DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Current Talk Archive => Current Talk '24 I => Current Talk '02 II => Topic started by: VAM on October 01, 2002, 03:37:11 AM
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Which of the following four characters was able to cope best in the supernatural setting of Collinwood and why?
Julia Hoffman
Professor Stokes
Mrs. Johnson
Harry Johnson
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Maybe I'm biased, but I vote for Professor Stokes as the most adept at handling supernatural emergencies.
Mrs. Johnson would be a very close second. Her common sense kept her grounded while the rest of the family was often caught up in some sort of paranormal mess. If ever she encountered something out of the ordinary, (e.g. Quentin's ghost) her reaction was always believable and never over the top. Harry wasn't on the show for very long and wasn't really exposed to the amount of weirdness that the other characters faced. Julia did see a lot during her extended stay at the big house, and at times rose admirably to confront whatever bizarre force had entered the Collins' midst (e.g. Nicholas); other times, she would go to pieces emotionally, fretting and crying to Barnabas.
Stokes knew the most about the occult, and his background proved invaluable on many occasions. He was intelligent and brave, able to keep his cool and refusing to be intimidated by the unknown. When the other characters were confused or frightened, Stokes always seemed to know what to do. Of the four, he is the only one who doesn't live at Collinwood, and I will admit that that probably gives him an advantage. Nevertheless, I still think he's the most capable candidate.
ProfStokes
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Julia and Professor Stokes were the best out of those four at handeling the supernatural elements present at Collinwood and in Collinsport.
Mrs. Johnson had the most common sense along with Professor Stokes. Mrs. Johnson was a regular person caught in all this madness surrounding her, and her reactions were genuine, as Prof Stokes said. Julia didn't always handle the things that happened at Collinwood that well.
Harry wasn't really around long enough to see how he dealt with the occurences at Collinwood.
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Harry Johnson was the reincarnation of Noah Gifford (1795). He had to deal with weirdness the minute the door was opened for him at Collinwood, Vicki screamed then started telling Mrs. Stoddard right then and there about when she went back into the past and shot him. Not exactly a sane conversation! Then he had to deal with Monster Man Adam, created from parts from the dead, and become a servant for him, and the weird Collins family. He also had to deal with a warlock, who used supernatural powers on him. He found Barnabas lying in the woods, after being attacked by vampire Angelique. Enough strange things went on in his short visit. I think he did a great job in handling them all. He witnessed the children at Collinwood making contact with the ghost of Quentin on an old disconnected telephone. This is where something is missing with the character of Harry Johnson. Today we saw Harry and Mrs. Johnson at the cottage, cleaning. Harry had just recently heard Amy on the phone with Quentin. Wouldn't it have made sense for Harry to be confronted by Quentin? Anyway, there's my good word put in for Harry Johnson!
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Prof. Stokes had to be the one best equipped to handle
the dark side of Collinwood best. Followed next by
Julia.
Mrs. Johnson was scared to death of all of it.
And Harry was a total wash out.
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Which of the following four characters was able to cope best in the supernatural setting of Collinwood and why?
Julia Hoffman
Professor Stokes
Mrs. Johnson
Harry Johnson
All four of them!! ;-)
I know I wouldn't be able to stay around in that kind of household so I give all four of them credit for doing just that. [thumb]
I thought Mrs. Johnson & Harry held up pretty good though because unlike Julia & the Professor, they really had never had any first hand experience with the supernatural before. By this time around, Julia & Stokes seemed to be "old pro's" at it. ;-)
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I vote Mrs J because she had too much work to do
in that house all alone she didn't have time for ghosts!
i know i've been cleaning all week a ghost isn't going to stop me
jennifer
Also Cheryl how do you know Harry was Noah?
just curious!
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Well if we're talking SURVIVOR. .i'd have to vote for Julia. . how many times did the poor woman get felled by some nastiness? Stokes was a close second but let's not forget the number of exorcisms he mucked up .. + he wasn't around for most of the HOT action. . usually just B&J, maybe a little Willie.. . Mrs. Johnson was a survivor. Harry .. he hardly counts.
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Cheryl how do you know Harry was Noah?
I took it for granted that he was, since a lot of characters on Dark Shadows died and came back as someone else. I thought it was reincarnation. I don't believe in that, but I thought that's what happened on the show. There were also background similarities between Noah and Harry. Both had been in prison, and both were looking for ways to make a dishonest dollar.
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Mrs. Johnson was affected but survived far more than I ever would. She handled all the weird events at Collinwood like a professional. Stokes, of course, being more worldly, seemed to show a more intellectual interest in the happenings. Harry---I don't know. His appearances were too few and far between. Julia hung in there because of Barnabas.
Misty's analysis.
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Well if we're talking SURVIVOR. .i'd have to vote for Julia. . how many times did the poor woman get felled by some nastiness? Stokes was a close second but let's not forget the number of exorcisms he mucked up .. + he wasn't around for most of the HOT action. . usually just B&J, maybe a little Willie.. . Mrs. Johnson was a survivor. Harry .. he hardly counts.
I agree. It's JULIA hands down. Mrs. Johnson? She's had the b'Jesus scared out of her a few times, but big deal. Harry? Puleeze...I don't even know what he's doing on the list. Why isn't Willie on the list? Jeez - the horrible things HE'S been through! Stokes was involved in problem solving, but he never came close to going through all the crap Julia did. This woman's been the victim of more than one vampire, she's been held hostage, she's been possessed, survived attempts on her life, and been back and forth between so many time periods it's a wonder she knows her own name. I mean this woman has racked up so many time travel points, she's probably been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Time Travel Association of America.
And yet! Through it all....she hasn't lost her marbles. She remains strong and focused. Why? Why has she endured everything and all??? ONE REASON!
(http://members.aol.com/clchalifoux/images/julia-eyes.jpg)
"I LOVE that man of mine."
LOL
;)
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I change my vote. Connie's reasoning made me
rethink. Plus that picture help alot! ROTFLOL!
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I took it for granted that he was, since a lot of characters on Dark Shadows died and came back as someone else. I thought it was reincarnation. I don't believe in that, but I thought that's what happened on the show. There were also background similarities between Noah and Harry. Both had been in prison, and both were looking for ways to make a dishonest dollar.
oh i can see what you mean makes sense!
jennifer
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Why isn't Willie on the list?
He ended up in Wyndcliff once...
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He ended up in Wyndcliff once...
Granted, but he didn't end up there permanantly. (It was just a little rest stop) LOL
He was usually there to get Barnabas out of jams, take care of him, and put up with all of Barnabas and Julia's shenanigans. He's worse for wear, but he's a SURVIVOR!
-CLC
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He's worse for wear, but he's a SURVIVOR!
Well, a survivor of sorts perhaps but he is still subject to the B-man's fits of pique and the ever-present "Willie-beater". And you never get the idea that Willie has much of a life outside of the Old House.
My vote goes to Professor Stokes, who has always kept his head when everyone else has fallen to pieces. One reason for this may be the fact that he lives away from Collinwood and the Old House, and that he clearly has a life apart from all the crazy, supernatural goings on. His is the voice of reason in the chaotic, unpredictable world that is Dark Shadows. If I were to choose one ally in the DS universe, I think I'd choose the good Professor.
Of course, one can argue that the only way to stay sane is to stay away from Collinwood as much as possible, although that hasn't helped Joe Haskell or the Jennings brothers very much.
As for Julia, she is a survivor too, but her emotions are too tied up with Barnabas for her to have done quite as well. At one point she is even becomes one of Barnabas's victim's, bite marks and all!
Ah, the things we do for love!
Mrs. Johnson has fared better than many of the others, but even she has been scared out of her wits from time to time.
POSSIBLE
SPOILER:
In the end, one can argue that the biggest survivor of all among those at the DS epicenter, is Barnabas Collins, who has weathered vampirism, monsters, Leviathans, possession, curses, parallel time lines and emerged perhaps still a bit eccentric, but ultimately human.
[wavey]
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Harry .. he hardly counts.
He sure counts with me or I wouldn't be here!
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He sure counts with me or I wouldn't be here!
I know Cheryl that is why I put Harry on the list!:)
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I know Cheryl that is why I put Harry on the list!:)
Thanks VAM!
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VAM,
I just wanted to thank you for once again coming up with an intriguing discussion topic. I'm simply amazed at your inventiveness!
[wavey]
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HappyBat,
Thanks...As long as everyone is having fun, so am I!
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Well, a survivor of sorts perhaps but he is still subject to the B-man's fits of pique and the ever-present "Willie-beater". And you never get the idea that Willie has much of a life outside of the Old House.
So, let's see....Willie not only survives the various supernatural horrors that visit Collinwood on a regular basis, but also the very human horrors of being Barnabas' slave.....AND he survives being shot by the police....AND he survives Wyndcliff without ending up any crazier than he was when he got there.....AND he manages all this survival with greater moral clarity and character....but he doesn't qualify because he doesn't get out much?
What, exactly, does Julia's life outside of the old house consist of?
The single best 'survivor' in the whole bunch is Barnabas, of course....he usually comes out without so much as a wrinkle in his Saville Row suit.
Rainey
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So, let's see....Willie not only survives the various supernatural horrors that visit Collinwood on a regular basis, but also the very human horrors of being Barnabas' slave.....AND he survives being shot by the police....AND he survives Wyndcliff without ending up any crazier than he was when he got there.....AND he manages all this survival with greater moral clarity and character....but he doesn't qualify because he doesn't get out much?
What, exactly, does Julia's life outside of the old house consist of?
The single best 'survivor' in the whole bunch is Barnabas, of course....he usually comes out without so much as a wrinkle in his Saville Row suit.
My picks are from VAM's list.
Well, Rainey, if you call anyone a survivor who lives through a plethora of supernatural afflictions and horrors on DS, I guess a number of DS denizens would qualify, not just Willie. Perhaps the question then should be "who is NOT a survivor?" for there are a lot fewer of those.
I hardly consider being someone's slave a good example survival on Dark Shadows!
I would rank the foremost survivors as people who not only survive, but have some quality of life too. Julia is a survivor, and although she is frequently a slave to her affection for Barnabas, she at least has the ability to leave Collinsport if she wants to. Also, she is still attached to Wyndcliffe - which a number of DS characters came out of quite sane, BTW - so we know her life doesn't necessarily begin and end at the door of the Old House. Finally, she seems to have established friendships of a sort with not only the Collins family but with Professor Stokes as well. Apart from maybe Barnabas and Julia, how many friends does Willie have, I wonder?
Ultimately, who knows how well Willie has survived by the show's end? Given the intense speculation about various characters and their personal lives, it may well be that Willie ends up staying on (if he does stay on) due to his affection and loyalty to Barnabas and not because of the slave curse. I am just basing my opinions on what I've seen on the show.
BTW, what I said about Willie was in no way intended to belittle his character. If I offended you or anyone else, I am sorry.
Meanwhile, I guess we can agree to respectfully disagree.
Peace.
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.....AND he manages all this survival with greater moral clarity and character....but he doesn't qualify because he doesn't get out much?
Here here!! [thumb]
If a prerequisite to being a survivor in this game includes judging someone's quality of life, then I think we're out of luck. I, for one, can't think of ANYONE on this wacky show who enjoys any sort of "quality" of life. Plus, if a character who's appeared maybe a dozen times throughout the five-year run of the show can make the list, then I'd like to campaign for the addition of BOB ROONEY to the list. He's one helluva guy.
-CLC
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I'd like to campaign for the addition of BOB ROONEY to the list. He's one helluva guy.
Sorry, Mr. Rooney does NOT qualify as a candidate for obvious reasons...
P.S. I am sorry to have caused any problems with my post.
I certainly did not think of the material as explosive.
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Happybat, I wasn't in the least bit offended by your comments about Willie....
On the contrary I was thrilled with the opportunity to "respectfully disagree" with you.
I think posts by people with differing opinions are MUCH more entertaining than those that merely agree with whatever's already been said.
So, by all means, say exactly what you really think about the characters and the show. Everyone should. I certainly do!!
Raineypark
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As for Julia, she is a survivor too, but her emotions are too tied up with Barnabas for her to have done quite as well. At one point she is even becomes one of Barnabas's victim's, bite marks and all!
Barnabas never bit Julia. . .he bit Natalie. . almost did bite Julia in 1840 (but he didn't know her). . .is that what you meant?
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Barnabas never bit Julia. . .he bit Natalie. . almost did bite Julia in 1840 (but he didn't know her). . .is that what you meant?
Ah, you're right - in a previous episode Julia was indeed bitten by a vampire but it wasn't by Barnabas. Anyway, she DID survive and recover from it, which was my point. Thanks for the correction, Julia99.
And VAM, I never realized either that my little posting would have spawned so much controversy. Although I like Willie, I may not be quite the fan of his as some posters here. Hope that admission doesn't qualify as heresy. [woryy]
Glad to hear I didn't offend you, Rainey. (You had me a bit worried there.) I guess survival means different things to different people. I just tried to select characters that I found had survived their DS ordeals the best. [wink2]
This forum is never boring, that's fer sure!
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This forum is never boring, that fer sure!
Am I guilty?;)
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Happybat, I wasn't in the least bit offended by your comments about Willie....
On the contrary I was thrilled with the opportunity to "respectfully disagree" with you.
I think posts by people with differing opinions are MUCH more entertaining than those that merely agree with whatever's already been said.
So, by all means, say exactly what you really think about the characters and the show. Everyone should. I certainly do!!
Raineypark
couldn't agree more if we all agreed it would be pretty boring!
can i rant about Amanda Harris again LOL
jennifer