Dark Shadows was never exactly a normal soap opera, but the gothic-tinged daytime drama did cling more or less to the genre’s standard conventions—dressed up with extra gloom—for its first few months. By the end of 1966, the strange goings-on at the Collinwood Estate and the adjoining town of Collinsport had turned paranormal, with the appearance of ghosts and ancient Egyptian death-cults. But it wasn’t until the following year, when the show introduced Jonathan Frid as the immortal vampire Barnabas Collins, that the show really went nuts—and not coincidentally, became a runaway hit. Collins quickly became the show’s main character, and Dark Shadows went ever more deranged, with parallel realities, Cthulhu cults, werewolves, and time travel all making it far and away the weirdest soap in history—at least until Passions showed up.

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Personally, I thought Passions was weirder. :lol:

It is tough to say whether "Dark Shadows" is the weirdest show in TV history, as weirdness is perceived differently by everyone. Both "Dark Shadows" and "Passions" are the weirdest serials I've ever seen.

Collins quickly became the show’s main character, and Dark Shadows went ever more deranged, with parallel realities, Cthulhu cults, werewolves, and time travel all making it far and away the weirdest soap in history—at least until Passions showed up.


You referred to Barnabus by only his last name just as a news reporter would refer to a person by only his or her last name after the first reference. Since there were many characters with the last name of Collins on "Dark Shadows", referring to the character by his first name or by both his first name and last name after the first reference would have been better.

Never thought it was weird, just a cool show.

It was undoubtedly "weird" at the time, but so much has come since then, it would be fairly normal by now. It's still a treasured memory, with an atmosphere and general tone that will NEVER be successfully recreated (are you listening, Tim Burton?).

I never considered it weird, but certainly unique and different, especially for the time when it was produced. Passions was just plain... silly... :lol: