While it is not something that eats at me, even in this very forum it's evident many look for the bloopers and other screwups. ... But please don't tell me most fans do not spend more time discussing the mistakes, blown lines and clumsy acting than anything else. It's just not true from what I've seen here and elsewhere. (I hope I am not coming off cranky because I'm not; just stating what I believe to be a fact. There is nothing wrong with admitting this is the case.)
I can't offer any sort of an opinion about other forums or any of the DS mailing lists because I unfortunately never have the time to read them anymore, but the vast majority of the more than 9000 topics here on the forum do not include any discussion of the mistakes, blown lines and clumsy acting. If anyone has gotten the impression that is the case, well, they haven't been reading all the posts that have been made (which Midnite and I do indeed do 
). Do such topics exist? Well, of course they do. 
But those subjects are by no means the major subjects of conversation here...
I sincerely doubt that we'd be discussing this show 35 years after its cancellation or celebrating the 40th anniversary of its debut if the "mistakes, blown lines and clumsy acting" were the primary sources of its appeal. If that were the case, then hardly anyone would shell out the money to purchase 254 VHS tapes or 32 DVD sets. Granted, the bloopers are a part of the show's appeal, and sometimes too much emphasis can be placed on them (although I feel that many fans view those moments with affection rather than scorn). However, no one would bother to sit through hours and hours of episodes just to catch the occasional mistake. I've watched the complete run of the series several times and I can honestly say that I return to the series for all of its
good qualities -- intricate plotlines, terrific characterizations, gorgeous sets and costumes, and an overall tone that is unlike anything else ever seen on television.
When I think of Frid, I immediately think of his flawless delivery of the "I was a Collins..." monologue (a moment that represents all that is good about DS), his astonishing ability to be simultaneously despicable and sympathetic, and his complete metamorphasis when portraying Bramwell in the final weeks of the series. A mention of Grayson brings to mind the early imperiousness of Dr. Hoffman, the joyful abandon with which she played Magda, and her moving portrayal of unrequited love that made the character of Julia indispensable. KLS, Nancy Barrett, Thayer David, Joan Bennett...every actor left an indelible and
positive mark on DS that far transcends whatever momentary laugh might be had as the result of an awkward line reading.
For me, DS is unlike any other television show that has ever aired, or will likely air in the future. Dan Curtis and his company of writers, actors, directors, and technical and creative artists came together and produced 1,225 episodes of pure magic. The setting -- Collinsport, Maine -- is more than a fictional town; it is a universe unto itself, filled with unique individuals, and driven by conflicts unlike anything those of us in the real world will ever face. When watching an episode, I am completely drawn into that universe, so completely removed from the real world, and am able to forget about all the mundane problems and inconveniences of day-to-day living. If I have a bad day at school or at work, I need only indulge myself in the DS universe and all thoughts of a vexing assignment or a disagreement with a co-worker leave my mind.
We live in an age ruled by ironic, hipper-than-thou attitudes, so it is natural for some to latch onto the occasional mistakes that plagued the show as an unavoidable result of the method of production. However, I believe that the
true legacy of DS is found in all of those wonderfully magical and moving moments, when everything went right, that far outnumber those few times when something went wrong.
