Did you know Dracula had his own TV show in 1990? This is the Halloween season, so let’s watch it!

Fans of Dracula the Series argue that it got more series near the end, and we see some of that in episode 17, “Decline of the Romanian Vampire.”

Cemetery plot: Young Max accidentally revives Uncle Gustav’s son-turned-vampire Klaus from the dead. Klaus then traps Gustav and Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula) in a room with a bomb, forcing the two enemies to confront one another as the clock ticks down. Max, Chris and Sophie save them, showing that the power of family is stronger than Lucard’s empire.

Look who’s back.

King of the vampires: Lucard comments on all the Dracula movies that have been made, and how, because of them, no one takes the name “Dracula” seriously anymore. He then says he’s used that to his advantage.

Blood brothers: To be safe from Klaus, the kids are sent off to stay the night with their mentioned-but-not-seen Uncle Wilhelm, previously mentioned in episode five.

The new Mina: Sophie and Chris start the episode by going to the movies, to see The Nutty Professor, only to find it’s sold out.

Meeting of the minds.

Stake master: Near the end, Lucard and Gustav trap Klaus inside with them, and Gustav has the opportunity to let the bomb go off and kill both Lucard and Klaus. He doesn’t, though, in the hopes that someday he can find a cure for Klaus.

Killer quotes: Klaus: “Dracula!” Lucard: “You bellowed?”

Unimpressed.

Slayer’s handbook: The bomb is wired to special emerald cross that doesn’t hurt vampires, but instead takes away all their super powers. Klaus’ cape is coated with a special substance that makes him immune to the cross’s effects. Gustav and the kids take the cross with them at the end, saying it’ll come in handy.

Loot box.

Behind the screams: Visual effects for Dracula the Series were done by Jacques Fortier. There’s very little information about him online. He also did effects and makeup for Friday the 13th: The Series and the film Prom Night III: The Last Kiss, and he was a model maker on the comedy The Ladies Man.

Bite me: Forcing two characters to open up to one another by locking them in a room is a well-worn trope, but it works in this case, as the episode does a great job of getting to the heart of who this version of Dracula is.

Next: All about the love.

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