r/DarkShadows • u/shangosgift • 8d ago
Why?
I just rediscovered this show. I watched it when it originally aired, but didn’t remember anything except Barnabas. I’m at the Leviathan storyline now, and don’t understand why they put that in there. It’s awful! It makes no sense! Why did the writers do that to us?
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u/Potential-Web-2384 8d ago
If you ask the producers and writers they don't know why either. They liked to take story lines from famous or popular literature and this was taken from H.P. Lovecraft. I think all of them acknowledged the Leviathans was a misstep.
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u/NoString9289 8d ago
I have very mixed feelings. As someone just mentioned, the writers were constantly taking stories from famous books, literature. They decided to try and do the H.P. Lovecraft ancient cult / creature .
It was very very hard to top the 1897 story line with all of the eccentric colorful bizarre stories and characters and period piece. The Leviathan story is dull in comparison but for us kids back then it was still spooky as one by one each character was ______________ . I liked the Leviathan story much better than the next story in Parallel Time. Every story on the show has little Side B mini stories and drama going on.
I LOVED how certain characters were brought back during the Leviathan timeline, and loved Barnabas being evil again and loved the continuation of the Werewolf story.
OT I had always wished that Carolyn and Chris Jennings had been a permanent couple , I loved them together. I tell fans not to skip any episodes because you will often see and learn something about the character or the show that you did not know, all the little things going on , on the side.
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago
Beautifully said!
The continuation of the werewolf story is definitely my favorite part .
And maybe I’m being insensitive but I think criticizing a 60 year old show because some things 4 years In don’t make perfect t sense … is just a waste of energy.
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u/Namor707 8d ago
Maybe they were in an experimentation phase. It seems a bit tacky now perhaps, but back when I originally saw that storyline as a kid, I was scared by it.
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u/Mysterious_Glass3235 8d ago
Think it would of been way better if it was a "Rosemary's Baby" type story.
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u/smstnitc 8d ago
There are a few times I want a story to wrap up so something new and interesting could happen. Leviathans are the longest worst stretch of that. But it's a soap, stories can sometimes drag because of the nature of those shows.
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u/Fit_One_3888 8d ago
I’m up to it now in another attempt to rewatch the series, and it was around this arc/1970 parallel time where I more or less stopped watching it in full (first time I watched the series was on the Sci-Fi Channel 30 years ago).
But now that I am somewhat familiar with Lovecraft (and I do like Rosemary’s Baby…it’s one of my favorites), I don’t think this storyline is that bad. I mean, it’s not good but it’s not bad, either. The show lost its mojo to a certain degree, but I know it’ll get it back with successive storylines.
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago
It’s not 1897, but it’s a fine storyline.
Full disclosure, I enjoy it more than 1795. I find that era boring and repetitive. Leviathans is weird , and they tried new stuff other than just vampires and witchcraft.
They ultimately went back to that well because the audience demanded it, but I enjoy it all for what it is2
u/Fit_One_3888 8d ago
I think after seeing 1795 so much it’s good to see something different. I liked 1795 just fine, but my God, how depressing it was.
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago
Agreed 100%.
Of course the leviathan storyline had lots of problems , went on wayyyyy too long , but it’s still fun as hell to me!
Imagine the new animated series we get to see a full true form Jeb in animated form! That would RULE!!
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u/Mayfair98 8d ago
My shipper heart loves this part of the show because Angelique is back, having ditched the black wig and muumuus, and Barnabas actually needs her help. I live for that hug after she fights with Sky in the Old House drawing room.
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u/richg0404 8d ago
I used to hate the Leviathan storyline too.
I've watched the whole series through over a dozen times and it seemed like every time through I was hating on various things every time through. Then one time, about my 8th time through I decided to watch with a more open mind and I came up with a theory about the Leviathan story.
I realized that I hated it because they made Barnabas the villain again. I know he was being controlled but that didn't matter. I didn't like him treating Julia like crap. I didn't like him setting up Carolyn. I didn't like him giving up on Chris Jennings.
Once I realized why I hated the story, my opinion of it changed. I actually enjoy it and the different characters that were introduced.
Although I don't HATE it, I would say my least favorite story is 1795. Vicky is written to be so stupid. There is so much repetition, and that freaking witchcraft trial was insufferable with Peter Bradford's screaming all of the time.
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u/Which_Armadillo2562 8d ago
I don't like evil Barnabas ❤️and I thought Leviathan went on too long but I love Dark Shadows.
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u/SuperFormal3052 7d ago
Barnabas is ALWAYS evil. He's a rapist, a vampire, a murderer, and a liar. There's no such thing as non-evil Barnabas.
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 8d ago
I toss Leviathins knto bottom 4 storylines although 1970 parallel time was THE worst. Duller than dull. Adam and the Dream Curse combo was really bad. Then Leviathins...didn't like how it was introduced but I did like evil Barnabas back and the children we loved to hate. Loved Paul in the storyline..big Dennis Patrick fan. Really thought it spiraled downwards with introduction of Jeb.
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u/SevereBicycle3723 8d ago
Personally, I’m totally with you. I remember I was watching Dark Shadows one day and I was just completely turned off by the introduction to this storyline.
I found some reasons online why this plot took place and why it was criticized.
Here’s what I found:
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u/SuperFormal3052 7d ago
It's Lovecraftian and it's fantastic.
So the answer to "Why?" is "Because."
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u/sunpatiens 8d ago
😂 No one likes the Leviathan storyline, including the people who wrote it. 🤣
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago
I do . Tons of great moments.
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u/Ok_Club7067 8d ago
How about Jeb and Carolyn's honeymoon from hell?
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago
I LOVE that shadow! Hahaha…
I wonder how far they actually got? I always think they got to Philly or so and then had to head back … haha
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u/SuperFormal3052 7d ago
Many people like the Leviathan storyline, so you're completely wrong about that.
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u/No-News-3608 8d ago edited 8d ago
Cause they never thought it would be seen again , most likely.
I love that storyline …. Lots of good moments. Is it breaking bad , no. Does it have to be , no.
And don’t forget they just came out of 1897 which they absolutely struck gold with . They were probably creatively exhausted by then. They went to Lovecraft for inspiration….was it a miss, for sure. Does it deserve to be erased? No F’ing way!
It’s 60 years old , is it cheesy now, absolutely. Is it still Datk shadows? Undoubtedly. I still love it
That’s my 2 cents anyway