MovieChat Forums > Dark Shadows (1966) Discussion > Thoughts on early episodes

Thoughts on early episodes

posted 7 years ago by dreamcurse
6 replies | jump to latest

I have been watching the early episodes from YouTube. I'm up to where Laura has arrived. Love the slates and the program promos over the credits.

Evidently because of budget reductions and probably mostly to diverting budget to supernatural effects we lost exteriors and sets. In early episodes we see the kitchen in Collinwood and a breakfast nook or dining room.

One big difference is the mood. Even Matthew's death by being haunted by ghosts is more based in reality. Later people would easily accept ghosts and other supernatural occurrences but not yet.

A thought occurred to me when Vicki is telling Burke she suspected Roger of killing Bill Malloy and they were trying to find proof. In a few months the next step would simple. Hold a seance and contact Bill Malloy's ghost (it had already been seen). It never occurs to to Burke and Vicki though.

Just like later when Burke, Joe, Sam , Dr. Woodward and the Sheriff were investigating what happened to Maggie. If someone said "You know, she's got wounds on her neck maybe there is a vampire loose.", they would never have be believed it. By the Adam story when Tom Jennings and Barnabas show up with bites it's like "Oh yea, it's a vampire!"

I kind of wish the show could have kept the real edge to it and maybe done more with the Collins businesses. Maybe a rival who dabbles in the supernatural, someone like Evan Hanley , who is pretty much an amateur. It's always fun to see an amateur get hoist on his on petard.

[–] Fletcherj119 7 years ago

Once Barnabas arrived, the character became so popular that other facets of the show (such as the Collins business) became unimportant.

[–] ElectricWarlock 7 years ago

I love the early episodes and think they're among the best of the show. They have a really dark, gloomy atmosphere to them and I think the black and white helps contribute to that. The characters, writing, and atmosphere are all at their best. It feels like a different show later on. Still great, but very different.

[–] DoctorJuliaHoffman 7 years ago

I agree the pre-Barnabas episodes feel like another show. I've always enjoyed them. TV had an annoying habit of never using them when the show was rerun. Channels always commenced with the appearance of Barnabas. Nowadays, with DVD we get the beginnings (which, themselves, were released later on VHS/DVD).

[–] redhillpb (34) 6 years ago

I was surprised when I eventually came across the earlier episodes on DVD. Willie opening the coffin was where I thought it began for awhile.

[–] TheLovelyAnomaly (619) 6 years ago

I've only seen a handful of the early episodes. While I liked them, to me they felt as though they were part of a whole different show.

[–] modica (4169) 2 years ago

When it stays with reality the show shines. Adam was the first misstep because it was so out there. Adam was unbelievably annoying also. Couldn't stand him.