Three episodes in and the story, more or less, has been revealed. You know the characters and mostly, I think, know what their goals and intentions are. Those are positive points because anything that takes too long getting to the point will lose viewership. That being said though, the episodes, to me, seem to drag on. I am not really sure what I was expecting of a show of this content on a network like NBC, but I guess it's just not fast paced enough for me and I find my mind wondering while I am watching. Even with that negative point, I am not willing to give up yet.
The acting is exactly what you'd expect from a good show on a main network, I have no issues there. The costuming is splendid and the scenery as well. You do have to keep in mind this is fiction and not a historical show, therefore they do not need to keep historically accurate in their depictions. This is a complaint I have seen on the show's Facebook page, by some viewers, that the costumes were of the wrong period. I, however, think the shows creators and costume designers knew this and it is their intent. They are creating an entirely new scene with a very old story. I actually don't mind that and to me this is a positive. Johnathan Ryhs Meyers plays Dracula. I am familiar with Meyers from Showtimes, The Tudors, in which he played King Henry VIII. Meyers is great and I think he is doing a fine job with his character. I think part of the slow drag I am feeling from this show is more in how it's scripted, not acted. I am not familiar with any of the other actors on this show, but they all seem equally capable of pulling of their roles.
In my pursuit to read what others think of the show I also came to learn that some think it's too graphic. Here's my opinion; this is a show about Dracula, the undead blood drinking vampire. If you were not expecting to see blood spatter, puddles of blood, and the like, then you should never have tuned into a show about a vampire. I actually have not thought it too graphic on this front, but maybe this is because I am used to watching shows like HBO's, True Blood. I have seen a lot of vampire shows and movies and all vary in degree of blood gore. NBC's Dracula show seems just right for a 10 pm slot on a main network. Would I let my 6 and 8 year old watch it? No, but it's clearly not intended for children, hence the late hour. I actually prefer not to allow my kids to watch any vampire or gore related show or movie. At this age they are fine with watching Nickelodeon or Food Network and 'clean' movies.
On the sexual content issue I have not seen too many comments other than one person complaining that there isn't enough. Well my feeling is there is more then enough, and sex and nudity do not really need to be part of a show or a movie. In most cases those things are flaunted and overdone in order to draw in viewers. This is NBC, not HBO and as such the nudity and sexual content, has to this point, been kept minimal and actually it's nice. With so many boobs and butts on TV anymore I didn't need another show about sex. I did/do watch HBO shows like True Blood and Showtimes, The Tudors, that at least in their first season's the sex and nudity scenes abound. In all honesty, those "cable" network shows have far too much sex and nudity and in MOST of the cases the sex scenes are not realistic and do not move the story forward in any way; they were placed in just for 'show' and for me, rendered un-needed. (note, this is another good thing about utilizing your DVR, you can skip stuff) Those kinds of sex scenes need not be included, so, yes, there is a small amount of nudity and sexual content in Dracula, but not in a porn kind of way. I will add though, that there are some 'themes' in this show that if they are continued, made a big part of, or shoved in my face, will turn me off. I have no problem turning off a show and never looking back because I don't like some of their "suggestive" ideas.
So what's the show about? Well it's about Dracula...the vampire that everyone has heard of. There are so many stories about Dracula, so many versions and of vampires themselves. So what about this show? Well, if you have seen Bram Stokers's Dracula movie, think on those lines but with twists and new ideas added, at least new to my knowledge. The clothing is very steam-punk. Steam-punk is kind of old world meets future with maybe an old west type feel. Google it. I am not exactly sure on what year this is supposed to be, but its not modern day, or so it doesn't appear to be. NBC says this about the show, "It's the late 19th century, and the mysterious Dracula has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society." Let me note here that Meyers, born in Dublin, does a great job with his American accent.
Meyers' Dracula is obsessed about a couple things, revenge, and daylight. I don't want to spoil the plot for you so I don't want to say too much more about that. Mina, played by Jessica De Gouw , also interests Dracula quite a bit. She appears to resemble Dracula's wife who had been murdered centuries earlier. This is not your old 'heard-it-before' Dracula story. You will likely be surprised by some of the twists, such as Van Helsings role. Overall I will say its intriguing to watch but if it continues to feel somewhat un-exciting then I don't know how long it will hold my attention. I would say that if you like these kinds of stories that you should give it a go. Watch a few episodes and decide. I actually think for Dracula that he is kind of tame, but you may have a different opinion.
http://www.nbc.com/dracula/
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