The worst episodes of Dark Shadows
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Barnabas tells Elizabeth that he is from England, and is the only surviving member of the English branch. When asked, he tells her that he is thinking of possibly settling down in Collinsport. Barnabas visits the Old Hous and finds David Collins playing there. After David leaves the Old House, Barnabas begins to talk to the portrait of Josette Collins.
- 02
At the Collinwood mansion, Victoria meets with the reclusive matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, while Burke Devlin talks with a private detective at the local Blue Whale tavern.
- 03
Victoria Winters travels to Collinsport by train from New York to be the governess of 10 year old David Collins. Also on that train is Burke Devlin, who seems rather mysterious. We get to see Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and Roger Collins argue over if it was wise to hire Victoria. Victoria and Burke go to the hotel where she can wait for a cab. He seems rather disturbed about the place. He leaves and goes to a local hangout called the Blue Whale, where he meets an investigator he has hired. Victoria meets Maggie Evans, who tells her she is a jerk for accepting the job. Even after all the things that has been said to her, she goes to Collinwood and is invited in by Elizabeth.
- 04
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.
- 05
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
- 06
Sam Evans and Roger discuss Burke Devlin's return. Sam agrees with Roger's fear that Burke is planning revenge against the Collins family for his jail sentence, but refuses to offer any help.
- 07
Carolyn's flighty romance with Joe Haskell takes a new turn when she admits that she is in love with him, but refuses an offer of marriage. Victoria investigates Elizabeth's claims about her job offer.
- 08
Victoria learns of the tragic legend of Widows Hill, a cliff located close to Collinwood, where many suicides occurred. Meanwhile, Carolyn is intrigued by Burke and decides to learn more.
- 09
Roger puts pressure on Elizabeth to send David away to boarding school, a conversation the boy overhears. Burke gives Carolyn false information on the reason for his return.
- 10
Burke Devlin pays the residents of Collinwood a visit, apparently hoping to reassure Elizabeth that he has no vendetta to pursue against her family. He does, however, ask if Collinwood is for sale.
- 11
Victoria learns about David's relationship with Roger. Burke arranges to meet with Roger at the Blue Whale, and spends time talking with Joe and Carolyn, at her request.
- 12
Roger emerges from the accident without serious injury, but is shaken by the experience. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is appalled to learn of Carolyn's flirtation with Burke.
- 13
Victoria is disturbed to receive a letter informing her that her background has been probed by a private investigator. Meanwhile, Bill Malloy confronts Burke about Roger's crash.
- 14
Sam Evans reluctantly accepts a commission from Burke to paint a portrait of him, apparently destined for the Collinwood drawing room. Roger is annoyed that Carolyn does not believe Burke's guilt.
- 15
Constable Carter investigates Roger's claims of sabotage, questioning Burke. However, Carolyn proves herself an ally to Burke, saying that she brought him to Collinwood without his influence.
- 16
Roger presses Elizabeth for an explanation of her reasons for hiring Victoria, which she refuses to give. Meanwhile, Victoria is shocked to discover the missing bleeder valve in her room.
- 17
The police obtain a warrant to search Burke's room, believing him to be a suspect. When Victoria attempts to retrieve the bleeder valve, she discovers that it has been taken.
- 18
Burke meets with his private investigator Stuart Bronson, who provides him with a complete breakdown of the Collins family finances., as he begins to make plans.
- 19
Roger learns from Maggie that David has been seen trying to get into Burke's room at the hotel. As the police investigations near a conclusion, Burke and Roger's animosity increases rapidly.
- 20
Roger is forced to admit to a shocked Elizabeth that David was behind the murder attempt. Later, under questioning from Sheriff Paterson, Elizabeth lies to protect the boy.
- 21
Joe Haskell pays an unannounced drunken visit to Collinwood, passing out in the mansion. Meanwhile, Victoria journeys to the Blue Whale for a meeting with Burke Devlin.
- 22
Burke tells Victoria that he has asked his private investigator to research her past, and has received a report. However, it reveals nothing new. Joe and Carolyn reflect on their relationship.
- 23
Burke puts his takeover plan into action, offering four of Elizabeth's top executives jobs with him for increased pay. Learning of his plans, Elizabeth realises the severity of his threats.
- 24
Frank Garner vows to help Victoria uncover any hidden information about her past. Meanwhile, Sam is alarmed to hear that Bill Malloy's ghost has been seen by Victoria.
- 25
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
