Dracula (2020 TV series)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:34:21 AM Wikipedia source
Dracula is a horror drama television serial developed by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, loosely based on the 1897 novel of the same name by Bram Stoker. The series, consisting of three episodes, premiered on 1 January 2020 and was broadcast over three consecutive days on BBC One before releasing on Netflix. Claes Bang stars as the title character.
Infobox
Genre
mw- Drama Gothic horror
Created by
Mark Gatiss Steven Moffat
Based on
Draculaby Bram Stoker
Written by
Mark Gatiss Steven Moffat
Directed by
Jonny Campbell Damon Thomas Paul McGuigan
Starring
Claes Bang Dolly Wells John Heffernan
Composers
David Arnold Michael Price
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
No. of series
1
No. of episodes
3
Executive producers
Mark Gatiss Steven Moffat Sue Vertue Ben Irving
Producer
Sue Vertue
Running time
88–91 minutes
Production company
Hartswood Films
Network
BBC One Netflix
Release
1 January (2020-01-01) –3 January 2020 (2020-01-03)
Tables
· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"The Rules of the Beast"
Directed by
Jonny Campbell
Written by
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat
Original release date
1 January 2020 (2020-01-01)
UK viewers(millions)
6.99
Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania to assist with a property purchase in England. During Harker's stay, Dracula feeds on his blood and becomes youthful, while Jonathan becomes increasingly weak. Harker searches the castle, and discovers various undead, all of whom were bitten by Dracula. Some retain some of their humanity and Dracula describes them as his brides. Dracula kills Harker, who immediately revives and throws himself into the river. Some time later Harker is found in the sea and taken to a convent, but his memories are impaired. He is questioned by Sister Agatha Van Helsing, accompanied by his fiancée, Mina. After almost attacking Mina, Harker tries to kill himself with a stake. Dracula, drawn by Harker's presence, arrives at the convent but is unable to enter without an invitation. After a verbal confrontation with Van Helsing, Dracula finds Harker, who is still undead, and addresses him through an open window. Explaining that the undead cannot kill themselves, he promises to end Harker's existence in return for an invitation inside. Harker agrees and Dracula enters, killing all the nuns ("I'm undead, not unreasonable.") except Van Helsing and Mina, whom he corners in a basement.
Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania to assist with a property purchase in England. During Harker's stay, Dracula feeds on his blood and becomes youthful, while Jonathan becomes increasingly weak. Harker searches the castle, and discovers various undead, all of whom were bitten by Dracula. Some retain some of their humanity and Dracula describes them as his brides. Dracula kills Harker, who immediately revives and throws himself into the river. Some time later Harker is found in the sea and taken to a convent, but his memories are impaired. He is questioned by Sister Agatha Van Helsing, accompanied by his fiancée, Mina. After almost attacking Mina, Harker tries to kill himself with a stake. Dracula, drawn by Harker's presence, arrives at the convent but is unable to enter without an invitation. After a verbal confrontation with Van Helsing, Dracula finds Harker, who is still undead, and addresses him through an open window. Explaining that the undead cannot kill themselves, he promises to end Harker's existence in return for an invitation inside. Harker agrees and Dracula enters, killing all the nuns ("I'm undead, not unreasonable.") except Van Helsing and Mina, whom he corners in a basement.
No.
Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania to assist with a property purchase in England. During Harker's stay, Dracula feeds on his blood and becomes youthful, while Jonathan becomes increasingly weak. Harker searches the castle, and discovers various undead, all of whom were bitten by Dracula. Some retain some of their humanity and Dracula describes them as his brides. Dracula kills Harker, who immediately revives and throws himself into the river. Some time later Harker is found in the sea and taken to a convent, but his memories are impaired. He is questioned by Sister Agatha Van Helsing, accompanied by his fiancée, Mina. After almost attacking Mina, Harker tries to kill himself with a stake. Dracula, drawn by Harker's presence, arrives at the convent but is unable to enter without an invitation. After a verbal confrontation with Van Helsing, Dracula finds Harker, who is still undead, and addresses him through an open window. Explaining that the undead cannot kill themselves, he promises to end Harker's existence in return for an invitation inside. Harker agrees and Dracula enters, killing all the nuns ("I'm undead, not unreasonable.") except Van Helsing and Mina, whom he corners in a basement.
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Blood Vessel"
Directed by
Damon Thomas
Written by
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat
Original release date
2 January 2020 (2020-01-02)
UK viewers(millions)
5.58
Dracula is a passenger on the Demeter, which has been chartered to sail to England by a mysterious figure named Balaur. It carries other passengers, all of whom have a connection to Balaur, and cargo which includes boxes of soil from Transylvania. Dracula begins to kill passengers and crew, acquiring their memories and traits. It transpires that Dracula was Balaur and carefully selected his fellow passengers to prepare for his entrance into English society. The surviving passengers and crew search for the killer and discover an emaciated Agatha Van Helsing in one of the cabins. Dracula, who has been slowly draining her during the voyage, attempts to blame Agatha for the killings, but she convinces the others that Dracula is a vampire. After the surviving humans manage to set him on fire, Dracula throws himself into the sea. As the ship approaches Whitby, Dracula, who had been hiding on the ship, miraculously re-emerges. Agatha distracts him while the captain uses gunpowder to blow up the ship and prevent the vampire from reaching the shore. Dracula, however, manages to seal himself inside a coffin filled with his native soil as the ship sinks.
Dracula is a passenger on the Demeter, which has been chartered to sail to England by a mysterious figure named Balaur. It carries other passengers, all of whom have a connection to Balaur, and cargo which includes boxes of soil from Transylvania. Dracula begins to kill passengers and crew, acquiring their memories and traits. It transpires that Dracula was Balaur and carefully selected his fellow passengers to prepare for his entrance into English society. The surviving passengers and crew search for the killer and discover an emaciated Agatha Van Helsing in one of the cabins. Dracula, who has been slowly draining her during the voyage, attempts to blame Agatha for the killings, but she convinces the others that Dracula is a vampire. After the surviving humans manage to set him on fire, Dracula throws himself into the sea. As the ship approaches Whitby, Dracula, who had been hiding on the ship, miraculously re-emerges. Agatha distracts him while the captain uses gunpowder to blow up the ship and prevent the vampire from reaching the shore. Dracula, however, manages to seal himself inside a coffin filled with his native soil as the ship sinks.
No.
Dracula is a passenger on the Demeter, which has been chartered to sail to England by a mysterious figure named Balaur. It carries other passengers, all of whom have a connection to Balaur, and cargo which includes boxes of soil from Transylvania. Dracula begins to kill passengers and crew, acquiring their memories and traits. It transpires that Dracula was Balaur and carefully selected his fellow passengers to prepare for his entrance into English society. The surviving passengers and crew search for the killer and discover an emaciated Agatha Van Helsing in one of the cabins. Dracula, who has been slowly draining her during the voyage, attempts to blame Agatha for the killings, but she convinces the others that Dracula is a vampire. After the surviving humans manage to set him on fire, Dracula throws himself into the sea. As the ship approaches Whitby, Dracula, who had been hiding on the ship, miraculously re-emerges. Agatha distracts him while the captain uses gunpowder to blow up the ship and prevent the vampire from reaching the shore. Dracula, however, manages to seal himself inside a coffin filled with his native soil as the ship sinks.
3
3
No.
3
Title
"The Dark Compass"
Directed by
Paul McGuigan
Written by
Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat
Original release date
3 January 2020 (2020-01-03)
UK viewers(millions)
5.22
Dracula emerges from his coffin and surfaces on Whitby beach. He is met by Dr. Zoe Van Helsing, who tells him that 123 years have passed. He tries to feed on her, but her blood makes him vomit. He is imprisoned in a laboratory for study, and his blood is sampled. However, he contacts a lawyer who threatens to expose their illegal operations, and he is released. Zoe drinks Dracula's blood and begins to experience Sister Agatha's memories. Dracula becomes infatuated by Lucy Westenra, a young socialite who does not fear him, and plans to make her his bride. Zoe, dying of cancer, begins to merge with Agatha's personality. Zoe travels to Dracula's London home. Lucy, now undead, also arrives but is horrified at what she has become, and is killed at her own request. Zoe exposes Dracula to the sunlight, but he is unaffected. Zoe explains that Dracula fears death above all and is greatly ashamed of this. He has conditioned himself to believe the legends as they allowed him to hide himself from the society that he feels unworthy of. Zoe dies and Dracula drinks her poisoned blood. The two share an epiphany in the sunlight.
Dracula emerges from his coffin and surfaces on Whitby beach. He is met by Dr. Zoe Van Helsing, who tells him that 123 years have passed. He tries to feed on her, but her blood makes him vomit. He is imprisoned in a laboratory for study, and his blood is sampled. However, he contacts a lawyer who threatens to expose their illegal operations, and he is released. Zoe drinks Dracula's blood and begins to experience Sister Agatha's memories. Dracula becomes infatuated by Lucy Westenra, a young socialite who does not fear him, and plans to make her his bride. Zoe, dying of cancer, begins to merge with Agatha's personality. Zoe travels to Dracula's London home. Lucy, now undead, also arrives but is horrified at what she has become, and is killed at her own request. Zoe exposes Dracula to the sunlight, but he is unaffected. Zoe explains that Dracula fears death above all and is greatly ashamed of this. He has conditioned himself to believe the legends as they allowed him to hide himself from the society that he feels unworthy of. Zoe dies and Dracula drinks her poisoned blood. The two share an epiphany in the sunlight.
No.
Dracula emerges from his coffin and surfaces on Whitby beach. He is met by Dr. Zoe Van Helsing, who tells him that 123 years have passed. He tries to feed on her, but her blood makes him vomit. He is imprisoned in a laboratory for study, and his blood is sampled. However, he contacts a lawyer who threatens to expose their illegal operations, and he is released. Zoe drinks Dracula's blood and begins to experience Sister Agatha's memories. Dracula becomes infatuated by Lucy Westenra, a young socialite who does not fear him, and plans to make her his bride. Zoe, dying of cancer, begins to merge with Agatha's personality. Zoe travels to Dracula's London home. Lucy, now undead, also arrives but is horrified at what she has become, and is killed at her own request. Zoe exposes Dracula to the sunlight, but he is unaffected. Zoe explains that Dracula fears death above all and is greatly ashamed of this. He has conditioned himself to believe the legends as they allowed him to hide himself from the society that he feels unworthy of. Zoe dies and Dracula drinks her poisoned blood. The two share an epiphany in the sunlight.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | UK viewers(millions) | |
| 1 | "The Rules of the Beast" | Jonny Campbell | Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat | 1 January 2020 (2020-01-01) | 6.99 | |
| Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania to assist with a property purchase in England. During Harker's stay, Dracula feeds on his blood and becomes youthful, while Jonathan becomes increasingly weak. Harker searches the castle, and discovers various undead, all of whom were bitten by Dracula. Some retain some of their humanity and Dracula describes them as his brides. Dracula kills Harker, who immediately revives and throws himself into the river. Some time later Harker is found in the sea and taken to a convent, but his memories are impaired. He is questioned by Sister Agatha Van Helsing, accompanied by his fiancée, Mina. After almost attacking Mina, Harker tries to kill himself with a stake. Dracula, drawn by Harker's presence, arrives at the convent but is unable to enter without an invitation. After a verbal confrontation with Van Helsing, Dracula finds Harker, who is still undead, and addresses him through an open window. Explaining that the undead cannot kill themselves, he promises to end Harker's existence in return for an invitation inside. Harker agrees and Dracula enters, killing all the nuns ("I'm undead, not unreasonable.") except Van Helsing and Mina, whom he corners in a basement. | ||||||
| 2 | "Blood Vessel" | Damon Thomas | Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat | 2 January 2020 (2020-01-02) | 5.58 | |
| Dracula is a passenger on the Demeter, which has been chartered to sail to England by a mysterious figure named Balaur. It carries other passengers, all of whom have a connection to Balaur, and cargo which includes boxes of soil from Transylvania. Dracula begins to kill passengers and crew, acquiring their memories and traits. It transpires that Dracula was Balaur and carefully selected his fellow passengers to prepare for his entrance into English society. The surviving passengers and crew search for the killer and discover an emaciated Agatha Van Helsing in one of the cabins. Dracula, who has been slowly draining her during the voyage, attempts to blame Agatha for the killings, but she convinces the others that Dracula is a vampire. After the surviving humans manage to set him on fire, Dracula throws himself into the sea. As the ship approaches Whitby, Dracula, who had been hiding on the ship, miraculously re-emerges. Agatha distracts him while the captain uses gunpowder to blow up the ship and prevent the vampire from reaching the shore. Dracula, however, manages to seal himself inside a coffin filled with his native soil as the ship sinks. | ||||||
| 3 | "The Dark Compass" | Paul McGuigan | Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat | 3 January 2020 (2020-01-03) | 5.22 | |
| Dracula emerges from his coffin and surfaces on Whitby beach. He is met by Dr. Zoe Van Helsing, who tells him that 123 years have passed. He tries to feed on her, but her blood makes him vomit. He is imprisoned in a laboratory for study, and his blood is sampled. However, he contacts a lawyer who threatens to expose their illegal operations, and he is released. Zoe drinks Dracula's blood and begins to experience Sister Agatha's memories. Dracula becomes infatuated by Lucy Westenra, a young socialite who does not fear him, and plans to make her his bride. Zoe, dying of cancer, begins to merge with Agatha's personality. Zoe travels to Dracula's London home. Lucy, now undead, also arrives but is horrified at what she has become, and is killed at her own request. Zoe exposes Dracula to the sunlight, but he is unaffected. Zoe explains that Dracula fears death above all and is greatly ashamed of this. He has conditioned himself to believe the legends as they allowed him to hide himself from the society that he feels unworthy of. Zoe dies and Dracula drinks her poisoned blood. The two share an epiphany in the sunlight. | ||||||
· Reception › Accolades
2020
2020
Year
2020
Award
Outdoor Media Awards
Category
Visual Craft Award
Nominee
Talon Outdoor/Havas MediaBBC Media Planning/BBC Creative
Result
Gold
Installation and Experience Award
Installation and Experience Award
Year
Installation and Experience Award
Award
Gold
Grand Prix Winner
Grand Prix Winner
Year
Grand Prix Winner
Award
Won
TV Choice Awards
TV Choice Awards
Year
TV Choice Awards
Award
Best New Drama
Category
Dracula
Nominee
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Year
Best Actor
Award
Claes Bang
Category
Nominated
2021
2021
Year
2021
Award
National Television Awards
Category
Best New Drama
Nominee
Dracula
Result
Nominated
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Year
Saturn Awards
Award
Best Television Presentation (under 10 Episodes)
Category
Dracula
Nominee
Nominated
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref(s) |
| 2020 | Outdoor Media Awards | Visual Craft Award | Talon Outdoor/Havas MediaBBC Media Planning/BBC Creative | Gold | |
| Installation and Experience Award | Gold | ||||
| Grand Prix Winner | Won | ||||
| TV Choice Awards | Best New Drama | Dracula | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Claes Bang | Nominated | |||
| 2021 | National Television Awards | Best New Drama | Dracula | Nominated | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Television Presentation (under 10 Episodes) | Dracula | Nominated |
References
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dracula-bbc-netflix-sherlock-claes-bang-bram-stoker-1203385257/
- "Dracula | Netflix Official Site"https://www.netflix.com/title/80997687
- BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/dracula
- BBChttps://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46370250
- "Four-screen dashboard"https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/
- "Dracula Ep 3 – 5.22m"https://x.com/TomSpilsbury/status/1216729204944965640
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2017/tv/news/sherlock-team-reuniting-for-dracula-series-1202472312/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2018/10/netflix-bbc-one-board-three-part-dracula-series-from-sherlock-creators-1202482678/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2018/11/claes-bang-dracula-1202510162/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-04-30/dracula-will-be-the-hero-of-his-own-story-in-radical-reinterpretation-by-sherlock-creators/
- "Mark Gatiss"https://worldscreen.com/tvdrama/mark-gatiss/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dracula-steven-moffat-bisexual-bbc-netflix-a9243546.html
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/12/new-bbc-horror-suggests-dracula-did-bite-male-victims/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2019/02/dracula-casting-1202553510/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dracula-series-bbc-netflix-new-cast-directors-mark-gatiss-steven-moffat-1203199995/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-03-04/dracula-tv-series-starts-filming/
- aktuality.skhttps://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/670613/v-banskostiavnickom-starom-zamku-budu-nakrucat-drakulu/
- The Knowledgehttps://www.theknowledgeonline.com/the-knowledge-bulletin/post/2019/05/01/dracula-films-slovakia-as-transylvania
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dracula-netflix-bbc-dracula-mark-gatiss-wraps-filming-release-date-when-a9035371.html
- Design Weekhttps://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/22-28-june-2020/design-title-sequence/
- Peter Anderson Studiohttps://www.peterandersonstudio.co.uk/projects/dracula-title-sequence
- awards.bafta.orghttp://awards.bafta.org/award/2021/tvcraft/titles-graphic-identity
- RadioTimeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-03/bbc-dracula-air-date/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/tv/2019/12/13/dracula-premiere-trailers-sherlock-miniseries/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-08-09/mark-gatiss-dracula-documentary/
- What's on TVhttps://www.whattowatch.com/events/in-search-of-dracula-with-mark-gatiss-bbc2-3-january-2020/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-01-02/dracula-doctor-who-ratings/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/2020-01-03/dracula-episode-two-ratings/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-01-05/dracula-episode-3-ratings/
- Muse by Cliohttps://musebycl.io/film-tv/creepy-dracula-ad-emerges-shadows-after-dark
- www.clearchannel.co.ukhttps://web.archive.org/web/20200717091349/https://www.clearchannel.co.uk/events/outdoor-media-awards-2020/oma-winners
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- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dracula_2019/s01
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/dracula-2020/season-1
- TV Choice Awardshttps://awards.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/
- www.nationaltvawards.comhttps://www.nationaltvawards.com/vote
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2021/03/saturn-awards-nominations-2021-nominees-list-1234706492/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-02-13/dracula-series-two-resurrection/