Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 5 - Love Lives On

After a two-and-a-half year break, I finally had the chance to start listening to more of the Dark Shadows audio tales.  The CD player in my car had stopped working, so I was not able to listen to any CDs (driving is my best time to listen to them); but, now that I have a new (relatively speaking) car with a CD player that actually works, I can listen to the continuing stories of some of my favorite characters.  In a way, I'm glad I had the break, as it means I still have "new" stories to listen to - since Big Finish has not any new Dark Shadows audio stories in quite some time.  But, after this one, I still have one more audio tales collection, along with the Quentin/Maggie set of stories, and the three Tony & Cassandra Mysteries series - so I've got plenty more Dark Shadows goodness enjoy for months to come!

Love Lives On is the fifth collection of short audio tales (released in 2017), and this set features Professor Stokes, Gerard Stiles, Hallie Stokes, Jessica Griffin, and Sabrina & Cyrus Longworth.  Each story deals with love on some level - whether it's thought long-forgotten love, or the unknown desire for love, or sought after revenge for lost love, or a unfulfilled wish for more love.  And, in its usual way, each story builds upon the multitude of Dark Shadows audio stories that have come before, ever expanding the continuing stories of some of daytime drama's most popular Gothic heroes and villains...

 

"Tuesdays and Thursdays" features Matthew Waterhouse (best known for his role as Adric, one of Tom Baker's companions in the Doctor Who series back in the '70s) as Professor T. Eliot Stokes.  Written by Cody Schell, the story finds Professor Stokes attending an auction in order to bid on an item that he knows to be supernatural in nature.  But a mysterious woman at the auction outbids him, and Professor Stokes is determined to find out why.  It turns out the woman is a psychic, and she has had some very pointed visions ... and when Stokes runs into the woman again ... and again ... and again ... the two of them must work out the nature of these fated meetings.  I must say, Matthew Waterhouse has done an outstanding job assuming the role of Professor Stokes.  Thayer David, the actor who portrayed Stokes in the television show, had a very distinctive voice and manner of speaking, and while Waterhouse does not match it exactly, he does manage to make the character his own, and he gives listeners the feeling that he IS Professor Stokes.

"The Velvet Room" features James Storm as Gerard Stiles, returned from the dead, and also features Hallie Stokes (although, sadly, not performed by Kathleen Cody - these short tales only feature one actor in each).  Written by Antonio Rastelli, this story sees Hallie leading Gerard to New Orleans to investigate a potential supernatural force.  They discover an old warehouse that has been converted into something else entirely - a place where stories are more than they seem - and deals made with the owner come with a deadly price!  Gerard watches in horror as some new acquaintances pay the prices for their stories told, and as he thinks he and Hallie are about to escape, he finds that everything is not what he thought - and that his past may have very well caught up to him!  Storm gives the character of Gerard a mixture of good and evil, leaving listeners to debate as to whether he truly deserved the fate he received!

"Behind Closed Doors" features Marie Wallace as Jessica Griffin, the owner and bartender of The Blue Whale.  Written by Paul Phipps, the tale is one of past regrets, new love, and one's past never truly staying dead.  Jessica is happy about her impending nuptials with Willie Loomis, but some photos from their recent trip begin to take on an eerie life of their own - and before you know it, Jessica is forced to face a past she would have just as soon forgotten!  A former love is hell bent on coming back for her, and Jessica must not only face her past, but find a way to put it behind her and let it go once and for all!  Of the four stories on this CD, I think this was probably my favorite, as it deals with a subject I think most of us can identify with and turns it into a terrifying supernatural battle for freedom.

"The Suitcase" features Lisa Richards as Sabrina Longworth, the bride of Cyrus Longworth.  Written by Alan Flanagan, this final story of the CD centers around a mysterious woman who arrives in town with a suitcase that she never lets leave her sight.  The Longworths now own and run the Collinport Inn, and the woman shows up unexpectedly on their doorstep one day to rent a room.  Sabrina is uneasy for some unexplained reason, but Cyrus and the other townspeople seem to like the woman.  Soon enough, Sabrina sees through the facade and discovers that the woman is granting wishes that have the most devastating results!  Sabrina has to stop the woman before Cyrus makes a wish for something that could destroy their lives forever.  Richards reads this story with fervor, as you can hear the anxiety in her voice build as the story progresses - first leading the listener to wonder if Sabrina is just imagining things in her own mind because of her past, but ultimately hitting the high note as Sabrina reveals the woman for who - and what! - she truly is.

While the stories all deal with love in one fashion or another, they also deal with considerable psychological terror - which, in most cases, can be more terrifying that actual physical horror.  Yes, three of the four stories do have a somewhat violent, horrific climax to them - but those elements are minor compared to the terror that builds within the characters minds leading up to those final scenes.  I think all four writers did an excellent job capturing the psychological side of Dark Shadows, and not focusing on the visible horrors.  Vampires, witches, werewolves, and the like are easily seen and feared - but personally, I think it's the unseen and the unknown that instills a greater fear in a story, and these four managed to capture that perfectly!

RATING:  10 long forgotten photographs out of 10 for reminding listeners exactly why Dark Shadows has endured for so many years with so many fans - the characters, the stories, and the sheer terror of it all!

Donna Noble: Kidnapped (From the Worlds of Doctor Who)

As those who know me already know, Donna Noble, as played by the superbly talented Catherine Tate, is my absolute favorite companion that has ever graced the world of Doctor Who.  From her introduction in "The Runaway Bride" Christmas special some years ago, to her full season of episodes, to her return in the last two David Tenant specials, to the numerous books and audio books, and now in the upcoming mini-series of episodes once again starring David Tenant, I have loved this character without end!  A few years ago, Big Finish Productions, who has been producing Doctor Who audio books for many years now, as well as Dark Shadows audio stories continuing and building upon the original series, put out a five-disc special audio series starring none other than Donna Noble herself!  I immediately bought the box set, but unfortunately, as my car CD player had quit working by then, I did not have the opportunity to listen to it.  Well, a recent vacation with a rental car gave me plenty of driving time within which to listen to the CDs, and I can say the story (and hearing Catherine Tate's voice once again!) was well worth the wait!

Donna Noble: Kidnapped is a four-part story that is made up of four short stories with an over-arching tale of alien invasion.  While each of the four tales is written by a different author, the characterization remains consistent throughout all of them.  Catherine Tate, of course, reprises her role as Donna Noble, while Jacqueline King once again plays Donna's mother.  Dan Starkey, who is a long time Doctor Who actor who has played numerous roles over the years, takes on a couple of characters in the stories.  Wrapping up the main cast is Niky Wardley as Donna's best mate, Natalie, and Isla Blair as a speed dating organizer named Marge.  Most of the other characters are specific to each of the four tales, and at the very end, there is a special appearance by David Tennant as the 10th Doctor!

 

The story takes place shortly after the two-part "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" episodes in series four, in which Donna finds herself in an alternate reality where she is married and has two children.  Coming back to this reality has left Donna a bit rattled, as she still remembers her husband and children and must deal with the loss of them as mere memories for a reality that no longer exists.  These four short audio tales touch upon that loss and further Donna's relationship with her overly-controlling mother (although, admittedly, we see a side of Sylvia Noble that we haven't seen before, which may alter the view of those who find the character not likable at all!).  They work seamlessly into the "between episodes" of the fourth series, and it's loads of fun to see Donna take all that she has learned while traveling with the Doctor and basically ask herself, "What Would the Doctor Do?"

The first story, "Out of this World," sets the stage for the whole adventure.  Donna reluctantly joins her friend Natalie for a night of speed dating - in which the two meet a mysterious young man who takes a rather healthy interest in Donna.  She wonders if perhaps he was sent by the Doctor, but it quickly becomes clear that aliens are involved, and when she, Natalie, and a couple of others are beamed aboard a spaceship, Donna is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the TARDIS!

"Spinvasion" continues the adventures of the Doctor ... er, I mean Donna (who is now passing herself off as "The Doctor") her companion (a/k/a best friend) Nat.  Donna manages to get her and Nat away from the alien spaceship, but they crash onto a planet that is being invaded - willingly!  A marketing team has convinced the citizens of the planet that they actually want to to be invaded, and Donna knows that she must free these people - after all, it's what the Doctor would do!

The next tale, "The Sorcerer of Albion," find Donna and Nat trying desperately to get back home - and they manage to get to Earth, only a few centuries too early.  It's the Middle Ages, and an aging sorcerer mistakes Donna for an incarnation of Merlin - and he captures her, doing everything in his power to steal her "magic" so he can defeat the monsters that are attacking his realm.  But Donna and Nat quickly come to question who is the real monster here?

The adventures of Donna and Nat conclude with "The Chiswick Cuckoos," as the troublemaking twosome manage to get home - only to discover that an alien plot has already hatched, and Donna is smack dab at the center of it!  There's only one person who can save Earth, and Donna and Nat are the only two who can free the Doctor so he can put an end to the machinations of ... well, no, that would be telling!  Let's just say in this four-part story, you can't really be sure that anyone is who they say they are...

So much adventures, so much danger, so much alien action, and so much fun - we definitely need more adventures of Donna Noble!  Are you paying attention, Big Finish?  MORE DONNA NOBLE!  After all, she's so much more than just a temp from Chiswick!

RATING:  10 mail flyers advertising speed dating out of 10 for giving fans a much needed fix of Donna Noble - but definitely leaving us all wanting for more!

Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 4 - Dreams of Long Ago

It's been a bit since I listened to one of the Dark Shadows audio tales.  A recent vacation gave me quite a bit of drive time with which to listen to audios, so needless to say, the next CD of short stories was on the top of my list!  Dreams of Long Ago features four new tales of the characters that I have grown to love over the years, and hearing the (mostly) original actors reprise their roles from the series is always a real treat.  I also enjoy the fact that these stories build on previously released audio tales, as well as set up brand new stories that we will hopefully have sequels to in the future.

 

The CD set opens with "The Reflected Man," featuring the return of Sabrina Jennings. This story has a loose connection to an earlier audio story, "The Enemy Within," which featured Sabrina and Cyrus Longworth.  This short tale fills in a bit of the gap between the time when Sabrina and Chris Jennings were married and the time she moved to Bangor.  Chris is dead, having been murdered on their wedding night, and Sabrina is now working as a waitress in New York City just to make ends meet.  She has yet to make peace with her husband's death, and it seems the dark shadows that have been cast over her life aren't done with her - for out of nowhere, Sabrina begins to be haunted to the image of a man in the reflection of windows ... mirrors ... and any other reflective surface.  Someone seems to be watching her from the other side.  Just as she is about to have a complete breakdown, that reflected man makes contact - and Sabrina soon discovers that not everything is what it seems!  While I do love this story, and the fact that it deals beautifully with the grief felt when a loved one is taken away from us, it does bother me that this story does not quite fit with the dark revelations from "The Enemy Within."  Perhaps at this juncture, Sabrina is completely unaware of the dark secrets revealed in "The Enemy Within," but I think there should have been at least some kind of hint in this story as to the horrors in store for the poor woman...

 

The next story, "Old Acquaintance," features the return of Quentin Collins.  An interesting tidbit about this story is that it is written by Matthew Waterhouse, an actor who portrayed Adric back in the day on BBC's Doctor Who, and who has also voiced a few characters in the Dark Shadows audio tales.  As with many of Quentin's stories, this one provides a glimpse into his past, where he makes a choice that will have dire consequences in the present.  It is New Year's Eve in Collinsport (1971), and while Quentin is celebrating at the Blue Whale, a creature he escaped from over fifty years ago is about to make a reappearance.  Quentin does what he always does to protect his loved ones and the villagers of Collinsport, and this time he has a bit of help from an unexpected source (no, I won't spoil that surprise).  I would say of the four stories, this one is probably my least favorite.  I don't know exactly why, but Quentin is not really a favorite of mine, so his stories feel tame and somewhat bland (even though there is some rather graphic descriptions in this story that might create some bloody visuals in your head!).  But, I suppose fans of Quentin Collins might enjoy the tale.

The third story features Andrew Collins reprising his role as Barnabas Collins in "Devil's Rock."  Since taking over the role of Barnabas (after the passing of the irreplaceable Jonathan Frid), Collins (coincidence??) has managed to assume the character, and his accent rather reminds me of Ben Cross from the '90s television show.  In this story, Barnabas and Willie are off to find Dr. Julia Hoffman.  But they are barely started when they stop in a small town in Maine that has some secrets of its own.  The two stumble across a body that is about to be swept out into the ocean, and unwittingly, by rescuing the body, they set in motion a series of events that will lead them to uncover the dark secret behind the small town's longevity and prosperity.  This story takes a page from the final tale of the television show, in which the characters are chosen by lottery to face a certain fate - only, in this story, they must be sacrificed to the sea or the town faces the retaliation of an insatiable demon.  The only thing is, when these villagers decide that Barnabas will take the place of their intended sacrifice, they are unaware of his own secret - one that could spell disaster for them all!

The final tale on this CD is "Cobwebs," which, quite frankly, is the darkest of all the stories, as it delves into the human psyche and just how fractured and frightening it can be.  Written by Aaron Lamont, who was a co-writer for the Bloodline full cast audio drama, this story picks up after the events in Dreaming of the Water, in which Sebastian Shaw finds himself a patient at Wyndcliff Sanitarium, after having brought Maggie Evans there to escape the horrors of Collinwood.  Now, in "Cobwebs," we find that Sebastian has sunk deeper into darkness, as he slips in and out of consciousness, unable to tell the real world from the dreaming world.  His only companions are a tiny spider, a burned man he meets outside of his room, and the mysterious new doctor who, it turns out, is providing him with new therapy - electric shock therapy!  Christopher Pennock, who played Sebastian Shaw on the television show, reprises the role here, and his descent into insanity is uncanny and frightening.  As he tries to keep it together and focus on what he can only guess to be real, he soon discovers the secret of the burned man, and for long-time fans of Dark Shadows, it will come as no surprise when a long-time villain of the show makes Sebastian an offer her can't refuse ... culminating in that wickedly evil laugh that only she can do!

Overall, the CD offers a satisfying set of tales, but again, I do miss the full length audio stories which feature two or more characters.  I'm hoping the cast is working on a sequel to the Bloodlust and Bloodline stories, because I can't be the only fan wanting to know what's next for the denizens of Collinsport!

RATING:  9 shattered coffee pots out of 10 for continuing in the spirit of the television show and providing fans new stories from the multitude of characters in the Dark Shadows universe!

Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 2 - Haunting Memories

It's been quite a while since I last listened to one of the Dark Shadows audio stories.  Part of the reason is because the cd player/radio in my car only seems to work intermittently these days, but the bigger part of it is because these anthology CDs have not really caught my interest as much as the full cast audio stories did.  However, I do have them all, and I do still love my Dark Shadows, so I finally got the wherewithal to sit down and listen to another set of short stories.

 

Haunting Memories features four new stories starring Josette Du Pres (as read by her portrayer, Kathryn Leigh Scott), Elias Trask (as read by his portrayer, Jerry Lacy), Angelique the witch (as read by her portrayer, Lara Parker), and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (as read by Marie Wallace).  Each of the four tales centers around memories that these characters would best leave forgotten and in the past, but which, in true Dark Shadows fashion, manage to worm their way out to be told.  The stories are not connected to each other, but a couple of them to do manage to connect with stories from the television show and further expand and/or explain things that fans would have loved to have seen revealed in the show.

 

"Hell Wind," written by Mary Robin, tells the story of a very young Josette Du Pres, when she and her family lived on the island of Martinique.  Told completely from the point of view of the child Josette, listeners get to hear the story of how Josette and Angelique first met, as well as the circumstances surrounding the death of Josette's mother.  It is set during a horrific hurricane, and I do have to get the writer credit, she gave a pretty accurate description of what it is like during a hurricane.  And considering this was set in the 1700s, it would be even more dangerous back then than it is today!  The one thing I did notice about the story is there was not really too much supernatural about it - more just the tale of a young Josette and a young Angelique...

"Communion," written by Adam Usden, was a bit more interesting story.  Elias Trask and his son, Gregory, are trying to escape the men who are chasing them down, wanting to kill them.  (And anyone who knows the Trasks knows that they are definitely men who deserve to be killed!)  They meet a young woman of ill repute, and Elias thinks that by rescuing her, he can "change" her - but ultimately, she is not what she seems to be!  This story definitely had the supernatural twists to it, and it also had some humor, with the entire thing being told from Elias Trask's point of view as he continually prays to his Heavenly Father (and revealing his true, carnal nature in the process)...

"The Ghost Ship," written by Lara Parker (who IS Angelique), tells an unknown tale of Angelique's past, when she was still pining for Barnabas Collins and is feeling regret over making him a vampire.  At this time, she is dead and nothing more than a spirit, but Nicholas Blair and some ghostly women waiting for their men to return from a sunken ship give her a chance with Barnabas that she never thought she'd have - but in the process, she, herself, becomes a vampire, and she beckons the spirits of the dead sailors to return home with the promise that their waiting wives will help her win Barnabas' love once and for all.  This story was so-so, as I am not overly enthused about the whole "Angelique wants Barnabas to herself" saga...

"A Face from the Past," written by Kay Stonham, is by far my favorite of these four tales.  The supernatural element in this story is subtle, but it's there.  Elizabeth Stoddard Collins is returning to Collinsport after having been in Paris for some time (for those who listened to one of the other anthology audios, they might recall Amy going over to Paris to visit Roger and Elizabeth).  But upon arriving in Collinsport, Elizabeth is drawn back into her own memories - memories of a love long past, a man whose heart she broke and who fathered her first child ... a child she gave birth to in New York and left at a fondling home ... and a man who strangely enough appears today exactly as he did nearly 40 years ago!  Marie Wallace, who played other characters on the show but did not portray Elizabeth, does an outstanding job with expressing Elizabeth's emotions, her love, her loss, and her shock at finding her love once again.  And to, once and for all, find out the truth behind Victoria Winters' parentage - well, that alone makes this story worth listening to!

Again, I'd much rather have the full cast audios, but I guess these short stories as told by single members of the cast will have to do until the sequel to Bloodlines and Blood Lust becomes a reality.

RATING:  8 cottages for sale out of 10 for revealing Victoria Winters' parentage, a secret that has been more than 50 years in the making!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.3 - The Creeping Death

I recently took a trip up to Jacksonville with a friend to visit the Chamblin Book Mine (a huge, huge, HUGE used book store).  Normally, I have the radio blaring, but with my friend in the car - someone who also happens to be a big Doctor Who fan, and who loves Donna Noble nearly as much as me! - we decided to listen to the third of the three 10th Doctor/Donna Noble audio stories.  The two hour trip there and return trip home gave us plenty of time to enjoy this latest story of my favorite Doctor/companion pairing.

The Creeping Death, written by Roy Gill, takes the Doctor and Donna to London in the early 1950s. Donna is hoping to have a vacation, but as it always turns out, the TARDIS has other plans for the Doctor and his companion! The Doctor and Donna arrive in London to find it enveloped with a deadly smog, so thick one can barely breathe. Donna is ready to go back into the TARDIS and head for someplace sunny and relaxing, but the Doctor knows they were pulled to this place and time for a reason - and anyone who knows the Doctor knows he will never pass up the chance to right a wrong, fix a problem, or help out those in need. So, off he goes, and before you can say, "Wait a minute," the the Doctor and Donna get separated in the ever swirling smog that makes it nearly impossible to see where you are going.

The Doctor meets up with young Ivy Clark, who works in a movie theater. But something strange has happened in there, and Ivy is crying out for help.  The Doctor can't help himself, and he runs to investigate, only to find the theater filled with dead people - all of whom seem to have died of suffocation.  Ivy tells the Doctor that things came into the theater - tiny, like insects - and killed all of those people. And when those shadowy things show up again, with their buzzing, the Doctor and Ivy do the one thing the Doctor does best - they run!

Meanwhile, Donna bumps into someone of her own - literally!  As she searches for the Doctor, a gentleman by the name of Terry Hopkins knocks into Donna, as he doesn't see her in the smog.  After a rather rocky start, Donna comes to like Terry (not in that way!) and joins him as he heads off to meet Richard Cooper, who just so happens to be his boyfriend (shhhh!  don't say that too loud - after all, it's only 1952, and their love is not something people of that time take too kindly to!).

It isn't long before circumstances reunite the Doctor and Donna and bring Ivy, Terry, and Richard, along with an overly dramatic stage actress named Alice and an out-of-shape vacuum salesman named Malcolm together at the bus station, where they find themselves trapped against an unknown enemy who seems intent on killing more people.  But the Doctor has a plan - he's ALWAYS got a plan - and soon enough, the survivors from the bus station (you don't really think I'm going to give things away, do you?) head over to the local museum for a final confrontation with these alien smog creatures (and before you ask - no, it is not those crab-like creatures from the Martha Jones season).  The final confrontation is serious, but fun, with plenty of danger and excitement, and provides a spectacular ending in true Doctor Who fashion!

Gill has a very firm grip on the characters of the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble - their dialogue and actions are so consistent with the television show that this feels very much like a missing episode from series 4 of the new Doctor Who.  The sound effects and music do not overpower the dialogue, as a previous audio or two have done in the past, and it makes for much easier listening and much greater enjoyment of the story.  Of all the Doctor/Donna audios to date, this one could very well be my favorite so far.

Now, to patiently wait for the Donna Noble solo audio stories to come out...

RATING:  10 glowing rocks from outer space out of 10 for continuing the adventures of Donna Noble's time with the Doctor in such a wonderful way!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.2 - One Mile Down

Each and every chance I get to see/hear/read a new story with Donna Noble as the Doctor's companion, I'm going to be there! I love me some Donna Noble, and it's a shame that actress Catherine Tate only stayed with the show for the one season. I am happy, however, that she has come back twice now to do audio stories with David Tennant, and that there are even some upcoming stories of Donna on her own (I'm assuming those will be set in the time period before she found the Doctor again in that fourth season opening episode, "Partners in Crime"). While the first of these new audio stories was not exactly the best, this second one more than made up for it.

"One Mile Down" finds the Doctor taking Donna to the underwater city of Vallarasee.This is supposed to be a pleasant little vacation, but, as usual, anything with the Doctor involved is anything but. There is something strange going on in Vallarassee. The entire city has been sealed off, and the natural citizens are forced to wear helmets to allow them to breathe so that all of the above-world dwellers can see the wonderful sites of this city. At the same time, there are quite a number of Judoon patrolling the streets, which is unusual where there is no criminal activity. The Doctor is suspicious, but Donna joins right along with the other tourists to see the historic sites and enjoy the tours offered by the native Fins.

But cracks are forming in the protective shell that keeps the city safe from all of the water surrounding it. And the city officials are pretending there is nothing wrong. Anyone who says otherwise is thrown in prison as a dissenter. And when a portion of the shell breaks, allowing water to come rushing in, nearly drowning a number of tourists, the Doctor and Donna are off to save the day!

Catherine Tate really shines in this audio drama as Donna, with her typical sarcasm, her strong-willed, headstrong personality, and her no-nonsense attitude that isn't afraid to question anything or anyone that doesn't seem right. David Tennant is his jovial self as the Doctor, with his willingness to help those in need, but at the same time, his unwillingness to allow anyone to endanger the life of others simply for profit and self-gain.  This story is a perfect example of why the Doctor-Donna team was such a perfect pairing, and I'm truly thankful that Big Finish continues to provide us with more stories of these two - that one season on TV was simply not enough.

The production of this audio is much better than the last - the music is not quite so overpowering, and the dialogue is much easier to hear and understand.  The characters are clearly differentiated and easily identified when they are speaking, and the action sequences are powerfully performed. I am a bit disappointed that the Judoon spoke in regular dialogue rather than their standard "No To Fro To Po Lo" language. Of course, with the TARDIS translation thing in effect, I guess Donna would understand them...

Which brings the one continuity problem - if Donna met the Judoon in this story, which clearly takes place before her final two-part episode in the fourth season of the television show, then why did she not recognize them when she and the Doctor went to the Shadow Proclamation, and why did she hear them talk in their native language, rather than translated by the TARDIS? Ah, the whole suspension of disbelief thing comes into play here, I suppose.  Regardless, this was a great story and gives me high hopes for the third audio drama in this set.

RATING:  8 junior Judoons-in-training out of 10 for keeping with the style, form, and characterization of the Russel T. Davies' Doctor/Donna relationship and using it to tell a great story!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3.1 - No Place

Anything with Donna Noble - and I do mean ANYTHING - I am going to get! She was, is, and always will be my favorite companion of the Doctor. So, when Big Finish announced another set of Doctor Who audio adventures starring Catherine Tate as the oh-so-lovable Donna Noble, I could not wait.  I pre-ordered them, and as soon as I got them, I plopped the first one in. I was so excited to hear David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprise their roles, along with Bernard Cribbins and Jacqueline King as Donna's grandfather and mother, respectively, that I could hardly contain myself. Unfortunately, this first story was a bit of a let-down...

No Place finds the Doctor, Donna, Sylvia, and Wilfred taking part in a reality, ghost-hunting show at a supposed haunted house. As the story opens, listeners are basically thrown into the middle of it - the Doctor, Donna, Sylvia, and Wilfred are already in the house, and the ghost hunters have set up shop and are following the four "family" members as they go about their business. Justin, who is the lead ghost hunter, is determined to find out whether this house is truly haunted, or if there is a logical explanation for everything that happens. Of course, we know - if the Doctor is involved, there is a pretty good chance - 100% chance! - that something is going on. But what is it, why is it, and who is it - those are the questions to be answered.

While the premise behind the story is actually pretty cool, the execution leaves a bit to be desired. Perhaps if this were an actual episode with visuals, it might have been easier to enjoy. But with just audio, it is a bit jumbled, particularly in the beginning, trying to figure out who is who. There are no real introduction to the ghost hunter cast, and honestly, I found it difficult at times to determine just who was speaking. Catherine Tate was obvious (she has that distinctive style about her voice), and Sylvia was fairly easy to spot. Wilfred is sounding a bit older, so it made his voice relatively easy to discern. Surprisingly, it was the Doctor who was not always clear, making me wonder if David Tennant did voices for more than just one character in the audio. Plus, with a number of supporting characters within the ghost hunting crew, it just made it all the more confusing when listening.

That being said, it was really nice to hear the Noble family all together again. David Tennant's third season as the Doctor was by far my favorite, and Donna - - well, she's Donna, how can she not be my favorite? So any chance to hear her and the Doctor I will take, regardless of how good it is. The interaction between Tate, Cribbins, and King is priceless, as they truly have a chemistry that makes them sound like and feel like a real family, with all the squabbles, the annoyances, but ultimately, the love and concern for one another. It was a bit surprising to see Sylvia actually go along with one of the Doctor's plans, considering how little she thought of him in the series.  Not really sure where this is set within the time frame of Donna's journeys with the Doctor, but I would assume it was likely to have occurred after the "atmos" Sontaran storyline, since that was the time when Sylvia really got to see the Doctor at work.

The "ghost" in the story, of course, turns out to be alien in nature, and I will admit, that was probably one of the most interesting parts of the story.  I'm not going to spoil it, but I will say that it does give the writers a chance to show just who the Doctor is and what he is made of (and also gives that growing part of Donna's caring side to shine through).  So, again, while the execution was a bit rough, the underlying story was definitely Doctor Who through and through.

Only two more Donna stories to listen to ... so I'm spacing them out, so as not to run out of Donna Noble too soon!

RATING:  6 holes in the ground out of 10 for satisfying, all too briefly, that need for a Donna-fix!

Dark Shadows Audio Book - Bloodline

The continuing story of the Collins family has been kept alive by Big Finish Productions in these audio stories, and my love for the show, its stories, and its characters has waited impatiently for each new story to come long.  While I have not exactly enjoyed the latest offerings (where they put three or four short stories together on each audio), they finally got it right with the 13-part episodic tale, Bloodline, which picks up where the last mulit-part story, Bloodlust, left off - David Collins and Amy Jennings preparing for their wedding!

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!

Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 3 - Phantom Melodies

In case you're keeping count, yes, this should have been volume 2 of the series of audio short stories, but somehow I skipped it and went straight to volume 3 - meaning I'll be going back to volume 2 when I next get a chance to listen to some more stories.  In the meantime, let's take a look at the four short stories featured on this third of the new Dark Shadows audio tales, Phantom Melodies.

As I mentioned with the first volume of this new series, I am not overly thrilled with them.  I miss the full, or even partial, cast audio stories.  These short stories feature the actors merely reading the scripts, as if reading an audio book, and sadly, they just don't have the same feel for me that the prior audio tales did.  Before, when I listened to the stories, it was like I were simply standing just outside the view of the show, but I could still hear everything that is going on.  With these, it's like I am simply listening to someone read the book (or short story, as the case may be).  Yes, some of the actors do try to vary their voice for the different characters; but hearing them simply read the action, rather than actually "hearing" the action - well, it takes away some of the joy I had in listening to the further adventures of Dark Shadows...

Regardless, the stories stayed somewhat true to the Dark Shadows world of darkness and supernatural. The first tale, "Last Orders at the Blue Whale," featured Harry Johnson - who, I will admit, I had no clue who he was.  I had to look him up on line to discovery that he was Mrs. Johnson's son who had spent time in jail before coming to visit his mother at Collinwood. He was featured in the pre-Barnabas episodes, and quite frankly, I have not yet seen all of those stories, which is why I didn't recognize him.  Read by Matthew Waterhouse (of Dr. Who fame), "Last Orders" basically provides the events of what happened to Harry after he left Collinwood. When he attempts to steal from a stranger, he finds himself facing a life or death choice - give up his soul, or turn over one of the Collins' family in his place!  Harry has always through of himself first, so what choice will he make, and what will that choice cost him?

The second story, "The Scarlet Bride," features Andrew Collins once again assuming the role of Barnabas. It is bookended by Barnabas reading letters from a young bride-to-be, and tells the story of young Agnes, who is about to be married into a family that has a very dark secret.  When a supernatural creature begins to come into the house, it is assumed it is Barnabas, the vampire - but not all is as it seems.  While the "mystery" as to the identity of the creature is not hard to figure out, the one thing I enjoyed about this story was the continuing friendship of Barnabas and Julia Hoffman.

The third story, "On the Line," is the only tale that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to.  Nancy Barrett resumes her role as Carolyn, who gets a very unusual phone call - from her own future self!  Future Carolyn knows something is going to happen, so she begins to lead her younger self on a very specific path to prevent the coming destruction. But Carolyn of the present is not one easily duped, and she begins to suspect that something is not right - so she begins to question her future self and realizes that the path she is being led down is not one she would ever take!  Barrett shines in this story - it's pretty hard to pull off a story with only one actor, but she does it amazingly well - could almost picture this one in my head as she talked to "herself" throughout the story.

The final story, "In a Broken Dream," brings Stephanie Ellyne back as Amy Jennings, who has headed off to Paris to visit Roger and Elizabeth - only to discovery that they are missing!  Instead, she meets a mysterious Frenchman and starts to feel an unexplained attraction to him.  Something is amiss, but she can't quite put her finger on it.  This final tale fell rather short of the Dark Shadows' lore and felt extremely lackluster.  It never really caught my interest, and I had to force myself to sit through it to the end.  I liked the fact that Roger and Elizabeth were in it (it seems they are always out of town for most, if not all, of the audios), even if they were only read by Stephanie and not voiced by other actors.

Overall, this was definitely not one of the best audios in the series to date - I'm hoping these short story collections improve as the series continues - since I skipped volume 2, I'll have to go back and listen to it, and hope I find it more to my liking!

RATING:  5 shadowy figures outside the window out of 10 for, at the very least, keeping the legend alive for fans like me!

Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 1 - Echoes of the Past

Thus begins a new era in Dark Shadows audio stories. After 50 audio dramas, plus a 50th anniversary special, Big Finish re-started the audio series back at #1, altering the format so that each volume features several short stories. Each short story centers around a different character from the Dark Shadows universe, and each story is read by a different actor. I wasn't sure how this format would fare, but it is Dark Shadows, after all, so it's not like I wasn't going to get it and listen to it!

"Echoes of the Past," the first of these new volumes, feature four tales - the first starring Reverend Trask, the second Quentin Collins, the third Maggie Evans, and the fourth story starring Angelique. Each of these four tales is read by the actor who portrayed the character on the television show: Jerry Lacy, David Selby, Kathryn Leigh Scott, and Lara Parker, respectively. Now, be warned - these are not full- or even partial-cast audio dramas; no, these are simply short stories read by the actors (the same way regular audio books are done). Yes, the actors do put a little emotion into the dialogue (particularly Lara Parker!), but they are still just stories read by the actors. That was a little disappointing to me, as I had grown accustomed to audio dramas with at least two or three actors, or often-times more, sound effects, and storytelling techniques that made me feel like I was listening to episodes from the TV.

Regardless of the change in format, the authors of these stories at least stayed true to the characters and to the Dark Shadows mythology. With Reverend Trask, we learn a bit more about his background before he came to Collinwood in 1795 and accused Victoria Winters of witchcraft. Trask is a charlatan, but when he comes face to face with a real demon, he makes a bargain to not only save a girl's soul, but also to garner some success of his own in the eyes of the townspeople. With Quentin Collins, it's another glance at Quentin's immorality, as he tries to once again evade inspection - but what happens when a fan obsessed with an old silent werewolf film seeks him out to find the lost footage of the aged film? Quentin will do just about anything to protect his secret, but that lost footage may reveal more about Quentin than he wants anyone to know. For Maggie Evans, the planning of a party for the upcoming lunar tide event is keeping her busy; however, a newcomer to town may be more than she seems, and when a mysterious mist comes in from the ocean and starts making everyone in Collinsport sick, Maggie realizes her days of fighting the supernatural are far from over! Finally, with Angelique, it is time to confess. Angelique, whose love for Barnabas has cost her so much over the years, has finally gone too far in her quest to protect him, and now the stoker of hell's fire has come for recompense - the only way to escape eternal damnation is to confess to all her sins. Of course, Angelique is full of tricks, and one is left to wonder - how will she escape this time?

The stories themselves are not bad at all, and I could easily see any of them turned into their own full cast audio drama; however, I cannot hide my disappointment in simply hearing them read by the actor as if they were reading a book for an audience. For me, this caused the stories to fall a little bit flat, and it took away some of the enjoyment and excitement I've had over the past years listening to the dramas by Big Finish. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy listening to new tales of my favorite characters and storylines, but I will definitely miss the feeling of hearing a "real episode" rather than a book reading.  At least I know Big Finish is working on a sequel to the Bloodlust story, so that is something to look forward to!

RATING:  7 perfectly preserved movie reels out of 10 for providing more back story and further adventures of the DS characters for fans who continue to cry out for more!

Dark Shadows Audio Book - 50th Anniversary Special - Blood & Fire

It felt so good to re-enter the world of Dark Shadows, and what better way to get back into the swing of things than with this 50th anniversary audio book?  I am a bit disheartened that after 50 audio stories, Big Finish decided to do this special anniversary story and then re-boot the numbering back to number 1 again (hmmm, taking a queue from DC and Marvel comics, perhaps?).  However, numbering aside, I will say this - they certainly know how to do a 50th anniversary special right, that's for sure!

"Blood & Fire" takes the story of the Collins family back to its beginnings here in America.  Angelique is once again front and center as the Dark Lord sends her back in time, to 1767, where he instructs her to put an end to the Collins bloodline before it spreads into the new world (a/k/a America).  So, in true Dark Shadows style, we take a trip back in time, back to the year 1767 - there, each of the Collins' ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins' family - but the names and relationships have changed, and Angelique finds herself...oh, wait, no, that was the lead-in for a completely different storyline...

Fans are treated to a lot of origins, of sorts, in this story.  We meed Laura Stockbridge before she becomes the phoenix.  We meet Abigail Collins before she becomes so bitter.  We meet a young Joshua Collins before he weds Naomi.  We meet the ancestors of the Cunninghams, the Griffins, the Haskells, the Loomises, and heck, there's even a werewolf thrown in for good measure.  Add in Angelique (a/k/a Cassandra Peterson), and you know you're in for one heck of a good ride!  And with two CDs, made up of four parts (episodes), it's a fully fleshed-out story that truly pays tribute to all that has gone before (or is to come?) and fleshes out a lot more of Collins' history.

When I first saw that Joanna Going was providing a voice on this CD, I got excited, thinking perhaps she would be doing Victoria Winters (the character she played in the 1990s television show), but instead, she is the young Laura Stockbridge.  She does a pretty good job with the role, too, I must admit - going from the innocent young bride-to-be to a full-fledged supernatural being intent on one thing - destroying the witch who has tried to rain destruction down on the Collins' family.  It's a phoenix vs. witch showdown that only Dark Shadows could do!

The story centers around the upcoming nuptials of Joshua Collins to Laura Stockbridge.  Angelique appears on the scene, and pretending to be a wife, stranded in Collinsport while awaiting her husband to come in from sea, she wiggles her way into the Collins' household.  The great Collins House is in the process of being built, so the family resides in Anchor House.  Angelique is on a mission to destroy the Collins family, but she finds herself conflicted.  As the story progresses and she becomes more involved with the family, she realizes that the Collins family has always been the same, and that she has no place in it - so she moves forward with her plan of destruction!

Apparently, this story occurs before the audio story, "The Path of Fate," as the ending of "Blood & Fire" provides a lead-in to "The Path of Fate."    Which, I know I've said it before, but it is something I so love about all of these audio books - the continuity is truly mind-boggling.  Although they may not be told in order, they do manage to intermingle stories and ultimately connect them - I wonder if anyone has ever sat down and truly figured out the exact order all of the audio tales should be listened to in order to hear them in chronological order, story-wise?

Fifty years of Dark Shadows, and 50 audio stories has been building to this, and without a doubt, "Blood & Fire" was well worth it.  Can't wait to see what the next fifty years holds in store for this amazing, one-of-a-kind series!

RATING:  10 buried urns out of 10 for providing an anniversary story that honors, adores, and expands on the history of one of the greatest television shows of all time!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 50 - …And Red All Over

Dark Shadows hits a big mark with its 50^th audio story, and boy, do they make it worth the celebration.  Not only do we get the return of Mitchell Ryan, who originated the role of Burke Devlin in the 1960s’ television show, but it also provides its audience with a reference or two to young Miss Victoria Winters, who was always my favorite character on the show! And to top it all off, the audio was released during the 50-year anniversary of the television show.

…And Red All Over, written by Cody Schell (who also wrote the audio story The Flip Side), tells the story of Maggie Evans, now Maggie Haskell after her marriage to Joe Haskell.  She is on her honeymoon – or, rather, was on her honeymoon. For Maggie has awoken in a strange bed in a strange house in the middle of a snowstorm.  And she’s not alone.  Someone else is in the house with her – a man who looks strangely familiar.  A man who’s supposed to be dead!

Schell ties up some unresolved loose ends from the television show with the return of Mitchell Ryan.  In the original series, Burke Devlin’s character disappeared after the plane he was on crashed in the Brazilian jungles.  While his character was a double for the Jeremiah Collins character in the past, upon the return to the present, Burke was never seen nor heard from again, and his “death” was never resolved.  Well, with this story, that changes…

The man Maggie mistakes for Burke turns out to be Burke’s cousin, Finnegan.  And while Finn first pretends he doesn’t know Maggie’s reason for being there, a mysterious note indicating that “they” have Joe and will only release him, and her, if she gives them what they want by sunset.  The only problem is, Maggie has no idea what these men want.  Finnegan claims he doesn’t know either, but he says that it has something to do with Burke Devlin and a deal he made with The Ink.

Schell provides a plausible explanation for Burke’s survival from the plane crash, said explanation including the fiery powers of Laura Collins.  Schell also plays up a story referenced only one time in the show, when Burke mentions in passing about a deal he made in Montevideo. Finally, Schell also re-uses a phrase that Burke once said to Carolyn Stoddard about lying to a lot of people in his day.  It’s clear the author either has a true love for Dark Shadows lore, or he simply did some very thorough research to ensure this story fit nicely into the continuity of the show as well as with the audio stories (since Maggie has no belief in the supernatural in this story, which places it after the events of Bloodlust, where her memories were altered).

The lines of reality and supernatural are blurred, and for both Maggie and Devlin, they are never really quite sure if they encountered the supernatural or merely imagined exaggerated events due to being drugged.  Either way, the story is solid, moves at a nice pace, and provides a nice, happy ending (which is befitting, since this is the final audio book in this “series” – the next audio is a 50^th anniversary special, and then the audio stories return the numbering to one with a new series of audios containing short stories on each CD).

I am thankful to Big Finish, the numerous writers, and the cast and crew for keeping Dark Shadows alive and continuing the stories of these wonderful characters over the years, and I look forward to many, many, MANY more to come!

RATING:  9 Rorschach ink blots out of 10 for bringing back Burke Devlin, for at least mentioning Victoria Winters, and for giving this fan hope that maybe one day we’ll get an audio that will see the return of Victoria!

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 3 - Death and the Queen

Ah, the joys of the Doctor-Donna pairing.  I was never a Doctor Who fan until the new series started with Christopher Eccleston, and although I enjoyed those first three seasons, nothing compared to my love of the show until that fourth season when Donna Noble, as played by Catherine Tate, appeared! She was funny, she was snippy, and she was never afraid to call the Doctor out on things.  So when her character was written out after only one season, I was really disappointed.

Until the books carried on the stories - for four books.  And then there were several audio stories that continued the pairing.  But there were only three or four of those.  So I couldn't fill my Doctor-Donna fix - until Big Finnish came back with some full-cast audio dramas featuring both David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising their iconic roles!  And after listening to the first two, I put off listening to this third and final story, because I knew once I had listened to it, that would once again be the end of my Doctor-Donna stories.

But this final story was well worth the wait!

Death and the Queen, written by James Goss (who has written in the Doctor Who universe a number of times over the years), perfectly captures the companionship and friendship that existed between the Doctor and Donna.  The little barbs and quips kept me smiling, and the non-stop action right from the get-go kept my full attention throughout the entire story.

The story centers around Donna (around whom ALL stories should center, in my opinion!), who has met her Prince Charming and is set to marry him.  Fans of the series may recall that Donna first met the Doctor on her wedding day (which didn't turn out well at all, so that should be a sign of what direction this story is headed), and Goss even manages to slip in a cute reference to that prior wedding.  We get a few quick flashbacks that provide all the backstory we need to get us to the point where Donna is ready to be married, but the Doctor suspects there is something way too sinister going on for him to allow her to get married in peace.

For one thing, the Prince comes from a planet/land of which the Doctor has never heard - and the Doctor knows everything, having pretty much been everywhere in the known universe.  That's the first red flag.  Then there's the fact that the Prince and his mum are set to go forward with the wedding, even though there is something out there that is slowly destroying the surrounding towns outside of the castle.  Donna, being Donna, does what she does best - she brings all of the surviving townspeople into the castle to keep them safe, much to the chagrin of the Queen Mum.  There's friction on all sides, but it is a wedding after all, and not even death itself will stop it from happening.

Of course, that's maybe because Death is an invited guest at the wedding - and maybe because Donna isn't set to be wed to the Prince she thought she was marrying!  Goss throws in several surprise twists, and the ultimate showdown between the Doctor and Donna and the Prince of Death himself is one worthy of Russell T. Davies himself!

I thoroughly enjoyed this final tale (only for now, I hope!) of the Doctor-Donna pairing, and I am thankful it ended on such a well-written note!

RATING:  10 inscribed undergarments out of 10 for keeping the memory of Donna Noble alive with stories like this!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 49 - Tainted Love

Back from DragonCon, and the travel time gave me the opportunity to listen to yet another Dark Shadows audio tale.  As I close in on the 50th story, I find myself loving how interconnected the stories have become, and this one seems to tie into quite a number of the audio tales so far.

Tainted Love finally tells the story that I've been waiting years for - the love triangle between David Collins, Amy Jennings, and Hallie Stokes.  When the show was originally on the air, obviously they were all too young for any kind of romantic entanglements; however, after the show ended, and I continued to think about the show over the decades, I honestly wondered which girl David would eventually end up with.  As much as I loved the character of Hallie Stokes, I still had a soft spot for Amy and hoped he would eventually end up with her.  But, when Amy returned to Collinsport over the course of these audio stories, and she was married and had two children, I realized that there was no chance of her and David getting together.  And then her husband was killed.  Leaving her a widow.  And single.

Enter Hallie Stokes.

This audio story picks up shortly after the events of the Bloodlust mini-series, as David and Amy are coming to grips with all that has happened.  David still feels guilty, even though he was possessed and had no control over his actions, and Amy is still trying to figure out how to raise two growing boys on her own.  Then a stranger shows up, accusing them of having his wife, of hiding her from him.  Just as he attacks, however, someone appears and utterly destroys the man.  That someone is Hallie Stokes, returned to Collinsport as a bona fide demon hunter.

Yeah, okay, that sounds kind of hokey, but when you remember that this is Dark Shadows, where the supernatural is common place, perhaps it is not quite as ludicrous as it sounds.  As the story unfolds, we discover that a demon is trying to crossover, using individuals who have lost something important and are completely obsessed with recovering whatever was lost, and, as misfortune would have it, all roads lead to Collinsport.  Specifically, that cave at the bottom of Widow's Hill where Angelique was living during the Bloodlust min-series.  But as David and Amy grow closer, Hallie seems more and more intent on driving them apart.

It's pretty obvious from the outset what direction the story will take.  The writer, Daniel Collard, does not in any way try to downplay or use subtlety with regards to the "villain" of this tale.  However, Collard does nicely connect this tale to a number of other audios - as this picks up shortly after Bloodlust; Hallie references meeting Amy on a train, which occurred in Carriage of the Damned; Amy mentions her meeting with Sabrina Jennings, which occurred most recently in Deliver Us From Evil; and there is talk of Maggie Evans' marriage to Joe Haskell, which is part of the plot in the upcoming 50th audio story.

Without giving anything away, I will say that the ending was not what I was expecting, nor was it something I particularly liked.  I realize that stories in soap operas like this will not always go the way I want them to, but this one just seemed too much out of character and left me wondering why they chose to go in this direction.  I assume as I continue to listen to the ongoing stories, it will eventually all play out and I'll (hopefully!!!) have an explanation.

Overall, I would have to say this was not one of their better stories.  Yes, I enjoyed the characters together again, and yes, it was great to actually see Amy and Hallie come face to face after all these years; but the story seemed a bit forced and contrived, almost as if it was written only for the reason of reaching the specific conclusion it did.

RATING:  6 hidden strips of bacon out of 10 for bringing together the youth of the original Dark Shadows for a story that resolves (??) the question of who will end up with David in the end...

Dark Shadows Audio Book 48 - Deliver Us From Evil

Writer Aaron Lamont brings us back to the story of Sabrina Jennings and Cyrus Longworth, and ties up some loose ends involving Alfie Chapman (remember him from Beneath the Veil?) and his girlfriend, who is now possessed by the spirit of Danielle Roget. While these may seem like an unlikely foursome, Lamont weaves a well-crafted tale of pure evil and mournful regret that brings these four together for a night of pure terror.

Deliver Us From Evil opens with Amy Cunningham running into the last person in the world she wants to see - the woman who killed her brother! But when the two get stuck in an elevator together, Sabrina tells Amy the story of how she nearly brought the darkest evil into the world...

Told in flashback, this audio book completes the story that began in Beneath the Veil, with Alfie Chapman and his girlfriend, Emma Finney (who is now possessed wholly by the evil spirit of Danielle Roget, the French murderess). They are still on a killing spree, but there is more to be had. Alfie himself is beginning to have episodes of possession - episodes in which he is willing to give himself over to the son of the Dark Lord! But it seems that demon is toying with him, just as he is toying with Cyrus Longworth, convincing Cyrus that he is stronger and will eventually take over his body completely.

Meanwhile, Sabrina has found a way to rid herself of the werewolf curse - and she is determined to help Cyrus rid himself of the evil "John" that lives within him. Her deceased husband, Chris Jennings, appears to her and tells her where she needs to go to and what she needs to do.  At the same time, the son of the Dark Lord is leading Alfie and Danielle (Emma) on a trip as well - one that will ultimately lead to a final showdown as the son of the Dark Lord sets up the pieces to finally unleash the apocalypse on Earth!  It's a final battle of good vs. evil as Sabrina and Chris do battle with Aflie, Danielle, and "John" (revealed to really be the son of the Dark Lord), and should Sabrina and Chris lose, so will the whole world!

The story is chock full of the supernatural elements that make Dark Shadows what it is, and the dialogue and emotions remind us just how human these characters really are, even while facing unfathomable evil.  The writing is exceptional, as the story flows smoothly and builds dramatically to the big battle at the end, and you easily begin to care about Sabrina and Cyrus, longing to see them both released from the curse that haunts them.

With Lisa Richards reprising her role as Sabrina Jennings and Christopher Pennock returning to the role of Cyrus Longworth, listeners will definitely feel like the show has returned in all its glory.  This tale is a reminder of just how good these audio books can be.

RATING:  10 holiday shopping sprees at Ohrbach's out of 10 for bringing to a satisfying conclusion a stories begun 13 and 14 audios prior!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 47 - In the Twinkling of an Eye

The Dark Shadows audio saga continues with this forty-seventh installment, In the Twinkling of an Eye.  Interestingly enough, though, other than a very brief appearance at the beginning by David, Amy, and Hallie (and when I say brief, I mean a less than 30-second appearance), the story does not feature any of the traditional Dark Shadows characters.  Instead, this installment features the character of Jessica Griffin (as portrayed by DS veteran, Marie Wallace), who is the mother of Ed Griffin, a character introduced in the very first DS audios.  The story also features Jackie Tate, the daughter of Collinsport's current sheriff, and introduces the character of "Nate."

The story takes place not too long after the conclusion of the Bloodlust mini-series, and finds Jessica released from the hospital (where she was placed after being violently attacked and left in a coma during the mini-series) and back to working at The Blue Whale. Jackie Tate is helping her out, despite her young age, and the two women have formed a friendship of sorts.  Enter the enigmatic stranger - Nate!

While the characters may not be drenched in DS history, the story definitely falls in line with your typical Dark Shadows storylines.  A mysterious stranger blows into town and immediately strikes up conversations with both Jessica and Jackie - and while both women feel a connection, it turns out that only Jessica has a real connection to this stranger - one that could have dire consequences if she doesn't figure out what it is before it's too late!  In true soap opera style, we get gradual flashbacks throughout the story, as we learn slowly but surely the true nature of Nate's connection to Jessica. There's a supernatural element to the story that is played subtly, which makes the story creepier than if it were overly dark.  Plus, in true soap opera fashion, we learn a lot about Jessica Griffin's past that, up till now, has not been revealed.

An interesting tidbit is the t-shirt that Nate wears. It's sort of a running gag through the story that Nate is always wearing the same t-shirt, and eventually, Jessica becomes somewhat hypnotized by it, as it reminds her of the garden she used to have at home - a garden that she seems to be reliving while she was in her coma (during the flashback scenes) - yet, sadly, it sort of gets dropped as the story wraps up, and there is no real explanation or connection made for the t-shirt or why it resembles her garden.

I wouldn't say this was one of my favorite stories, as it is missing the regular Dark Shadows cast, but I suppose the DS universe does need to expand to keep Collinsport alive and real.

RATING:  7 glasses of delicious lemonade out of 10 for offering up something different and giving some supporting characters a shot at the limelight.

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 2 - Time Reaver

Simply put, there has never been a better pairing of Doctor and Companion than the David Tennant / Catherine Tate partnership of the 10th Doctor and Donna Noble.  Their quick retorts, their ease with one another, their interaction - it all comes across so naturally, so real, that you believe it.  I know fans of the original Doctors will say that the 4th Doctor and Sarah Jane were the best pairing, but having never watched those old shows, I'll stick with my love of the Doctor/Donna.

The second new audio adventure Time Reaver, just goes to further prove my belief.  The author, Jenny T. Colgan, not only has a real feel for the characters, but she clearly loves the Donna years, for the story is riddled with echoes that hearken back to the 4th season shows - from the man looking at the bomb strapped to Donna's back and saying, "There's something on your back," to the villain talking about the "Journey's End," to the Doctor discussing with Donna his desire to visit a place with lots of a books.  "A library," Donna says.  My inner-geek just thrilled with each and every reference!

The story itself was very Doctor Who-esque.  The Doctor and Donna have come to Calibris to get an item the Doctor needs to fix a part on the TARDIS. But on this spaceport, where anything goes and there have never been any rules, they suddenly find that a race of Vacintians are trying to enforce order on an otherwise lawless planet.  The Doctor wants to know why.  And when the Doctor discovers that an illegal weapon known as the Time Reaver is on the planet, he and Donna must hunt down the seller before it is distributed into the wrong hands.  The Time Reaver slows down a person's life - so much so, in fact, that the person can feel an eternity in just one second.  So imagine what would happen if the person were hit with the Time Reaver just when there is an explosion - he or she would feel the pain and agony of that explosion for an eternity!

I will admit that a couple of the actors that they picked to voice the other characters sounded similar to David Tennant and Catherine Tate, so every once in a while as I was listening, I had to pay close attention to make sure who was actually talking.  Otherwise, though, this audio was pretty much flawless - fantastic story, brilliant acting, and a great spot of time well-spent.  Could very easily see this one being an episode on television, particularly with regards to the couple of twists thrown in about the individual who has the Time Reaver, why that person has it, and how it all connects to the Vacintians and their dying planet.

RATING:  10 corset-crunching wench dresses out of 10 for keeping the Doctor/Donna alive and well for us fans!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 46 - The Curse of Shurafa

At long last we find out exactly what happened on Barnabas' jaunt to Cairo with Dr. Julia Hoffman and Professor Stokes.  This story has been hinted at in past audios, and finally we learn exactly what happened. With Andrew Collins reprising his role as Barnabas Collins (and yes, the fact that the actor is a "Collins" himself is not lost on me), Stephanie Ellyne continues voicing Amy Jennings Cunningham, while Scott Haran plays her son, Harry (as he did in the Bloodlust mni-series).

The Curse of Shurafa is told as a flashback, as Barnabas sits at the table with Harry, following the events in the Bloodlust story.  Barnabas tells Harry about the trip he took with Professor Stokes and Dr. Hoffman to Cairo, where they visited the famed City of the Dead cemetery.  Only, their visit quickly turns to horror when zombie-like creatures infested with flies appear and seem to be chasing after a young woman - a woman they soon discover is the last in a bloodline that is keeping a cursed Egyptian noble from coming back to life!

Author Bob Morris weaves a captivating tale of horror, friendship, love, family, evil, and sacrifice, as Barnabas quickly discovers that Dr. Hoffman has been infected by the spirit of Shurafa - and the only way to save her is to kill the young woman who can end his curse and free him to come back to life and reign terror on the earth!  What length will Barnabas go to in order to save his friend, the woman who has stood by his side for so many years and has done everything in her power to save him?  How can he not do anything he needs to in order to save her life?

As Harry listens, fully attentive to every word, Barnabas reveals the cost required to save Dr. Hoffman - and their ultimate battle to keep Shufara from every being freed from the curse that keeps him bound in his sarcophagus.  But did they truly defeat him?  For, before this story is finished, one final shock is revealed - one that will test the limits of family loyalty and love and prove, once and for all, that the Collins' family will always stick together and they will always win.

While Andrew Collins provides the voice of Barnabas, he also does the voices of Professor Stokes and Dr. Hoffman as he relates the events that occurred in Egypt.  What's funny is that there are moments where he manages to capture Thayer David's unique voice, and there are a couple of instances where it sounds like they used some footage from the original Dark Shadows with Grayson Hall's one-of-a-kind moans and cries of "Nooooo!"  There is also a reference to Professor Stokes helping Amy fight some zombies, which Amy also mentioned in an earlier audio drama, The Happier Dead.  This again shows the strengths of the writers and editors of these DS audios, as they keep the continuity flowing nicely, and even with stories that have never actually been told, the references are dropped now and again to keep it all the more real.

RATING:  9 fly-filled corpses out of 10 for honoring Thayer David, Grayson Hall, and Jonathan Frid with a great little story about the characters they so vividly brought to life on screen.

Doctor Who, the 10th Doctor with Donna Audio Book - Volume 1 - Technophobia

I've been waiting for these Doctor/Donna full-cast audio CDs to come out for a while.  But after the let-down when reading the recent book that came out with these two, I started listening to this with a bit of trepidation.  Thankfully, the author (Matt Fitton) and the cast (including David Tennant and Catherine Tate) proved more than up to the challenge of bringing back this dynamic duo as the 10th Doctor and his best-ever companion, Donna Noble.

Donna Noble has always been (and will always be!) my favorite Doctor Who companion.  She is quick-witted, sarcastic, and never afraid to dress someone down if they disrespect her.  She's also never afraid to call the Doctor out on things if he isn't exactly handling things the way she feels they need to be handled.  And Fitton definitely 'gets' Donna.  Her characterization in this story is spot on, as is the 10th Doctor, with his fun-loving quirkiness that never takes himself too seriously and always offers any alien threat an opportunity to walk away before he does whatever he has to in order to protect the lives of the innocent.

In Technophobia, the Doctor and Donna pay a visit to London's Technology Museum, where they discover something is not quite right.  The technology seems to be attacking the visitors and employees of the Museum, and no one seems to be able to control any of it.  In fact, the more terrorizing the technology becomes, the more afraid people grow, to the point where they refuse to go anywhere near anything that is technologically based.  Except for the Doctor and Donna, of course.  And the receptionist, who just got back from a three-month back-packing trip. Which raises an alarm in the Doctor's mind, as he and Donna slowly come to the realizing it is not the technology that is doing anything - rather, it is actually the people who are changing.  They are losing their ability to understand and cope with the technology around them - from even the simplest coffee maker to the elevators and escalators to the high tech laptops.  The human race has sudden devolved in their intelligence and growing dumber by the second.

In true Doctor Who fashion, it is up to the Doctor and Donna to save all of humanity.  But how? And when the Doctor becomes infected with the virus and finds his own intelligence dwindling by the minute, it is up to Donna to put her noggin to good use and figure out how the bloody hell she's going to stop an alien race intent on wiping out the minds of the human race and creating a population of mindless slaves!

Excellent writing, fantastic characterization, and brilliant reading by the cast.  The Doctor and Donna are back and just as good as, if not better than, ever!  Can't wait to see what the second story holds in store...

RATING:  10 subway trains out of 10 for bringing this Donna Noble fanboy some great new stories of his favorite companion!

Dark Shadows Audio Book 45 - Panic

Can one every truly get enough of Quentin Collins?  After sharing an adventure with Olivia Corey (Amanda Harris) in audio CD 44 - "The Darkest Shadow," Quentin comes right back for the 45th audio story, "Panic."  This time around, however, he shares the tale with none other than Susan Sullivan, who David Selby fans will remember worked with Selby for a number of years on the set of the nighttime soap, Falcon Crest.  It was actually kinda cool to hear the two of them together, although their characters here are a far cry from the Falcon Crest days.

In this tale, Quentin is talking to his great-great-grandson, Tom Cunningham (who fans of the audios will remember from the Bloodlust story, setting this tale after that saga.  Quentin is remembering a time when he traveled to London in an attempt to escape all the horrors and events that have plagued him through the years in Collinsport.  While there, he settled down into a "normal" life as the owner of an antique store.  Until the day Lela Quick comes in.

(Side note - clearly Lela Quick is clearly an homage to Lela Swift, who directed nearly half the episodes of the TV show)

The story follows Lela's fascination with a song that she can't get out of her head.  A song that one of her students tells her he overheard coming from the Pandemonium Antique shop.  The very shop that Quentin now owns, and over which Lela happens to reside.  The tune she can't seem to shake Lela finds on a record in the store.  She is prepared to make the purchase until Quentin stops her, and she leaves the shop rather perturbed.  Needless to say, she wakes to the tune that night, and discovers it is not just in her head.  Breaking into the shop, she finds the record playing - and ultimately finds herself wandering into the back of the store and into another realm entirely!  Lost in the woods, she comes face to face with Quentin Collins!

The author of this audio, Roy Gill, weaves a wonderful tale of mystery, secrets, and forgotten pasts, and he even integrates some long forgotten mythology involving the god, Pan.  There is some great references to the fact that gods of long ago can be completely unfamiliar with the technology and inventions of today, and he provides a rather ingenious means whereby Quentin helps Lela break the hold that Pan has over her.

And I'll hold off on revealing the rather surprising secret that comes to play at the end of this audio - a secret that I have no doubt will have repercussions in future stories of the Collins' family!

As I get closer to reaching the point where I am caught up with all of these audio stories, it is with mixed feelings - I'll be thrilled to have finally heard all the stories that are out there, but it will be disappointing to know that I have to wait right along with everyone else for however many months until the next ones come out!

RATING:  10 haunted phonographs out of 10 for keeping the tales of the Collins' clan fresh and exciting and just as new as they were back when the TV show first aired!