Speaking of the '91 series, has anyone seen it on Youtube?  It is very strange to say the least.  From the weird logo Youtube uses to advertise the series to the branding of the show as "adult" (18 or older to view with warnings against Language, Sex, Nudity, and Violence).  What?!  Okay, so there's a little sex and violence, but language and NUDITY?!  This was on NBC in 1991 for goodness sake.  What are they thinking?!

See this weirdness for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/show?p=0I_m0Usbcxc&feature=fvsp

The aspect ratio looks different from that of the DVDs, but the "day for night" has not been corrected as, in the scenes I have seen, Barnabas is still prancing around in dreary daylight.

That is very true.  After doing some thinking about it though, I can't imagine there being too much wiggle room with the placement of the 'origin' story.  Changing the time period significantly would require changes in the story.  And, unless the movie is taking place during the time when Barnabas was cursed, I can't imagine Burton wanting to mess with it too much.  It's sort of a neat and compact package the way it is, and for a backstory, that's just what's needed.  Plus, I don't think they want to alienate the already avid fanbase by messing with something that has been a constant in every Dark Shadows project to date.  Barnabas and Josette work in any time period, but the Post-Colonial setting is really, simply put, just romantic.      

Well, you have got to have the Josette angle in order for it to be Dark Shadows, but I would prefer it to be similar to the original Barnabas/Josette storyline with Maggie and the kidnapping.  Frankly, I think that would make the film a lot more interesting than going with a re-do of the 1991 series. 

Victoria could be the heroine, and find out that Barnabas is holding Maggie captive... 

The mummy wouldn't have to outrun anyone.   It could just emerge from a sarcophagus (?).

And once it did that, it could east its victim's esophagus.   

I like the idea of an angel, but I think Josette sort of takes on that role.  The siren idea is cool too.  In addition, I always though Collinsport could have used an invisible man or some sort of creature from some sort of rather dark body of water.   

But, if you really think about it, the writers could have implemented some sort of sea creature into the story.  The creature could take on human form whilst amongst the town locals and then have its true form only seen off screen.

[spoiler](a la Jeb)[/spoiler]

Naturally, the show would have needed to run a few more years before doing this, but it could have happened.   Then, of course, you have the Mummy concept...

Great!  I always loved reading the updates on the website.  Thanks for starting this blog.   I can't wait to read the next posting! 

I think I remember hearing something strange during this time period too.  Let us know when you found out the episode, so we can all investigate it.   

Well, going off of my theory, which is probably far fetched, but plausible nonetheless, Barnabas was able to control Maggie's memory up to a point, just like he was able to control Maggie up to a point.  Her will was strong (as evidenced in the story), and so Julia's expertise was needed to control the situation. 

The writers couldn't really kill off Maggie, and they couldn't really off Barnabas.  I think that was the problem they ran into at the end of this storyline.  They were probably intending Maggie to escape and tell everyone Barnabas was her kidnapper, but they couldn't let her do that.  If they killed Barnabas, they would have killed the ratings.