Jumped the shark when they made Barnabas truly evil

I actually like the Leviathan storyline. But at least for me something feels different once Vicki gets back from 1795. I can't put my finger on exactly what. The music may have some role in it because there are many new music cues after we get back to the present time.

Don't get me wrong, the show is still good afterwards. But in my opinion it never manages to be quite as excellent as the first 460 episodes again. Something about it just changes feels different after that point.

Are you confusing the Leviathan storyline with the flashback to 1795? They happened almost two years apart!

As for Vicky returning from 1795, you're exactly right, there were quite a few continuity differences.

For one thing, the actress playing Phyllis Wick, the real governess who was replaced by Vicki, was played by two different actresses. The one first appearing at the seance was not the same actress in the end.

For another, even though time had "frozen" at Collinwood, it was 1968 when Vicki returned. Since she disappeared in November of 1967, it should've still been 1967.

But the real problems begin once she comes back. There is NEVER a mention of Sarah Collins again. Contacting Sarah was the entire reason for the seance. When Vicki came back, that's all been forgotten.

Barnabas had Carolyn under his spell prior to he seance. That, too, is entirely forgotten in 1968.

Burke Devlin had been reported lost in a plane crash prior to the seance, and Vicki was waiting to hear word of his ultimate fate. He was never mentioned or even referred to again after the seance.

It was clearly established prior to the seance that you could walk from Collinwood to Eagle Hill cemetery. After the seance, you must drive there.

Barnabas wanted to kill Julia, and Julia had hidden a red diary containing incriminating evidence about Barnabas. I don't believe that was ever mentioned again, either.

A rather obvious change is that the Old House has been completely restored. All the walls have been painted and look brand new. That's because the set designers cleaned it up for the 1795 flashback and never changed it back to looking shabby.

So, when Vicki returned--and in the present time, she was gone for only a second--several plot lines were dropped. No explanation. It's almost as if she'd returned to an alternate reality. Soon after, within a matter of episodes, kooky Dr. Lang was introduced, Peter Bradford returned from 1795, and the Adam storyline began.

reply share

add reply

formatting help