Dracula (BBC miniseries)

[spanglechick]

I can see the concept of bringing D to the 21st century is interesting, but it weakened the adaptation of the original text, and should have been left as a conceit for the Inevitable Second Series.

The Van Helsing descendent wasn’t allowed to exist at all, because our satisfaction demanded Agatha as nemesis, so a unjustified plot contrivance involving drinking the blood was required in order to sort of bring her back.

Plus, having a Lucy from the modern day enabled Moffat to do his trademark dirty old man objectification, creating a character with no internal consistency or plausibility. (Far easier to believe in a very young Lucy Westenra who is full of life but willing to marry, and naive enough to be in thrall, when she’s living in the 19th century lower aristocracy).

 

[T & P]

I wonder if they're still doing that thing where instead of writing all the content together, they take charge of different episodes? Sherlock was affected by that policy and the style and quality of consecutive episodes could sometimes be quite different...

 

[Epona]

Just watched the finale. Can understand the cremation scene giving people nightmares.
Excellent.

It was fairly horrible, however my dad has a Poe-like fear of being declared dead and buried alive and is fairly insistent upon cremation on the basis that at least it would be quicker. I have promised him that if it is down to me to organise it he will be cremated, whatever my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Reno]

In an odd bit of media-synchronicity, a horror film called The Last Journey of the Demeter recently got a little closer to being mad,e after having been stuck in development hell for two decades. I hope it's still going to happen after this. In the novel there only are eight crew members on the ship and no passengers, getting picked off one after the other. I could imagine this like a 19th century version of Alien or The Thing.

'Dracula' Spin-Off 'The Last Voyage Of The Demeter' Finds New Blood With 'Scary Stories' Director - SlashFilm

The long-delayed Dracula spin-off The Last Voyage of the Demeter appears to be alive again, with André Øvredal set to direct.

www.slashfilm.com

 

[Cid]

I can see the concept of bringing D to the 21st century is interesting, but it weakened the adaptation of the original text, and should have been left as a conceit for the Inevitable Second Series.

The Van Helsing descendent wasn’t allowed to exist at all, because our satisfaction demanded Agatha as nemesis, so a unjustified plot contrivance involving drinking the blood was required in order to sort of bring her back.

Plus, having a Lucy from the modern day enabled Moffat to do his trademark dirty old man objectification, creating a character with no internal consistency or plausibility. (Far easier to believe in a very young Lucy Westenra who is full of life but willing to marry, and naive enough to be in thrall, when she’s living in the 19th century lower aristocracy).

And Mina... There was some promise there, but her character was never developed.

Spoiler

The ending too... I mean it removes Agatha/Zoe's agency (not that Zoe hasn't already been removed entirely). It puts the power over death entirely in Dracula's hands... And is somewhat redolent of previous bride scenes. Also renders the previous final twist - you will go on in shame - completely redundant, unless he actually survives.

 

[danny la rouge]

And Mina... There was some promise there, but her character was never developed.

Spoiler

The ending too... I mean it removes Agatha/Zoe's agency (not that Zoe hasn't already been removed entirely). It puts the power over death entirely in Dracula's hands... And is somewhat redolent of previous bride scenes. Also renders the previous final twist - you will go on in shame - completely redundant, unless he actually survives.

Both SM and MG are notoriously bad at minor women characters. Which is odd because the nun was the best thing about this.

 

[Cid]

Yeah, Agatha was great.

 

[spanglechick]

Agatha was great because she was not sexually engaged with any male character. It’s the only way Moffat writes decent women characters.

 

[Reno]

I ended up watching the third episode and just like I wasn’t that enthusiastic about the first two installments, I didn’t think the third episode was that much worse. The attitudes and dialogue of the show fitted the present better than Victorian times. I preferred the modern incarnation of Van Helsing, there is a vulnerability to her which made her more human than her ancestor. On the other hand, it wasn’t clear what Lucy’s deal was. The way her character is written makes no sense and much of the episode turns around her. There we’re a few nods to Dracula A.D.1972, Hammers instantly dated, yet endearing attempt to update Dracula by dragging him into swinging London.



I quite liked Jekyll, the other BBC series based on a literary horror classic which Moffat wrote, which was a sequel to the book all set in the present.

 

[Shirl]

I only watched the first half hour of the first episode because I didn't like all the gore. I wasn't going to watch anymore but then I watched the second and third today. I thought the second episode was best but that's not saying a lot.
I felt it was a bit carry on vampire in parts.

 

[Johnny Vodka]

That third episode was pretty stinky.

 

[kittyP]

Did they ever reveal who was funding the Harker foundation?

Yes, Mina started it with her inheritance when she got back to England

 

[kittyP]

I absolutely loved it!
Yes there were weaker parts and things that should have been followed up or left but over all I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hammy, sexy, horrifying, clever and a fucking bad ass nun!

 

[wiskey]

Have just binged 1&2, absolutely cracking telly!

I'm not a massive fan of Gatiss but I respect his truly in depth knowledge of all things horror and I thought it was interesting how they drew on so many of the Dracula adaptations.

None of it (so far) had made me hide behind the sofa but some bits have been a bit gross, awesome special effects though.

I am totally in love with the nun, I rarely laugh out loud at things but her quips had me chuckling.

Will watch episode 3 shortly.

 

[donkyboy]

first episode watched. 90 minutes was a chore to sit through. they could have trimmed it down. not scary at all. not in a rush to watch episode 2. there is twist at the end, might just skip right to the end to see what it is and then go back to the start if I can be bothered.

 

[donkyboy]

okay. so when dracula was burned and jumped off the boat, didn't anyone notice a trail of water leading up to his room when he swam back to his cabin?

 

[skyscraper101]

Haven't seen it. Doesn't sound like my thing BUT... I did think this was pretty clever.

 

[danny la rouge]

I
felt it was a bit carry on vampire in parts.

Lol, it so was. But are we saying that’s a bad thing? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.

 

[Santino]

If your vampire film isn't quite camp then it's basically the Twilight saga.

 

[Shirl]

Lol, it so was. But are we saying that’s a bad thing? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.

Me neither, just didn't expect it.

 

[kebabking]

I loved it, yeah some bits were better than others, but it was lots of fun - it was proper sit down at 9pm and don't get up for 90 minutes entertainment.

Will happily get the box set and eagerly await the next installment.

 

[Reno]

If your vampire film isn't quite camp then it's basically the Twilight saga.

You are mistaking “campy” with true camp. The Twilight films are the very definition of camp, they are inadvertently hilarious because they are failed art.

A vampire film which is serious and not at all camp would be Let the Right One In.

 

[danny la rouge]

 

[DexterTCN]

You are mistaking “campy” with true camp. The Twilight films are the very definition of camp, they are inadvertently hilarious because they are failed art.

A vampire film which is serious and not at all camp would be Let the Right One In.

Yup.

Near Dark, too.

 

[kittyP]

I have been listening to the accompanying podcast on BBC Sounds and it sounds like they're is no intention of a sequel.

I am so in love with Mark Gattis it's embarrassing

 

[Orang Utan]

It didn’t really leave room for a sequel!

 

[kebabking]

I thought there was talk of a prequal - Friends of Dracula or something?

 

[wiskey]

I have been listening to the accompanying podcast on BBC Sounds and it sounds like they're is no intention of a sequel.
P0
I am so in love with Mark Gattis it's embarrassing

I've listened to the first two, I've not done the 'listen along with watching' thing before but it does add something.

Anyway I've just finished watching E3 and bucking the trend on here a bit, I quite enjoyed it. I thought it had some funny bits, some gross bits and some superb acting.

Overall good engrossing telly.

 

[kittyP]

I've listened to the first two, I've not done the 'listen along with watching' thing before but it does add something.

Anyway I've just finished watching E3 and bucking the trend on here a bit, I quite enjoyed it. I thought it had some funny bits, some gross bits and some superb acting.

Overall good engrossing telly.

I only started the podcast after I'd finished watching but I've not listened to something like that before and really enjoyed it.

 

[ginger_syn]

I have been listening to the accompanying podcast on BBC Sounds and it sounds like they're is no intention of a sequel.

I am so in love with Mark Gattis it's embarrassing

His in search of dracula programme was very good, learned a lot i didnt know before about bram stoker, I always enjoy his documentaries on horror.