Wow! Netflix’s Dracula is here. It released today, January 4 and after watching the first episode I am hooked. Surprisingly, when we first click on the title, we noticed it was only three episodes. However, we were quick to notice each episode is around an hour and a half long! This makes it a nearly five-hour-long experience, but right now we’re going to go through the first episode. The first part was filled with many odd and terrifying images as well as a few references. If you haven’t watched it yet, I do not recommend going any further, as this contains spoilers!
Netflix’s ‘Dracula’ – The Story Thus Far
We are immediately introduced to our main character, Jonathan Harker, who travels with us throughout this episode. A lawyer from England, he is tasked with traveling to Count Dracula’s castle to settle some estate. We find that the Count has plans of moving away to England, as the people there have more “flavor”. Of course, he is being literal, but Harker corrects with him with meaning “character”. This is the first in many puns throughout the episode. The writers seem to get a little taken away with the puns, but it’s nothing to draw too much concern as the rest of the story is captivating.
Harker, after being a prisoner at the castle manages to escape. His whole story is told back to us in the form of a conversation between him and two nuns at a convent. The main nun, Sister Agatha conducts the interview with great intensity and shows genuine interest about Dracula.
Jonathan is greatly pale and injured at this point, but in his retellings, we find out how he came to be this way. It is explained that Dracula has been absorbing him. When we first meet the Count he is but a withered old man, who over the course of time with Harker begins to de-age himself.
He explains in great detail that he will hold Harker here and kill him eventually. Something that Harker has a tough time coming to terms with as would anyone! His only plan is to escape. Thankfully, he is a smart man and is able to construct a daring escape, only to end up jumping off of the castle and drifting to sea until he is found by a fisherman. Now, he tells his story to Sister Agatha.
Netflix’s ‘Dracula’ – A ‘Sherlock’ Reference
There are a few references we get throughout the episode that may not come as too much of a shock. For instance, Dracula comes to the nun’s convent for Harker and a “bite” to eat. Of course, the nuns are on the menu tonight. What comes as a surprise here though, is he may not enter unless invited in. This causes Sister Agatha to taunt him with legends and myths of Dracula’s shortcomings. Even going as far as cutting her hand and tossing blood on him. She’s a tough one, that Sister Agatha. Oh right! That’s Agatha Van Helsing actually! It is explained throughout the episode that Dracula can “taste” memories through the blood he drinks. When all the blood Agatha threw at him, he knows her whole life.
Though this is a fun and interesting revelation, a small reference I thought was very fun was Agatha’s “detective friend in London”. While in the novels, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula have indeed crossed paths before, it makes it even more since in this show. Steven Moffat, one of the writers of the show, is also a writer for the popular ‘Sherlock’ series. It was a very quick exchange, but a fun reference altogether.
The Oddities, Strangeness And Gore
It’s no surprise that a series about Dracula would feature blood. This seems like an obvious thing to include. Perhaps what was a little surprising was the amount that Netflix actually allowed. Throughout the first episode, there are various moments that make your spine shiver. From a fly crawling in and behind your eyeball, to century-old corpses up and walking around to Dracula himself tearing himself out from the interior of a wolf. It fits in this series though, and I’m glad they chose to go this far with it!
There are many shocking moments in the first episode. For instance, Agatha straight-up asks Harker if he had sexual intercourse with Dracula. Asking because he has surely contracted something, vampirism. Not only is this a bit odd, but Dracula even refers to Harker as his bride a few times. Following along these lines, there are several babies. This would make anyone uncomfortable when you add in babies or small children but they do it in a way that is even more haunting! Vampire baby! Yes, it’s there and in the very first episode!
A quick bonus to the unique stuttering and choppy animation used when having Dracula climb up a wall or climb out of the wolf. It just seems so unnatural and haunting. Perfect use of the animation.
Claes Bang As Dracula Is Flawless
Claes Bang portrays Dracula beautifully. He is charismatic, psychotic, smooth, terrifying and a beast all at once. From the moment I saw him as Dracula, he immediately took my back to Bela Lugosi! That’s one of my favorite things about this new show! It takes the original story written by Bram Stoker, sprinkles in the feelings and look for Lugosi’s Dracula, and adds today’s effects for a scary combination. It’s like taking the best of everything.
I look forward to the next two episodes, in large part, to seeing Bang’s portrayal of Dracula.
