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Post by kimalysong on Dec 30, 2015 15:07:24 GMT
So I am interested in this range but haven't tried it because there is so much of it Im not sure where to start. Any recommendations for a newbie?
Note I watched some dark shadows a very long time ago. Maybe I was sick from school or or vacation. But I really remember nothing about it so consider myself entirely new to the series.
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Post by randomjc on Dec 30, 2015 15:16:25 GMT
I came into this range blind, too. Having no idea what Dark Shadow was. I got Beyond the Grave as a whim. It's not bad place, it's found footage, and you can tell there is some ongoing stuff with people like Maggie, but it's not the full focus of the story. (And it's one of the few audiobooks that lead up to Bloodlust.)
I'd also recommend House by the Sea. Colin Baker alone for an hour, it's one of the creepiest stories to me.
On a side note, has anyone brought over the really nice guide list from the Previous forum?
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Post by Zagreus on Dec 30, 2015 15:42:05 GMT
I recommend starting at Dramatic Reading #3 and just going in release order until The Darkest Shadow (number 44), then hopping over to the full casts through Bloodlust, then hopping back over for the last six dramatic readings.
The early readings are plenty expository, explaining what's going on and who people are while filling you in on some of the more important beats from the show (as far as the audios are concerned). After the first set or two they start heavily branching into new terrritory and you, the listener, are introduced to new stuff as it comes along with everybody else.
Alternatively, you could go for a chronological listen-through and follow along through my chronological listen-through thread. I found that it worked perfectly well when introducing plot beats and new characters.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2015 15:56:58 GMT
I know BF have used "It's a perfect jumping on point" for so many ranges and releases that it's hard to believe most of the time but BELIEVE the hype that Bloodlust is not just a good jumping on point - it's a great one.
Try the free ep on the site and remember - things get a LOT stranger after it.
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Rob Morris
Big Finish Creative Team
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Post by Rob Morris on Dec 30, 2015 16:57:26 GMT
I would also agree that "Bloodlust" is the perfect place to start. Its designed for new listeners really and is a great mystery series.
A good trilogy which provides backstory to Bloodlust, though, is "House by the Sea" then "Beyond the Grave" and then "Harvest of Souls". They all build up on what happened to Maggie and Kate who are key players in Bloodlust, but you may care more *after* you've heard the miniseries. Plus Colin Baker is in all three and is magnificent.
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Post by kimalysong on Dec 30, 2015 17:39:17 GMT
Thanks for the help guys I've been interested in Bloodlust ever since I saw so many people naming it one of the best releases of 2015 but I wasn't sure if I could go into it as a newbie. Already downloaded the free episode so I will check it out soon and if I enjoy it I will buy more. Going from a No. 3 release to a No 44 release is a bit overwhelming to me however. More Colin Baker is always a good thing.
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Post by omega on Dec 30, 2015 22:29:04 GMT
You can try the Tony and Cassandra arc, which goes through The Death Mask, The Voodoo Amulet, The Last Stop, The Phantom Bride and The Devil Cat. The Death Mask is a perfect introduction to the characters of Tony and Cassandra, and the whole arc is pretty stand-alone.
Again, I have I recommend The House by the Sea. Both that and Bloodlust episode 1 use the stranger comes to town trope.
The arc of stories released in 2013 (The Phantom Bride, Beneath the Veil, The Enemy Within, The Lucifer Gambit, The Flip Side and Beyond the Grave) are all fantastic and give you the feeling that Collinsport is a community with several different stories happening around the same time, as well as the first five stories leading up to Beyond the Grave. It's at this point that Big Finish really stepped up developing their own continuity, and you don't need much background to enjoy the story.
Speak No Evil, with Arthur Darvill, is another highlight. The story is strong and stand-alone.
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bobod
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Post by bobod on Dec 31, 2015 15:32:32 GMT
Absolutely Bloodlust. Totally get-in-able. And House by the Sea, as recommended above. Both stories feature new characters in town and we meet the town through them. Then if you like House by the Sea then follow this run 1973That '1973' run and the Bloodlust series are - to my mind - the core (and heart) of BF DS, and mix TV characters with new ones creating a new world. I wouldn't do the suggested starting at the beginning (#3) - the earlier ones are often very... sedate... and very aimed at people who already know the show. Same with the earliest full casts. You can always backtrack. I had to do later audios before I could do the earlier ones. And as much as I enjoy the Tony and Cassandra audios, they're almost a side range (spin-off series?) so I wouldn't suggest getting into them first.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2015 22:03:23 GMT
My first Dark Shadows experience involved one of the more continuity heavy audios - 'The Night Whispers.' Didn't put me off one bit, in fact, such references simply made me want to explore more of this stranger and wonderful world. Since then, I've consumed everything DS-related I can get my hands on. So my advice would be - select a story that appeals to you, and just jump straight in. Even if there are continuity references, there'll also be a tremendous story in there to drag you in. Enjoy!
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 7, 2016 17:55:49 GMT
So listened to the free first ep of Blood Lust and interested in hearing more but is there a difference between the 2.99 individual eps and the set that has multiple eps for 20.00?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2016 17:57:51 GMT
So listened to the free first ep of Blood Lust and interested in hearing more but is there a difference between the 2.99 individual eps and the set that has multiple eps for 20.00? Not at all. The boxsets are a one stop shop for all you need (though there are some awesome podcasts featuring Robert, Joe and others that we can link to you when you're done!)
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Post by omega on Jan 7, 2016 21:10:11 GMT
So listened to the free first ep of Blood Lust and interested in hearing more but is there a difference between the 2.99 individual eps and the set that has multiple eps for 20.00? It's all the same content. The Box Sets simply collect episodes 1-6 and 7-13 respectively, and are also available as a physical copy. Great to see another person hooked on good quality drama, and there is lots more drama to come. The free story Snowflake is a prequel/intro to Bloodlust, and hints at some of the characters and developments in Bloodlust.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2016 21:16:02 GMT
So listened to the free first ep of Blood Lust and interested in hearing more but is there a difference between the 2.99 individual eps and the set that has multiple eps for 20.00? It's all the same content. The Box Sets simply collect episodes 1-6 and 7-13 respectively, and are also available as a physical copy. Great to see another person hooked on good quality drama, and there is lots more drama to come. The free story Snowflake is a prequel/intro to Bloodlust, and hints at some of the characters and developments in Bloodlust. And if you buy the boxset, Snowflake is in there too, as are the character introductions. While, yeah, you can get these free anyway as DLs, it's nice to have them on disc for a "complete" Bloodlust..
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Post by Trace on Jan 8, 2016 3:19:29 GMT
So listened to the free first ep of Blood Lust and interested in hearing more but is there a difference between the 2.99 individual eps and the set that has multiple eps for 20.00? And it naturally follows since you're such a fan of Dorian Gray...me too! The two ranges have such a similar feel, except for Dorian's more adult content.
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Post by barnabaslives on Jan 8, 2016 19:41:57 GMT
And it naturally follows since you're such a fan of Dorian Gray...me too! The two ranges have such a similar feel, except for Dorian's more adult content. Indeed, that's how I got to be a Dorian fan. I bought a couple of Dorian audios in preparation for his cameo in The Darkest Shadow, and immediately felt so right at home that I ended up buying the rest of the Dorian range as promptly as possible. I wonder if London's Burning or The Creeping Fog would be good picks to be one of someone's first Dark Shadows audios? Both have (IMHO) great performances by classic DW cast, and I think both of them are also rather straightforward stories. Either one is probably good for getting to know Quentin better as well (I'm still not sure if I think The Darkest Shadow casts the most flattering light on him). I wouldn't do the suggested starting at the beginning (#3) - the earlier ones are often very... sedate... and very aimed at people who already know the show. Same with the earliest full casts. You can always backtrack. I had to do later audios before I could do the earlier ones. Hmmm, I agree that the earliest audios might not be the best place to start, but I think moody and atmospheric (not that unlike the OS at times) might be slightly more accurate a description? I certainly don't think of the earlier audios as uneventful, at least.
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Rob Morris
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Post by Rob Morris on Jan 8, 2016 20:21:07 GMT
I wonder if London's Burning or The Creeping Fog would be good picks to be one of someone's first Dark Shadows audios? Both have (IMHO) great performances by classic DW cast, and I think both of them are also rather straightforward stories. Either one is probably good for getting to know Quentin better as well (I'm still not sure if I think The Darkest Shadow casts the most flattering light on him). It really doesn't. London's Burning and The Creeping Fog are excellent suggestions for any Doctor Who fans. The actors play such different parts and are both incredibly impressive in their new roles.
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Post by elkawho on Jan 9, 2016 0:24:39 GMT
London's Burning is really good and sets up some characters that are relevant later in the series and I LOVE The Creeping Fog. Probably one of my favorites of the audiobooks. And you don't need to know that much back story to follow them. In fact, London's Burning is structured similarly to Dorian in that it is a two-hander told through the eyes of one character who narrates the story.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Jan 9, 2016 1:36:13 GMT
London's Burning is really good and sets up some characters that are relevant later in the series and I LOVE The Creeping Fog. Probably one of my favorites of the audiobooks. And you don't need to know that much back story to follow them. In fact, London's Burning is structured similarly to Dorian in that it is a two-hander told through the eyes of one character who narrates the story. Second & thirds on both those titles. I grew up with Dark Shadows as a kid and what Big Finish has done with the franchise is nothing short of amazing.
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Post by kimalysong on Jan 9, 2016 1:45:26 GMT
Thanks for all these recommendation. Certainly hoping Big Finish will do a massive Dark Shadows sale for the 50th so I can pick up a bunch.
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Post by bohnny on Jan 9, 2016 6:09:23 GMT
My first Dark Shadows experience involved one of the more continuity heavy audios - 'The Night Whispers.' Didn't put me off one bit, in fact, such references simply made me want to explore more of this stranger and wonderful world. Since then, I've consumed everything DS-related I can get my hands on. So my advice would be - select a story that appeals to you, and just jump straight in. Even if there are continuity references, there'll also be a tremendous story in there to drag you in. Enjoy! This is my experience too. I've never seen dark shadows and my sole exposure is via BF. I was probably missing a fair bit early on, but it was intriguing enough for me to push on. I've been relistening in 'arcs' (as per the BF page) and now I'm more familiar with the material I'm definitely getting more out of it. I agree that the 1973 arc is a good place to start from a 'DS at BF' point of view.
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