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Current Talk '03 II / Re:Times Have Changed
« on: September 21, 2003, 02:22:11 PM »What a far cry from the Barnabas we know, who once released from his coffin in 1967 went about restoring the old house and fixing up Josette's room. He had her room practically restored right down to the letter along with the perfect vanity she had on the dresser bureau! And Heaven help anyone who would ever think of removing her portrait. He seemed to be so obsessed with her.
So, why this sudden change of heart? I guess 175 years as compared to the 40 year "absence really does make the heart grow fonder."
In terms of what we saw in 1967, the fact that Barn disposed of his feelings of Josette so easily does seem odd. But apparently the audience had grown tired of his Josette obsession and wanted him to move on (which is more than likely why the writers chose to have the scene during Leviathans in which Josette gave Barn her ring back and basically told him to get a life).
Here's just one of the letters that fans were writing to the various daytime/teen magazines shortly after Lady Kitty's appearance in 1897/the trip to 1797(sic)/the start of Leviathans:
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.
Of course, the writers didn't decide to deal with Barnabas and Julia's relationship - at least not in the way this person had hoped. Instead they introduced Roxanne...