By Maranda Faris
Assistant Features Editor
NBC’s new show “Dracula” is a poorly attempted revamp of “True Blood” on its best day.
The series mimics others of its genre with its sexually explicit elements and targeting viewers who have never read the original novel.
The show does involve Dracula’s resurrection from the grave at the hands of Van Helsing—the same Van Helsing who killed Dracula according to Bram Stoker’s novel. Dracula is assumed to be the 19th century equivalent of Tony Stark as an American entrepreneur and man of mystery.
Viewers are introduced to this storyline at a party thrown at the mansion of Alan Grayson, Dracula’s alter ego, when he locks eyes with Mina. She is a beautiful university student and daughter of a prestigious doctor.
Grayson then spends all his time stalking her by watching her at plays, class and inviting her boyfriend to his mansion to conduct an interview for the local newspaper. The best way to explain the plot at this point is a spiral of confusion.
Dracula’s purpose in immortality is to destroy a group known as “Order of the Dragon.” The Order killed Dracula’s wife, who looks shockingly like Mina.
When Dracula is not stalking his yet-unrequited love, he is methodically killing members of Order of the Dragon, and indiscriminately killing random girls he sees on the street.
As far as character development, most of them are one dimensional. They are painted in black or white with only minor characters landing in the gray area in between.
The first episode ends with a 10 minute fight montage that is so reminiscent of “Resident Evil” that I wanted to change the channel. Each death is accompanied by a speech complete with a stereotypical British accent and might has well have been a reverse translation from the Boondock Saints prayer.
A young girl, turned by Dracula earlier in the episode, declares from her cage that Dracula is creating his own legion to fight the Order.
Overall, the producers decided to stay true to vampire legend—and they left the glitter at home. If viewers pay close attention, they will see the myths associated with vampires appear periodically throughout the episode. Minor characters reflections do not appear in mirrors, victims heads are cut off so they will not be able to turn and sunlight burns vampire’s skin.
I don’t recommend wasting your time with this series or suggest getting attached to this monstrosity. I doubt NBC will even sign the series for season two.
I think I’ll stick to watching “True Blood” on HBO.
