Dracula

TV Show Name: Dracula
Year of Release: 2019

Creators: Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat

Stars: Claes Bang, Dolly Wells, Jonathan Aris, John Heffernan, Lydia West, Matthew Beard, Sacha Dhawan, Mark Gatiss, Joanna Scanlan, Clive Russell, Morfydd Clark, Chanel Cresswell, Lyndsey Marshall, Catherine Schell, John McRea

Genre: Drama, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review:

Another release from Netflix, this time around hailing from the UK and penmanship of writer/actor Mark Gatiss (well known as part of the ensemble comedy troupe who created "The League of Gentlemen", though he has written for long running shows such as "Doctor Who", "Sherlock" and "Poirot") and Steven Moffat (who has also written for the shows Gatiss has been involved with, and additionally on Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" and  the well known British show, "Coupling"). The film is another adaptation of the novel by Bram Stoker, and follows the adventures of Count Dracula. The mini-series tracks Dracula's events/occurrences from the time Jonathan Harker shows up at his doorsteps, through his first encounter with his foe, Van Helsing. In this iteration however, Van Helsing is a resourceful and resilient nun, whom he tries to bring to England with him, as he sets up his relocation plans, and moving to the "New World". She however manages to sabotage his plans, and on the epilogue of the show, a considerable amount of time has passed, but these eternal foes once again, have this seductive and deathly dance.
This iteration of "Dracula" does not retain the operatic, luscious, erotic and aesthetically superlative values that Francis Coppola's version put forth (and to this day, alongside FW Murnau's, are my personally favorite adaptations of the novel by Bram Stoker). The show takes quite a few liberties with the adaptation of the novel, some more successful than others. One of the most interesting aspects of this adaptation is establishing Van Helsing as a female character, one that is resourceful, unafraid and undaunted by the Count's seductive and alluring ways. It also questions the mythology behind Vampires themselves, and Dracula in particular. However in the process of doing so, of deconstructing the myth, it also makes the show lack a particular punch or deliver something as poignant, and entertaining, as what Coppola managed to build with his own. It's a show with sufficient production values to make it watchable, and while the actors are competent, none rise above that to make the characters and performances, memorable. It's a watchable show, but nothing more than that.