It's definitely exciting to see that Frid will be involved in a "modest way" with the new DS film. I've been out of the DS loop for a bit now, and I just found the news that the film will begin shooting in April, which is exciting. I'm interested to see what the product of the filmmakers efforts will be, and if DS will appeal to the highly romanticized young adult crowd that is currently going gaga over vampire stories at this point in time.

It's amazing to me how only a few years ago vamps seemed to be on the outs but thanks to Twilight all of a sudden they're the shiznit at again.

Now all I have to do is work up the courage to actually go to the theater when this film comes out and sit through everyone's eating noises and cellphone clicking.

Nelson, I really like the Burning (Wo)Man story proposal you posted. It would definitely be a great way to bring Laura back into the series to wreak havoc on those at Collinwood. Not to mention that the festival itself would be a great setting for 2-4 episodes at any point during the season because it would cause major drama within the family and in the town. It could be something else for the town to ban together against the Collins family for.

And yes, Nina was the name of the werewolf in Angel Season 5.

I don't mind being criticized, so that's why I responded.

And I do agree that recasting roles can be disconcerting because depending on the new actors take on things it will take a while to get used to their portrayal versus the original actor's take on the character.

I think the comparison between Angel and Barnabas is always brought up because both vampires had a "conscience". Barnabas didn't like what he was cursed into being, and as such he begged his father to end his life so that everyone around him wouldn't end up dying. Meanwhile, Angel was a selfish, evil fiend who killed anything and everything, just for sport, but when his soul was introduced into the equation, he made conscious decisions to change his way of life. Of course he couldn't kill anyone because he'd feel guilty, but he still could've fed off of people without killing them, but chose to drink pig's blood instead.

I read this article a few days back after seeing it posted on Whedonesque. I thought it was definitely interesting, and I'd like to see this guy try to analyze the original DS like he has other shows.

The problem with coming at this thing with supernatural stories is that you only have so many classics to use before you have to really dip deep into the well of those stories that aren't as familiar to people. These take more set up, and can be easier to pull off because you have more creative freedom with them.

But, what needs to be focused on in order for a new DS series to take place is the CHARACTERS. And I'm not talking about their possible supernatural illnesses. I think a DS: The Next Gen would be a good starting point, and so would a complete reboot of the series (as in new actors playing our familiar characters). The thing about DS: TNG is that you can have a completely fresh story with new (and old) characters, and still have little easter eggs throughout the series that are callbacks to the original show that we would catch.

If there were a DS: TNG, my vision is this:

David is master of Collinwood, but isn't happy about it. He feels as if he's been forced into it because Carolyn cultivated an interest in the paranormal and began traveling the world, teaching, learning, and living, so after Elizabeth died, David was the next one in line to take over the estate. He also runs the Cannery and Fishing Business, and is days are long, stressful, and fraught with problems. While he does have his wife to help run Collinwood, she is becoming increasingly stressed as well, and angry with David, because he comes home in nothing but anger much of the time, and takes it out on her. Not to mention the fact that he feels obligated to go over the Collinwood business when he gets home. Translation: Their marriage is falling apart, and she is thinking about divorce.

Now, if Roger is still alive, he'd have to be recast. I'd prefer to see his original pompous, highly aristocratic manor reduced to being in a wheelchair, and needing assistance from someone else to do most daily things. This would and could be mined for comic relief. His and David's relationship still wouldn't be a good one, because Roger always tries to offer up suggestions about what David should do with the business, and David feels as if his father doesn't trust him to do what needs to be done with the business.

David would have some kids, one or two, and they would provide your typical teenage storylines. Here is where the supernatural things could be introduced--the daughter is dating a guy who has a short temper only to discover he's a werewolf. The son gets entranced by a witch-like girl who takes him home to meet mom who is really Angelique!

Carolyn would return in the first or second episode, finding Collinwood and the life of her cousin not doing so well. Carolyn comes back with bad news--in her travels, she stumbled across Barnabas, who informed her that Julia has just died. Carolyn has elected (basically forced) an aging Baranbas to return to Collinwood with her, despite his vehement refusals, claiming that if he comes back bad things will most certainly happen. Once he is back, and staying at Collinwood, despite his protests that he'd rather live at the Old House, he feels a familiar urge that he hasn't felt in decades: the urge for blood.

Baranbas ends up in the hospital one evening, suffering from a condition that the doctors cannot diagnose. Late one night, a hot young nurse enters the aging man's room, and he makes her his victim.

Soon after, a young man shows up at Collinwood, one who bears a striking resemblance to Barnabas, and says that he is Barnabas' son. He claims that the hospital contacted him after his father's death, and he is here to meet his family, back from studying abroad.

Things are beginning to heat up at Collinwood...and old ghosts are returning to haunt.

I'm definitely participating in this!!! I haven't really ever had a chance to get into the original Watching Project just because of sheer lack of time, but this series has less episodes so I'll be able to find the time to keep up now I think!

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I already have the first four dramas released. I was looking more for opinions on the latest two featuring Maggie Evans that were premiered at the fest this year.