I think the crushes keep us young and remind us that we are not over the hill yet!

I quite agree, Alondra. Too, I think Dark Shadows keeps us young, too. Watching the show brings me back to an earlier time, and that's always enjoyable.

Welcome to the forum, Marie! I've had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with you during the past three festivals. You are truly so warm and gracious, and I believe I probably told you a few dozen times how much I enjoyed reading your book. In fact, I devoured it in one sitting, and felt as though I were right there with you, going on auditions and doing shows. You drew me right in.

That said, I'm looking forward to seeing you again this year at the next festival. We are all eagerly awaiting word on that.

Again, welcome!

But did Mrs. Johnson's personality change?  I agree that:

Quote from: Vlad on February 10, 2007, 10:26:41 PM

one could argue that there was a natural change in her attitudes over time

but wasn't she the same picky, outspoken, narrow-minded, and amusing woman in 1970 as she was in 1966?  It's true that her relationship with the family went from adversarial to that of a devoted employee, but when when we first met her she was just as fiercely devoted to Bill Malloy.  Unfortunately, we didn't see much of the character post-1897 (only appearing a handful of times, and half of those were in 1995) anyway.

I think we have to discount older Carolyn's story about Mrs. J brushing her hair when she was a child as the ramblings of someone who doesn't have a firm grasp of reality.

I think she did mellow over time. When we first met her, she was almost nasty and hell-bent on revenge. Also, there was that scene in the diner where [spoiler]Maggie served her a roast beef sandwich and Mrs. J. kept complaining about the mayonnaise, bragging how she'd always made her own, and even going so far as to smell the sandwich![/spoiler] As time went on, she lost that crabbiness, although one certainly couldn't accuse her of being Mrs. Sweetness and Light -- LOL.

As for Carolyn's musings as a madwoman, it's possible she referred to herself as a child having her hair brushed by Mrs. J. simply because she was no longer that wild teenager we first encounter during the early days of the show, which is when Mrs. J. came into the picture.

I only have10 hours, 38 minutes logged in here, but that's because I generally only post once or twice a day. Still, it's a wonderful forum with great discussions, and I do enjoy it.

To tell you the truth, I don't think Gerard changed that much. [spoiler]Yes he became more evil as Judah, more consummate evil, but as Gerard he did attempt to get everything Quentin had. He married Samantha, not loving her, for the money. He wanted the easy life of living at Collinwood. I don't blame him for that much but to marry a woman for her money renders him a creep in my book, not any better than Nathan Forbes or Jason McGuire. Also there is speculation that he may have pushed Quentin overboard, and Tad as well. There isn't much said about that accident on the ship but that's a possibility. He had also lied about his identity, his real name was Ivan Miller and IIRC Gabriel had a long list of his deeds (not unlike when Burke showed up with a long list of the nefarious deeds of one Jason McGuire)[/spoiler]

Most of what you mentioned happened [spoiler]after his possession by Judah.[/spoiler] However, you're right about the accident on the ship. That was most definitely implied.

A warm welcome to you, Julie!

Welcome Taeylor! I agree with those who said they'd like to see DS: The Next Generation. Rehashing what was already done wouldn't do it for me. As a kid who grew up with DS (I watched it from the very first episode when it first aired), I think I'd always have that series in the back of my mind. I did watch the '91 remake and thought it was well done, but it never really grabbed me. I also saw the pilot for the WB proposed remake in Tarrytown and Brooklyn. The pilot had its good and bad moments, but it was clearly rough, which we all were told before viewing it. It's a pity that fell by the wayside. However, getting back to a new generation, that would be much more exciting. Remember, Star Trek did it quite successfully, and I loved their Next Generation series.

I omitted her days as Miranda because I always thought that Miranda was a previous incarnation of Angelique, and thusly not the same person. The same SOUL, but not person. If you'd like to include it for yourself, as you have, then I don't really see any harm in it.

I think her death in 1795 returned her to the underworld with D and Nick until 1968 when she probably begged for her release again so that she could torture Barnabas, since he was being all happy about life and junk. Then when she disappeared from 1897 she returned back to the underworld to watch as Nicky was tortured or whatever.

I disagree about Miranda. In fact, Angelique even explains how [spoiler]after cooperating with the authorities for Judah's witchcraft trial, she fled to Martinique in the 1690s.[/spoiler]

When she appears at Collinwood as Cassandra, it's logical to assume she was there to, as you said, torture Barnabas. In fact, when speaking to Nicholas, he instructs her [spoiler]to destroy Barnabas and warns her not to fall victim to her love for him.[/spoiler]