This was a tough poll for me because there are so many things to factor in. Many of the characters that existed in the DS universe had a problem to contend with, whether it was self inflicted or caused by someone else. So my votes went to:

Vicki Winters: Because damn, if she didn't get stupid as time went on. It seems that her loss of intelligence could've stemmed from the various things she had to go through at Collinwood, such as that threateningly insane charge of hers, the persistant refusal of her questions about the reasons for which she was hired and about her lineage. And, oh yea, perhaps the biggest thing that ever happened to her intelligence was the arrival of that very OLD man who somehow seemed to captivate everyone. Plus, ya know, she went through all that drama with going back in time, being tried and hanged as a witch, then losing her love, finding him, and finally, being pushed off a cliff.

Maggie Evans: Because, as everyone knows, she was once a tough-talking sass who told it like it was, and then some. Her demise seemed to come as soon as the very OLD man mentioned earlier came into town, and after Vicki disappeared to Barnabas-knows-where, Maggie was offered the position which would nail the final hinge on her coffin--governess at Collinwood. Where, she would subsequently be frightened by Mr. Juggins, become the always tread upon lady (since the spot was vacated by Vicki) and oh yea, her Pop's was killed by the ex-scorned lover of the man who was interested in her.

Angelique: Because she caused so much shit in her quest for a certain very OLD man, yet recieved so much shit in her quest for a certain very OLD man. 'Nuff said.

Jason McGuire: An unlikely choice, yes, but a reasonable one. For months he tormented Liz with the thought of her husband, Paul Stoddard, being dead, when, in fact, he wasn't. Jason extorted Liz and made various advances at her, attempting to get her to marry him, all so that he could get her money and the Collins estate for himself. But, when a certain very OLD man arrived, Jason was quickly snuffed out. And, let's face it, he didn't achieve his ultimate goal. And as many of us know, not achieveing a goal which you have been working so hard towards for so long, can be quite depressing and make one feel like a loser. Plus, to be so twisted, sick, demented, wrong, and abusive, you have to know that his life previous to Collinwood was a big shit hole.

"Return to Collinwood" may be offered through MPI, I'm not 100 percent sure though. I picked up my copy at the festival in 2006 when I went, and I belive they had some for sale there last year, so MPI may offer it on their website.

what's the difference? I mean i'm a bit confused. i want the entire story NOT just part of it. ya know?

I'm not exactly sure what type of answer you're looking for, but I'll take a whack at it.

As the others have mentioned, the CDs that are produced by Big Finish are not a "continuation" of the show, after the last episode, per se, but they are supposed to be considered canon, or so I was led to believe. I mean, everyone can take or leave whether or not they are, but I think they work well with the series. These CD episodes are supposed to take place somewhere between the last episode of the show, and "Return to Collinwood" which is supposed to be a continuation of the show, set in 2003 or 2004, with the residents of Collinwood older. "Return to Collinwood" was NOT produced by Big Finish, it was instead written and produced by Jamison Selby, son of David Selby, and includes many of the original actors in their original roles and new roles.

Anywho, each CD put out by Big Finish contains 3 episodes. So, after a total of 4 discs, which comprise the first season, you have 12 complete episodes that time in at about 20-25 minutes, the length of the original show episodes minus commercials. The first season, or the first 4 discs, had a minute overarching storyline, but were largely stand alone episodes, with each disc starting a storyline at the beginning of the disc, then wrapping that story up at the end of the disc. There are subtle clues throughout the first 3 discs which hints at what's coming on the 4th disc, the last three episodes.

So, in summary, the first 12 episodes, contained on 4 separated CDs, are basically stand alone stories on each disc with a small overarching theme. The second season, which I'm going to guess is going to be comprised of 4 discs as well, equalling 12 episodes once again, has been said to have a more intertwined story that continues from disc to disc, instead of being so stand alone-ish.

If you want to think about it this way: The first 4 discs released were the first season. And just like a television show, the season had stand alone episodes with an overall theme, but that theme was wrapped up at the end of the season, but still left small questions for a cliff hanger. So, now you're stuck waiting all summer (or winter as the case may be) for the second season to start, so that the series will continue and you can get the answers you want.

Basically--the discs are released every few months when the new season is ready to be shipped out, so there will be some waiting inbetween the discs. But now that the entire first season is released, you can order all 4 discs at the same time, and get all the story for that first set in one sitting.

Hopefully I haven't confused you entirely and haven't repeated myself too much. I've been up since early, so my brain isn't what it once was.

The commentaries that you're thinking of are probably in the form of the interviews at the end of discs 2-4. Because of the introduction by AMI on the first disc, the interview at the end was left off. So check out those interviews for the commentaries that you're thinking of.

If you're thinking of commentaries in the sense of a commentary today, where the person watches the program and then talks about it, which you hear while watching the episode or movie, I don't think those exist on any DS DVD.

I agree. That would be a great step up for the future Collinwood in any incarnation that Dark Shadows could return in. And it really wouldn't take much to fix it up either. Just some face lift type of stuff and with computers they could do wonders to it.

56. If you go insane, you must relocate to the tower room or the dungeon, tease your hair so that it is so large that it fills the space around you, constantly try to escape, kill, and confuse people, and call little stuffed dolls your "babies."

AND...

I agree with arashi. The only reason Julia and Barnabas recognized Gerard, Daphne, and Roxanne was because they had seen the ghosts of the two former in the present, and Roxanne was recognized by Barnabas because she was his love interest at the time.

What's funny about this is that Barnabas and Julia recognize Angelique, no matter what time she is in. With the exception of Cassandra, whom I believe Barnabas suspected was Angelique from the get go, Angelique seemed to be the only one that they recognized in every time period she was in.

Thanks to Nelson for jogging my memory re: Daniel's near demise.

And it's my guess that if that happened in the original timeline that perhaps Ms. Wicke stopped Noah from killing Daniel, just like Vicki did when Vicki too Phylliis' place in the past. I believe the entire point of the storyline, other than revealing how Barnabas became a vampire, was to have Vicki just take Phyllis' place and go through the motions, like Nelson said.