Please Read This Thoroughly Before Voting!

[jimbo]

Unfortunately I would have to say that SoapNet needs to begin with 210 so not to bore the young viewers. Let's face it these days the younger audience are instant gratifiers who complain loudly when the pizza guy is five minutes late. I think they would lose interest very quickly without seeing a vampire on the program although I could be dead wrong. There obviously needs to be some type of, lets say, one hour episode summarizing the pre-Barnabas (classic) episodes.

[VictoriaWintersFan]

We need to start with 1968. I have yet to see the Pre- Barnabas or episodes before 1795 because I am waiting until the release the first episodes on DVD.

I dont want to read about episodes I have yet to watch. Lets start with 1968, please

[wes]

I agree that the show really started getting HOT with the arrival of Laura.  That sparked the show and the other characters became more interesting.  You can see most of the Barnabas storyline plaing out... Much of what they did later was done with Laura.  The difference is, of course, that Diana Millay left to have her baby & never became the "sympathetic" monster.  I think that, watching those early episodes disproves two "DARK SHADOWS MYTHS":

  1) It was only mildly supernatural until Barnabas arrived -- No, very early on, if you pay attention to the writing, Laura is a supernatural character... I also believe Diana knew about this.  I think she got some insight from Dan Curtis... maybe some early direction.  Check out how she lights her cigarette in one of her first episodes... watch how she reacts to the flame.  You can catch this way early in the writing and in some of the acting.

  2) Frid was going to last a number of weeks (I've heard anywhere from two to six weeks!), then he would have been knocked off... Not so.  Look at the Laura storyline.  They were following up the Laura storyline.  She was there for months.  The plan was to have the Barnabas storyline last at least as long as the Laura storyline, as long as ABC was going to renew for a three month cycle, they were going to do the vampire story for at least that... as a follow-up to the Laura story.

  "DARK SHADOWS MYTHS" made good copy, I guess, for some reason... But the facts don't support them!

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Thanks so much to all of you who've been taking the time to post your thoughts about where we should begin watching the DVDs. However, a gentle reminder - simply posting your view won't actually count towards the final result. If you'd like your opinion to count, you really need to vote in the actual poll. It's fairly easy to do. Just click on the radio button to the left of your choice so that a black dot appears inside it, and then click on the "Submit Vote" button.

And thanks again. 

[Janet the Wicked]

Where is the poll??

Janet

[Raineypark]

The Poll is located at the very begining of this thread, Janet, at the top of page 01.   

[victoriawinters]

I'd personally like to start where the current DVD releases are.  I've already watched Episode 210 to the end of Set 9 DVD.  I'd like to move on instead of go back.

[Midnite]

The Poll is located at the very begining of this thread, Janet, at the top of page 01. 

And at the top of any page in this topic.

[Janet the Wicked]

Found it! Thank you!

Janet

[Mysterious Benefactor]

By a margin of only 1 vote (who says every vote doesn't count?) the winning storyline is 1968. So today (January 12th) we'll begin watching the DVDs (or following along with your tapes, or reading the Robservations summaries) with Episode #523, which is the first epsode on Set #8/Disc #4 (the first episode on MPI tape Volume 59). And the rest of the episodes for this month are posted on the forum's calendar.

On to the discussions...

[victoriawinters]

Thanks to everyone that voted!  I am doing the happy dance with the results!  yea!

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[VictoriaWintersFan]

Hey all,

I know several of you wanted to start with Set 1, episode 210, but I am glad we are starting with 1968.  SoapNet is already in discussions to start airing re-runs and I am sure they will start with Barnabas's arrival.

I do have a question for the moderators, what DVD Set are we starting with? DVD Set 10 comes out the 27th of this month so we better get started soon lol.

Adam and Eve/Dream Curse SL I am watching right now with the DVDs. I admit there are several boring moments, but I am glad we are going to discuss the episodes I am seeing for the first time.

I have yet to see Pre-Barnabas or Barnabas's arrival to 1795. I have seen 1795 until the 3rd disk of Set 9. If we were going to start with Set 1, I wouldnt be able to visit (not trying to sound like I am important lol)

Thanks everyone who voted for 1968.

Shane

[Midnite]

Hi, Shane,

See (MB's) Reply #24 above.

I'm glad you'll be able to join in with the episode discussions.