Dark Shadows — 1966-1971 · 3 seasons · 1233 eps

★ 8.1

Dark Shadows

1966-1971 3 seasons 1233 episodes

★ 8.1 (5,920 votes) Top 24%

Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

Episode Ratings Grid

Every episode at a glance, color-coded by rating. Rows are episode numbers within each season, columns are seasons.

Size: M

S1 1-30

S1 31-60

S1 61-90

S1 91-120

S1 121-150

S1 151-180

S1 181-210

S1 211-240

S1 241-270

S1 271-300

S1 301-330

S1 331-360

S1 361-390

S1 391-420

S1 421-450

S1 451-480

S1 481-510

S1 511-540

S1 541-570

S1 571-600

S1 601-630

S1 631-660

S1 661-690

S1 691-720

S1 721-750

S1 751-780

S1 781-810

S1 811-840

S1 841-870

S1 871-900

S1 901-930

S1 931-960

S1 961-990

S1 991-1020

S1 1021-1050

S1 1051-1080

S1 1081-1110

S1 1111-1140

S1 1141-1170

S1 1171-1200

S1 1201-1230

S1 1231-1245

S2 36-65

S2 66-95

S2 96-125

S2 126-136

S6 0-29

S6 30-59

S6 60-89

S6 90-119

S6 120-149

S6 150-179

S6 180-209

S6 210-239

S6 240-269

S6 270-299

S6 300-329

S6 330-359

S6 360-389

S6 390-419

S6 420-449

S6 450-479

S6 480-509

S6 510-539

S6 540-569

S6 570-599

S6 600-629

S6 630-659

S6 660-689

S6 690-719

S6 720-749

S6 750-779

S6 780-809

S6 810-839

S6 840-869

S6 870-899

S6 900-929

S6 930-959

S6 960-989

S6 990-1019

S6 1020-1049

S6 1050-1079

S6 1080-1109

S6 1110-1139

S6 1140-1169

S6 1170-1190

E1

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.2

7.3

7.2

7.6

7.7

7.5

8.2

7.5

7.4

6.7

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7.2

7.7

7.1

7.5

7.1

8.3

7.5

8.1

7.4

7.8

7.7

7.7

7.4

6.9

7.6

7.0

7.1

7.3

7.6

6.9

7.6

7.2

6.6

7.2

7.5

7.2

7.2

7.4

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E2

7.3

7.4

7.1

7.2

8.0

7.4

7.8

8.0

7.6

8.0

7.5

7.6

7.2

7.7

7.6

7.1

7.3

8.0

6.9

7.5

7.6

7.7

7.7

7.7

7.6

7.8

7.2

6.8

7.4

7.0

7.0

7.3

7.5

7.1

7.0

7.3

6.5

7.3

6.9

7.1

6.9

7.5

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E3

7.2

7.5

7.4

7.3

7.6

8.2

7.8

6.8

7.5

8.0

7.1

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.5

6.9

7.6

7.6

7.1

7.2

7.3

8.1

7.9

7.5

7.3

7.5

7.3

6.9

7.6

7.0

7.1

7.4

7.6

7.1

7.4

7.7

7.1

7.7

7.3

7.1

6.9

7.2

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E4

7.2

7.6

7.6

7.4

7.6

7.9

7.9

7.8

7.6

8.1

7.1

7.5

7.7

7.7

7.0

6.8

7.5

7.4

7.6

7.1

7.5

7.8

7.9

7.9

7.4

7.6

7.3

7.2

7.9

7.2

7.0

7.2

7.4

6.7

7.2

7.3

7.1

7.1

7.1

7.1

7.2

7.1

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E5

7.2

7.1

7.0

7.5

7.9

7.8

8.1

7.7

7.8

8.0

7.5

7.3

8.3

7.8

8.2

6.9

7.7

7.6

7.4

7.3

7.8

7.8

8.0

7.3

7.1

7.6

7.5

7.0

8.2

7.2

7.3

7.6

7.7

7.0

7.4

7.2

7.1

7.3

7.2

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6.9

7.1

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E6

7.1

6.9

7.2

7.4

8.1

7.8

8.0

7.4

7.6

7.7

7.2

7.6

8.2

8.1

7.3

7.3

7.8

7.9

7.6

7.1

7.9

7.3

8.0

7.5

7.3

7.4

7.3

7.2

7.5

7.2

7.1

7.3

7.3

7.2

7.9

7.2

6.9

7.6

7.0

7.2

7.0

7.3

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E7

7.1

7.4

7.3

7.3

7.8

7.9

7.6

7.4

7.8

7.8

7.1

7.7

7.8

7.9

6.8

8.1

7.4

7.1

7.9

7.1

7.8

7.4

7.9

7.6

7.8

7.7

7.7

7.3

7.5

7.5

7.2

7.2

7.2

7.2

7.5

6.9

6.8

7.2

6.8

7.6

7.2

7.4

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E8

7.1

7.4

7.0

7.8

7.6

7.5

7.4

7.6

8.1

7.7

7.1

7.5

8.0

7.5

7.4

8.3

7.5

7.5

7.7

7.2

7.6

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.3

7.5

7.0

7.4

7.5

7.3

7.0

7.2

7.4

7.1

6.9

7.5

7.1

7.2

6.9

7.5

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7.3

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E9

7.2

7.3

7.2

8.0

7.7

7.5

7.4

7.3

7.6

7.7

7.2

7.5

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7.3

7.5

8.5

7.3

7.8

7.1

7.2

7.2

7.4

7.3

7.4

7.2

7.5

7.0

7.3

7.5

7.6

7.1

7.6

7.7

7.6

7.2

7.4

6.9

7.2

7.3

7.5

7.0

7.4

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E10

7.3

7.4

7.9

7.6

7.5

7.4

7.8

7.4

8.3

8.3

7.3

7.9

7.9

7.8

7.8

8.4

7.6

7.4

7.3

7.3

7.5

7.4

7.2

7.5

7.5

7.4

7.3

7.6

7.2

7.8

7.4

7.3

7.9

7.5

7.2

7.6

6.8

7.5

7.2

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6.9

6.5

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E11

7.1

7.3

7.3

7.6

—

7.6

8.0

8.0

8.1

7.9

7.4

7.9

7.6

8.1

7.6

8.0

7.7

7.6

7.4

7.0

7.5

7.0

7.2

7.8

7.5

7.5

7.8

7.0

7.6

7.0

7.1

7.4

7.9

7.4

7.4

8.0

7.1

7.4

6.6

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7.3

6.6

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7.2

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E12

7.3

7.3

7.2

7.4

7.3

7.9

7.4

7.7

7.2

7.3

7.6

7.1

7.7

7.8

7.4

7.7

7.4

7.5

7.4

7.1

7.5

7.2

7.8

7.7

7.4

7.3

7.3

6.9

7.4

7.2

7.2

7.2

7.6

7.1

7.6

7.2

7.1

7.2

7.4

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7.2

6.8

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8.1

E13

7.5

7.3

7.0

7.7

7.5

7.6

7.4

7.4

7.5

7.4

7.5

7.4

7.5

7.7

6.8

7.8

7.5

7.5

7.2

7.5

7.5

7.2

7.6

7.8

7.2

7.3

7.5

6.7

7.6

7.5

7.2

7.4

7.2

7.2

7.4

7.8

7.1

7.3

7.0

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7.4

7.1

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7.3

E14

7.3

7.4

7.2

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.3

7.7

6.9

7.6

7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5

6.7

7.6

7.4

7.2

7.6

7.3

7.5

7.0

7.5

7.6

6.9

7.4

7.5

6.1

7.5

7.3

—

7.5

7.2

6.9

7.4

6.9

7.1

7.3

6.9

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7.2

7.2

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7.2

E15

7.4

7.5

7.2

8.2

7.4

7.8

7.6

7.9

7.8

7.6

7.5

7.5

7.3

8.6

7.3

7.5

7.3

7.4

7.2

7.4

7.5

7.2

7.8

7.7

7.2

7.6

7.3

7.3

7.2

7.3

7.7

7.6

7.2

6.9

8.0

7.1

7.0

7.5

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7.4

7.6

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7.1

E16

7.4

7.7

7.6

7.5

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7.2

7.6

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7.4

7.7

7.5

7.3

7.5

8.0

6.9

8.2

7.3

7.2

7.6

7.4

7.6

7.5

7.3

7.7

7.2

7.2

7.5

7.2

7.6

7.1

7.6

7.5

7.8

6.9

7.9

7.1

6.9

7.4

6.9

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7.1

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7.2

E17

7.3

7.6

6.9

7.7

7.6

7.5

7.5

7.6

6.8

7.7

7.8

7.5

7.5

7.8

7.3

8.2

7.4

7.4

7.2

7.5

7.2

7.4

7.4

7.6

7.3

7.0

7.0

7.7

7.6

7.1

7.5

7.2

7.5

7.4

7.4

7.0

7.3

7.2

6.9

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7.1

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7.5

E18

7.3

7.4

7.4

7.7

7.9

7.5

7.7

7.1

7.5

7.9

7.5

7.6

7.5

7.9

8.1

7.5

8.1

7.4

7.1

7.7

7.3

7.4

7.5

7.4

7.2

7.4

7.5

7.2

7.6

7.2

7.3

7.2

7.4

7.3

7.5

7.2

7.2

7.5

7.3

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7.2

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7.6

E19

7.4

7.4

7.1

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7.7

7.4

8.0

7.6

7.9

8.2

7.5

7.9

7.4

7.9

7.5

7.3

7.9

7.5

7.3

7.4

7.6

7.8

7.2

7.8

7.5

7.3

7.2

7.0

7.1

7.5

7.4

7.2

6.9

6.9

7.3

6.9

7.0

7.2

7.5

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7.0

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7.6

E20

7.7

7.7

7.0

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7.4

8.2

7.9

8.0

8.0

8.3

7.4

8.1

7.4

7.9

7.8

7.4

7.7

7.5

7.6

7.3

7.5

7.5

7.3

7.8

7.6

7.1

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.4

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7.5

7.7

7.5

7.5

7.7

7.0

7.1

7.6

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7.4

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7.4

E21

7.4

7.6

7.5

8.1

7.6

7.8

8.1

7.5

8.2

7.9

7.4

8.2

7.6

8.2

7.5

7.2

7.6

7.5

7.5

7.3

7.7

7.5

7.3

7.7

7.7

7.2

6.8

7.8

7.6

7.6

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7.9

7.9

7.5

7.1

7.7

7.1

7.5

7.4

7.3

7.6

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—

—

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7.4

E22

7.2

7.4

6.9

8.1

7.8

7.5

7.5

7.7

7.2

7.3

7.6

7.6

7.5

7.5

8.6

7.3

7.5

7.3

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.8

7.4

7.8

7.3

7.4

7.6

7.3

7.4

7.6

7.5

7.7

7.4

6.9

7.2

6.9

6.9

7.5

7.1

7.1

—

—

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—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

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—

—

—

—

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E23

7.4

7.4

6.9

7.3

7.7

7.3

7.5

8.1

7.1

7.3

7.6

7.6

7.2

7.1

7.0

7.9

7.3

8.0

7.8

7.5

7.3

8.1

7.4

7.7

7.4

7.3

6.8

7.1

7.2

6.9

7.7

7.8

7.1

7.1

7.6

6.8

6.7

7.3

7.1

7.2

7.5

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

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—

—

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—

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—

—

—

—

—

—

—

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E24

7.3

7.5

7.5

7.4

7.8

7.5

7.8

7.9

7.8

7.7

7.4

7.6

8.1

7.7

6.8

7.6

7.3

7.1

8.0

7.6

7.3

7.8

7.6

7.7

7.6

7.7

6.6

7.2

7.3

7.1

7.4

7.7

7.1

7.5

6.9

6.9

7.2

7.1

7.3

7.3

7.3

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—

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—

—

—

—

—

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E25

7.4

7.4

8.0

7.3

7.6

7.9

7.8

7.8

7.6

7.5

7.8

7.3

8.0

7.7

7.7

7.7

7.7

8.0

7.8

7.5

7.3

7.5

7.7

7.8

7.3

7.6

7.3

7.2

7.2

—

6.9

7.3

7.4

7.6

7.2

7.1

7.3

—

6.7

7.8

7.0

—

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—

—

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E26

7.7

7.1

7.5

7.8

7.7

7.9

7.7

8.2

7.6

7.4

7.4

7.4

7.8

7.8

8.5

7.4

7.1

7.2

7.7

7.6

7.5

7.1

7.1

8.0

7.5

7.9

7.1

7.4

7.0

7.2

7.0

7.3

7.1

7.4

7.2

6.8

7.4

7.2

6.8

7.4

6.8

—

—

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—

—

—

—

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E27

7.5

7.4

7.7

7.7

7.3

7.8

8.0

7.5

7.6

7.9

7.4

7.4

7.3

7.7

7.9

7.2

7.6

7.3

7.8

7.5

7.7

6.9

7.2

7.6

7.4

7.6

6.8

7.7

7.0

7.3

7.2

7.4

7.2

7.4

7.5

6.9

7.2

7.2

7.1

8.4

7.1

—

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E28

7.2

7.2

7.8

8.0

7.3

7.8

7.6

7.5

7.5

7.2

7.5

7.3

7.4

7.9

7.0

7.5

7.7

7.5

7.6

7.3

7.7

7.9

7.3

7.6

7.8

7.7

6.8

7.3

7.5

7.1

7.1

7.1

7.3

7.5

7.1

7.1

7.2

7.2

8.0

7.6

6.9

—

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—

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E29

7.6

7.3

7.3

7.7

7.6

8.1

7.9

8.0

7.7

7.4

7.4

7.4

7.4

7.3

7.6

7.3

7.5

7.1

7.7

7.5

7.8

7.2

7.4

7.8

7.8

7.9

6.6

7.5

7.3

7.3

7.2

6.8

7.1

7.6

7.0

6.8

7.8

7.2

7.8

6.9

7.3

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E30

7.6

7.6

7.3

7.5

7.4

8.2

7.5

7.5

8.3

7.4

7.3

7.5

7.5

7.2

8.0

7.4

7.7

7.0

8.3

7.9

7.6

7.5

7.6

7.9

7.8

8.0

6.9

7.7

7.3

7.5

7.4

7.3

7.8

7.0

7.4

6.7

7.5

7.2

6.9

7.0

6.9

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Avg

7.4

7.2

7.4

Great

Good

Mid

Episode Power Rankings

The best and worst episodes at a glance. Use this to find must-watch episodes or ones you might want to skip.

🏆 Top Episodes

#1 8.6

S1E405 Episode #1.405

#2

S1E442 8.6

Episode #1.442

#3

S1E446 8.5

Episode #1.446

4. S1E459 "Episode #1.459" 8.5
5. S1E460 "Episode #1.460" 8.4
6. S1E1197 "Episode #1.1197" 8.4
7. S1E250 "Episode #1.250" 8.3
8. S1E270 "Episode #1.270" 8.3
9. S1E280 "Episode #1.280" 8.3
10. S1E290 "Episode #1.290" 8.3

📉 Bottom Episodes

#1230

S1E824 6.1

Episode #1.824

1229. S1E1240 "Episode #1.1240" 6.5
1228. S1E1082 "Episode #1.1082" 6.5
1227. S1E1241 "Episode #1.1241" 6.6
1226. S1E1151 "Episode #1.1151" 6.6

The Quality Arc

Each point is an episode, plotted chronologically. The colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for upward or downward trends to see if quality improved or declined over time.

Trend

Episode Engagement

Vote count shows how many people cared enough to rate. High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.

Rating threshold:

381 Standouts

244 Infamous

204 Hidden Gems

401 Forgettable

Top Standout: S1E1 Year 1-1

Most Infamous: S1E2 Year 1-2

Best Hidden Gem: S1E1197 Episode #1.1197

Episodes plotted by rating vs. vote count. The vertical line marks the rating threshold (7.5). More votes = more engagement. Toggle above to compare against global or show-specific median.

Series Trajectory

A simplified view: one point per season. This smooths out episode-to-episode noise to show the overall arc of the series.

Trend

Season Momentum

Did each season build momentum or fizzle out? Green arrows mean the finale rated higher than the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows = bigger swings.

Season Consistency

Some seasons are reliable bangers. Others are hit-or-miss. Each dot is an episode. Tightly clustered dots mean consistent quality. Scattered dots mean a mixed bag.

Each dot is an episode. Clustered dots = consistent quality. Scattered dots = variable season. Hover for episode details.