Now, before we begin, I do have to say that the first few episodes are a big jumbled - at least to me. There are a number of new characters, new voices, and it gets a bit difficult to tell them apart and figure out who is who and what is going on. I'm not sure if this is because the episodes are written by different people, which obviously creates a different feel for each episode, or if it's because there are a number of actors involved who are not from the original Dark Shadows cast, and so it takes a bit of getting used to in order to differentiate their voices. Whatever the reason, once you get through the first three or so episodes, the story really starts to pick up the pace, the actors get into their groove, and it really begins to feel like Dark Shadows once again...
The story begins with David and Amy preparing for their wedding. But, as we all know, things are not going to go exactly as planned. Someone is out to ensure that Amy and David never get married. Barnabas returns to Collinsport, with Dr. Julia Hoffman in tow! Of course, Grayson Hall passed away years ago, so actress Julie Newmar (yes, THAT Julie Newmar) steps into the role, and those who listened to "The Curse of Shurafa" audio story will recall that Julia was transferred into another body - and Julie Newmar provides the voice of that new body! It's a great way to bring back such a wonderful character (just as they did with Barnabas), and Newmar definitely provides listeners with the feel of Dr. Hoffman.
The first half of the story provides the build-up (including a hospital explosion that cuts of Barnabas' blood supply and results in the death of Cody's father), and while there are some subtle hints of things to come, it isn't until the second volume of Bloodline that things really hit full force! Just as the wedding begins, David disappears - and no one at the wedding even remembers him! Why was Amy wearing a wedding gown? Why was everyone there? And who in the world is David Collins? It turns out that David was thrown into the past - back to when his ancestor, Quentin Collins, was about to be born. But what happens when Quentin's mother suddenly falls in love with David - will he inadvertently change time?
It turns out, though, that David is not the only one who disappears and is forgotten. One by one, members and friends of the Collins family begin to disappear. Harry Cunningham is thrown back in time...as is Jacqueline Tate...and Lela Collins...and Cyrus Longworth-Jennings...and Vivian Bell...and Quentin Collins and Amy Jennings...and others! Each is thrust into a different time, where they have to be careful to avoid entanglement with the people of that time so as to not alter the timeline and destroy their own future! But what happens when Jacqueline is accused of murder and put on trial? And Cyrus is haunted by the ghost of Jenny Collins? And poor Harry, who finds himself in the hospital being treated by none other than Cody's father? And Lela faces off against the misguided and vile Reverend Trask, who is hell-bent on condemning Victoria Winters as a witch? And Quentin and Amy find themselves in the near past, where Amy has the opportunity to protect her son from harm?
Time travel was a big staple in the original series, so it fits in nicely that the writers use multiple levels of time travel in this story to create a huge central tale of vengeance on the Collins family. It is also fun to see the return of Rosier, who first hides within Cody, offering him his heart's desire - but who is ultimately taken by Amy, who uses Rosier to try and put an end to all of the turmoil taking place at Collinwood. But, it is ultimately Barnabas' own bloodlust that brings everything to a crashing resolution, as he not only feeds on Cody, but also brutually attacks, feeds on, and kills a young couple in Collinsport! It is this feeding frenzy and Dr. Hoffman's desire to protect and help Barnabas that leads to the big revelation of who has been doing all of this....
I'm certainly not going to spoil the big reveal - as it definitely ties in to a previous audio story; however, I will say that Big Finish give fans a HUGE payoff with this story by providing listeners and fans with something we never thought we'd see (or rather, hear!) again - the voices of Joan Bennett, Thayer David, Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, and Dennis Patrick!!!! I can't even begin to tell you the giddiness that came over me as I heard their voices in the story. Now, I'm not about to spoil anything by explaining how they play into the story, but I will say this - some are flashbacks in the past, while others are actually in the current story! So, if you are a fan of the original series, this is the one audio drama that you cannot miss!
I understand that the producers have to introduce new characters to slowly take the place of the actors who are either getting too old to continue or who have passed on - so that the Dark Shadows legacy can continue in the years to come - but I do wish that more of the original cast had been used in this - Kathryn Leigh Scott was barely used at all, as was Lara Parker. David Selby and Nancy Barrett probably saw the most screen time, which wasn't really all that much, with Marie Wallace and Christopher Pennock coming in a close second. I still have more of the anthology audios to listen to, so hopefully the original cast will show up in more of those.
In any event, Bloodline was a successful continuation of the Dark Shadows saga, and I can't wait to see what Big Finish has in store for fans next!
RATING: 8 time-surviving tape recorders out of 10 for keeping these characters and stories alive with a true Dark Shadows feel for fans like me!
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