Why You Should Watch Dark Shadows: The Beginning
Cult 60s TV show Dark Shadows is most known for Barnabas Collins, the iconic vampire who first appeared on the show more than 200 episodes in, but before that, in the period now called Dark Shadows: The Beginning, we were introduced to the principle cast and saw some amazing acting and thrilling storylines, including the Phoenix and the ghost of Josette Collins.
Dark Shadows vs Dark Shadows: The Beginning
Dark Shadows: The Beginning is quite different from the main show most people are used to.
It is much more traditionally gothic, focusing on the vast and creepy dark shadows in and around the house as well as within people.
It is slower paced, like a soap opera, very heavy on heated discussions between characters and mysteries both in the real world and the paranormal one.
The house creaks, doors and windows won’t behave, The Widows wail, and The Old House is the empty home of the ghost of Josette.
The cinematography is intricate and adds lusciously and sometimes jarringly (in a good way) to the gothic atmosphere.
We see more outdoor locations on the Collinwood Estate and in Collinsport, making the show feel more open, adding detail to your Collinsport experience, and sometimes adding Dark Shadows-esque comic value, like when they reuse the same footage of uber privileged Roger breezing into the cannery with a grin for the second time.
We get to see so much of Joan Bennett being dramatic, strong, and mysterious. She’s a force in Collinwood, even though she never leaves the estate. We hear about it later, but if you want to see her in her powerful, determined, and dramatic glory, this is where.
An Overview of What is Offered in Dark Shadows: The Beginning
Victoria Winters first arrives at Collinwood, discovering the beautifully and mysteriously gothic Elizabeth Stoddard who hasn’t left the estate in 18 years as well as her creepy brother Roger Collins.
If you are already familiar with the cast of Dark Shadows, that creepy bit probably confused you. Yes, Roger is very different in The Beginning, pompous as usual, but despicably so rather than enjoyably so, and hiding a secret that makes him determined to run Vicky from the house. His character development is lovely.
Creepier than Roger is little David. That boy is in a bad psychological way and does things no boy his age should dream of. Vicky’s at the center of it, even the focus of his wrath at times, and we get to watch.
Carolyn is wild and gets herself into all kinds of romantic trouble looking for excitement and a chance to unburden herself and her mother of the “ghosts” of Collinwood.
Josette Collins starts out as a family legend and an “imaginary” friend to David, eventually appearing in specter form. Her first entrance is an epically beautiful scene for Dark Shadows, including some impressive special effects.
Laura Collins, the Phoenix, appeared later in the show and she was fascinating then, but she is the focal point in her original storyline allowing for some deliciously explored psychological creepiness. She offers fun, going to spite everyone who gets in her way excitement in the 1897 timeline, but in The Beginning, she’s pure, unapologetic evil with a capital E posing as a “woman who just wants her son.”
Jason McGuire versus Elizabeth Stoddard. If you come in when Willie opens Barnabas’ coffin, you miss Dennis Patrick and Joan Bennett playing the hell out of this funny, satisfying, and exceedingly dramatic reveal for what Elizabeth’s been hiding for so long. You also don’t get to see some lovely, funny, and impressively acted footage of John Karlen as bad Willie before he gets bitten.
Some Characters You Don’t Want to Miss From The Beginning
Bill Malloy runs the Collins’ fishing fleet and cannery, has a thing for Elizabeth, and goes rogue to protect her. Features a satisfying and icky mystery.
Dr. Guthrie is a kind and rebellious parapsychologist called in to diagnose Elizabeth’s mysterious ailment, becoming Laura Collins’ nemesis. Features the first ever Dark Shadows seance with some great cinematography as well as the first grave excavation.
Matthew Morgan is played by two actors, George Mitchell and Thayer David, both of whom can be quite disturbing in their own ways. Thayer David is amazing, as usual, and this period includes a great ghost attack scene.
Frank Garner is a simple young lawyer character who falls for Vicky. He actually treats her really great and is a particuarly good beau to have if you’re going to interrupt dates by receiving messages from ghosts.
Joe as Carolyn’s boyfriend and then Maggie’s new beau. Joe and Carolyn’s relationship is a fairly large part of the original plot, featuring some great kissing and appealing scenes as well as some soap opera-y drama. If you enjoy Joe and Maggie’s relationship, don’t miss out on the sweet way they discover their feelings for each other and their time before Barnabas kidnaps Maggie.
Mrs. Johnson as a spy. Mrs. Johnson who works as the loyal, no-nonsense housekeeper is quite different from Mrs. Johnson with a vendetta to avenge the man she loved but never “had”.
Important Burke footage. Burke was one of the main original Dark Shadows characters, making a big splash in the very first episode and being the first “big bad.” He’s out for revenge on the Collins’ family and flirts audaciously with Vicky and Carolyn, the latter of whom is madly in love with him. If you’re a Burke fan, don’t miss out on some steamy and dramatic footage with him or on his cut-throat days.
Summing up Dark Shadows vs Dark Shadows: The Beginning
Dark Shadows from Barnabas’ release on is exciting, more varied, funnier, campier, and faster paced while Dark Shadows: The Beginning is more gothic, more dramatic, and more character based, and therefore more lingeringly intense with its drama, its creepiness, and its humor.
Watch Dark Shadows: The Beginning is you love traditional gothic stuff, you want to explore some of the characters and/or actors more, you want to crush on characters in ways they aren’t shown later or who never appear later, or you just want to say you’ve watched the entire show.
