Dark Shadows backdrop
Drama•Sci-Fi & Fantasy•Soap

The Best Episodes of Dark Shadows

Every episode of Dark Shadows ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Dark Shadows!

Binge this in 18d 21h•Peaking at 9.0/10

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,

Airs on
ABC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons12

All123456789101112

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 50 - DS-50
    9.0/10(98 votes)

    #1 - DS-50

    S1:E50

    David's attempts to scare Victoria continue with a message written on her mirror. Later, while walking along the cliffs, Carolyn and Victoria make a terrifying discovery.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 52 - DS-52
    9.0/10(91 votes)

    #2 - DS-52

    S1:E52

    Sam forces Maggie not to open his sealed letter. At Collinwood, Victoria and Carolyn are scared by mysterious sounds as an unseen force moves a book in the drawing room.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 84 - DS-84
    9.0/10(89 votes)

    #3 - DS-84

    S1:E84

    David attempts to scare Victoria by telling her stories about the ghosts that haunt Collinwood. Luring her to the closed-off wing of the mansion, David locks her in, leaving her trapped.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 85 - DS-85
    9.0/10(91 votes)

    #4 - DS-85

    S1:E85

    As a storm rages, Sam and Burke drink together and discuss the ghosts of Collinwood. In the closed-off wing, Victoria is visited by the ghost of Malloy, who warns her to leave Collinwood immediately.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 4 - DS-4
    8.5/10(182 votes)

    #5 - DS-4

    S1:E4

    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

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 5 - DS-5
    8.5/10(165 votes)

    #6 - DS-5

    S1:E5

    After her first night at Collinwood, Victoria has decided to go back to New York. Victoria explains to Carolyn that she is an orphan and came to Collinsport because she believed that somehow she would find out about her past. Near Widow’s Hill, Victoria meets Sam Evans who tells Victoria about Josette Collins. Victoria finds out from Sam that Elizabeth has not left Collinwood in eighteen years. Sam instructs Victoria to tell Roger that he wants to talk with him. Victoria returns to her room to find that David has helped her “pack” while she was out. Victoria changes her mind and decides to stay at Collinwood with renewed hopes that she will find out something about her past.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dark Shadows

    READ
  7. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 12 - DS-12
    8.5/10(132 votes)

    #7 - DS-12

    S1:E12

    Roger encounter Victoria on Widows' Hill and tells her the story of its legend and history. Meanwhile, Maggie Evans tries to learn what is troubling her father, Sam.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 13 - DS-13
    8.5/10(133 votes)

    #8 - DS-13

    S1:E13

    Elizabeth and Roger continue to harbour suspicions about Burke, in spite of him offering the hand of friendship. As Victoria walks to Matthew's cottage, she notices Burke examining Roger's car.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 15 - DS-15
    8.5/10(126 votes)

    #9 - DS-15

    S1:E15

    David is now convinced that his father hates him. Roger leaves the estate in his car to meet with Burke. On the way, he loses control of the car and crashes.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 17 - DS-17
    8.5/10(120 votes)

    #10 - DS-17

    S1:E17

    Elizabeth comforts David after he has a nightmare about Roger's car accident. Collins family employee and retainer Bill Malloy begins to suspect that Roger was the victim of foul play.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 18 - DS-18
    8.5/10(118 votes)

    #11 - DS-18

    S1:E18

    Learning Victoria saw Burke by his car, Roger takes her to Burke's room at the hotel to make a confrontation. Meanwhile, David harbours the bleeder valve taken from Roger's car.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 19 - DS-19
    8.5/10(117 votes)

    #12 - DS-19

    S1:E19

    Elizabeth continues to insist that Carolyn should not visit Burke again, adamant that he is attempting to destroy the Collins family. Bill Malloy attempts to learn more about Burke's motives.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 23 - DS-23
    8.5/10(112 votes)

    #13 - DS-23

    S1:E23

    Constable Carter arrives at Collinwood to investigate Roger's car accident. In an attempt to prevent his sabotage being revealed, David tampers with the evidence.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 70 - DS-70
    8.5/10(94 votes)

    #14 - DS-70

    S1:E70

    David tells Victoria about the Old House, an abandoned Collins' mansion built before Collinwood, and suggests that they pay a visit. When they later leave, they are followed by the ghostly form of Josette.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 3 - DS-3
    8.0/10(189 votes)

    #15 - DS-3

    S1:E3

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 6 - DS-6
    8.0/10(158 votes)

    #16 - DS-6

    S1:E6

    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

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 7 - DS-7
    8.0/10(143 votes)

    #17 - DS-7

    S1:E7

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 8 - DS-8
    8.0/10(143 votes)

    #18 - DS-8

    S1:E8

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 9 - DS-9
    8.0/10(142 votes)

    #19 - DS-9

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 10 - DS-10
    8.0/10(142 votes)

    #20 - DS-10

    S1:E10

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 11 - DS-11
    8.0/10(137 votes)

    #21 - DS-11

    S1:E11

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 14 - DS-14
    8.0/10(126 votes)

    #22 - DS-14

    S1:E14

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 16 - DS-16
    8.0/10(120 votes)

    #23 - DS-16

    S1:E16

    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.

    Director:Lela Swift
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 21 - DS-21
    8.0/10(112 votes)

    #24 - DS-21

    S1:E21

    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.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Dark Shadows Season 1 Episode 22 - DS-22
    8.0/10(116 votes)

    #25 - DS-22

    S1:E22

    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.

    Director:John Sedwick
    Writer:Art Wallace

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"DS-50" is the best rated episode of "Dark Shadows". It scored 9/10 based on 98 votes. Directed by John Sedwick and written by Art Wallace, it aired on 9/2/1966. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "DS-52".