Dracula: Discussion Thread

[Toups]

Dracula: Discussion Thread

[Toups]

Dracula

Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors”) stars in this provocative new drama as one of the world’s most iconic characters. It’s the late 19th century and the mysterious Dracula (Rhys Meyers) has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He’s especially interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night — useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels: He hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. Everything seems to be going according to plan… until he becomes infatuated with a woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife. Victoria Smurfit (“About a Boy”), Thomas Kretschmann (“King Kong”), Jessica De Gouw (“Arrow”), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (“Mr. Selfridge”), Nonso Anozie (“Game of Thrones”) and Katie McGrath (“Merlin”) also star.

Writer Daniel Knauf (“Carnival”), Tony Krantz, (“24,” “Sports Night”), Colin Callender and Gareth Neame (“Downton Abbey”) serve as executive producers. “Dracula” is a production of Flame Ventures, Sky Living, Playground Entertainment, Universal Television, NBCUniversal International Television Production and Carnival Film & Television.

[Toups]

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[quartermainefan]

This actually wasn't bad at all. It's a completely new version but all the main characters are present. I honestly don't know why they had to reimagine Dracula as a heroic anti-hero out to get revenge on the sinister secret society that seeks to run the world through economic influence, the original story has served him well for 120 years, but it works. The show is beautiful and scenic, and JRM does a good job, I guess the biggest switch up is Van Helsing's role in this one. Renfield has been changed from being a slave to basically being Alfred to Dracula's Bruce Wayne. And I guess that is what Dracula is in this TV show, a Batman that is a little more Bat than the one in Gotham. But it is harmless fun and I will watch faithfully.

One thing, the sword fight with the matrixy slo-mo effects wasn't really needed. Dracula doesn't need to waste his time on stuff like that.

[Ann_SS]

I don't know what they were thinking here. Why on earth is this show set in past and in London? And why is Dracula American? WTF? It is nonsensical. They could have saved a boat load of money and just had Dracula flee London and come to modern day America to escape his persecutors. Instead JRM has to put on this bad fake accent. Ugh. This show has made itself far more convoluted and given itself unnecessary problems.

Also, by setting the show in London in the early 20th century, they are reducing the diversity of the show. This is so thoughtless and stupid. Compare this to Sleepy Hollow that embraces diversity.

[quartermainefan]

Of all the things to complain about, the audacity to set Dracula in 19th century London? That's a complaint, that they kept one thing from the book?

Dracula being American is lame, but I guess since it is co-produced by an American company they thought it might appeal more to our audience. It is also co-produced by British TV, so I guess they needed something to appeal to their audiences as well.

[P.J.]

Isn't he masquerading as an American? That's why his "Alfred" corrected his British pronunciation of the word "schedule".

Eh...I didn't get it. I wouldn't know Dracula lore if it bit me in the neck, but this seemed really complicated. It's pretty...that's the most I can really say about it.

And I was much more impressed with Jessica de Gouw on Arrow. Are women really studying surgery in Britain in 1896?

[teplin]

I think the show looks fantastic, but I'm not at all sold on the secret society angle. It's obviously a way to minimize Dracula's evil and make him more of a Barnabas Collins figure, sympathetic to the audience. But in the age of Dexter, Tony Soprano and Walter White, I don't think that's needed. Plus, JRM's American accent is really distracting ... and I swear he looks like he's high most of the time.

[Ann_SS]

They always do that on network tv. They are afraid to have real bad guys as the leads so they try to find ways to soften the characters. It is pathetic. Frankly, I got lost with the convoluted mystery society story and could not tell who was who half the time. I will give it a couple more episodes, but it needs to improve.

[Ann_SS]

I am still trying with this show, but it is such a bore. Of course, Dracula was turned evil against his will. He is a victim. RME. Everyone lusting after Mina is so pathetic as is just about everything with this show. Why not have the Katie McGath character lust after Harker instead?They could have let the gay couple survive. I continue to hang in there hoping things will improve.

[DRW50]

I've never understood JRM's appeal. When he was a twink, yeah, I get that, but now, not so much.

[Ann_SS]

I like JRM. He is a good looking guy with some talent and charisma. He kept me watching The Tudors. I just think that this show is poorly conceived and way too convoluted.

[ChitHappens]

I don't believe there is a vampire movie I have not seen and I own a considerable amount of VHS and DVDs, but I just can't get into this. JRM is not working for me. I love the production of the show from the sets to the clothing, but it ends there. As much as I love undead movies/tv shows, I can't get thru an entire eppy of this. I've given up trying, and I'm giving up Grimm as well. Perhaps, if I check in by accident down the road, something may click.

[P.J.]

This plays like a 19th century version of The Following. Maybe that's just me, but it spends more time focused on blood and gore than story. Grimm at least took the time to build its mythology. Dracula acts like everyone already knows it, and if you don't, like me, you feel lost.

[Ann_SS]

I think the show spends time on the story. The problem is it and the over arching myth arc is so freaking boring and convoluted. Also, there are so many supporting characters, I can barely keep track of who is who. It takes me forever to figure distinguish one of the society members from each other when they appear in scenes even though I recognize many of the actors from British shows that I have watched over the years. When the young man killed himself, it was the first time I realized who his father was among those skulking men.