Lets talk about the dumbest things the writers ever did.

[Lydia]

You're not alone because I don't have a problem with Amanda either. Actually, I've noticed that very few, if any, men have a problem with her. 

Umm...I'm not a man.  Really I'm not.

And Magnus, you're tempting me practically irresistibly.  How egregious a mistake would I have to make in order to shake your resolve?

[Joeytrom]

When Liz had her fear of being buried alive, she and Roger were in the cemetary by the grave of a
"Jonas Collins", whose birth year is given as 1841 I think and year of death is in the 1860's or 1870's.

And speaking of the Civil War, isn't there a tombstone in the Eagle Hill Cemetery that shows a Collins who died in 1863?  A Civil War death?  I remember making a note of it (I love collecting bits and pieces of trivia for my fan fiction) but I can't remember if the tombstone said Thaddeus or not.  It's on my other computer which is apparently running in parallel time and I haven't been able to pinpoint when it phases into this time band to check my notes.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Don't crazy romances like Q and Amanda really happen?     Don't nicer people like Beth get left behind?   Don't nice guys really finish last?

They do indeed. In fact, so little of what might come across as absurd in a soap opera can ever compete with the actual absurdity of real life. Just watch the news or read a newspaper. Or worse yet, watch Dr. Phil or Jerry Springer. 

You're not alone because I don't have a problem with Amanda either. Actually, I've noticed that very few, if any, men have a problem with her. 

Umm...I'm not a man.  Really I'm not.

I honestly wasn't implying that you were - only that, going by the what I've read over decades in fandom, most men wouldn't seem to have a problem with anything about Amanda (and that includes both straight and gay men).    Though when it comes to you not being a man, well, we do only have your word for that as none of us have actually met you in person.    And not to actually accuse you of the trick, but on myriads of online venues and in hundreds of fanzines MANY people have indeed pretended to be the opposite sex from what they actually are. Even here on this forum. Eventually they're unmasked or they eventually unmask themselves...

Perhaps someone should coin the term transcybergendered for the online phenomenon because it would be quite appropriate. 

[Angelique Wins]

When Liz had her fear of being buried alive, she and Roger were in the cemetary by the grave of a
"Jonas Collins", whose birth year is given as 1841 I think and year of death is in the 1860's or 1870's.

Thanks, Joeytrom!  I knew it was SOMEBODY Collins!!!!   

Judy

[MagnusTrask]

I actually jotted that down about Jonas and used it in the alphabet game thing.

[Midnite]

Wasn't it Jonah?

[alwaysdavid]

Josette appearing to Barnabas and their deciding that after all this time they should let each other go.  Even with KLS leaving the show, there was no need to end his obsession with her that was a major part of the way his character acted.  It had been set up from almost day one that Josette was the spirit who looked after the Colllins family and kept them from harm and to suddenly end that made no sense.  I suppose that Dan Curtis was peeved that KLS was leaving and wanted to wipe her out of the scene and then begin Barnabas's new obseession with Roxanne, but it would have made more sense if  Barnabas had met Roxanne and she had reminded him of Josette as most other women he pursued did.

[Angelique Wins]

Wasn't it Jonah?

Yes, it was.  Having salvaged my "DS TRIVIA" from my other computer, I can see that you are correct.  The tombstone says

"Jonah Collins
 d. June 15th, 1863
Age 23"

Judy

[Midnite]

Thank you for checking, AngelqueWins! 

[Joeytrom]

Hmmm, Jonah was 23 meaning he was born in 1840.  Could he have been one of Gabriel & Edith's sons?

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Hmmm, Jonah was 23 meaning he was born in 1840.  Could he have been one of Gabriel & Edith's sons?

If so, they would have really have had to be heartless to send even an infant away to boarding school!! 

Although, from the way Edith behaved, it seemed like it had been years since Gabriel had touched her. ... Though I suppose the child didn't have to be Gabriel's, now did it - which could explain it being sent away at such an early age...

[MagnusTrask]

Josette appearing to Barnabas and their deciding that after all this time they should let each other go.  Even with KLS leaving the show, there was no need to end his obsession with her that was a major part of the way his character acted. 

If this is about B talking to Josette's portatrait as his 1840 self in 1840, I always liked it.   It was interesting, because it implied that Barnabas might not have developed that single-minded obsession with getting Josette back whatever the cost, if he had spent only 45 years in the coffin.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Josette appearing to Barnabas and their deciding that after all this time they should let each other go.  Even with KLS leaving the show, there was no need to end his obsession with her that was a major part of the way his character acted.

If the letters to the various daytime magazines were any indication, a good portion of the audience had grown tired of the Barnabas/Josette obsession. I suspect moving on from it had more to do with that - especially when DC often retooled the show based on fanmail. And I wouldn't think it had anything to do with KLS leaving the series because she didn't make that decision until months after the scene of Josette giving back her ring had played out.

If I can find some of those letters, I'll share one...

[Mysterious Benefactor]

If I can find some of those letters, I'll share one...

A search shows that I've already shared one:

JOSETTE LOSING APPEAL?

Dear Editiors:
  I greatly enjoy After Noon TV and am happy to have found a TV magazine that is written and headlined in good taste and that appeals to an intelligent audience.
  I am wondering if the writers of Dark Shadows realize that Josette has lost appeal to many D.S. viewers and has become almost a figurative character. Although she was an integral part of the story originally, it has since evolved into a more central theme in which Barnabas and Julia hold the spotlight as hero and heroine. I believe that most D.S. viewers idenitfy more strongly with these two and that their relationship should be emphasized, and that of Barnabas and Josette de-emphasized. Barnabas is living in the present now. Josette is part of his past but should not become a vaguely-defined future. Julia's love for Barnabas has already been established. Now it's time to make him deal with that love realistically. If this does not occur in the near future, I'm afraid many viewers will become frustrated and eventually disinterested. I have spoken to several people who feel this way--most of them teenagers.

Saves me having to type one in all over again.    And honestly, the topic that letter originally appeared in is probably worth checking out for an interesting full discussion on the topic:

Times Have Changed

[EmeraldRose]

Caution: Spoilers Ahead!

I think a really dumb thing was when Cassandra blinded Sam and didn't restore his sight when she got her portrait back. That was totally unnecessary. 

Also, when Sam died was really dumb. I liked Sam and missed him when he was gone. He was an important part of the pre-Barnabas storyline; but when Barnabas came, his character got less and less airtime after Barnabas kidnapped Maggie. 

----- Sally -----