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| Courtesy NBC |
A few months back, I heard NBC was bringing a new incarnation of The Count with the ten-episode mini-series, “Dracula.” Having researched and written about this paranormal pop icon extensively and being intrigued with the history since I was a child, I figured I’d sink in my fangs and check it out. It also doesn’t hurt that it stars that lovely Irish lad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers from “The Tudors.”
The episode begins in Romania, 1881 with the discovery of Vlad Tepes Dracula’s fancy tomb. The man examining the resting place is delighted until a mysterious adventurer (I assume because of his Indian Jones garb) comes upon him and slits his throat. He uses the man’s blood to feed and bring Vlad back to life. Apparently, his body contains gears. Or was that inside the coffin? I’m already confused.
Flash forward 15 years later in London and we catch a glimpse of Vlad bathed in candlelight and being schooled by Renfield on how NOT to say “scheduled” because he is now posing as an American business man. He says “shejouled” which is typically not how folks of Romanian descent say it but, well, anyway. He is living in a very large house, he likes lots of candles and his name is Alexander Grayson.
Apparently, he is being introduced to many of the social elites and businessmen at a ball and they are meeting this mystery man for the first time. Did he just move there? Confused again. Ambitious journalist, Jonathan Harker arrives with med student Mena on one arm and Lucy on his other. All of these characters so far are familiar and present in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel.
