Jeb Hawkes: Super Mutant Baby Monster

Now I'm a huge Count Petofi mark but I must say that Jeb Hawkes is an interesting adversary for the Collins clan...Christopher Pennock does a fantastic job of portraying a 12-year-old in a man's body. My favorite part was when he just walked up to Carolyn in her backyard and was like, "Hi. Remember me? I'm Jebese Hawkes. Let's go get married, bitch."

Ok...that's not really what he said but he might as well have. I guess I don't really understand what he planned to do to her once he got her up in his room and took on his "true form." Of course, I'm pretty sure the writers of the show didn't know either which is why Quentin interrupted the marriage ceremony.

So I was sitting watching some DS, deciding what I thought about Jeb and I thought to myself, He's a fairly decent bad guy, but he's missing something...he needs something to really kick him up a few notches to "ultimate super villain" status. And then I realized what he needed...he needed Aristede in a giant fur coat...and then BAM!

ENTER BRUNO!

Oh man, now the Leviathans mean business. The thing I like about DS is the fact that the same actor will play nearly the exact same character from a previous storyline just with a different name. In this case, I wouldn't have even cared if they simply brought back Aristede and the Dancing Girl without ever explaining why or how he got there.

After all, awesomeness requires no explanation.

Amanda Harris: Too Stupid to Walk Across a Bridge!

So apparently it isn't overly difficult to escape purgatory and cheat death...all you have to do is walk over a bunch of rocks, avoid walking into a giant spider web, and successfully cross a bridge...not hard. But as simple as this sounds, apparently, it's too difficult for Amanda Harris (a.k.a. Olivia Corey) to accomplish...because she's an IDIOT!

I can't stand Amanda Harris...basically she's a more annoying, dumber version of Maggie Evans...and that's saying a lot because the original is more annoying and dumber than anyone else on the show. I mean...c'mon! You're trying to escape from purgatory...try to be a little careful. Don't walk backwards into a giant spider web and DO NOT just walk across a bridge without looking where you're going. I can't stand idiot damsels in distress...

Anyways, I'm glad she failed and returned to Hell with Mr. Best where she belongs...although I'm sure she'll find her way back somehow...they always do...

Team Leviathan!!!

So I'm a ways into the Leviathan storyline and something just seems to be missing...

I think I know what it is...it's that team dynamic DS is so good at creating. Let me explain: During most of the major storylines, two major teams are created...a good guys team and a bad guys team. When the two sides are even in strength and number you've got yourself a good storyline...

For example, during the Petofi storyline you had some heavy hitters on both sides...

Good Guys: Barnabus, Angelique, Quentin, and Magda

Bad Guys: Petofi, Aristede, CD Tate, and Evil Tim Shaw

The Leviathan storyline just doesn't have the same dynamic:

Bad Guys: Barnabus, Elizabeth, The Todds, David, Amy, and super-aging evil baby

Good Guys: Julia Hoffman and an increasingly insane Paul Stoddard.

Those sides aren't even! Julia has to do some heavy recruiting...The other problem is that Barnabus isn't a very good bad guy. I enjoy the fact that he and Julia are enemies (nice change-up) but a reluctant Barnabus doesn't quite do it for me as far as bad guys go and the mutant evil baby isn't much of a physical threat at this point. Get Quentin's memory back and side him with Julia...then the sides will even out a little bit.

Oh, and did they really need to bring back CD Tate with his weird megaphone voice? What the hell was that? He was talking to Julia through a megaphone and she was, like, four feet away...That guy sure does bug me...

Marie Wallace is INSANE!

Take a look at the face of insanity...

That's not even acting...I think there is legitamately something wrong with this woman. Every character she plays is insane. Eve was angry insane...Jenny was maternal insane...and now Megan Todd is possessed insane!

No matter which character she's playing, the insanity is usually the same...Her eyes narrow, her lips form into a scowl, and the voice! If you're going to be insane you've got to have a nice screech and Wallace has perfected the insane screech...

"YOU STOLE MY BABY! GIVE ME BACK MY BABY!"

Oh, and how creepy was that lullaby she used to sing as Jenny to those dolls? I still have nightmares about that lullaby. Creeeeeepy...

Anyways, I salute Marie Wallace for her quality insanity and the gigantic, insane jewelry she wears during the interviewis at the end of the DVD collections... Salute!

1897

So I just got done watching the 1897 storyline...wow!
What a storyline!
I almost didn't want to return to 1969 after that tremendous trip into the past but alas...all good things must come to an end...

I must say that I was a little disappointed with the way Petofi went out...Garth Blackwood? C'mon! Petofi completely dominated a vampire, a werewolf, and a witch simultaneously and some limping spectre with a chain takes him out single-handedly...please...Although that's what he gets for turning on his wingman, Aristede...how I loved his little fez hat...

I think the 1897 storyline was so strong because of the tremendous villains...From start to finish, the storyline was filled with villains who took Barnabus and company to the limit!

Evil Quentin Collins
The Phoenix
Reverend Trask
Count Petofi w/ Aristede

You had such strong villains that Angelique was forced to turn face! Angelique? A good guy? I never thought I would see the day! Actually, I didn't care for it...I want to see her up to her usual no good antics in the near future.

So cheers to the 1897 storyline! Good stuff...

P.S. I just started the Leviathan storyline...not so sure about this one...I've heard bad things...

Welcome to the Blog of Dark Shadows

This a place for all fans of the 1960's television series Dark Shadows to gather and discuss their favorite storylines, characters, and pretty much anything Dark Shadows related. I'm relatively new to the DS scene but I've been converted by a DS faithful into a devoted fan! So come join me in the mousoleum, take a sedative, and get ready to creep into the depths of the greatest soap opera ever to feature a severed hand, Dark Shadows!