Dark Shadows: The Beginning: Collection 2 (1966)

Slowly progressing towards a more Gothic / supernatural feel, Dark Shadows: The Beginning: Collection 2 progresses the introduction of main characters and finally begins to reveal more of the secrets in the Dark Shadows saga. Unfortunately Collection 2 does not prove to be as exciting and enthralling as Collection 1 with the issue of constantly revisiting conversations over and over again happening way too much in these 35 episodes.

This collection of episodes starts of fairly well as it once again hints at the existence of ghosts at Collinwood, although as of yet none have been physically seen. But all that is quickly overshadowed by yet another controversy involving Roger Collins and old ex-friend Burke Devlin as old memories a decades old slue of memories begin to rekindle new fires. It's a controversy that stirs up so much emotion that it leads to the death and possible murder of one of Collinsport's most beloved citizens. While an interesting twist it's a story arc which takes up the entire collection and ends up being stretched thin rather quickly by repetitious conversations, some of which took place multiple times in Collection 1 and multiple times in this collection.

It's quite clear the writers are still trying to find their bearings in the series and figure out exactly where they want to go, too much time is devoted to a rather simple story arc which never seems to end and definitely doesn't require 70 episodes to build up to. For me this repetition has caused some characters to really annoy me, especially some of the more minor characters whom have been given quite a bit of attention. Sam Evans the town's local painter and his daughter Maggie are two characters who are given way to much screen time and never seen to add much to the on going to the story. Every scene between them is exactly the same, Maggie tries to get her father to reveal what's bothering him and he always ends up losing his temper and telling her to leave him alone. After about five times of that happening in every other episode it gets very annoying because it's clear this is nothing but a stall tactic to lengthen the particular story arc. Thankfully the final episode progresses the ghost aspect of the series, and hopefully this is a preview of what Collection 3 is to offer. But as for this set it will take a little patience to get through because the progression of the story is very tedious at times.

6/10