STAYING IN
BLOOD ON THE BOX
As the final series of True Blood is broadcast, Henry Northmore checks out vampires on the telly
O f all the classic monster legends, vampires have captured the pop culture’s imagination the most. From Bram Stoker’s Dracula through Nosferatu, The Lost Boys and Twilight, much like the bloodsuckers themselves, the myths refuse to die, being readapted and reinterpreted for each new generation. Current TV schedules seem to be busting at the seams with undead entertainment of the fanged variety.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997) In the show that brought vampires back to primetime, Buffy fought monsters, demons and evil while dishing out sassy quips and multiple beatdowns with equal vigour. Talent It’s where Buffy creator Joss Whedon made his name and was crowned a geek godhead. Sarah Michelle Geller was the breakout star as the eponymous kick-ass heroine. Main vamp Buffy’s vampire love interest Angel (David Boreanaz) was so popular he got his own spin-off series. Where to watch Buffy wrapped after seven seasons in 2003 but you can still catch episodes
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on Netflix and SyFy, while the story continues in a series of comics officially sanctioned by Whedon himself. BEING HUMAN (2008) A vampire (Aidan Turner), werewolf (Russell Tovey) and ghost (Lenora Crichlow) share a house in this British take on a sitcom set-up. The series went into some surprisingly deep and dark corners as it progressed. Talent Created by Toby Whithouse. Main vamp Turner’s enigmatic Mitchell was replaced by Damien Molony’s Hal in Season 4. Where to watch The final fifth series screened on BBC3 in 2013 but it’s available as a 14-disc boxset from 2entertain. Avoid the awful US remake.
TRUE BLOOD (2008) The release of a synthetic blood compound causes vampires to come out of hiding and try to integrate with society. An allegory of sexual and racial prejudice spiced up with plenty of action and ‘fang banging’, though many would agree True Blood jumped the shark with the
introduction of fairies in Season 3. Talent Showrunner Alan Ball was the man who brought us funeral home drama Six Feet Under. Main vamp Take your pick from the brooding Bill (Stephen Moyer) or the sexy (and equally brooding) Erik (Alexander Skarsgård). Sookie (Anna Paquin) certainly can’t make up her mind. Where to watch The seventh and final season starts on Fox on Mon 7 July. VAMPIRE DIARIES (2009) Continues Twilight’s theme of 100-year-old vampires falling in love with high school girls but with a bit more action and slightly more humour. Talent Kevin Williamson mixes elements of his two previous hits; the teen drama of Dawson’s Creek and horror of the Scream movies. Main vamp The Salvatore brothers (nice-but- dull Paul Wesley and bad boy Ian Somerhalder) compete for insipid love interest Elena (Nina Dobrev). Where to watch Season five has just finished