i was buying the dvd sets kinda piecemeal. a set from the 1795 storyline, then one from leviathans, next one from 1840. then i decided to start with the "beginnings" sets and just work my way thru from start to finish. i've never seen the series that way.

so a couple weeks ago in late june, i started with episode number one. i'm watching one every weeknight and am now up to episode fourteen. it's so cool! i have never seen some of these early episodes and they're a treat!

but it's strange too. i don't recognize sam evans. and who is this matthew morgan character? he is scaring me.

roger, david, victoria and maggie are not that similar to the people they were later in the run. and it feels like elizabeth collins stoddard is always present, even when she's not onscreen, presiding over everything. joan bennett was so regal and enigmatic iin that part! why couldn't she have had a prominent storyline throughout the run? she's an amazing actress.

any thoughts from you die hard fans that have seen these early eps before?