Nearly every culture has come up with some variation of the vampire myth. From ancient Romanian storytellers sharing cautionary tales about the shapeshifting Strigoi to modern-day LARPers putting on plastic fangs and hanging out in goth bars, it’s clear that our fascination with undead bloodsuckers is far more than a simple fad. That’s why it’s no surprise that popular culture has been borrowing from vampiric folklore for years, especially when it comes to television.
While some of the reasoning behind the popularity of vampires on the small screen is practical (after all, all you need is a decent pair of fangs to convincingly portray a vampire, as opposed to the expensive make-up required to bring a werewolf or zombie to life), an even simpler explanation is that the tragic and romantic qualities of the immortal Nosferatu make them uniquely suited for weekly dramas. And with so much vampiric media out there, we decided to come up with this list of six must-watch vampire shows to quench your thirst for televised bloodshed.
As usual, this list is purely based on personal opinion, but we’ll be avoiding TV shows that feature vampires but don’t necessarily deal with vampirism as a main theme. That means no Supernatural or Preacher despite both programs exhibiting interesting takes on the bloodthirsty undead.
And with that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite vampire TV shows if you think we missed a good one.
Now, onto the list…
6. Dracula (2020)
Known for his work on BBC’s Sherlock and Doctor Who, showrunner Steven Moffat originally made a name for himself with 2007’s criminally underseen Jeckyll, a modernized adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella. Years later, the British screenwriter would partner with frequent collaborator Mark Gatiss to once again try his hand at reviving a classic monster for contemporary audiences in the form of Netflix’s controversial Dracula, a schlocky miniseries that’s way more entertaining than it has any right to be.
Featuring a career-defining performance by Claes Bang as the titular vampire and more comic-booky twists than you can shake a well-sharpened stake at, this over-the-top homage to the glory days of Hammer Horror certainly isn’t for everyone, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t one hell of a fun ride. Hardcore fans of Stoker’s novel are likely to balk at Moffat’s alterations to the source material, but I think there’s a good time to be had here if you just go along for the weird ride.
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003) / Angel (1999 – 2004)
There’s no discussing vampire TV shows without bringing up the series that defined a generation. A 90s staple that began as a simple-yet-fun blend of teen drama and monster-of-the-week action, Buffy the Vampire Slayer soon evolved into an insanely creative character study that remains an influential TV landmark even two decades later.
In fact, the show became so popular with its vampire-killing shenanigans that most people forget that it was originally based on a moderately successful comedy film with the same name (though I’d argue that the movie is also worth revisiting despite not being as iconic).
Naturally, we’re also including Buffy’s neo-noir spin-off Angel here, as it’s pretty much required viewing for fans and boasts a sexy vampire protagonist in the form of David Boreanaz’s titular anti-hero.
4. True Blood (2008 – 2014)
From L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries to Stephanie Myer’s Twilight, there was a period between the 90s and mid-2000s that produced a startling amount of romantic vampire media. Among these idealized dramas were Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, a surprisingly charming series of Louisiana-based supernatural mysteries that were eventually adapted by Alan Ball and HBO into the iconic True Blood show.
Following Anna Paquin’s telepathic Sookie as she navigates a world learning to adapt to the existence of vampires, this curious take on a supernatural alternate history is made all the more entertaining by the story’s clever worldbuilding and a highly memorable cast. While some fans claim that the last couple of seasons aren’t quite as entertaining as the rest of the series, I’d highly recommend finding out for yourself on HBO Max.
3. Midnight Mass (2021)
If you haven’t already watched Mike Flanagan’s latest Netflix project in its entirety, seeing it show up on this list is already kind of a spoiler. It actually takes a handful of episodes before viewers are allowed to understand what’s really going on in this poignant exploration of faith that uses the vampiric curse as a tool to explore the dangers of religious ideology.
The story may borrow a few too many elements from Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (and some viewers might be bothered by the frequent introspective monologues), but I honestly think that Midnight Mass is one of Netflix’s all-time best horror productions and yet another example of why Flanagan continues to be a modern master of horror.
2. Castlevania (2017 – 2021)
In retrospect, it seems fitting that the infamous “videogame adaptation curse” would finally be lifted by the Belmont clan in this unexpectedly badass animated series. Seemingly achieving the impossible by improving on its source material while still featuring plenty of easter eggs for hardcore fans, Castlevania is a brutal love letter to vampiric media that’s still fun even if you’ve never picked up a controller before.
Not only does the show boast plenty of beautifully animated gore and lovable characters, but it also features one of my favorite depictions of Dracula himself. In fact, this incarnation of Vlad Tepes is so compelling that it’s often hard to cheer for our heroes as they attempt to thwart his apocalyptic schemes!
While the show as we know it came to an end in 2021, Netflix has already announced a follow-up set during the French revolution, so bring on Castlevania: Nocturne!
1. What We Do in the Shadows (2019 – Ongoing)
Created by the dream team of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, What We Do in the Shadows is another rare example of a TV spin-off being so good that it almost renders the original movie obsolete. A vampire fan’s wet dream as the show follows a dysfunctional family of quirky bloodsuckers sharing a Staten Island mansion, the series stands out from other comedies by providing audiences with an assortment of truly memorable characters.
I would gladly accompany Nandor, Lazlo, Nadja, Guillermo and Colin Robinson/Colin Robinson’s baby for another 100 seasons, and that’s why I think WWDITS isn’t just the best vampire show out there – it’s one of the best TV comedies of all time.
The post What They Do in the Shadows: Six Must-Watch Vampire TV Shows appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.