist (you will soon discover), which is a form of bridge if you didn't know.
If you don't mind, over the next couple of days I will recommend some of my personal favorite [audios].
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'm starting to wonder if maybe I started this too soon. I'm afraid that, by the time you finish, any reccommendations I were to make now would no longer be fresh in your mind.
I watched episode 1113 over lunch -- another killer episode. First we get the end of the Gerard/Julia confrontation, and Julia wriggles away with an explanation of the earring Gabrial found on the floor of the playroom. Then she and Ben chat, worrying about Barnabas and his attacks in town. We get to see Gerard and Letitia together, two con artists going after Flora Collins, with Letitia feeding her salacious tales of the debauchery of a tavern performer (but not, it is implied, about the hinted-at prostitution in Letitia's past). And Ben finds Barnabas at the Old House, taking down a portrait of Josette, deciding to put his memory of her behind him (a decision likely made because Katherine Leigh Scott has left the show). He tells Ben he'll take care of himself, and no longer force Ben to do minion duties.
And then we flash to the present...as Barnabas broods in the Old House, deciding to find a way to get back in time to find Julia. Prof. Stokes is back from Europe -- apparently he was hoping to convince an exorcist to come to Collinwood (so he actually had a good reason for going, imagine that!), and we learn that Elizabeth, Daphne, David, and Hallie are all dead. Carolyn arrives, and she's blocked that info out of her mind, and wants to go to the beach house... but occasionnally reality intrudes. And Quentin is upstairs, about to hang himself so he can be reunited with Daphne, before Carolyn catches him and everyone rushes in to stop him. Eventually it's settled: Quentin is carted off to Wyndcliffe, Carolyn will go to the beach house with Prof Stokes in the morning, and Willie will watch over Barnabas (and Roxanne's coffin) while he uses the I Ching to go to the past. But when he visualizes the door, he sees a coffin with the name Julia Collins... and a death date of October 6, 1840! The episode was broadcast on Sept 30*... so Oct. 6 is only a week away!
*1970, but time travel logic says we're on the same day, just not in the same year.
Jeff of Earth-J > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)April 18, 2025 at 4:28pm
Earlier I said there was only one further scene set in 1970; the one in this episode isn't the one I was thinking of. I had forgotten about this one (which does account for Stokes' sudden decision to fly to Europe, as you mentioned).
We get to see Gerard and Letitia together...
IIRC, Rob, you once bought and listened to a Letticia Faye audio drama thinking it was about Pansy. That one ought to make more sense to you soon.
...(a decision likely made because Katherine Leigh Scott has left the show).
You are no doubt correct, but it somewhat violates the show's internal story logic. If Barnabas came out of the coffin in 1966 wanting Josette, he should certainly want her in 1840. and where is the ghost of Josette, anyway? Ahe wasn't in 1897 because by that time she had already been reincarnates as Lady Kitty Hampshire, but other than that I thought she was more or less Colliinwood's default ghost.
...and we learn that Elizabeth, Daphne, David, and Hallie are all dead.
They mention Willie, too (still alive), but it's funny no one mentions Roger.
Carolyn arrives, and she's blocked that info out of her mind, and wants to go to the beach house...
Yeah, but... what @#$% beach house? You'd think this was the Paperback Library series or something.
...he sees a coffin with the name Julia Collins...
Actually, "Julia Hoffman Collins" which makes no sense. Why would her middle name be "Hoffman"? It's not a Collins family name. I guess they did that to clue in the slower viewers (and also, perhaps, Barnabas and Stokes).
Been a while since I posted, but I've seen through episode 1120 now... most of them yesterday. We're meeting more of the cast, including Edith, Gabriel's wife, who hits on Gerard, and Desmond, Flora's brother (I think) who brings home a disembodied magic head as a gift for Quentin (before he learns he's dead). The head's gonna cause trouble; it's already killed Ben Stokes, making it look like an unusual suicide (self-decapitation ain't easy!).
Let's see... Barnabas has bitten Roxanne, and intends to make her a vampire like him. But then Julia interrupts, and he attacks Julia...but then is overcome by his future self, as the I Ching works and 70s Barnabas takes over! Soon they're buddies again; he goes to become part of the family in the usual way (although like Gerard, Desmond smells a rat).
Meanwhile Gabriel has blackmailed Gerard into poisoning Samantha, as Gabriel has a dossier on Gerard regarding the crimes he committed under his former name. But Gerard turns things around, marrying Samantha -- with Daniel's blessing, no less! -- to give him access to the Collins family fortune rather than Gabriel and Edith, whom no one likes. Gerard even got the spare dossier out of Gabriel's safe deposit box, so he's well and truly checkmated, and Gerard is sitting pretty... that is, until the "dead" Quentin shows up and says hi to his wife!
This has been a great string of episodes, mixing supernatural and regular soap opera skullduggery. Really the best stuff in a long while!
Jeff of Earth-J > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)April 30, 2025 at 1:19pm
We're meeting more of the cast, including Edith...
This is the same character as "Grandma-ma" from the 1897... more proof (AFAIAC) that we are in a different timeline. Edith was/will be the head of the household in 1897, but it's hard to imagine this Edith in that role. And what about the "Secret"? Who holds it now? Daniel? Not likely. In fact, he doesn't even mention it when Barnabas' "son" shows up at Collinwood. Also by this time you will have met Roxanne Drew and Lamar Trask. Roxanne and her sister Samantha are both strong female characters. Some have suggested that their personalities are an anachronism, but I prefer to think of them as strong 1840 women.
Desmond, Flora's brother (I think) ...
Desmond is Flora's son. This role was originally intended for Roger Davis, but he never returned to the show after the movie. Personally, I'm glad it went to John Karlen. It's very different from Willie, and it gives him a chance to show his range. (Carl was different, too, but he wasn't a strong character.)
Barnabas has bitten Roxanne, and intends to make her a vampire like him.
I should get credit not only for not spoiling that PT Roxanne appears in 1970, and that Roxanne is a vampire, and that she appears in 1840, but also that Barnabas is (or soon will be) her sire.
Julia interrupts, and he attacks Julia...
This is a really good move on thee wrtiers' part: making Barnabas a villain again, not like when he was in thrall to the Leviatans, but a villain in his own right.
...but then is overcome by his future self
Barnabas really is a "Time Lord" in that sense, not The Doctor but The Vampire. He doesn't "regenerate" per se, but he definitely has different "selves" as demonstated here by the "1840 Vampire" and the "!970 Vampire".
...he goes to become part of the family in the usual way...
I'm not quite sure why Julia becomes Julia Hoffman Collins (except maybe for the benefit of the slower viewers among the show's audience). She's unmarried, and "Hoffman" is not a family name. Why would "the original Barnabas Collins" name his daughter that?
Gabriel has blackmailed Gerard into poisoning Samantha... but Gerard turns things around...
That was a greaqt scene. "It happened in the courthouse?" "Don't rush me."
...until the "dead" Quentin shows up...
As I have mentioned before, David Selby played six characters through the course of Dark Shadows, all of them named "Quentin Collins." This is the fourth. there is the "main" Quentin Collins (1897-1995); the ghost of Quentin Collins (1968); the Quentin Collins of 1970 Parallel Time; and now the 1840 Quentin Collins.
This has been a great string of episodes, mixing supernatural and regular soap opera skullduggery.
I agree. there have also been some really good episode cliffhangers as well.
Really the best stuff in a long while!
As with Doctor Who, I tend to like the Dark Shadows "transition episodes" as well, such as: 366 (1795), 701 (1897), 1061 (1995), 1110 (1840-Julia) and 1117 (1840-Barnabas).
For some reason, I just remembered my favorite Burke Devlin blooper, something like: "We can't stick topgether! We've gotta stick together!", to which someone I knoiw replied, "Have another drink, Mitch!"
I've seen through episode 1122 now, bringing me closer to where I ought to be to be on track to wrap Dark Shadows in 2025.* The big event in these last couple episodes was the return of Quentin, who seems surprisingly nonchalant about his wife having remarried; he seems confident she'll choose him, and in the meantime, she's heading to Boston to care for their sick shipwrecked son, Tad. Gabriel's certainly not happy to see Quentin back, either. Daniel hasn't been told yet.
There was a funeral for Ben, but Barnabas couldn't attend because it was daytime; he went to the funeral home and piqued the curiosity of the undertaker, a Trask descendent (who'd been courting Roxanne) who wants to know what happened to his grandfather, who disappeared in 1795.
Plus, Barnabas and Desmond meet Daphne in the woods, who says her carriage broke down. (It didn't.) Desmond hits on her for a bit after bringing her to the Eagle; she then pretends to leave town, but instead creeps back to Collinwood to leave ananonymous note for Quentin. She also overhears Barnabas and Julia discussing how they're not who they say they are.
AND, the head starts talking to Desmond -- who decided against giving it to Quentin -- imploring him, "Help meeeee" via telepathy. That can't be good.
*There are 244 days left in the year. I've got 123 episodes left; that's only one more episode beyond a pace of 1 episode every two days. If I can get to episode 140 by the end of May, I'll be in pretty good shape. If I can get beyond that, it'll build up some buffer for vacationing over the summer.
The 1121 voiceover contained a spoiler... not so much what was said, but who said it. Julia and Barnabas have not seen Daphne Harridge since arriving in 1840, although they certaibnly expected to. And here we have Kate Jackson del;ivering the opening narration. What's worse, she doesn't appear until the very last scene, and even then she doesn't have any lines. I'll bet you any amount of money I know how this happened. Kate Jackson did appear in the episode, however briefly, and thus had to be paid scale. I can just imagine Dan Curtis assigning the voiceover narration to her just to partially "justify" having to pay her for a whole episode. Nothing like that would ever happen on a show today, boy.
This is as good a time as any, I suppose, for more Earth-J head canon "stairway theory." As far as I can remember, it never is explained what the deal with the playroom is, how it can exist in 1840 yet be a closet against an outside wall in 1970. Yes, a TARDIS would explain it, but I think the playroom must have existed at some point, and was subsequently destroyed. The reason I think this is because of the stained glass transom across the top of the playroom.closet door. No one installs a stained glass transom above a closet. I suspect the original playroom was destroyed at some point, but a lightning strike or swallowed into the earthn or something like that. (I'll have more to say along these lines once we get to the actual stairway itself.) Also, I had been leaning toward my theoretical TARDIS as belonging to the Monk, but the Dynamite Dark Shadows comic book has reminded me that Nicholas Blair and Angélique Bouchard referred to the demon they reported to as "Master." What if he was THE Master all along?
Replies
Back when I first started watching Dark Shadows (on VHS in the '90s), I didn't have the discipline you have, to watch the entire series in broadcast order. I had the 30th anniversary Dark Shadows Almanac, so I had a list of all the storylines and episode numbers. I started out with Barnabas being released from the coffin, but quickly branched out to other storylines simultaneously: 1795, 1840, 1995, parallel time, etc. I would generally be following three storylines at a time and alternate among them. I would also often put together little "continuities" of my own, such as 365 (a seance sends Victoria Winters to 1795) followed immediately by 461 (Vicki returns to the present). Another of my favorite "transitions" is 460 (Ben Stokes chains Barnabas in coffin in 1795) to 1112 (Julia Hoffman releases Barnabas from Coffin in 1840).
Further proof (such as how could the "ghost of Quentin Collins" have haunted Collinwood in 1968 when he never died?) that Dark Shadows takes place across alternate dimensions. In this case, 1966 Barnabas should have had memories of 1840 (and Julia Hoffman) when released from his coffin by Willie Loomis.
The residents of 1840 Collinwood are just wild about the game of whist (you will soon discover), which is a form of bridge if you didn't know.
If you don't mind, over the next couple of days I will recommend some of my personal favorite [audios].
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'm starting to wonder if maybe I started this too soon. I'm afraid that, by the time you finish, any reccommendations I were to make now would no longer be fresh in your mind.
I watched episode 1113 over lunch -- another killer episode. First we get the end of the Gerard/Julia confrontation, and Julia wriggles away with an explanation of the earring Gabrial found on the floor of the playroom. Then she and Ben chat, worrying about Barnabas and his attacks in town. We get to see Gerard and Letitia together, two con artists going after Flora Collins, with Letitia feeding her salacious tales of the debauchery of a tavern performer (but not, it is implied, about the hinted-at prostitution in Letitia's past). And Ben finds Barnabas at the Old House, taking down a portrait of Josette, deciding to put his memory of her behind him (a decision likely made because Katherine Leigh Scott has left the show). He tells Ben he'll take care of himself, and no longer force Ben to do minion duties.
And then we flash to the present...as Barnabas broods in the Old House, deciding to find a way to get back in time to find Julia. Prof. Stokes is back from Europe -- apparently he was hoping to convince an exorcist to come to Collinwood (so he actually had a good reason for going, imagine that!), and we learn that Elizabeth, Daphne, David, and Hallie are all dead. Carolyn arrives, and she's blocked that info out of her mind, and wants to go to the beach house... but occasionnally reality intrudes. And Quentin is upstairs, about to hang himself so he can be reunited with Daphne, before Carolyn catches him and everyone rushes in to stop him. Eventually it's settled: Quentin is carted off to Wyndcliffe, Carolyn will go to the beach house with Prof Stokes in the morning, and Willie will watch over Barnabas (and Roxanne's coffin) while he uses the I Ching to go to the past. But when he visualizes the door, he sees a coffin with the name Julia Collins... and a death date of October 6, 1840! The episode was broadcast on Sept 30*... so Oct. 6 is only a week away!
*1970, but time travel logic says we're on the same day, just not in the same year.
Earlier I said there was only one further scene set in 1970; the one in this episode isn't the one I was thinking of. I had forgotten about this one (which does account for Stokes' sudden decision to fly to Europe, as you mentioned).
We get to see Gerard and Letitia together...
IIRC, Rob, you once bought and listened to a Letticia Faye audio drama thinking it was about Pansy. That one ought to make more sense to you soon.
...(a decision likely made because Katherine Leigh Scott has left the show).
You are no doubt correct, but it somewhat violates the show's internal story logic. If Barnabas came out of the coffin in 1966 wanting Josette, he should certainly want her in 1840. and where is the ghost of Josette, anyway? Ahe wasn't in 1897 because by that time she had already been reincarnates as Lady Kitty Hampshire, but other than that I thought she was more or less Colliinwood's default ghost.
...and we learn that Elizabeth, Daphne, David, and Hallie are all dead.
They mention Willie, too (still alive), but it's funny no one mentions Roger.
Carolyn arrives, and she's blocked that info out of her mind, and wants to go to the beach house...
Yeah, but... what @#$% beach house? You'd think this was the Paperback Library series or something.
...he sees a coffin with the name Julia Collins...
Actually, "Julia Hoffman Collins" which makes no sense. Why would her middle name be "Hoffman"? It's not a Collins family name. I guess they did that to clue in the slower viewers (and also, perhaps, Barnabas and Stokes).
Been a while since I posted, but I've seen through episode 1120 now... most of them yesterday. We're meeting more of the cast, including Edith, Gabriel's wife, who hits on Gerard, and Desmond, Flora's brother (I think) who brings home a disembodied magic head as a gift for Quentin (before he learns he's dead). The head's gonna cause trouble; it's already killed Ben Stokes, making it look like an unusual suicide (self-decapitation ain't easy!).
Let's see... Barnabas has bitten Roxanne, and intends to make her a vampire like him. But then Julia interrupts, and he attacks Julia...but then is overcome by his future self, as the I Ching works and 70s Barnabas takes over! Soon they're buddies again; he goes to become part of the family in the usual way (although like Gerard, Desmond smells a rat).
Meanwhile Gabriel has blackmailed Gerard into poisoning Samantha, as Gabriel has a dossier on Gerard regarding the crimes he committed under his former name. But Gerard turns things around, marrying Samantha -- with Daniel's blessing, no less! -- to give him access to the Collins family fortune rather than Gabriel and Edith, whom no one likes. Gerard even got the spare dossier out of Gabriel's safe deposit box, so he's well and truly checkmated, and Gerard is sitting pretty... that is, until the "dead" Quentin shows up and says hi to his wife!
This has been a great string of episodes, mixing supernatural and regular soap opera skullduggery. Really the best stuff in a long while!
We're meeting more of the cast, including Edith...
This is the same character as "Grandma-ma" from the 1897... more proof (AFAIAC) that we are in a different timeline. Edith was/will be the head of the household in 1897, but it's hard to imagine this Edith in that role. And what about the "Secret"? Who holds it now? Daniel? Not likely. In fact, he doesn't even mention it when Barnabas' "son" shows up at Collinwood. Also by this time you will have met Roxanne Drew and Lamar Trask. Roxanne and her sister Samantha are both strong female characters. Some have suggested that their personalities are an anachronism, but I prefer to think of them as strong 1840 women.
Desmond, Flora's brother (I think) ...
Desmond is Flora's son. This role was originally intended for Roger Davis, but he never returned to the show after the movie. Personally, I'm glad it went to John Karlen. It's very different from Willie, and it gives him a chance to show his range. (Carl was different, too, but he wasn't a strong character.)
Barnabas has bitten Roxanne, and intends to make her a vampire like him.
I should get credit not only for not spoiling that PT Roxanne appears in 1970, and that Roxanne is a vampire, and that she appears in 1840, but also that Barnabas is (or soon will be) her sire.
Julia interrupts, and he attacks Julia...
This is a really good move on thee wrtiers' part: making Barnabas a villain again, not like when he was in thrall to the Leviatans, but a villain in his own right.
...but then is overcome by his future self
Barnabas really is a "Time Lord" in that sense, not The Doctor but The Vampire. He doesn't "regenerate" per se, but he definitely has different "selves" as demonstated here by the "1840 Vampire" and the "!970 Vampire".
...he goes to become part of the family in the usual way...
I'm not quite sure why Julia becomes Julia Hoffman Collins (except maybe for the benefit of the slower viewers among the show's audience). She's unmarried, and "Hoffman" is not a family name. Why would "the original Barnabas Collins" name his daughter that?
Gabriel has blackmailed Gerard into poisoning Samantha... but Gerard turns things around...
That was a greaqt scene. "It happened in the courthouse?" "Don't rush me."
...until the "dead" Quentin shows up...
As I have mentioned before, David Selby played six characters through the course of Dark Shadows, all of them named "Quentin Collins." This is the fourth. there is the "main" Quentin Collins (1897-1995); the ghost of Quentin Collins (1968); the Quentin Collins of 1970 Parallel Time; and now the 1840 Quentin Collins.
This has been a great string of episodes, mixing supernatural and regular soap opera skullduggery.
I agree. there have also been some really good episode cliffhangers as well.
Really the best stuff in a long while!
As with Doctor Who, I tend to like the Dark Shadows "transition episodes" as well, such as: 366 (1795), 701 (1897), 1061 (1995), 1110 (1840-Julia) and 1117 (1840-Barnabas).
For some reason, I just remembered my favorite Burke Devlin blooper, something like: "We can't stick topgether! We've gotta stick together!", to which someone I knoiw replied, "Have another drink, Mitch!"
I've seen through episode 1122 now, bringing me closer to where I ought to be to be on track to wrap Dark Shadows in 2025.* The big event in these last couple episodes was the return of Quentin, who seems surprisingly nonchalant about his wife having remarried; he seems confident she'll choose him, and in the meantime, she's heading to Boston to care for their sick shipwrecked son, Tad. Gabriel's certainly not happy to see Quentin back, either. Daniel hasn't been told yet.
There was a funeral for Ben, but Barnabas couldn't attend because it was daytime; he went to the funeral home and piqued the curiosity of the undertaker, a Trask descendent (who'd been courting Roxanne) who wants to know what happened to his grandfather, who disappeared in 1795.
Plus, Barnabas and Desmond meet Daphne in the woods, who says her carriage broke down. (It didn't.) Desmond hits on her for a bit after bringing her to the Eagle; she then pretends to leave town, but instead creeps back to Collinwood to leave ananonymous note for Quentin. She also overhears Barnabas and Julia discussing how they're not who they say they are.
AND, the head starts talking to Desmond -- who decided against giving it to Quentin -- imploring him, "Help meeeee" via telepathy. That can't be good.
*There are 244 days left in the year. I've got 123 episodes left; that's only one more episode beyond a pace of 1 episode every two days. If I can get to episode 140 by the end of May, I'll be in pretty good shape. If I can get beyond that, it'll build up some buffer for vacationing over the summer.
The 1121 voiceover contained a spoiler... not so much what was said, but who said it. Julia and Barnabas have not seen Daphne Harridge since arriving in 1840, although they certaibnly expected to. And here we have Kate Jackson del;ivering the opening narration. What's worse, she doesn't appear until the very last scene, and even then she doesn't have any lines. I'll bet you any amount of money I know how this happened. Kate Jackson did appear in the episode, however briefly, and thus had to be paid scale. I can just imagine Dan Curtis assigning the voiceover narration to her just to partially "justify" having to pay her for a whole episode. Nothing like that would ever happen on a show today, boy.
This is as good a time as any, I suppose, for more Earth-J head canon "stairway theory." As far as I can remember, it never is explained what the deal with the playroom is, how it can exist in 1840 yet be a closet against an outside wall in 1970. Yes, a TARDIS would explain it, but I think the playroom must have existed at some point, and was subsequently destroyed. The reason I think this is because of the stained glass transom across the top of the playroom.closet door. No one installs a stained glass transom above a closet. I suspect the original playroom was destroyed at some point, but a lightning strike or swallowed into the earthn or something like that. (I'll have more to say along these lines once we get to the actual stairway itself.) Also, I had been leaning toward my theoretical TARDIS as belonging to the Monk, but the Dynamite Dark Shadows comic book has reminded me that Nicholas Blair and Angélique Bouchard referred to the demon they reported to as "Master." What if he was THE Master all along?
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