I have got my DS 1991 revival set and have already watched the first episode.
I looked at the 'another sideshow' thread that Gothick suggested and yes, MGM did cut out a few crucial scenes...the ones that struck to me was Roger telling Elizabeth that he would have let David die if it would have meant saving Laura's sanity....that was the opening of the window into the troubled relationship of Roger and David. Roger's telling Vicki that David would indeed be much of a challenge for her and later telling her he doesn't expect anything from his son so as not to be disappointed is further demonstration of his disdain for his son, and honestly should have been kept it. I don't know why MGM chose to cut that out.
The other cut scenes I don't have so much a problem with. And now to the episode.
Can I just say how much I still adore Joanna Going as VW? She knows she's going to have a tough time winning over David, but she is determined and has a lot of spunk. I also like her scenes with Barnabas and Willie.
David really is a little monster, maybe even more so than in the OS! Perhaps Roger is right when he says the child may need a psychiatrist more than a governess.He vows to keep scaring Vicki again and again, sticks a spider in a box and basically tricks her into opening it, knowing she'll be scared out of her wits and very sinisterly implies she might find one of those in her bed. Vicki, unsettled by this, lets him leave, but if it had been me, I would have said "Try it little boy and you'll be laying on your sides!" Back in the 90's I believe you were still allowed to spank a child without worrying about Child Services to get on your case.
In other deleted scenes, Sheriff Patterson tells Elizabeth he suspects something is up with Willie and in may be in connection with the attacks. Roger encourages this impression when they find Willie's empty room and more of Willie's booze. Now I know that Willie was an annoying schmuck before he comes into Barnabas' power, and yes his sudden disappearance was bound to raise a bit suspicion, but still I didn't see anything in his behavior pre-Barnabas that would strike me he could have gone as far as murder. I know he told Sam he would take a drink any way he could, but I believe that was just Willie talking through his fanny. All talk and no action.
Barnabas comes onto the scene and introduces himself to the family, starts working his charm on Vicki and of course has to satisfy his bloodlust. I know I said that Cross was merely adequate in the past, but I think I've may have sold him short. He can be pitiful, romantic and vicious at different stages in the episode.
And Jim Fyfe.....hard to say at this point. I've been really critical of his work as Willie, but I do admit I felt sorry for him when Barnabas beat the crap out of him with the cane. I have to catch more episodes to form a definite opinion.
Some of the scenes however are almost taken directly out of HODS (Daphne's attack in her car, Willie's reading the poem and going to the mausoleum, Barnabas beating Willie). Unlike the majority on here, I loved HODS but I don't feel that it needed to be rehashed for the new show. Certainly the writers could have come up with something FRESH to start the show.
Julia Hoffman, yes she is intense but she's no fool. She sees how disturbed Daphne is at the sight of Barnabas, she knows there is something to it, but does she suspect vampirism at this point....hard to say.
As for the other characters....Carolyn was quite the tease but I do believe she generally likes Vicki. Elizabeth is very calm but also decisive (by suggesting Julia treat Daphne at Collinwood). Hard to say about Maggie and Joe.
All in all....flaws and all, it's actually a pretty watchable episode. Though I could have done without Barnabas beating Willie....sheesh, it was bad enough in HODS and in the original show....certainly throwing him down the stairs would have been efficient enough to keep Willie in check. Do like how gentle and smitten Barnabas is with Vicki.
Definitely will stick with it.