After watching the rather lacking 2012 movie (I did somewhat enjoy it but to say it doesn't know what it was trying to be is an understatement). My brother started to watch the 1960's soap opera, he showed me only one episode and I didn't think anything of that. He then watched this and it sparked my interest. I watched the whole show separately and I enjoyed it.The basic premise for the show (if you don't know) is that the wealthy family of The Collins has been cursed for 2 centuries. a governess by the name of Victoria Winters arrives to tutor the rather troubled David Collins (played by an extremely young Joseph Gordon Levitt). Soon a relative from England shows up, Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) who turns out to be a vampire, locked in a coffin for the entire time the family's been cursed.Like all shows with a short number of episodes I feel this one never really got a chance (usually things pick up around the last episode or just subsequent random "villains of the week") I feel that about this one especially when I looked at background information on it (I do that with every TV Show I have ever seen). For those who don't know, around the time this was made America was broadcasting about The Gulf War and moved the time-slot of this show around like a seizure. Meaning people who watched it have no idea when the next episode will be on. When the network saw low ratings (Surprise, surprise!) they pulled the plug.The acting is great from Ben Cross and just about everybody (with the exception of Joseph Gordon Levitt). The technical side of this show runs rings around the 60's soap (thankfully!). If you don't think all that much of the 60's soap and the 2012 movie then give this a try. I definitely find it the best adaptation.

Ben Cross does a wonderful job as Barnabas Collins and so do the major characters. Pretty good sets and effects for a low-budget mini-series. That being said, Jim Fyfe ("Willie Loomis") is extremely obnoxious as Barnabas' "handyman". He is about as annoying as JarJar Binks is in "Star Wars I." This version takes a left turn to 1790 before finally coming to a satisfying conclusion. Too much time is spent on the witch trial. This first "remake" (in 1991) is certainly not as much fun as the afternoon soap, and the Universal Monsters don't make "guest" appearances here. It basically follows the original storyline of the original soap: Dr. Hoffman tries to cure Barnabas of his "vampire condition". Originally intended as an on-going series; note the "cliffhanger" ending. Should have been tightened to a 6-hour series.Caution: Extremely graphic and bloody when compared to the original "soap" version. Unrated. Should be rated PG-13 for disturbing images of blood and gore (a lot of red sauce). Nicely packaged in slim "wallets" by MGM. (Do not confuse this with the recent Tim Burton version.)

I'll admit I'm a fan of Dark Shadows, and when it comes to revivals I'm always skeptical it's always a hit or miss affair as much as movie remakes are. But this show didn't disappoint me, it really met my expectations and more, I feel this is one of the best revivals I've seen just about on par with the "Battlestar Galatica" revival. But the other thing is I saw this show when I was about ten years old, so if it wasn't for this show I never would've known about the original show "Dark Shadows".And it makes me all the more sad and teed off of the fact this show's lifespan was prematurely cut, if this show was on for the long haul it probably would of been the next big thing. We could of seen some of the other characters from the mythos like Quentin Collins, Nicolas Blair, and others. As well as had some new story lines, and not just retreads of the old ones; so yeah a lost opportunity.This show did what most good/great remakes should do; remodel everything to make things a little up to date, improve upon some areas that need some improvement, while staying true to the spirit and stand on it's own at the same time. I really love the production value, it still has the Gothic setting and tone but there is an even grander and vaster sense because everything and everyone isn't confined in just one space all the time. It's almost like this was what the original wanted to be in production sense, Collinwood in this show is foreboding but also beautiful at the same time, it has the mysterious foreboding but romantic sensibility about it. There was even some special effects in some places which actually are up to par, where in the original the special effects are terrible. The music is great which was one of the best things about the original, they even play the theme song (though slightly remixed) which has always been one of my favorite TV theme songs ever.But of course what makes this show is in it's characters and drama, the cast is great most to all were spot on with their characters, they didn't mimic the characters all had their own unique quality which made them feel like the same characters but were different at the same time. But also feel human because they make good and bad choices and sometimes there's a gray area where certain things they do can put you at odd.Ben Cross I thought was great as Barnabas Collins he my favorite version of the character (in my book), he still had those characteristics that make him all the more sympathetic with the charisma and menace to boot, As usual Barnabas is someone that is broken, he really doesn't want to do bad things but his vampiric nature drives him to divulge into his dark side.It's pretty much the same thing for the others, Lyontte Anthony I thought was good as Angelic she is still that villainous I don't completely hate and hot. I really like Dr. Julia Holfman played by cult actress Barbra Steele yeah I really like this actress since I like the Italian horror film Mario Bava's "Black Sabaath" she was perfect for the role, she is as usual dark, an intuitive nature, and does develop a love for Barnabas, so as usual my opinion on both Barnabas and her together hasn't changed. Adrian Paul as Jebadah even though it was a small role he was great, let alone the fact I'm a "Highlander" fan.And of course Victoria Winters played by Joanna Going is great and she's my favorite version of the character (in my book) because she a bit more aggressive. I remember as a kid having a crush on this actress because she's fraking hot. I even loved it when she played the Jossette role, it was just beautiful.The story telling style was still intact but it wasn't as lengthy and has improved in pacing. There was a non linear storytelling style sometimes with the flashbacks that add more depth to characters much like with Alan Moore's "Watchman" or TV show "Lost". The story arcs which were all the more intriguing and made me want to know more whenever it ended on a cliff hanger it's true they were slight retreads but done right where they didn't imitate their predecessor and were probably just a starting point a way to establish the mythology and introduce newbies like myself at the time to the franchise.I really loved it when the retold my favorite arc in the original series 1790 which of course was the origin and tragic story of how Collinwood and Barnabas came to be. Most of what happened in the arc was emotional and sad; I knew what was going to happen but at the same time I didn't want it to happen.I really have nothing bad at all to say about this show, well this is just a minor complaint and it's just my opinion. I didn't like how Maggie Evans was handled, she lacks that vibrant, naive, charismatic quality which to me was always the best thing about her, the lack of it make her almost a bit wooden. Don't get me wrong in the revival she's not a bad character but she's not the Maggie Evans I know and love. Also Angelique isn't really in this show long enough, but due to the show's run she didn't have a chance to be.Well, I have nothing left to say so I highly recommend the Dark Shadows revival, I just hope the upcoming silver screen film will be just as great. Collinwood is still that dark and beautiful place I want to revisit again and again.Rating 3 and a half stars

I was very disappointed with the Dark Shadows Revival. I hoped that it would be something completely new that would take up where the original Dark Shadows left off. Instead, it was a combination of a remake of the movie 'House of Dark Shadows' and a remake of the second season of the original series. I don't think it's any wonder that it only lasted one season.However, it did have good casting. Ben Cross was a good choice for the role of Barnabas Collins. He filled Jonathan Frid's shoes very well. Also, Barbara Steele was a good choice for the role of Dr. Julia Hoffman. She had the right personality for it. She also had the beauty that Grayson Hall lacked. She also was a good choice for the role of Countess Du Pres, Josette's aunt. Joanna Going was perfect for the role of Victoria Winters and Josette Du Pres. She's a very beautiful girl as well as talented.