Well, when I saw the scene between Julia and Barn when they were talking about the drug to kill Eve and how it works, I was thinking to myself... wouldn't it be easier for Julia to say...

We'll be using the same thing I used on Dr. Woodard, Barn.  Nuff said.

They talked about it like it was something new.  Barn was asking questions about it, when he should have known all about the effects, considering he had a hand in the Woodard murder.

One other thing... how many times do we have to see Angeliques reflection in a mirror?  She's a vampire, right?

Whew... got that off my chest.

deron

After watching these episodes today, I realize that though I don't really like the story line as a whole, some of today's dialogue was top notch.  I think the chess match between Julia and Stokes(both literal and symbolic) was a highlight as well as Blair's manipulation of Adam.  In it's early stages it is so right on the money.  It reflects real life, and how people use and play other people for their own gain.

Some of the individual episodes in this story line is very entertaining, but as a whole I think it becomes a little drawn out.

Also, I've said it countless times... If Julia would just tell Stokes the truth,  he could have really helped them out.

deron

I guess the one movie that I remember liking the most was Salem's Lot.  It scared the crap out of me when I was younger.

I know that it was a TV movie and the production values weren't that of a major motion picture, but just the thought of that kid floating outside his brothers bedroom window asking him to let him in gives me the chills.

deron

Though the current storyline is my least favorite, I really enjoyed the battle between Angelique and Prof. Stokes in the dream.  I always loved the character of Prof. Stokes, and wished Julia and Barn were more up front with him on things.

He never seemed like the type who would run to the police immediately and tell on Barn.  I think he would have done everything possible to help.  And like I said before, he did always seem to know more about what is going on than he let on.

Round 1 goes to Prof. Stokes.  On to round 2.

deron

I tape Passions every day for my wife to watch.  Sometimes you can go weeks without watching and still not get lost, because the storylines move sooooo slowly.

I think the main difference between Dark Shadows and Passions is that Dark Shadows seemed to assume that the viewers have some intelligence, but Passions seems to treat everyone like they are eight years old.  Also Passions is a lot more tongue-in-cheek, and doesn't take it's stories that seriously.  

I haven't seen Port Charles, but maybe I can catch a little of it soon.  For now, I'll stick to my DS tapes!!!

deron

While sometimes the acting was bad, there were times that it did work well.  I think we can all remember a number of episodes that everything clicked.  The acting was good, the writing was good and everything flowed well.  These moments are always worth the over the top acting that happens sometimes.

I admire these group of players.  It was practically live TV, because there were very rarely any retakes, and with the little time they had to learn their lines, I believe some of them did a wonderful job.  Also take into account that they weren't doing the same ol' kind of dialogue that the other soaps were doing.  They were dealing with subject matters that no one else in daytime was doing.  

Were there some bad actors in DS?  Of course.  Even the best TV shows and movies will have a few bad actors in it most of the time.  It was the flaws in the regulars on DS, though, that gave them character that I will always remember them with.

deron

After watching today's episode, I can't help but think of another way it could have played out right after Adam was sedated by Julia...

Barnabas:  Julia, sit down.

Julia:  What is it Barnabas?

Barnabas:  Tell me, what is the name of the person that Clark got the brain from.

Julia: Abby.  Abby somebody.

Barnabas:  Abby Normal?

Julia:  Yeah, that's it.

I couldn't help myself

deron

In this day and age of computer generated special effects and short attention span acting and writing, I find Dark Shadows to be an oasis in today's state of TV.  It is great to see real actors interact, and carry a good storyline over the course of months and don't treat the viewer as if they were 6 years old.

deron