How do you solve a problem like Quentin?

Quentin Collins is a character largely forgotten by the general public, which has come to think of Dark Shadows as “that soap opera with a vampire.” All of the show’s subtleties, its expansive roster of characters and its centuries of (mostly) meticulous continuity have steadily been whittled down to a description that would fit nicely in a TV Guide program listing.

Quentin’s reduced standing in Dark Shadows lore was a problem sown on the show, itself. His first year on the program was an amazing feat of storytelling. Introduced initially as a ghost, actor David Selby spent his first few months on Dark Shadows without dialogue and was required to do little more than grin and leer at the few cast members he was allowed to interact with.

 When the story moved to 1897 the character literally came to life. A stoic monster was replaced with a flawed, selfish and incredibly charming anti-hero who delighted in his own misdeeds. He was equal parts Indiana Jones and Alistair Crowley, an adventurer and globe-trotting scoundrel who would be the villain on any other program.

 Even Selby has said he didn’t always understand the attraction of the character, particularly to women, saying Quentin was kind of a “bastard.” But Selby’s own sense of humor and ability to find the humanity in an otherwise amoral man made Quentin Collins one of TV’s most interesting characters.

All of that came to a thudding halt during the Leviathan storyline. I’m one of the few defenders of that arc but the decision to turn Barnabas Collins into a villain (again) while also bringing Quentin Collins into the contemporary setting without his memory was disastrous. It left the show adrift without protagonists, and the number of sympathetic characters only dwindled the more the Leviathan story unfolded.

"That dress would look lovely crumpled up at the foot of my bed tomorrow morning."

 I’ll go a step further and say that bringing Quentin into the 1960s without his memory and history was essentially severing David Selby from Quentin Collins. He was Quentin in Name Only which left Dark Shadows struggling to find a purpose for the character. It’s no coincidence that almost all of Big Finish’s audio dramas that featured Quentin have focused on the “lost years” between the 1890s and 1970s.

Quentin’s misfit status in the 20^th century was also an issue that writer Marilyn (Dan) Ross met in his pulp/romance series of Dark Shadows novels. Even though Quentin was elevated to co-star status in the novels’ titles the character was rarely given anything to do. He would frequently show up (almost always in disguise) and make his exit before the close of the story.

Even the new comic book from Dynamite Entertainment can’t seem to find a real use for the character. He’s introduced in the first issue doing nothing more interesting that reading quietly in his room, and has since filled the role of Willie Loomis as Barnabas’ helper monkey.

It’s a little upsetting to see such a nuanced character become a footnote in Dark Shadows lore. I don’t think it’s irreparable. If the new Dark Shadows movie is both good AND successful, and we’re lucky enough to get a sequel, it would be a great opportunity to restore Quentin’s once shining status. (Who would you cast? Hugh Jackman? Leonardo DiCaprio?)

Dynamite also has the ability to do a little retooling of the character within the pages of its comic, but it’s likely Barnabas will continue to push Quentin further into the background.  Of course, THAT problem could be solved by giving Quentin his own series, hint hint.

If you feel like mentioning that idea to the publisher you can find them online HERE, and at Twitter HERE.