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WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE FIRST 100 EPISODES OF DARK SHADOWS... AND BEYOND!
posted by Dedoc1967STAFFMOD on January 19, 2021 at 6:27 PM
Her name is Victoria Winters
Carolyn suffers from undiagnosed bipolar disorder
The Collins’ have deforested Maine to keep their fireplace endlessly lit
Growing up in a Foundling Ward is proper training to be a governess
Victoria spends an awful lot of money on mailing stamped envelopes to herself
It seems highly unlikely that Roger would ever beget a child with a woman
There is no shortage of dodgy, older men pledging their undying loyalty to Elizabeth
A fortune can be made by canning sardines
Collinsport must be very dull if a trip to Bangor is exciting
A failed artist can afford a sizable two bedroom cottage in town
The hotel diner thrives by giving away sundaes and serving lousy coffee
No one questions a middle aged man entertaining a 9 year old boy in his hotel room alone
Vehicular manslaughter only rates five years in prison
Ex-convicts can amass a fortune in South America in under five years
Ellizabeth spends six hours on hair every morning, only to sit around the house all day
Elizabeth has resting disapproval face
Attempting to murder your father is a rite of passage
People care way too much about silver fountain pens
For all their wealth, there are only two phones in the Collinwood mansion, and they are 10 feet apart
No one asks who’s there before opening the front door to their isolated mansion
Being someone’s hired housekeeper is a lot like being someone’s wife
Maggie lies about the freshness of the diner’s mayonnaise
The hotspot in town is some dive bar that plays one song over and over
Being a 10 min walk from the cannery, the Evans’ house must reek to high heaven
Elizabeth is still paying off a 150 year-long mortgage on Collinwood
Room Service thinks Burke eats two steaks for dinner
Maggie is an expert on diesel engines, and that turns Joe on
Maggie is allowed 2 minutes of self-pity a day
David loves funerals
You just know there’s a secret closet full of decapitated puppies in David’s room
“What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor?” sounds far more salacious than it turns out to be
Susie the Waitress won’t speak to customers
Roger always thought there was “something a little wrong with David”.
David can self-teach himself about car engines and tidal currents, but can’t learn what is the sum of 8 times 8.
Roger is a high-functioning alcoholic
Victoria plays the Foundling Sympathy Card a lot
Cold blowy nights are the best nights to have fun
Sam doesn’t want his daughter Maggie wasting her time hoping for something she’s unlikely to ever find, such as love or a happy ending.
Frank Garner is a champion of lost causes, such as Victoria Winters
Victoria thinks it’s a good idea to drink plenty of coffee before a long drive on a cold night
A Nor’easter usually lasts three days. It ended the next morning.
Lowland back roads are far less likely to be flooded than highland major highways
Victoria has clearly never seen inside of the Bridal suite at the Waldorf Astoria
Elizabeth doesn’t want anyone else but brother Roger aroused.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on February 28, 2021 at 4:20 PM
Reply by tmdb88389672
on February 28, 2021 at 11:34 PM
I love in these episodes how Mrs. Johnson can’t put two and two together. Willie asks her about Collins family members being buried with jewelry and asks her about where they’re buried or where Eagle Hill cemetery is and yet she doesn’t know what he’s up to lol. Also the cemetery caretaker is probably my favorite character.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 1, 2021 at 7:55 AM
I think Mrs. Johnson is huffing cleaning products if you ask me. Also, how does one 50-60 year old woman clean all of Collingwood and cook meals every day? Liz is a tightwad and slave-driver.
I really don't like the caretaker. He's always saying the same things over and over with that goofy voice. He reminds me of the old man character that Tim Conway used to play on TV: DUANE TODDLEBERRY
John Karlen is good, but I still think the original Willie was better (James Hall). There was something seedy, visceral, and malevolent in Hall's performance, while Karlen puts on a lousy Southern accent and still comes across as a big ol' teddy bear.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 1, 2021 at 8:13 PM
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 2, 2021 at 11:01 PM
Reply by bratface
on March 3, 2021 at 4:22 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/geoffrey-scott-actor-on-dynasty-and-dark-shadows-dies-at-79
https://darkshadows.fandom.com/wiki/Sky_Rumson
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 3, 2021 at 5:52 PM
Yes, I saw that this morning. I haven't gotten to Sky yet, but sad to hear.
Reply by bratface
on March 3, 2021 at 6:01 PM
I don't remember him. I watched it every day back in the day & have tried watching the reruns but I just can't watch them now without cringing.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 3, 2021 at 6:04 PM
Why cringing?
Reply by bratface
on March 3, 2021 at 6:14 PM
Mainly because the acting was so bad, along with sets, etc. being really substandard, it was all so hokey. I loved it back in the day because it was so different & as a rebellious teenager, it was the perfect example of something that adults would frown on.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 3, 2021 at 6:16 PM
Hmmm. I find all of that endearing. It feels human and unpolished, which can oddly add to a sense of naturalism in the midst of so much campy fantasy. In fact, I find the show incredibly addictive. I'm only now up to the arrival of Barnabas so maybe it gets worse later but for now it's been fun.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 3, 2021 at 8:46 PM
Reply by tmdb88389672
on March 3, 2021 at 10:40 PM
Dedoc I’m enjoying your takes on these episodes. I started watching DS a couple years ago and like it.
In some ways I feel like Dark Shadows was a precursor of GH at its height (the early 80s). Both shows broke the traditional soap format (gothic horror for DS and adventure/sci-fi for GH) due to a visionary show runner (Dan Curtis for DS, Gloria Monty for GH). Both shows became part of the cultural zeitgeist for a while (though DS’s cult status and prominence are more enduring).
And both shows introduced characters who were meant as villains but became hugely popular and dominated the show: Barnabas for DS, Luke (later Sonny!) on GH.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 4, 2021 at 7:47 AM
There is something unique about this show. Maybe it's the heart, the novelty, the humanity -- but even 50 years later it holds up better that watching other soaps from that same timeframe. And, every attempt to either revive or imitate it ultimately fails with relative speed: DS revival 1990, Twin Peaks, Wayward Palms, Passions, Port Charles. I suppose Supernatural has been the most successful heir, but that's more an episodic action/adventure than soap opera.
Reply by Dedoc1967
on March 6, 2021 at 4:23 PM