DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '06 II => Topic started by: IluvBarnabas on October 30, 2006, 01:55:45 AM
-
What did you think of the character of Burke Devlin as a whole? Did you root for him or were you glad to see him go?
When they switched from Mitch Ryan to Anthony George, the character of Burke Devlin became George's it seems to me in name only....he was nothing like the way Ryan portrayed him. Personally I prefer Ryan's Devlin, he may have been a vengeful hothead at times but he was really a good guy at heart. Burke mellowed WAY too much when Anthony took over the role....plus I didn't like the way he kept bossing Vicki around especially [spoiler]after they became engaged.[/spoiler]
-
I LOVE Ryan's Burke Devlin, he's one of the reasons I'm so eager to get my hands on the pre-Barnabas episodes. George's Devlin was a different creature all together, but that would be the writer's doing and not the actors.
Personally I really like the character. I'm not sure they could have kept him on the show for longer than they did as he was pretty damn smart. I love the verbal sparring that he and Barnabas engaged in, terrific dialogue.
-
I liked him. He was ruthless at times, but one could certainly understand his motivation for revenge, and after finally
[spoiler]getting Roger to admit he was guilty[/spoiler]
he got on well with the family. He was even on fairly decent terms with Liz even before that. And, he was always nice with Vicki. I definitely prefer Ryan to George, though.
-
Never cared for his character at all. I found him annoying and generally abrasive, with no positive qualities to balance it out.
-
I could take him or leave him. Wasn't too sad when he was gone. Liked Ryan better than George though, but funnily enough, I wouldn't have enjoyed Ryan as Jeremiah. [spoiler]Was more upset Jeremiah was killed off, really liked him and liked George better as J than as Burke.[/spoiler]
-
I only know Burke #2. He was so aggressively self-righteous sometimes about his unimaginative, straight-ahead "normality" (I like electricity too, but I don't pee on anyone's romanticism because of it!) that it was impossible for me not to root for Barnabas, even knowing he was the dangerous one at that point.
-
I'm sure alot of people on this sight have heard my cries for help about 'Burke Devlin'. I hate him. He's the kind of guy that bosses Vickie around, and apparentably she likes it because she does not stop him. He's like ( and I know alot of people have heard this too, so just skip this part) he'll come to your house and just barge in. I really think that he thinks that he is the mayor. Hey, Devlin-Boy, come on to my property and barge in to my house and see what I got for you. [hall_angry]
[female_skull]
-
I have quite neutral feelings about Burke I. In a way, I do like him, because I felt he was a tie to more normal stories on the show, which DS sorely needed if it was to become a long-running soap opera, like Days of Our Lives or General Hospital (not that those are very good soap opera role models, mind you).
However, I cannot stand Burke II in any shape or capacity. Like mentioned before me, he was a Grade A A-hole. God forbid that Victoria would remain David's tutor if she and Burke got married! God forbid that Victoria should have any interests, such as history, antiques, architecture, and other friends! As abrupt as it was, I was not sorry to hear [spoiler]his plane crashed.[/spoiler] I was so disappointed to see him on my television screen as "Jeremiah", later on.
-
Didn't like either Burke as characters-though I think the first Burke was a much better actor than Anthony George. When George later went to One Life To Live, he played the doctor the same way he played Burke, so I think he could only really play himself! [female_skull]
-
I would have loved to see Burke interact with Adam, Nicholas, and Cassandra/Angelique.
How do you think he would have played against them?
-
i thought as a character Burke was good, both actors had their own way with said character
Ryan's Burke was driven by revenge and a strange attraction to Vicki
George's Ryan: was hot tempered and seemed to personally hate Barnabas, as if gearing George for the part of Jerimah
-
Burke Devlin is one of those characters I didn't think I would miss much until he was actually gone. I'm not all that crazy about the character. I prefer Ryan's Burke as a whole.....George's Burke worked well opposite Barnabas, though.
I think what made me miss him was how 'normal' he was, so to speak. He would have added some realism to the show as the supernatural took over, and after he left I found myself wishing that the character had stuck around. He made a great rival to Barnabas because they were both very powerful men in their own ways, and yet so utterly different.
I think Burke added a balance to the show that would have been useful in those later years. I wish they had found a way to write him back in post-1795.
-
for me the character of burke devlin is one of the show's great "what ifs?".
what if mitch ryan had not left the show abruptly?what if he had fulfilled the obligations of his contract?what if he hadn't been replaced by an actor who played the character so differently?
if "factor x" had been "factor y" the whole show might have played out differently.
i sort of do have a fondness for burke because as had been said he sort of ties the show to the earlier more reality based storytelling techniques i prefer(i.e.he's not a monster).with burke i got the impression that vicki was somehow protected in the world.jeff clark couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time let alone take care of another human being...and look what happened to vicki under his watch.
in some ways burke is sort of the forgotten main character.he was an enormous presence during the first year or so but once he's gone he's never mentioned again.
whenever a new version of the show is proposed or put into production(the 1991 series,the 2004 pilot)early characters like vicki,elizabeth,roger,etc. co-exist with characters like barnabas,julia and angelique who represent the later more supernaturally themed part of the show.even relatively "minor" characters like willie loomis,joe haskell,sam evans and mrs.johnson get to take their place at the table...but never burke.
i guess in the end both burke and barnabas were too willfull and domineering to exist on the same plane for long.
-
I know I'm in the minority here, but I really like burke. I'm not too fond of the first Burke, IMHO, he was a bully. but the second Burke, even though he was a bit bossy with vicki, was more gentle, more the family man type of person. And his subtle arguments with barnabas were great to watch. Also, I think if Burke and vicki would have married, she wouldn't have allowed him to boss her for long. In any marriage, it's a learning process, and I think Burke would have come to realize that Vicki needed some hobbies and activities of her own, and wouldn't have begrudged her them. I believe Burke was the best match for Vicki.
I was really sad to see him leave, and I always wished he would have returned, especially considering that his plane crashed and we never really learned if he died. [hall2_sad] It was open to a great deal of interpretation.
And IMHO, Barnabas didn't cause burke's plane crash. I think it was just one of those unfortunate tragedies the Collins' family had to face.
-
Also, I think if Burke and vicki would have married, she wouldn't have allowed him to boss her for long.
Several ppl have mentioned Burke bossing Vickie around when I don't think he did. He'd offer his opinion sure, but she did whatever the hell she wanted anyway, like continuing to be friends w/Barnabas, being interested in the past etc...when did he rule over her? I don't recall that. And she was VERY vocal w/him when he went too far and pissed her off. Like when [spoiler]he had Barnabas investigated. That did not sit well w/her at all, and she let him have it.[/spoiler]
[hall2_cool]
-
Several ppl have mentioned Burke bossing Vickie around when I don't think he did. He'd offer his opinion sure, but she did whatever the hell she wanted anyway, like continuing to be friends w/Barnabas, being interested in the past etc...when did he rule over her? I don't recall that. And she was VERY vocal w/him when he went too far and pissed her off. Like when [spoiler]he had Barnabas investigated. That did not sit well w/her at all, and she let him have it.[/spoiler]
[hall2_cool]
I agree with this. She was furious with him, and he knew it! [hall_cool]
He did end up apologizing to Barnabas on Vicki's demand, so that's got to make you wonder, who's bossing who? LOL! [hall_grin]
-
He just came across as so obnoxious that it seems as if he's a bully.
-
i don't think that it was so much that burke expected vicki to leave her job once they were married as much as it was that at the time a position as governess was suitable to an unmarried girl.it was clear that everyone,including vicki herself,was aware that she would be leaving the position if she ever got married.
also i don't think burke objected in general to vicki having her own hobbies and friends...just that he was rightly worried about her obsession with josette collins,the old house and the remote history of the collins family.he seemed to be the only one(besides dr.woodard)to see how dodgy barnabas' story was.his tone might have been bossy but he was certainly right in his objections to all the time vicki was spending at the old house.
i mean look what was being planned for her at the time.
-
I admit Vicki did get a bit carried away with the Josette thing but considering [spoiler]Josette's ghost did help her out when Matthew kidnapped her[/spoiler] I can understand why Vicki would be so interested in her.
Even though Burke's suspicions about Barnabas WERE correct, his attitude still rubs me the wrong way. And [spoiler]his reason to Vicki about becoming suspicious of Barnabas were pretty lame. Barnabas never talks about his life in England, so that makes him a guy who could have a shady past? PLEASE!!! I think Burke just wanted any excuse at all to have Barnabas investigated. And even though we all know Barnabas was as guilty as hell for kidnapping Maggie, Burke really had no real hard evidence to present to anyone. Maggie's remembering a tinkering kind of music which also happens to be the kind of music on Josette's music box is circumstancial. There are many, I am sure, music boxes with different kins of tinkering music.
The Niles Bradford could have been trouble for Barnabas, but Vicki brought up a great point, that Barnabas simply chose a name from the top of his head to shut Burke up.
Burke's mistake though was confronting Willie at the Old House, by doing that, he let Willie know how suspicious he was of Barnabas, Willie tells Barnabas, Barnabas tells Vicki and she tells Burke to back off or the wedding is off. Burke should have just kept his distance from there at that point, and thus he could have conducted his investigation without Vicki finding out and making him put a stop to it.[/spoiler]
Gosh, I sound like a defense attorney, don't I? [hall2_grin]
-
[spoiler]Burke's telling Willie of his suspicions was not as bad as Dr. Woodard confronting Barnabas about seeing his sister Sarah. All he had to do was take the Sheriff to the secret room or wait for Burke to return from his first business trip.[/spoiler]
-
You are so right Joeytrom! [hall2_smiley]
[spoiler]Woodard's confronting Barnabas about Sarah instead of going to the sheriff first was dumb with a capital D! It's as if Woodard had a death wish.....[/spoiler] [hall2_rolleyes]
It's almost as if Woodard's IQ changed along with the change of actors.
-
[spoiler]Woodard's confronting Barnabas about Sarah instead of going to the sheriff first was dumb with a capital D! It's as if Woodard had a death wish.....[/spoiler] It's almost as if Woodard's IQ changed along with the change of actors.
Yep, ITA w/you and Joeytrom! He was just askin' for it and I found little sympathy for him in the end to be quite honest! He was an IDIOT! [hall2_rolleyes]
-
He was an IDIOT! [hall2_rolleyes]
This actor played the same character in the movie "Airport". He was the perfect idiot in that one too.
-
I liked both Burkes. I found them both to be bossy but watch some of the sitcoms of that era. I remember that Darren on Bewitched to be very domineering. Maybe Vicki should have burned her bra in front of Burke. :o
-
Didn't like either Burke as characters-though I think the first Burke was a much better actor than Anthony George. When George later went to One Life To Live, he played the doctor the same way he played Burke, so I think he could only really play himself!
LOL, rainingwolf! And AG had already played a character in the early 60s that was identical to his Burke Devlin and Will Vernon (geez, the names even sound alike) in "The Alfred Hitchock Hour." When my local station replays the first season of The Untouchables, I must check it out to see if Agent Allison is the same outwardly patient yet subtly manipulative perfectionist. ::)
-
As I am currently watching the 1st season, my opinion of Burke Devlin is this:
I love Mitch Ryan's portrayal of Burke Devlin. He is suave, debonaire, and ruthless. I love the interplay between him and Mrs. Stoddard - power against power. And that power absolutely corrupts power. Howz that go? Anyhow, I would have loved to seen Mitch Ryan grill Barnabas about his past and his affection for Vicky. I am sure Ryan would have played it much differently than Anthony George. Ryan's Burke Devlin would have hired his stoolies to look into Barn's past. And I doubt he would have been so insecure as to wonder at Vicky's love for him.
I also would have loved to see RM play Jerimiah. It would have been a good twist. I would also love to have seen more interaction between Mitch Ryan's Burke and Willie. Mitch Ryan would have roughed Willie up a bit, where as George's Burke was just an interrogator.
Yep. Mitch Ryan as Burke Devlin rules.
-
mscbryk, I thought what you wrote about Burke as the forgotten hero of the show was very interesting. He was so central to Art Wallace's original concept, but at this stage of the game, when the old chestnut of a new DS gets trotted out, we NEVER hear fans discuss what should be done with Burke, who should play him, etc.
Even less remembered by fans is my candidate for Vicki's fiance, Frank Garner. Apparently Conrad Fowkes' request for a raise led to DC ordering the character to be written out of the series, according to reports of Mr. Fowkes' statements at the last Festival (I missed him, unfortunately).
I first encountered Burke Devlin in one of those silly "Marilyn" Ross novels. At the time, I assumed that Devlin was a creation of Ross. It wasn't until 1976 and the airing of the original Barnabas storyline in a local syndication market that I got to see the Anthony George version of Burke. I think my first exposure to the Mitchell Ryan characterization (apart from brief clips on the original Ressurection of Barnabas Collins MPI videotape) was in the late 1990s when a mysterious, kindly gentleman sent me a package of 1966 tapes from his remote estate in the countryside.
Like Adam, Burke was a character defined initially by a pronounced streak of monomania. Unlike Adam, the writers actually allowed Burke to grow and change. Perhaps the character was too realistic for the "wild and woolly" tone of post-1795 DS. Had he remained involved, his romance with Vicki would have at least given Moltke a little more to do than stare at Cassandra and complain that she didn't understand.
I do love this scene where Burke and "Miss" Hoffman are talking turkey in the drawing room. There's such an old boys night out atmosphere in the way that scene is written and played. This was in the era of Anthony George, who was a friend of Grayson Hall's in real life.
G.
-
Imagine what a scene with Burke and Nicholas Blair would be like, or Burke & Cassandra!
-
What did you think of the character of Burke Devlin as a whole? Did you root for him or were you glad to see him go?
I liked the character as a whole because he didn't buy into anyone's crap. Especially Barn's. He could see that there was something fishy there. One of the few that didn't like Barn. Notice what happened! (Burke is dead right? I'm sure that Barn had something to do with that plane going down!!! And all because Burke didn't like Barn.) Also, Burke took the heat for Roger and didn't kill him. Now there's a champ for ya!
I loved Ryan's portrayal. He was so ascerbic towards Barn. Remember the conversation they all had about the House by the Sea? Barn's going on and on about how romantic and lovely, etc. Then Burke chimes in with "Yeah, but I'm accustomed to HEAT."
MaineGirl [hall2_cheesy]
-
I loved Ryan's portrayal. He was so ascerbic towards Barn. Remember the conversation they all had about the House by the Sea? Barn's going on and on about how romantic and lovely, etc. Then Burke chimes in with "Yeah, but I'm accustomed to HEAT."
Um, yeah, but, Anthony George was playing Burke by the time they went to that house and he was saying he liked heat.
-
(Burke is dead right? I'm sure that Barn had something to do with that plane going down!!! And all because Burke didn't like Barn.)
No, I know Barnabas is guilty of many things, and we all know how badly he wanted to do away with Burke, but I do believe Barnabas is innocent as far as [spoiler]Burke's plane going down in Brazil is concerned. People die in plane crashes every day, unfortunately. Though I know Barnabas was truly a happy man (but he was careful not to show it) when he heard Burke's plane had gone down and later when it was confirmed by Elizabeth that Burke did indeed perish in the plane crash.
So my verdict is Burke did indeed perished in what was just an unforunate accident.[/spoiler]
Again, I much preferred Mitch's Burke Devlin, he was a character that you could root for. I didn't feel the same away about him when Anthony George took over the role, his oomph was gone and I usually sided with Barnabas whenever he and Burke crossed paths.
-
I always figured that Barnabas somehow arranged for the plane to crash.
Is everyone starting Thanksgiving early? As of a couple days ago, fewq people are on any boards, anyplace. Maybe people have to finish up things for work or school before knocking off for the holiday.
-
I just never got the impression that Barnabas [spoiler]caused Burke's plane crash.[/spoiler] I know he hated the guy and wanted him dead but in this instance I am willing to give Barnabas the benefit of the doubt. However I do think that if Burke had indeed returned a week or two later, Barnabas would have decided to do away with him.
The [spoiler]airplane crash killed Burke[/spoiler] before Barnabas could, that's the way I look at it.
-
You're probably right. Our expectations when watching television would lead most of us to think about foul play, because in fiction things don't usually happen out of left field like that, or by coincidence. Everything is usually part of a planned-out plot, happening for specific reasons. It's good for realism to throw in random events once in a while, I think.
They may have intended foul play, then forgot to explain, or changed their minds.
-
Come to think of it, it is rather odd that Burke didn't end up in Windcliff. It could have been kind of fun. Burke #2 having departed for greener pastures, we get Burke #3 (a fine opportunity to bring back Peter Turgeon) escaping from Windcliff in the time-honored fashion, and insanely terrorizing Jeff Clark - threatening to dye his hair green, maybe?
-
A fitting end for Mr. Smug About Being Ultra Normal. Esquire.
-
As mscbryk pointed out in the "Character's fate you would have liked to have changed..." topic:
one of the biggest misconceptions about the show is that barnabas was somehow invloved in burke's plane crash.
he wasn't.
because the writers indicated their intentions through a remark Sarah made that:
no one would cause it and nothing could stop it.
-
escaping from Windcliff in the time-honored fashion, and insanely terrorizing Jeff Clark - threatening to dye his hair green, maybe?
It would have been better (for the audience) and more horrying (for Jeff) if Burke threatened to cut off all of Jeff's hair because, without being able to seemingly touch his hair every two seconds, Jeff would have been completely incapable of communicating with anyone. [b003]
-
without being able to seemingly touch his hair every two seconds, Jeff would have been completely incapable of communicating with anyone.
"If I touch my hair with one hand, it means yes. Two hands means no. Two hands and a foot means don't bother me now because I've got a grave to dig up."
-
I'm sure alot of people on this sight have heard my cries for help about 'Burke Devlin'. I hate him. He's the kind of guy that bosses Vickie around, and apparentably she likes it because she does not stop him. He's like ( and I know alot of people have heard this too, so just skip this part) he'll come to your house and just barge in. I really think that he thinks that he is the mayor. Hey, Devlin-Boy, come on to my property and barge in to my house and see what I got for you.
I agree with this. In the episodes we're watching with The Watching Project, [spoiler]Burke orders Willie out of town. Ok so no one likes Willie at this point but Burke does not have the authority to order someone out of town, only the Sheriff does as he later orders Jason out of town.[/spoiler]
I liked MR as Burke, and the whole revenge thing, and especially [spoiler]when Burke forces Roger's confession.[/spoiler] I like him as the hard nosed Burke.
Enter Anthony George and suddenly Burke becomes a bit less hard nosed but he was still bossy toward Vicki. I consider his attitude parental. Some have said that she didn't obey him, and that may be true, but what I hated was his whole attitude that he had the right to order her to do anything or not do it. Like when he [spoiler]told her to stay away from Barnabas and the Old House. When he got ticked at Barnabas for bringing her a book saying he didn't want him to give it to her. They were not married and even if they were, he'd have no right to tell someone not to give her a gift, or forbid her from accepting it. The fact that Vicki read him the riot act when she found out, is to her credit. Then there's the time he was investigating Barnabas and she forced him to give up the investigation. This was one time I wish she had listened to him! I don't credit Vicki for this so much as Barnabas. He manipulated her in this so he got his own way.[/spoiler]
As for [spoiler]the plane crash,[/spoiler] the jury's still out where I'm concerned as to whether Barnabas caused it or not. I'm leaning toward feeling he was not responsible, however, be that as it may, he sure didn't cry buckets over it, as it fit perfectly into his plans.
LOL to all that is ever said about Roger Davis, I love it. ;D
Alondra
-
Actually I really liked and admired the way [spoiler]Vicki stood up to Burke in defense of Barnabas, however misguided it was. She showed real spunk in that scene and as I have already mentioned Burke didn't have any real hard evidence against Barnabas to present to Vicki.
Burke was really stupid to go confronting Willie about how suspicious he was of Barnabas. Did Burke really think Willie wouldn't tell Barnabas about it or that Barnabas wouldn't put two and two together and realize Burke was having him investigated and do what he could to put a stop to it? Sheesh....[/spoiler]
-
Mitch Ryan as Burke rules [agree with JTW!]
Anthony George as Jeremiah was very good. Would have liked to see Mitch Ryan in this role since it's so different from the Devlin role. I've seen MR in other movies/shows and he IS a good actor!!
As far as the character, Burke Devlin, I liked him in the earlier episodes before Barnabas arrived; loved the conflict between him and the Collins family. The mystery of his story was appealing to the end. It seemed that the character changed so when the actors changed. It's like watching Willie I and then Willie II; almost NO comparison!
-
I didn't care all that much for the character but I enjoyed both actors in the role and what they brought to it. Very different but enjoyable
Nancy