The BEST Episodes of Dark Shadows
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: May 4, 2021
Network: ABC (US)
With vampires, witches, warlocks, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures, it became a surprising phenomenon. The show revolves around Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), a guilt-ridden 175-year-old vampire who longs to be human again and returns to his estate after being chained inside a coffin for nearly 200 years.
#1 - DS-112
Season 1 - Episode 110 - Aired Nov 29, 1966
A shamed Matthew confesses the murder to a stunned Elizabeth, before fleeing. The police hunt for Matthew, who has hidden at the Old House. Victoria makes peace with Roger, apologising for her accusation.
9.76 #2 - DS-111
Season 1 - Episode 109 - Aired Nov 28, 1966
Matthew reveals that he killed Malloy, but that it was an accident, and vows to kill Victoria to maintain his secret. The police are called to search for Victoria, while Elizabeth pays a crucial visit on Matthew.
9.68 #3 - DS-31
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired Aug 8, 1966
Burke defies expectations and lies to absolve David of involvement in the crash. However, he later privately confides in Victoria, warning her to beware of her young charge.
9.33 #4 - DS-6
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired Jul 4, 1966
Victoria looks for David in the basement of Collinwood. While looking, a stranger enters the room and asks who she is. He accuses her of snooping around. Elizabeth comes down and says it's Matthew Morgan, the caretaker of Collinwood. She asks Victoria why she is in the basement, and when Victoria tells her that she is down there looking for David, Elizabeth tells her David would not come down there. Once she leaves, Elizabeth finds David hiding in the basement. Later, Victoria sees Matthew again, stoking the fireplace. She says she hopes they can one day be friends, and she starts asking him questions. She finds out that Elizabeth fired all of her servents 18 years ago and then hired Matthew, giving him a cottage on the edge of Collinwood grounds. In the basement, Elizabeth gets out a crate of adventure books that had belonged to Roger when he was a boy. David does not want anything associated with his father. Carolyn tells Victoria that she should ask Elizabeth about what happened 18
9.22 #5 - DS-4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Jun 30, 1966
Victoria is interrogated by Roger over her knowledge of Burke Devlin and their encounter at the train station. Later that night, Victoria has an unpleasant first meeting with David Collins
9.07 #6 - DS-3
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Jun 29, 1966
Elizabeth's brother, Roger Collins, desperately searches for local artist Sam Evans. Meanwhile, Victoria meets Elizabeth's teenage daughter Carolyn and begins to wonder if Collinwood is haunted.
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#7 - DS-108/109/110
Season 1 - Episode 108 - Aired Nov 23, 1966
Scared from her close call, Victoria unwittingly runs to Matthew's cottage for help. As they talk, she realises that he was the driver. Matthew refuses to let Victoria leave.
9.00 #8 - DS-117
Season 1 - Episode 115 - Aired Dec 6, 1966
Elizabeth worries about Victoria's safety. Joe learns the truth about Carolyn and Burke's relationship and the two men come to blows. The discovery of Victoria's luggage proves that she never left for her trip.
9.00 #9 - DS-171
Season 2 - Episode 44 - Aired Feb 20, 1967
Victoria is unable to understand Josette's warming, but Guthrie succeeds in translating it. Later on, Laura appears in Victoria's room and warns her to stop interfering.
9.00 #10 - DS-261
Season 3 - Episode 69 - Aired Jun 26, 1967
Maggie manages to escape to the beach and is discovered by Sam. Dr. Woodard remains concerned for Maggie's safety and decides to announce her death, while she is sent away for treatment.
9.00 #11 - DS-407
Season 5 - Episode 40 - Aired Jan 16, 1968
Angelique tries to clean her blood off the carpet, but is not able to remove it. Naomi comes to the Old House to see Barnabas. Angelique tells her that he left last night on business. We see Barnabas upstairs, appearing very ill and delirious. Naomi enquires about the blood stain, and is told that it was from wine. Naomi tells Angelique that she should stay with her at Collinwood, but Angelique refuses Naomi's hospitality. Naomi hears Barnabas moan, but is told by Angelique that it is just the stairs. Back at Collinwood, Naomi is worried. She talks to Joshua, and Joshua tells her that he is not concerned because he has become more independent in the past. Joshua thinks that Barnabas ran off with Josette. At that moment, Josette and Natalie enter the room. Josette tells of the feelings she has that something bad has happened to her Barnabas. Naomi tells her that Barnabas is not in Collinsport, but Josette does not believe her. She and Natalie decide to go to the Old House Angelique want
9.00 #12 - DS-411
Season 5 - Episode 44 - Aired Jan 22, 1968
In an attempt to stop the vampire curse from becoming complete, Angelique attempts to drive a stake through Barnabas Collins' heart at sundown. However, Barnabas stops her and exerts his own revenge upon her by strangling her to death.
9.00 #13 - DS-428
Season 5 - Episode 61 - Aired Feb 14, 1968
Becoming increasingly troubled, Joshua goes to the mausoleum, where he is shocked to learn that the coffin concealed inside now contains Barnabas. Millicent attempts to kill Nathan for his betrayal.
9.00 #14 - DS-432
Season 5 - Episode 65 - Aired Feb 20, 1968
Barnabas tells Abigail that she has been wrong about evil all along. He tells her that Angelique was the witch but she won't believe it. Abigail thinks Barnabas is just an apperition sent by Victoria. Barnabas tells Abigail about all the things she has been wrong about. He shows her his fangs and she dies of a heart attack from the site of them. Meanwhile, at Collinwood, Daniel and Naomi are talking about Daniel and Millicent possibly staying with Naomi and Joshua at Collinwood. Daniel says he doesn't like Collinwood especially after Sarah died. Trask enters. Trask inquires about what Victoria told Daniel. Daniel runs out of Collinwood from fright. Naomi runs after him and tells Trask that HE will be the one who will have to face the lord over these things. Trask joins Naomi in going after Daniel. Daniel finds the dead body of Abigail, and calls Naomi and Trask to him. Trask and Naomi are shocked.
9.00 #15 - DS-438
Season 5 - Episode 71 - Aired Feb 28, 1968
Barnabas is furious to learn of trial verdict, blaming Trask for his victimisation of Victoria. Using his supernatural powers, he summons a disembodied hand to taunt Trask with the promise of death.
9.00 #16 - DS-460
Season 5 - Episode 93 - Aired Mar 29, 1968
It turns out the arrow missed Barnabas' heart. Barnabas kills Nathan by strangulation. Joshua has Ben bury Nathan and has it reported that Nathan had left Millicent. The sun rises. Barnabas has by now found out that Joshua is gonna kill him and asks for two requests. The first is that Ben will be freed, and the second is a letter to the governer asking to postpone Victoria' hanging. Barnabas then leaves to go to his coffin. Joshua tries to shoot him but can't. He has Barnabas' coffin chained up in the secret room, with a cross in the coffin that will paralyze him until it is removed,w hich is hopefully never. Meanwhile, at the goal, Victoria seems to be praying. Peter enters since Victoria had asked to see him as her last request. Peter and Victoria admit their love for each other, and Peter tells her that they will meet each other once again someday. They are seperated and Victoria is taken to the gallows. She is asked if she wants to wear a hood and she agrees. We then see the rope g
9.00 #17 - DS-491
Season 6 - Episode 31 - Aired May 13, 1968
The experiment does not transfer Barnabas' life force, but instead brings Adam to life. Adam acts like a child, unable to control his strength. When night comes, Barnabas' cure seems to be complete.
9.00 #18 - DS-548
Season 6 - Episode 87 - Aired Jul 31, 1968
Having admitted her true identity to Barnabas, Angélique visits him to make a final plea for forgiveness. After he gloatingly refuses, Angélique dies, leaving Barnabas and Julia to celebrate their freedom from her.
9.00 #19 - DS-575
Season 6 - Episode 114 - Aired Sep 6, 1968
Angélique plans on being the life force for the experiment, despite Nicholas' misgivings. Stokes intervenes when Adam and Jeff come to blows. Jeff is bitten by Angélique, as part of her latest scheme.
9.00 #20 - DS-638
Season 6 - Episode 176 - Aired Dec 4, 1968
Chris and Julia find themselves at odds over Amy's care, as she begins life at Collinwood. While walking in the woods at night, Elizabeth finds herself at the mercy of a wild animal.
9.00 #21 - DS-662
Season 6 - Episode 199 - Aired Jan 7, 1969
Barnabas plans to change the course of history by saving Victoria. Barnabas gives Nathan an opportunity to save his life if he will do something. Barnabas waits at Collinwood for Nathan.
9.00 #22 - DS-666
Season 6 - Episode 203 - Aired Jan 13, 1969
Ben kills Nathan and Natalie before they can harm Barnabas. In the present Willie and Julia wait for Barnabas to return, however he never does. Willie checks the mausoleum but Barnabas is not in the coffin; shortly after Willie leaves the chains re-appear around the coffin and Barnabas is trapped inside. Josette appears to Willie, crying; he is convinced that Barnabas is in the coffin now.
9.00 #23 - DS-667
Season 6 - Episode 204 - Aired Jan 14, 1969
Willie and Julia release Barnabas from the coffin, but they're almost discovered when Amy and Carolyn visit the Mausoleum to put flowers on the graves. David hurts Amy when she will not do what Quentin wants them to; Carolyn punishes David. David later tells Amy that they are going to "play the game" with Carolyn.
9.00 #24 - DS-701
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired Mar 3, 1969
Barnabas finds himself locked in his coffin. In 1897 gypsies (Sandor and Magda) live in the Old House. Quentin returns to Collinwood after some time away. Edith Collins, head of the family is expected to die soon, and is expected to tell the family secret to the next in line, Edward Collins. Magda sees the mausoleum in her crystal ball and sends Sandor to find jewels; however he finds and releases Barnabas.
9.00 #25 - DS-704
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired Mar 6, 1969
Barnabas asks for permission to live in the Old House. Barnabas finds that Beth is hiding something when she denies the existence of a third child at Collinwood. Barnabas attacks a woman in the village (Sophie Baker). Quentin threatens Edith to make her tell him the family secret.
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