Phasing out the supernatural sounds preposterous at first. Then I remembered how different 1841 PT had seemed to me last time I saw it, different from all the rest of DS. I realized that I'd been so disappointed with it, not because it was bad, but because it was different, not what I generally go for.
There weren't intertwining supernatural events going on day after day, week after week. Two long term stories were going on, one not supernatural at all, the Wuthering Heights story, and the room and the lottery, which didn't even come up for long stretches.
I noticed a basic feel I couldn't put my finger on, that made 1841PT seem not like DS but more like a new show, despite the same sets, same actors, and same music. The music in particular seemed wrong. The sombre cello music would be playing behind unscary scenes. It seemed obselete for the new program.
I can easily see a more "modern" yet "period" soap opera developing out of the ashes of DS, with more sexuality, about relationships, perhaps even without the supernatural, a sort of Wuthering Heights with some modern sensibilities thrown in. I could see the Robert Cobert music being replaced, and maybe the writers. More nuanced acting, maybe. If enough actors stayed on to make the transition I can see new actors of a different kind brought in for the new format.
1841PT really did give me the impression of the first storyline of DS mark two, the Lela Swift years I suppose. It would be a good program, because now I must admit 1841PT was good, but probably not one I would watch, certainly not at age 13!
