Dark Shadows V21

Dark Shadows DVD Collection 21 goes where no other collection has gone before: into the inexplicable world of Collinwood in parallel time, where the faces and the surroundings are the only things that are familiar.

The premiss is relatively straightforward, illustrating the compelling science fiction concept that many parallel worlds coexist with the one we know and erroneously believe is the only reality. In each parallel time band, we live completely different lives based on substantially different life choices that we have made.

The vampire, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), discovers a portal to parallel time in an East Wing room of Collinwood. Hoping to escape his supernatural curse, Barnabas remains in the room until it reverts to the parallel time band, taking him with it. Unfortunately for him, the vampire curse remains unchanged in parallel time, but everything else has changed.

Quentin (David Selby) is the master of Collinwood and Elizabeth (Joan Bennett) and Roger (Louis Edmonds) are his siblings living off of his generosity. Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) is married to the writer, William Loomis (John Karlen), who wrote a bestseller on the life of Barnabas Collins (who was not a vampire, and who lived a long life with his beloved wife, Josette.) Quentin's wife, Angelique (Lara Parker), (who, unknown to Quentin was a witch) died 6 months prior, is found to have been murdered! Quentin has since remarried - Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott)!

Alexis, Angelique's twin sister, comes to Collinwood then herself is murdered by Angelique, who has survived the grave through the sinister black magic of their stepfather, Timothy E. Stokes (Thayer David). Angelique, who steals the warmth and life of the good Alexis, then dreams up a vicious plot to ruin the entire Collins family by turning Quentin and Maggie against each other.

Meanwhile, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall), worried about her beloved Barnabas, manages to transport herself into parallel time to assist him in just the nick of time: her counterpart, the evil housekeeper Hoffman who was also a close confidant to Angelique, was posed to drive a wooden stake into the heart of Barnabas. In a great twist, Julia kills her Hoffman counterpart, then assumes her identify to spy on Angelique.

By the end of the boxed set, most of the Collins family has been murdered by the same person who killed Angelique, who is then himself murdered by the undead witch in the ultimate revenge!

During this wild ride, there is suicide, madness, evil laboratory experiments and even love. This is Dark Shadows at its fantastic best, as the core ensemble cast shine in portraying their traditional roles in VERY untraditional and often twisted ways. Bravo!!

Lots of weird goings on at Collinwood! Willie is a writer, Carolyn married to him-- Nancy Barrett really turns it out for her portrayal of bitter, cynical, alcoholic Carolyn Loomis. These episodes allow many DS cast members to show their talents. Jonathan Frid is much missed during a portion of the story, but it is forgiveable since he was busy filming HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS at the time. Grayson Hall is wonderful as evil housekeeper Hoffman with a Danversesque loyalty to Angelique...Lara Parker is SO evil......as she draws her twin sister to her sarcophagus to draw the life out of her and live again.....I have the whole series so far, but even if you only get one volume, this should be the one to buy.....

MPI is slowly releasing the whole of the very extensive Dark Shadows soap opera on a set of involving DVDs, and this Collection 21 opens with the world of parallel time in 1970, when Angelique tortures Maggie Collins with her supernatural powers and reveals her identity to her father. Forty color episodes on four discs recreate the drama and thrill of the original series sans ads - and if that weren't enough, bonus interviews with major actors, writer Joe Caldwell and TV critic Mark Dawidziak add insights you wouldn't find through television. While prior fans of the Dark Shadows series - especially owners of previous collections - will be the likely audience for this, newcomers will find the logical progression of episodes lends to newfound interest.

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