Young Dracula tells the story of the Dracula family who have just moved from Transylvania (on the run from an angry peasant mob) to an ordinary town in Britain. Vladimir (Gerran Howell) is the Count’s (Keith–Lee Castle) beloved only son, but ‘Vlad’ is as far from the model vampire child as is possible. Vlad wants to be a normal human boy, and even goes as far as to befriend ‘breathers’. Conversely, Vlad’s older sister, Ingrid (Clare Thomas), has embraced her future. At the start of the series, Ingrid cannot wait to reach her sixteenth birthday, which is when vampires come into their full powers. Count Dracula ignores Ingrid, dismissing her as “just a girl” even when she tries to impress him.
The Draculas new neighbours are the Branagh family, who, in contrast to the Draculas, are about as normal as possible, except for Robin; a vampire–obsessed boy of a similar age to Vlad. Also living in Stokely are the Van Helsings, a duo of hapless vampire slayers.
Before I go any further I should point that Young Dracula is a children’s programme. But don’t stop reading! Young Dracula is the best children’s programme I have ever watched, and it is enjoyed by adults and teenagers as well children for some very good reasons.
1. Young Dracula is a refreshing take on the vampire theme. It asks the question: what would happen if a family of vampires moved into your neighbourhood? Although the traditional vampire traits are still present (burn in sunlight, vulnerable to garlic, can only be killed with a stake through the heart etc.) they are shown in a very different light to other recent vampire dramas. By telling the Draculas’ story through the eyes of Vlad, who hates what he is to become, the usual focus on the predatory nature of vampires is lost, to be replaced by a much lighter, more human side that we are able to empathise with. Neither does Young Dracula romanticise vampires, as some might argue Twilight has. The vampires in Young Dracula are clearly very dangerous, and there are some particularly dark moments considering it is a children’s show; but there are just the right amount of human qualities that really draw the viewer in.
2. On a similar note, many themes of our normal human lives are reflected in Young Dracula. Vlad and Ingrid are brought up in a single parent household, as is Jonathan Van Helsing. Vlad and Robin are both outsiders, which most of us can connect to. Ingrid is a victim of sexism, and is unwanted and unloved by her father. The prevalence of these themes in the show adds credibility and even realism to Young Dracula. The strength of the characters as they battle through these problems is inspiring, and something that all of us warm to, regardless of our age.
3. Humour. Even though it’s targeted at kids and I’m almost 20, Young Dracula is hilarious. As well as limited amounts of usual kid’s humour, the programme pokes fun at the goth/vampire genre (“Well, here we are; it’s not exactly what I was expecting. I mean, where are the cobwebs, the damp, the rotting corpses…”) and there is a generous helping of good old British sarcasm.
4. The setting, the costumes, even the SFX are of a high standard for a British drama, especially as it’s a children’s drama. The relatively high costs of production led to Young Dracula’s cancellation after only two series…until now.
5.A third series is on its way! The first two aired between 2006 and 2008 and are knocking around on Youtube, but in October of this year another series is due to premiere. Children’s programmes are very rarely brought back after cancellation, so its revival is a testament to its quality.
Yes, Young Dracula is one of my guilty pleasures, but it’s superb. For anyone who’s looking for a lighter take on the vampire genre, I would definitely recommend it.
Here’s the first part of the first episode. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piGEYlb4VEo
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