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

The previous episode of Dracula the Series ended with Gustav pursuing Dracula into the land of the dead, to continue their eternal struggle. It felt the big finale, except then we get episode 21, “My Dinner With Lucard,” which is… the clip show. Freakin’ clip shows.

Cemetery plot: Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula) has invited Max, Chris, Sophie, and Uncle Gustav over for dinner, a friendly, one-night truce. Throughout the course of the evening, everybody reminisces about their past adventures. It’s all a plot, though, by Lucard to convince the three kids to become vampires and betray Gustav. Just when it looks like Lucard has won, Gustav wakes up. Yes, it was all a dream, and the series ends on a “I shouldn’t have eaten so much schnitzel before bedtime” joke.

Is Meat Loaf’s body under there?

King of the vampires: There’s a joke in which Lucard gathers up everyone’s plates after dinner and, rather than take them away or hand them off to a servant or something, he throws them out the window. What’s going on there?

Blood brothers: The episode calls back to Max and Lucard developing a friendship of sorts, despite being enemies. But then it was a dream.

Hesitant.

The new Mina: Sophie in this episode remembers what it was like when she turned into a vampire, when previous episodes suggested she has no memory of it. But then it was all a dream.

Stake master: After seeing everything Gustav went through with his son Klaus throughout the series, this dream shows us a bit of Gustav’s psychology, and his fears of these three new kids in his life facing the same fate as Klaus. So, there’s that at least.

It’s suppertime.

Slayer’s handbook: There’s much question over whether this episode was meant to air before or after the finale. Being in syndication, the episode order got jumbled around in various local markets. We could argue that this takes place before the finale, or at some undetermined point afterwards. It might be more interesting, however, to interpret this as if this is what Gustav is experiencing while inside the otherworldly portal.

Quadruple fang shot.

Killer quotes: Lucard: “I thought it might be nice to take a break from the hostilities and partake in a sumptuous feast, which, I might add, I have been preparing all day.”

Behind the screams: Allegedly, Dracula the Series did well enough in the ratings for another year, and all signs were go for season two. Contracts were signed, and everyone was back in Germany ready to start filming again, when the French co-producers abruptly pulled their funding, pulling the plug on the whole thing. You can find a bunch of unfilmed Dracula the Series scripts online, but I have no way of verifying whether any of them are genuine.

Formal attire.

Bite me: And that’s a wrap on Dracula the Series. This show is goofy and campy, but I love how goofy and campy it is! I had a ton of fun revisiting it this October, and hope you’ve all enjoyed it along with me.

Happy Halloween!

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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

Dracula the Series wraps up (mostly) in the second-to-last episode, “Klaus Encounters of the Interred Kind.”

Cemetery plot: Chris and Max’s mom returns, announcing that she’s got a new job that will let them leave and go back home to Philadelphia. Gustav, meanwhile, believes he’s figured out why vampires never age or leave reflections — they are displaced from time, living partially in this dimension and partially in another. Hoping to learn more about this other dimension, Gustav breaks into Lucard’s (a.k.a. Dracula’s) castle and discovers that Lucard’s fireplace is secretly the portal the other dimension. Klaus, Gustav’s son-turned-vampire, returns hoping to use the portal to destroy both Gustav and Lucard. Klaus enters the portal and returns as a human, finally cured of his vampirism. Lucard won’t have that, so he grabs Klaus and takes him into the portal. Gustav enters the portal after them, and… the end?

There are portals now?

King of the vampires: Lucard calls the portal his “refuge” and he enters it once in a while to be refreshed.

Blood brothers: Chris and Max are both heartbroken to learn they’re leaving Romania to go back to Philly, as they’ve come to love living with Gustav. Max loves the vampire hunting action, while for Chris, it’s all about his kinda/sorta romance with Sophie.

Mother knows best.

Stake master: Before leaving, Gustav makes “arrangements” for Sophie to live in Philadelphia with Max and Chris. A whole season of this show, and there’s still zero backstory for Sophie.

Slayer’s handbook: This episode is filled with references to previous episodes. The Cross of the Magus once again proves itself to be a super-weapon against vamps. The countess from episode 8 gets a mention, as the writers remember she gave Sophie a piece of clothing, which in this episode is shown to have supernatural qualities. The big deal, though, is this portal to the land of the dead, which I’m sure the writers had big plans for the never-made season 2.

Quick, someone paint this scene on the side of a van.

Killer quotes: Klaus: “Killed? When will you accept it, old man? I am already dead. Your son is dead. Get it?” Gustav: “But this is an opportunity. A breakthrough to understand what you are and how to bring you back.” Klaus: “I don’t want to be brought back. I am a vampire, and I will be the greatest of them all.”

Behind the screams: There is much confusion over whether this episode or the next is the finale. This is the order that the DVDs put them in, but IMDb reports the opposite. Remember that was a syndicated show, and shows in syndication often jumbled episode orders as the shows themselves bounced around late night and early morning weekend time slots in various local markets. Most fans agree that the story ends here, and the next episode is a “one-off.”

Human again.

Bite me: I suppose this is as good of an ending and/or cliffhanger that we could ask for from this show. It’s more fitting that the Dracula/Helsing conflict go on in eternity rather than have a final confrontation.

Next: An empty meal.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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

In Dracula the Series episode 19, “Bats in the Attic,” we’ve got… I’m not sure what we’ve got.

Cemetery plot: A rouge vampire is in town, creating one too many zombies and letting them loose among the populace. Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula) wants to put a stop to this. Young Max befriends Lawrence, a local bookshop owner, who is a fellow vampire expert. Lawrence works for Alfred, the rogue vamp Lucard is hunting. During the final confrontation, it’s revealed that Lawrence and Alfred are the same person. He developed a split personality because he couldn’t handle becoming a vampire. Max escapes, and Lucard seals Lawrence up inside his coffin for an eternity rather than kill him.

Uh-oh.

King of the vampires: Lucard isn’t happy about a rogue vamp randomly creating zombies, arguing that too many vampires are a bad thing.

Blood brothers: The B-plot has Chris and Sophie collaborating on a song. He wants to rock out, but she argues that European audiences are more sophisticated, and want music that’s more poetic and artsy.

Romania’s Got Talent.

The new Mina: Although Sophie said she was going to give Chris some space a few episodes back, Sophie is really flirty with him in this episode. So, I guess the romance is back on.

Stake master: A C-plot in this episode has Uncle Gustav sitting down to write his memoir, about a lifetime of vampire hunting. He doesn’t get very far, with a running joke about him not being able to come up with a good first sentence.

Slayer’s handbook: We’re told that a vampire can be permanently trapped inside a coffin if it is sealed with a silver hammer and nail. This is exactly how Lucard traps Lawrence at the end. Also, the Cross of the Magus, which magically protects Gustav’s house from vampires, also works on the zombies, frying a zombie delivery boy (it’s wacky!) who shows up at the door.

Zap ka-pow! Yet again.

Killer quotes: Sophie’s lyrics for Chris’s song: “Blossoms bloom below the sky. The scents [sense?] fills my nostrils with delight. Oh, come, love. Come and join us. Let’s fill the night with poems so dark and yet so bright. Yes, so bright.”

Behind the screams: The stunt coordinator for Dracula the Series was a fellow named Minor Mustain. He’s performed and coordinated stunts on a long list of TV shows and movies, including the thriller Gothika, the cheesy action flick Steal, and John McTiernan’s remake of Rollerball. He also took a shot a directing, with episodes of Sirens and Viper.

Dead lift.

Bite me: A weird episode that doesn’t quite work, but is interesting enough because you’re never sure where the story is going. There’s a plotlessness to it, but that somehow works in its favor.

Next: The big finale.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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

Lots of TV shows do an episode based on Casablanca, and Dracula the Series got its version out of the way in episode 18, “I Love Lucard.”

Cemetery plot: Uncle Gustav is visiting with one of his former students, Lance. Lance has written a tell-all vampire book that he hopes will expose the identities of vampires worldwide, including Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula). Lucard wants to put a stop to the book, but there’s a complication — Lance’s wife Margo once had a whirlwind romance with Lucard. In an ending right out of Casablanca, a heartbroken Lucard lets Margo leave with Lance rather than slaughter them both.

Watch those teeth.

King of the vampires: Margo and Lucard had their romance years ago, when Lucard lived in New York. He says he was much more of a free spirit back then.

Blood brothers: The B-story is young Max thinking that Lance’s publishers want his amateur novel, only later to learn his kid manuscript got mixed up with Lance’s professional one. (We don’t actually see this meeting with the publisher. They must have just been humoring the poor kid, right?)

The new Mina: In keeping with the theme, the episode’s opening scene has Sophie and Chris acting out the end of Casablanca, in black and white.

Something something hill of beans something.

Stake master: Back when he was a teacher, Gustav used to lecture at length about the existence of vampires. He’s since stopped doing so, for the safety of his students.

Killer quotes: Lucard: “Well, Maximillian, could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?” Max: “You’ve got to be kidding.”

The big goodbye.

Behind the screams: This episode was directed by prolific TV director Allan Kroeker, who has the distinction of directing three Star Trek final episodes, for Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. I could have sworn that the character Kif Kroker from Futurama was named after him, but after much Googling last night I could find no evidence of this.

Play it again, Bram.

Bite me: What’s interesting about this one is that Lucard is actually the main character, instead of the villain. Like the previous episode, the writers are making an effort to show us just what’s going on inside his head. This makes the title character feel like more than just a big scary monster.

Next: No flowers up there.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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

Dracula the Series episode 15, “My Girlfriend’s Back and You’re Gonna be in Trouble,” picks up where the last one left off. Just as Chris and Sophie were about to become a couple, Chris’s old girlfriend from America showed up for a visit. Uh-oh!

Cemetery plot: A few days have passed since the last episode. Chris insists that he and his ex, Alexa, are just friends now. Jealous Sophie isn’t buying it. Alexa isn’t buying it, either, as she definitely wants to be more than just friends. Alexa’s dad, meanwhile, is a slick businessman who think he can outwit Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula). Now Chris has to sort out his love life while also saving the dad.

Scooby gang.

King of the vampires: Lucard’s dealings with Alexa’s dad have to do with a new computer chip, which we’re told will give him an edge over his business competitors.

Blood brothers: There’s a long stretch of sitcom-style plot in this episode, where Chris tries to dissuade Alexa from pursuing him by acting as boring as he can. In true sitcom style, this only makes his problems worse.

The new Mina: In the end, Sophie says she’ll step back at let Chris and Alexa be a couple, just because she wants Chris to be happy. What she doesn’t know is that Chris was about to dump Alexa for her. Relationships, man.

You can just feel the tension.

King of the Vampires: Uncle Gustav saves the day by sneaking some garlic into Alexa’s dad’s pocket, which prevents Lucard from biting him.

Slayer’s handbook: Lucard is able to transform into a bat while holding a briefcase full of money, and the briefcase transforms with him, allowing him to escape with the cash.

Self satisfaction.

Killer quotes: Gustav: “Appearances can be deceiving, Mr. Singleton. I’ve heard many rumors about him. They say he’s vicious.” Alexa’s Dad: “Don’t you worry about me, Gus. If there’s one thing I know, it’s how to go for the jugular.”

Behind the screams: Alexa was played in this episode and the last by Tamara Gorski. Like most of the actors on this show, she went to have a long career of TV and film appearances, including a recurring role as Morrigan on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, as well as Bruce Campbell’s The Man with the Screaming Brain and the indie comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure.

Hostage negotiation.

Bite me: Although this episode isn’t as high stakes (heh) as the previous one, it does continue on with character development for Sophie and Chris. It’s just too bad that Dracula is barely in this episode of Dracula.

Next: The rain in Spain falls mainly on the vampires.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

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

On the previous episode of Dracula the Series, Sophie was transformed into a vampire and joined forces with Lucard (a.k.a. Dracula). In episode 15, we get part two, “Sophie, Queen of the Night.”

Cemetery plot: Sophie, now living in Lucard’s castle, learns the ways of vampirism from him, and befriends his new business manager, Mrs. Fenning. Fenning is secretly plotting to kill Lucard and take over his empire, trying to recruit Sophie, as well as Lucard’s zombie henchmen. Chris, Max, and Uncle Gustav arrive at the castle to save Sophie just as Fenning attacks Lucard. After a lot of chases and fights, Fenning kills herself rather than let Lucard defeat her. Chris then uses the depolluted water from last week’s episode to cure Sophie. He sprays the water on his lips and kisses her. But, wait. Did the water save her, or was it… love?

Lovers’ quarrel.

King of the vampires: Lucard regales Sophie with tales of being a vampire in the dark ages, which he calls his youth. He wants Sophie’s first kill to be a local politician who took a bribe from Lucard but still didn’t follow Lucard’s orders.

Blood brothers: Just when it seems like everything’s okay and Chris and Sophie are a couple now, the episode ends with another cliffhanger: Chris’s old girlfriend from America shows up for a visit. Uh-oh!

The new Mina: Sophie’s first victim is a former teacher of hers, who once threw her out of class for being a know-it-all. Later, Chris and Max say they’ve talked to all of Sophie’s friends to find out where she’s been. What friends? We’ve never seen these friends. Also, the show remembers that Sophie is a music student, showing that music comes easier to her as a vampire.

Fang shot.

Stake master: Gustav is the one who comes up with the idea to use the de-polluted water to cure Sophie, knowing that she’d been bitten by a vampire who’d been exposed to the pollution.

Slayer’s handbook: The episode (and this whole series) is iffy on how someone becomes a vampire, and just what it means to be partially a vampire or fully a vampire. At some points in this episode, Sophie is a vampire, while at others, she’s becoming a vampire. The episode can’t make up its mind.

Killer quotes: Sophie: “Kill you? Why, I could never do that. I’m gonna make you live forever. You wouldn’t believe what a kick it is to be undead, to be eternally young. It’s sort of like Peter Pan… except with fangs.”

Pretty Vampire Woman.

Behind the screams: This show is neither the first nor the last to use “A. Lucard” (or “Alucard”) in reference to Dracula or vampirism. Alucard was first used as the name of the title character in 1943’s Son of Dracula. Alucard was also the son of Dracula in the Castelvania series of games. Alucard was an alias for Dracula in the anime/manga Hellsing and the direct-to-video animated movie The Batman vs. Dracula. Original characters named Alucard have appeared in the film Dr. Terror’s Gallery of Horror, the kids’ show Wizards of Waverly Place, the video game BlazBlue, the anime/mange Rosario + Vampire, and the Lost Books series of novels.

The big lip-lock.

Bite me: This episode is a fan favorite, mostly thanks to Mia Kirchner chewing the scenery as vampire Sophie. But it also offers genuine character development for Chris and Sophie, revealing that the showrunners were willing to push the boundaries of just what this otherwise silly show could be.

Next: Girl trouble.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.