Shadows on the Wall: Episode 1

Before continuing, you may enjoy revisiting our original 50th anniversary Episode 1 summary and commentary: https://dsb4idie.blogspot.com/2016/06/episode-1-62766.html

Then & Now

John: The film footage of exteriors really stands out against the video look of the majority of the show. Not that they didn't the first time through, but I'm reminded how infrequently there's location footage shot outside of the studio.

I'm also wondering if Vicky's flashbacks to the Foundling house are unique. While we will get more than our share of time shifts throughout the series, I can't recall other instances of flashbacks than in this episode. 

I still don't like this original incarnation of Maggie. She calls out Vicki saying her hair will be gray in a month of working at Collinwood. Let's count how long it takes Maggie's hair to change... 

Since we acknowledge that this viewing pass is for returning DS veterans (we welcome newcomers to start first with our original 50th anniversary post for the premiere episode via the link above!), I'll assume it's safe to discuss spoilers and say that it's disappointing that the Vicki/Elizabeth story never plays out to its logical conclusion.

Christine: What stood out to me on this viewing was the "All Aboard" sign behind Burke Devlin on the train. It feels like an invitation to leave the familiar behind and begin the journey to Collinsport and the extraordinary world of Dark Shadows.

Shadows on the Wall

John: There's probably room for a gallery of Roger's decanters and drinking glasses... of course he breaks the first glass we see him holding.

Does The Blue Whale sign change throughout the series? Or the jukebox?

Christine: Yes, there may be a place for Roger's decanters and drinking glasses in the Collection — perhaps even noting the particular circumstances that drive him to drink. Of course, there are plenty of occasions when other characters help empty the decanter as well. 

One of the visual elements that caught my attention in this first episode was the repeated use of mirrors. I remembered noticing mirror imagery throughout the series before, but I hadn't realized the motif was established in the very first episode. 

Seeing Victoria repeatedly framed through reflections makes me wonder whether the mirrors subtly reinforce her search for identity and the mystery surrounding why she has been drawn to Collinwood. I'll be interested to see whether that visual pattern continues as we revisit the series.  

What visual detail caught your eye in this episode? Was there an object, image, recurring motif, or piece of set decoration that you had never noticed before? Did you discover something that deserves a place in the Collinwood Collection?

Shadows on the Wall: Rediscovering the Visual World of Dark Shadows

Ten years ago, we embarked on a 50th anniversary rewatch of Dark Shadows. What began as a celebration of the series quickly became something more — a conversation among fans who shared memories, observations, discoveries, and a continuing appreciation for the strange and wonderful world of Collinsport. 

Now, as Dark Shadows approaches its 60th anniversary, we've been thinking about what another revisit might look like. 

Rather than attempting to recreate the original rewatch, we found ourselves drawn to a different question:

What have we been looking at all these years without truly seeing?

Throughout the series, the walls of Collinwood, the Old House, and countless other sets are filled with portraits, paintings, books, sculptures, manuscripts, decorative objects, occult artifacts, and curious details that help create the atmosphere of Dark Shadows. Some of these items became the subject of galleries and collections on this blog. Many others have remained hidden in plain sight. 

With that in mind, we are launching a new project:

Shadows on the Wall: Rediscovering the Visual World of Dark Shadows

The rewatch will be the mechanism, but the visual archive will be the purpose.

As we revisit the episodes, we'll be paying special attention to the visual world of the series — the objects, artwork, documents, and details that helped bring its stories to life. Along the way, we hope to expand the Collinwood Collection, revisit some of the our existing galleries, and perhaps uncover a few things we missed the first time around.

Each post will include a brief "Then & Now" reflection, a visual observation from the episode, and an invitation for readers to share their own discoveries.

Because one of the great pleasures of revisiting Dark Shadows is realizing that there is always something new to notice.

Whether you've been with us since the 50th anniversary project or are discovering the blog for the first time, we hope you'll join us. 

So take another look at the paintings on the walls, the books on the shelves, the artifacts on the tables, and the shadows in the corners.

You never know what you might discover. 

John's thoughts: 10 years ago, I recall wondering if I'd make it through six months — let alone five years — of Dark Shadows. I was optimistic, but I really wasn't sure I'd have the stamina. Thankfully, Christine jumped on board early, and the back and forth made it all possible (as had my collaborations with Peter Enfantino on our Thriller, The Outer Limits, Kolchak, and Batman a Day blogs. I almost convinced Peter to join up on Dark Shadows when Barnabas arrived, but he wasn't crazy enough to sign up for a five year mission). This pass should be a lot easier, as there won't be quite as much homework due each week, but I would be lying if I weren't already dreading some of the alternate-universe antics in our future. Thankfully those are still quite a ways away. 

Christine's thoughts: When we began our 50th anniversary journey through Dark Shadows, I don't think either of us fully appreciated what a commitment a five-year project would become. Watching more than 1,200 episodes was certainly daunting, but what made it enjoyable was the collaboration. It was the conversations, discoveries, and different perspectives that made each episode feel like a shared exploration.

For me, one of the biggest surprises of the project was how much the visual world of the series captured my imagination. What began with the portrait galleries grew into an appreciation for the artwork, objects, and details that helped bring Collinwood and the world of Dark Shadows to life. I found that the more closely I looked, the more there was to discover.

There is also something uniquely comforting about returning to Dark Shadows. The series creates a world with its own atmosphere and rhythms, one that exists apart from the concerns of the moment. Perhaps that was part of its appeal when it first aired in 1966, and it remains part of what makes revisiting it so enjoyable today. Each time we return to Collinwood, there is another shadow on the wall, another detail to notice, and another discovery waiting to be made. 

A Dark Shadows Easter Surprise — our take on the unaired 2004 pilot!

Happy Easter!

If you thought we had exhausted all-things Dark Shadows, we've got a surprise for you. 

Check out our newly-posted review of the unaired Dark Shadows pilot from 2004!

Merry Christmas 2021 - More Dark Shadows!

To celebrate the holidays, we're back once again, this time with a look at Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. Did we love it? Did we hate it? Did we get it?

Click here to find out what we thought of the feature film, and have a happy holiday!

John & Christine

50 Years of NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS!

We've long promised to do a post on the film, Night of Dark Shadows, which was released in 1971, several months after the show went off the air. We're pleased to report that we have added a page with our thoughts on the film. You can check it out at this link.

Thanks for your continued support!