NBC’s new series, “Dracula” — filled with plenty of intrigue, gorgeous mansions and beautiful people — would be a middling success were it not for its star. The handsome and charming Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the eponymous character, and he brings enough mystery -— and more than a hint of danger — to keep both his character and the show interesting. The talent Meyers possesses is undeniable, and he commands every scene he is in, playing the legendary vampire with intensity and charm.
The pilot opens with Meyers’ Dracula posing as an American businessman named Alexander Grayson as he hosts an extravagant party in London. Ostensibly he is there to expand his business holdings as a newcomer to the city, but, in reality, he is intent on destroying an organization called the Order of the Dragon, whose members killed his wife and cursed him with a life of immortality long ago. Though this beginning should be engaging and mysterious, it is too vague; the viewer is left with more questions than answers, and this confusion fails to compel the audience to keep watching.
Meyers, however, is extremely entertaining, even if the plot is difficult to follow. At the party, he presents his guests with light bulbs, which, much to everyone’s surprise, light up wirelessly in their hands. This party trick, however, is not simply meant as a treat for his guests — Dracula has other intentions; the Order of the Dragon is rich in petroleum, but its money would evaporate if Dracula’s magnetosphere-created energy could become a viable alternative. Meyers conveys his character’s ulterior motives smoothly, and his expressive face captivates his audience both on and off screen.
An array of supporting characters rounds out the cast, though some are more successful than others. Mina Murray (Jessica De Gouw) is a scientist who feels an inexplicable pull to Dracula — it is hinted that she perhaps may be the reincarnation of Dracula’s wife who burned at the stake centuries ago. She attends lectures taught by Professor Van Helsing (Thomas Kretschmann) as the only female student. Though she is dedicated to pursing her medical goals — receiving top marks on her exams — she suffers, as Van Helsing unsympathetically tells her, in the practical technique.
Mina seems to be the show’s strongest female character, with a rich, full life consisting of more than merely parties and gowns. Despite her intellectual depth, however, she remains quite busy in the romance department. Mina is involved in a would-be love affair with a reporter named Jonathan Harker (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). With the exception of this subplot, the young scientist is otherwise headstrong and bright, and hopefully her character development will continue on this promising path. The writers would do well by giving Mina more scenes that explore her medical career — doing so would set her character apart from Dracula and make her a stronger presence on the show.
Harker, the object of Mina’s affection, accompanies her to the party and ends up landing an interview with Dracula. This interaction functions solely to establish the tangible tension between Dracula and Harker, who jots down notes describing Dracula as a “visionary” and also “delusional.” Harker toys with the idea of asking Mina to marry him, but he ultimately believes that she deserves someone better. With this deliberation at the core of his character, it seems that Harker is destined to remain pigeonholed as Mina’s jealous lover when Dracula inevitably competes for her affection. Because of this rather uninspired love-triangle premise, his character comes off as boring and contrived.
“Dracula” is, of course, based on Bram Stoker’s original 1987 novel, though it does not follow the book’s storyline. Instead it tries to harness the novel’s ominous tone and Victorian sensibility, which it does fairly well with luxurious houses and a dark, rich color scheme. The characters have familiar names — many of them, including Van Helsing, Mina and Harker — are straight from the novel. With an altered plot, it will be interesting to see how the well-known characters will react in new situations.
With mysteries abound and a skillful Meyers playing Dracula, the show seems to be heading in a promising direction. However, it isn’t quite there yet. “Dracula” also has the potential to devolve into a bad adaptation of a classic work of literature, with a vague, often confusing plot and a campy feel detracting from the show’s overall intrigue. As of now, it’s unclear which route the writers will take, so audiences will just have to wait and see where this fledgling series takes them.
