bobod
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Post by bobod on Mar 21, 2016 1:07:44 GMT
How is '1973' going? Have you seen there's a big Dark Shadows sale on this weekend? If you're enjoying 1973, you're at the very least going to want Panic, The Curse of Shurafa, In The Twinkling of an Eye, Deliver Us From Evil, Tainted Love and ...And Red All Over so you can find out what happened after Bloodlust (and in some cases what happened after 1973) I've succumbed tothe temptation & brought all the titles you have mentioned, are you psychic by any chance? No just a bad influence. Matthew Waterhouse says buy The Creeping Fog if you haven't yet. He is also a bad influence.
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759
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Post by bobod on Mar 21, 2016 1:09:06 GMT
So is The Skin Walkers next for the group listen? I'm also wondering....no announcement yet, huh? It sure is. I'll set up a thread.
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759
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Post by bobod on Apr 12, 2016 9:17:20 GMT
House By The Sea has to be one of the most nerve shredding tension filled stories I've ever heard, even my goosebumps had goosebumps. Colin Baker is simply magnificent in this story & I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a surreal scary audio drama, listen to it in the dark though for added atmosphere. Have you heard any others since dong that one?
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Post by Timelord007 on Apr 12, 2016 15:58:55 GMT
House By The Sea has to be one of the most nerve shredding tension filled stories I've ever heard, even my goosebumps had goosebumps. Colin Baker is simply magnificent in this story & I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a surreal scary audio drama, listen to it in the dark though for added atmosphere. Have you heard any others since dong that one? I brought several but not had time to hear them yet with current family dramas I'm a bit behind.
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Post by omega on Apr 12, 2016 21:12:21 GMT
Have you heard any others since dong that one? I brought several but not had time to hear them yet with current family dramas I'm a bit behind. Is there anything like your mother being cagey about your father, a previously unheard of cousin arriving who bears an uncanny resemblance to an old family member and a kid who talks to ghosts whose mother happens to be a Phoenix?
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Post by lurkerintheshadows on Apr 21, 2016 15:38:02 GMT
I've just marathon-read this thread, having finished my first listen to 'Bloodlust' last night. I loved the idea of the serial nature of the series when it was first announced but chose not to get it then as I wasn't as up to date on the other 'Dark Shadows' releases as I wanted to be (lack of funds rather than lack of interest)... though having become obsessed with the original series during its later episodes thanks to the Sci-Fi Channel 3am repeats in the 90s (I succumbed to the series' weird charms during the 1995 flash-forward/Gerard & Daphne mystery) and having watched chunks of it in a bizarre order (the early Barnabas episodes up to partway through 1795 when it first came to DVD, then the 1897 and Leviathan stuff following the 'Haunting of Collinwood' compilation/condensed edition DVD), I'm used to experiencing DS in non-traditional order.
I'm finally working my way through the series in order thanks to the coffin box-set so I'm back in 1795 again, and my whole DS obsession has been set loose and I've been blazing through the audios, having returned to the beginning here. And, having loved the way the seemingly stand-alone earlier releases have connected in intriguing ways, and how the more serial elements have taken prominence during the 1973 sequence, I've finally been able to listen to 'Bloodlust'...
Good grief, that was fantastic!!!
I've seen a lot of praise for the series (and somehow managed to avoid spoilers), and it has all been so well-deserved. I loved the serial/soap opera nature, and those cliffhangers. The mix of the original cast and characters with some of those characters created in previous BF releases and a cast of new characters worked really well, and I was particularly surprised by the end of episode one - just like the 1960 audience would have thought Janet Leigh was the heroine of 'Psycho', we had lovely Melody Devereaux, and her husband who sounded so like Roger Davis to my ear that the couple seemed a perfect fit for Collinsport.
It would take me several pages to list all my thoughts on the series, so I'll reign myself in and just mention a few of the things that particularly pleased me;
Any doubts about bringing in actors more familiar from other ranges were long quashed by the brilliant performances of Louise Jameson, Colin Baker and Arthur Darvill in previous DS releases. And, of course, Matthew Waterhouse in 'The Creeping Fog'. And while I was never an Adric fan in 'Doctor Who', I have nothing but praise for Matthew as Andrew. It's a magnificent turn, and Andrew is such a flesh-creepingly manipulative and domineering sod that he qualifies for one of the more prominent monsters in Collinsport of the era. Is it just my imagination, or does Matthew seem to be channelling Colin Baker a little in his playing of Andrew?
There were one or two voices I was taken completely by surprise to hear, and while I began to hope as the story progressed, a long hoped for conclusion to a cliffhanger I wasn't sure would ever be resolved. And, even more excitingly, a flashback to events whose aftermath set the stage for the earliest BF DS release.
A sympathetic Trask? Who knew such a thing was possible, as the various Trasks are so deliciously loathsome in the series. Jerry Lacy continues to amaze. (I also wonder if the Reverend Hartswood was the man who conducted the funeral we see in the parallel time version of events that is 'House of Dark Shadows'.)
The 'big baby'! Loved it, then the additional twist concerning the curse. And the whole new young Collinsport crew really flesh out the town.
That creepy music every time we went near the mine (and the mine itself, which was such a creepy 'presence', looming over the town). And some lovely uses of Robert Cobert's original cues. I was delighted to hear the dream music make a fleeting appearance.
The town meeting... Whoops, I mean 'special meeting'... and the clash between Maggie and Rhonda, and the whole move toward blood tests and so on made this feel a little like the Collinsport version of Marvel's 'Civil War', with supernatural creatures in the place of superheroes.
Too many quiet character moments to mention.
The Trinity! I've totally adjusted to hearing Andrew Collins as Barnabas, and the scenes with the vampire, the witch and the werewolf crackle with energy.
Mentions of characters who must, sadly, remain unheard, Roger, Liz, Joe, Julia, that just strengthened the links to the original series.
A very natural progression for Maggie, finally pushed to her limits, and Kathryn Leigh Scott plays it for everything it's worth.
Oh, there's so much more, and after I've listened to the next batch of six audiobooks, I'll be listening to the whole series all over again before the 50th Anniversary Special. And having learned from my mistake in not hearing 'Bloodlust' serially, I certainly won't be missing out on 'Bloodline' as soon as it's released. I believe the phrase I'm looking for here begins with, 'Once bitten...'
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Post by joehart1962 on Apr 22, 2016 4:26:41 GMT
And having learned from my mistake in not hearing 'Bloodlust' serially, I certainly won't be missing out on 'Bloodline' as soon as it's released. I believe the phrase I'm looking for here begins with, 'Once bitten...' Listening to "Bloodlust" serially, via download, twice a week as new episodes were unveiled was a blast. I would rush home from work at night, download the latest and sit enthralled -- much as I rushed home from school to watch DS every day when it first aired!
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
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Post by bobod on Apr 22, 2016 8:28:46 GMT
Oh, there's so much more, and after I've listened to the next batch of six audiobooks, I'll be listening to the whole series all over again before the 50th Anniversary Special. And having learned from my mistake in not hearing 'Bloodlust' serially, I certainly won't be missing out on 'Bloodline' as soon as it's released. I believe the phrase I'm looking for here begins with, 'Once bitten...' Great write up.
Had you heard the 1973 audios already?
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Post by lurkerintheshadows on Apr 22, 2016 9:06:37 GMT
Oh, there's so much more, and after I've listened to the next batch of six audiobooks, I'll be listening to the whole series all over again before the 50th Anniversary Special. And having learned from my mistake in not hearing 'Bloodlust' serially, I certainly won't be missing out on 'Bloodline' as soon as it's released. I believe the phrase I'm looking for here begins with, 'Once bitten...' Great write up.
Had you heard the 1973 audios already?
I had, but I hadn't heard anything post 'Beyond the Grave', so it was very interesting to pick up on the aftermath of that. I'd also missed a few of the earlier ones, too. But whereas before I'd sort of picked and chosen in random order depending on what suited my taste (Like buying 'The Path of Fate' first out of the dramatic readings because the staircase through time was one of the first things from the series I'd fallen in love with), it was with the 1973 stories that I really picked up the desire to listen to the releases in order. I'd initially listened to 'Beyond the Grave' before the earlier releases in that run (I had just written a radio script about a haunted broadcast when BtG was announced, so I was keen to check I wasn't inadvertently treading the same ground), and while I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't actually feel like I was missing out on any detail, I realised how much richer a listen it was once I'd heard the events leading up to it. Listening to the 1973 run again was even more rewarding. The beauty of the DS releases is that they're so richly written that there are new things to find in revisiting them. For future listening I'll probably end up choosing my own arcs and crossover points, but it has been fun with some of these to listen in release order without too much foreknowledge and then find the connections as the stories play out.
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Post by lurkerintheshadows on Apr 27, 2016 17:07:36 GMT
I think, after a few days of letting it sit and glimmer in the shadowy recesses of my mind, that I know why the Strix incursion flashback in this series, coupled with the aftermath as seen all those years ago in 'The House of Despair' and the other early full-cast episodes, appeals so much to me - apart from the terrific writing and performances, that is, naturally.
The town of Collinsport haunted by a fear that people dare not speak of, the great house on the hill abandoned to the occupation of hostile spirits due to some past catastrophe, the family and their friends missing or presumed dead or driven mad... there's an echo in all this of the '1995 Flashforward' of the original series. And with the flashback to the event itself in 'Bloodlust', it's the listener, rather than Barnabas and Julia, that gets to go back through time to witness the events that led up to this disaster-stricken Collinsport.
These were the exact events that got me hooked on the show way back when, and although this isn't exactly mirroring or referencing them deliberately, I feel a similar resonance in the audios to what I fell in love with decades ago. My word, the Big Finish team know how to do 'Dark Shadows' right!
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Post by barnabaslives on Apr 28, 2016 2:28:23 GMT
But whereas before I'd sort of picked and chosen in random order depending on what suited my taste (Like buying 'The Path of Fate' first out of the dramatic readings because the staircase through time was one of the first things from the series I'd fallen in love with) That was one of my very first Big Finish audios for the very same reason. Don't be deceived by the evil forces in that story, Quentin I was a true genius.
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Post by Trace on May 23, 2016 0:57:09 GMT
Any plans to start a new group listen any time soon? I know at one point we spoke of doing full-casts series 1 and 2.....
Perhaps we're taking a break to allow people to catch up, or has interest dwindled?
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Post by omega on May 23, 2016 1:11:06 GMT
I'm open to the first two full cast seasons. For me they're all audiobooks of temptation.
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759
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Post by bobod on May 23, 2016 8:48:36 GMT
Any plans to start a new group listen any time soon? I know at one point we spoke of doing full-casts series 1 and 2..... Perhaps we're taking a break to allow people to catch up, or has interest dwindled? There hadn't been much comment on the last couple of Quentin's so I was seeing if people were catching up. Or if we had ground to a halt. (And I'm still boPod-less whilst it's in for repair.)
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Post by Trace on May 23, 2016 22:52:08 GMT
Any plans to start a new group listen any time soon? I know at one point we spoke of doing full-casts series 1 and 2..... Perhaps we're taking a break to allow people to catch up, or has interest dwindled? There hadn't been much comment on the last couple of Quentin's so I was seeing if people were catching up. Or if we had ground to a halt. (And I'm still boPod-less whilst it's in for repair.) Got it! We can wait till your boPod is back in commission and revisit then. I'vd got the Dorian group listen in the meantime and will try to get some Survivors in, as well as my unabridged Dracula with Tim Curry, the Southern Reach Trilogy, and The Goldfinch (yes, sometimes I actually listen to non-Big Finish (gasp!). I also may try to finish the paperback (horrors!!) I've had going for months.
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bobod
Chancellery Guard
Likes: 2,759
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Post by bobod on May 24, 2016 8:35:37 GMT
Meanwhile I'm redoing Survivors (which I can do on my phone) getting ready for Series Four.
Now there would be a listenthru...
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Post by silverednickle on May 25, 2016 17:14:38 GMT
I'd be down for a relisten. I've actually been relistening to all the full-casts audios in anticipation of Bloodline. I'd be happy to listen yet again to really be up to date when all these amazing audios come out.
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Post by omega on Oct 18, 2016 7:45:30 GMT
I'm relistening to Bloodlust at the moment, and have finished episode 7, the meeting episode. I believe this is the most powerful episode because we're seeing the worst of the Collinsportians as their mob mentality overrules common sense. It reminds me of the current trump campaign, in that there's a leader who gets followers because they tap into an anger that normally wouldn't be socially acceptable to display. For the trump campaign, it's anti anything that isn't male, white and straight. With Maggie's group, it's indiscriminate discrimination against the supernatural and anyone who knowingly associates with them. The main tactic is generalisations and accusations of incompetence toward current authority figures despite the fact those authority figures are genuinely trying to help.
Ed is a ready made follower for this vigilantism. He's got an open grudge against Sheriff Rhonda Tate that he's been nursing for months, out of no fault of her own, and now has the perfect excuse to act upon it in a meaningful way.
There's major abuse of double standard as well in this episode. Maggie and those supporting her are able to get away with what Rhonda is harshly called out for, even though Rhonda is the only one to recognise and apologise for when she's crossed a line. No one calls Maggie out on the personal potshots taken at Rhonda, but even mention Maggie's trips to Windcliff or snap at Mike for once again going on about Melody (Rhonda deserved that rant at an ungrateful crowd IMO) and the crowd boos. Carolyn is able to make the part of this town argument work where it fails for Rhonda. It's quickly established that anyone who tries to speak up for her or call everyone else out on their bulls**t will get shut down while Maggie's supporters can get away with anything they want.
The real victims here are Rhonda, who is trying to do her job in a case that is both very tricky and the subject of much attention from a mob mentality crowd, and justice. The few people who are thinking clearly are either shouted at or ignored. Rhonda tries to see it from Maggie's perspective, but Maggie is still unable to provide any clear answers beyond "get out the flaming torches and pitch forks and get the ogre", despite that very strategy resulting only in an innocent man being badly hurt by one of Maggie's supporters the previous night.
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Post by omega on Oct 18, 2016 7:47:30 GMT
Since the Dorian listen-through has pretty much ended, will the full casts (series 1 and Kingdom of the Dead) start soon?
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Post by silverednickle on Oct 18, 2016 22:49:59 GMT
I'd be down (I feel like I'm always down). One of my friends tried out Snowflake per my insistence and really liked it, so I have a feeling I'll be working my way through the audios one way or another. For what it's worth, she really liked the Big Finish app, as do I. Now I can finally quickly download whichever ones I want without needing to bring my laptop along, except for the first season of audios, which I bought way back in 2007 when I was living in London.
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