There’s no question that news on Dark Shadows as a whole has gotten much quieter since the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp feature film, and the real question is whether anyone will decide to give the franchise another shot despite the lackluster box office of the film. If so, one can only hope that the attempt will be more in the spirit of the original without the so-called humor. While we wait, though, there are a few changes to Blog of Dark Shadows being considered. The primary focus will, of course, remain on DS, but the idea is that our “Spawn of Dark Shadows” section would broaden its coverage to include horror elements dealt with by DS,, primarily vampire projects but also those focused on werewolves, ghosts, zombies, Gothic elements, etc. There is also the possibility of television’s new wave of serial killer TV shows, most notably Bates Motel, Hannibal, The Following and Dexter. The idea is to expose the concept of Dark Shadows to more people by slightly broadening the scope of the site. The question I am asking you, though, is your feelings on this proposed change. Please offer up your comments in the usual place. Thanks – Ed Gross
Rob
January 16, 2013
Ed – I can certainly understand your motivations in possibly widening the scope of this blog to appeal to a larger audience. It stands to reason that some of the same folks who are attracted to the supernatural narrative of “Dark Shadows” would also be interested in other related horror-themed subjects (the serial-killer-in-popular-culture connection seems slightly more tenuous to me, but what do I know?). Having said that – I worry that by broadening the focus of your (always terrific) site, you may inadvertently weaken the already wobbly Dark Shadows fanbase, still reeling from the lingering effects of last summer’s Buton/Depp catastrophe. If you feel, however, that a step like this is genuinely necessary to make the continuation of this site feasible, then by all means, I say do it. It’s a radical step (and not one that I would choose in a perfect world) but it’s better than losing the most thoughtful and entertaining “Dark Shadows” site around.
Ed Gross
January 16, 2013
I appreciate the comments, Rob, and you’ve given me a lot to think about. I have to agree about the serial killers thing, and you may be right about the other thoughts. It’s why i wanted to put this out there rather than just make wholesale changes. Hopefully I’ll get feedback from a few more people.
Just based on your thoughts, IF I was to add any other elements, I would probably just limit it to vampires. But now I’m not even sure about that. We’ll see.
Patrick Lynch
January 16, 2013
I can see writing about other elements of old school horror that Dark Shadows drew from but I just can’t go on the serial killer ride. I am seriously sick to death of serial killers. Perhaps something showing how Dark Shadows built upon the literature and classic movies that preceded it?
Ed Gross
January 16, 2013
I agree with both you: the whole serial killer thing is off the table. The question is whether or not covering things like vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. would help or hurt the site.
Andrew Higgins
January 17, 2013
Ed
Thanks for this. I agree the recent Dark Shadows movie, which had limited merit in my opinion, did not exactly resurrect Dark Shadows. But instead of a widening the focus might I suggest we also create an opportunity for those who are watching, ad re-watching, the original series to post threads about there thoughts and observations. I am in the middle of my third time through the series (currently at te David just saw Barnabas coffin in the cellar of he Old House). Based on what i am seeing on Facebook there are others doing the same Think it would b interesting to start threads about themes in the show (such as the time traveling afghan) I myself am interested at looking at the Dark Shadows world as a liminal secondary world and also am interested in the time travel elements including parallel time. Happ to work on this. Please let me know if you agree and how to do this I am in the middle of writing a Phd on J.R.R. Tolkien’s early mythology and work full time but can post once or twice a week.
Thanks Andy. UK, London (not far from Cadogan Square)
Ed Gross
January 17, 2013
Andy,
I’m definitely open to different ideas that can be implemented to try and pump a bit of life into the site, and your suggestion is a great one. If you’re interested in doing this, why don’t you submit a first thread to me to read and once we’re in agreement on it, we’ll get it up on the site. And if all works with it, I can give you access to post articles/threads to the site.
Thanks,
Ed
Bill Wilson
January 17, 2013
Hi Ed,
Have read your work for some time, but have only recently discovered this blog.
I think that there’s merit in exploring ideas covered in “Shadows” that are being fleshed out elsewhere, and further agree that shows like “Dexter” and “Bates Motel” are too far a stretch.
I think that topics worthy of consideration currently would include “True Blood,” “Vampire Diaries” and, right now, “General Hospital,” which is presently revisiting the vampiric storylines explored a decade ago on its spinoff “Port Charles.”
Perhaps this is being covered elsewhere, but reviews/discussions of the present Dynamite comic series would be interesting, too.
I wish you the best of luck with this site, and I fervently thank you for keeping the spirit of Collinwood alive.
Bill Wilson
January 17, 2013
… and instantly after posting this, I see the blog posting of the latest comic. Please disregard!
Ed Gross
January 17, 2013
Thanks for the kind words, Bill. And I would say to you or anyone else reading these words, that if you’re interested in writing reviews of the Dynamite Comics or the Big Finish audio dramas and the like, please do let me know. I would really love to get some additional voices writing stories for this blog.
Adriana I. Pena
January 18, 2013
Ed, if we are going to spread out the net a bit wide, I am going to recommend a Canadian show “Lost Girl” about the adventures of a succubus in modern day Canada. I wonder how much the writers watched DS, since the main character, Bo, is an intriguing mixture of Barnabas and Victoria Winters. Like Barnabas he has a powerful hunger that is quite lethal until she learns to control it. Like Vicky, he is looking for her real parents, and ends up fidning out that her friend, Trick, who is far more powerful than he appears – he is fae royalty – is her grandfatehr.Her sidekick is a streetwise petty thief, and the two of them live in a run down house that lacks some proper walls. And she had a human doctor who apart from treating her, is a love interest…. It is an interesting reimagining, but of couse with a more contemporary sensilbity, which means a) that they are cool about bisexuality – hey, a succubus cannot turn down any meal and b) that the focus is not curing Bo’s condition, but getting her to accept and control it. Apart from that, it has the format of “monster of the week” or rather “fae of the week”
Ed Gross
January 18, 2013
Hi Adriana. I’m actually familiar with Lost Girl and that’s really not a bad idea. By any chance, would you want to do any writing for the site and maybe cover that show? It would certainly fit in the section “Spawn of Dark Shadows.”
I wouldn’t want to go wild covering outside things, but shows like Lost Girl, NBC’s upcoming production of Dracula and so on would fit nicely, I think.
Dirk Bevlin
January 31, 2013
I’m glad to hear that the serial killers are off the table, but I like the idea of a “Spawn of DS” section. To bring in traffic from other fandoms, and compare and contrast these newer shows with DS, could help newcomers to understand and appreciate DS, and hopefully increase our numbers.
Dirk Bevlin
January 31, 2013
Oh, and I hope you don’t limit the “Spawn of DS” section to simply vampires. I’d like to see coverage of werewolf stuff, witchcraft, man-made monster stuff, ghosts, anything that could be compared to DS. And not just current or upcoming shows, but older series that were influenced by DS as well, like Buffy/Angel, Forever Knight, etc.
Kat Newton
February 10, 2013
I’m surprised I haven’t seen any mention of Being Human on Syfy. It has a sexy vampire, werewolves, ghosts and witches. It’s really an excellent substitute for Dark Shadows. It’s missing the mansion, but it’s set in Boston and is very soap opera-ish.