Dark Shadows 47 - In the Twinkling of an Eye

I liked this one a lot. It's fun going into these and not knowing what to expect at all which was definitely the case here. I really liked how experimental this one was. It had some lovely moments for both Jessica and Jackie together but unlike the first two stories Jackie didn't just get to hear the story she got to take part and in fact played a pivotal role.

Jessica wasn't my favorite in Bloodlust but I definitely felt engaged in her story here and cared about what happened to her. Admittedly I felt I cared more here than when she was attacked in Bloodlust. But that is of course because in Bloodlust I had a whole bunch of characters to care about and certain characters will shine more than others. But here I felt I really got to know Jessica and not just as Ed's mother (her first husband seemed pretty awful but not sure of those were true memories...I'm assuming they were).

As for Jackie I like that we also get to know her outside her relationship with Cody/Harry and her mom. Although I did enjoy Jackie a lot in Bloodlust I also felt her character developed a lot here. And I can identify with her a lot about loving your friends who are in love with each other but also feeling like the third wheel. Although I did love Jessica's message about loving yourself. A very important message.


Finally Nate I had no clue who he could possibly be through the entire audio. But now he reminds me of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes: Nothing in the Dark. Even though the conclusion was here was very different.

But I thought Nate was an interesting character. We don't want him to succeed but he's not evil. He's just doing what's right to him. Hence changing this character's appearance from how it usually is works for me. Because he isn't necessarily something to fear. It depends on the time & circumstances.

I agree with you all! This one is such a sweet and lovely story--about friendship between two unlikely pals--and a wonderful newcomer who affects both of their lives. Nate is so likable, despite his occasional flippant answers, that when his true motive is revealed we still like him! The background into Jess's first marriage gives us context for her and Ed, and I loved the bond between her and Jackie!

Part of the strength of the original series was the number of empowered female characters. Sure Barnabas would occasionally nip the neck of a usually unnamed "doxy," but he was always working with and against so many empowered women across time (concurrent and parallel). The first two stories are great, but it's the narrative of a man telling a man about his exploits with a women, so it was refreshing to have a story that passes the Bechdel test (two named female characters having a conversation talking about something other than a man). While I know that Lela talks to Holly about the record and Julia to Nessira, these are such little moments that In the Twinkling of an Eye was a wonderful reversal where there is no moment no moment of a named male character talking to another gent at all. Sure Jackie and Jessica talk a lot about a boy, Nate, but they also talk about Jessica's recovery, the Blue Whale business, and a few other things.

In addition, this story was more about seduction than paranormal activities. Sure Nate uses dreams and does something to push away awkward tee shirt questions, but his abilities seem more indirect. It wouldn't be too hard to rewrite this to make Nate just a simple normal determined murder (creepy thought, but you know what I mean- hopefully). Additionally, even though we don't want Nate to succeed, we can in a sense empathize with what he's trying to do.

The setting was wonderful for this one. Bloodlust is such a fast-paced story that it can be hard to have much focus on any but the biggest players. For audio fans dating back to Return to Collinwood, Jessica's attack is a big deal, but until this audio we've very limited time with her. I hope that they find ways to keep Jessica Griffin around for many more audios. Plus the last two shows give us little about what is happening since Bloodlust. We know that Collinwood and those who live there are around, still making breakfast and going out for drinks, but little about the rest of town. It was great having little moments about the town and beach as well as passing references to Bloodlust itself.

Variety is certainly the spice of life and these audios have done a great job with offering a little bit of everything for all sorts of fans. Can't wait for next week when basically the entire audio is a woman talking to a woman.

Some of my favorite villains sort of start off as just something calm. A mother hoping to be reunited with her son right around the holiday season. A soft-spoken old man reminiscent of his time in the military. A couple with a particularly needy new baby. Children playing in the attic. A brother-in-law calling upon his new family. You are given a little time to appreciate them as something other than a villain and also for a good soap opera, you're watching them, waiting for the other shoe to finally drop.

I only just read this properly, and how right you are.

I guess - pragmatically - it's borne of the hybrid nature of Dark Shadows - the soap opera of ordinary(ish) lives coupled with the need to find an ad-break/episode cliffhanger.

God I want to listen to this all over again, but I have rewrites to do...