Dracula (2020)

BBC TV series DRACULA starts the year off unfortunately with a low note. The three episodes mini series offers yet another adaptation of the classic tale by Bram Stoker abate given a bit of update as it spans through centuries right up to modern day London. The series is unique in that each episode has a feature length running time of 90 minutes and is structured to focus on an independent plot, making it feel as though we are watching three different movies in a trilogy.

Of the three episodes, I have to admit that I loved the first episode which introduces us to Dracula through the narration of a lawyer to a nun of his escape from the castle of Dracula. The set up and approach was refreshing and we are introduced to a rather wise cracking Count Dracula and an equally street wised nemesis in the form of the nun, Sister Agatha. The first episode was atmospheric, provided a nice balance of humour and gore, and a cliff hanger ending to get you hooked on what's coming next. Danish actor Claes Bang is pretty much an unknown but his portrayal of Count Dracula here was interesting and at times reminiscent of Christopher Lee's Dracula in all those Hammer movies of yesteryears. Some reviewers complained that this new Dracula jokes too much and had a seemingly endless supply of wise cracks and one liners in the likes of James Bond!

Episode two focused on Dracula's attempt to travel to London on board the ill fated ship, as he progressively kills off the crew and passengers one by one. For me this episode felt very long drawn as there was not much of a plot to work on. Plus there was the nagging dissatisfaction that it failed to continue from episode one's cliff hanger leaving the viewer to just accept the jump in narration and draw their own conclusion over what happened. The one liner jokes began to feel old and annoying. There wasn't enough gore to satisfy the blood thirstier audience. And ... once again it ended with a cliff hanger, but this time, making a big leap in time as we end in modern day London! That ending was unexpected and frankly did not go down well.

The decline continues in episode three as we have Dracula resurrected from his "death" in the seas and arriving in modern day London. This episode plays the poorest of the lot as it loses focus with Dracula discovering the modern technology and amazingly master it as his out smart his protagonists. A strange love story develops in the sideline with a rebellious strong minded teenager Lucy (played by the rather brilliant Lydia West who was also in the recent BBC mini series Years and Years). In addition, we were also finally given an insight on what happened at the end of episode one's cliffhanger, which felt like something a little too little, a little too late. With a messy and busy plot to cover over 90 minutes, the episode reached its fiery and unexpected ending. This episode just simply did not work for me as I felt the modern day plot was a bad idea. So despite the promising and exciting start, be prepared for an unorthodox conclusion which may not go down well with you.