 |
|
| Nicholas Blair | |
|---|---|
| Production Information | |
| Portrayed by | |
| First appearance | |
| Last appearance | |
| Episode count |
62 |
| Audio appearances | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Name |
Nicholas Blair |
| Profession |
Warlock |
| Supernatural abilities |
Conjuration
|
| We have 4 images of Dark Shadows Nicholas Blair | |
Nicholas Blair was a powerful warlock who was in league with Angelique.
It was clearly stated by Professor Stokes that Blair and he had met before and that Blair had sold the antique dealer the portrait of Angelique.
Biography[]
It was also strongly implied at times that Blair was a demon created by Diabolos, who was sent to earth to help their other follower out, a witch named Angelique Bouchard Collins.
Much of Nicholas' history was open to interpretation, but when he first arrived in Collinsport (521), he answered a call from Angelique (under the alias of Cassandra Blair Collins, whose brother he claimed to be) after she was exorcised by the spirit of Reverend Trask (519). Nicholas called her back from the beyond (526). It was mentioned that the two had a bargain for Angelique's resurrection, but the details were left unexplained.
While Nicholas' stay at the house by the sea on the Collins estate was uneasy, he got by. He was never far away from Angelique and acted as her keeper. Like the crafty sorcerer that he was, Nicholas lied and manipulated his way to several diabolical plans, including a scheme involving the human creation, Adam. Seeing the sheer brilliance and superiority of his design, Nicholas wanted to use him to create a race of monsters to aid Diabolos in conquering the world. Angelique made a feeble attempt to kill Adam, but Nicholas aged her a few hundred years (547) and raised her from the dead as a vampire (555).
After "Cassandra" left Roger (547), Nicholas then moved into the house by the sea (549) where he hid Angelique, Adam, and Eve (600). He used The Mirror (574) to aid in his plans until Angelique stole it (621).
Angelique existed for a while as a vampire and bit several men to bring under her control (556-602). After the grand plan was thwarted, Nicholas and Angelique both disappeared (633/634).
Nicholas returned to Collinsport in 1970, less powerful due to his previous failure. His hair and clothing was far more severe, and his demeanor much less suavely charming and much more prone to cold rage. He had devised a plan to revive the Leviathans and bring the Earth under their rule (953), but this was thwarted by Jeb Hawkes and Barnabas Collins, who fought against the cult's actions (965). Nicholas was killed when Jeb placed a supernatural shadow on him, which consumed the warlock (979).
On both occasions, it was widely thought that Nicholas Blair genuinely fell in love with Maggie Evans, despite his always harping on Angelique for loving Barnabas. As he once admitted to himself, "Maggie Evans makes me human."
Nicholas' second destruction was mentioned in the Big Finish audio drama, The House by the Sea, and the knowledge indirectly led to the story's terrifying conclusion.
Personality and Powers[]
"Every move unwise (to Jeb Hawkes). And the most unwise of all, Barnabas Collins. You made him a vampire. You had to make him completely useless to us! A shabby performance, indeed! And a dangerous one. He will be after you, and he will be relentless about it."(953)
Nicholas Blair tended to have a generalized, low opinion of humans, considering them petty mortals. If they fought back he could be annoyed, or simply amused (the way a burglar would be amused by a small, furious dog). He scolded his sister Cassandra for getting caught up in their affairs and disliked it when his own plans were put off-schedule or delayed by humans. When he executed Cassandra Blair, he set it up so she would face the fact that Barnabas Collins would never forgive her, so she could finally see the truth of their relationship for herself. When Angelique was resurrected as a vampire, he had some pity for her victim, Tom Jennings but didn't let it stop him from teaching her how to be an effective weapon. Although Angelique had cursed Barnabas into his vampiric state, she had almost know knowledge of what it meant to be one; Blair guided her through the development of her unfamiliar powers, and praised her affectionately when she learned to draw on her own strength to compel Joe Haskell, instead of relying on him for aid.
As the series progressed he developed a grudging respect for mortals. Professor Stokes, he observed, must have considerable powers for a mortal. Dr. Julia Hoffman was the only human to have completely surprised him, because he knew she was very afraid of him yet confronted him anyway. He called her "the inimitable Dr. Hoffman". With Barnabas Collins he went from a blasé contempt for Angelique's obsession to warning Jabez Hawkes that Collins was 'relentless' as an opponent(953). With Jeb Hawkes he demonstrated deep contempt for ruinous, selfish impulses that threatened the Leviathan cause. Carolyn Stoddard was initially of little note, but he treated her with oily charm, knowing she was essential to his plans for the Leviathans.
Appearances[]
521, 522, 523, 525, 526, 527, 528, 532/533, 539, 540, 541, 543, 544, 545, 546, 548, 549, 551, 554, 555, 556, 558, 559, 561, 562, 563, 569, 571, 573, 574, 575, 580, 586, 587, 588, 594, 600, 601, 602, 605, 606, 607, 610, 611, 616, 619, 621, 622, 624, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633/634, 953, 954, 965, 966, 974, 978, 979