Blood Vessel

This episode is the highlight of the series. It is completely original, it is clever and it is well executed. The first episode was a classical horror story with a twist, the third is more Black-mirror-ish. This one is its own unique thing, it is part murder mystery part adventure story.

The reason I liked this episode is because in the original novel Dracula there is a part explaining how Dracula came from Transylvania to London. It is short, it is creepy but there is no plot development nor character growth, it is purely to get the character from A to B and to build up the lore, explain how he got Romanian soil in England. Be it the books or the movies, everyone always discarded this chapter, it is short, it is technical, there is nothing of importance happening.

This episode is a prime example of why TV is in a golden age right now. It is so good because this format allows precisely for these kinds of episodes. Modern TV has the luxury of focusing on a speck of dust on a characters shoulder and pull out and episode, even an entire arc around it. It can either crush your show or elevate it to high art. When it is successful, it stops the main action; yet it allows us, the audience, to get to know characters a bit better. You get the characters in vacation so to speak, outside of their natural surroundings. You get to see qualities and traits that you wouldn't have had time to see in the regular narrative.

Obviously, the main character is Dracula and we know everything there is to know already. In that regard the episode is kind off making fun of the tropes. Yet, if you consider that Sister Agatha is the main hero, this episode is helpful in fleshing her out as a unique and original character.

The episode's premise is simple yet perfectly executed; it stretches out that boring Dracula boat chapter into a detective murder mystery of sorts. It is Dracula meets Death on the Nile. It is the Count Vampire in an Agatha Christie story. It is at the same time ridiculous yet genius. Firstly, because it plays it straight and explores the adventures of the Count on an actual sea voyage. Secondly, because the episode wears it's self-awareness on its sleeve. You end up with a crime-mystery plot, filled with gothic-horror characters with just enough humour to blend it together seamlessly. It is funny, is it scary, it is intriguing, but most of all it is fresh and original.

In terms of a part of a larger series, the effect of the episode is harder to jauge. It is so disconnected from the main narrative that the next episode is struggling to be as interesting, while introducing new characters and motives. Similarly, because the first episode was more of a classical horror story this episode feels jarring at first. Fortunately, the tone is consistent, and Dracula and Sister Agatha have enough charisma to carry whatever the plot throws at them. Which in turn, shows how well these characters are written.

As Dracula makes his way to England, he has set things up on the Demeter, so he will have his earthen boxes and enough people to eat. But on board is our Sister and she is in his way. The claustrophobic nature of a packet like this makes him very visible. There is a good deal of tongue in cheek for such a violent piece. Unfortunately, going into episode three, I've just figured that the third episode will not end this but push into another entire season sometime in the future. Am I right?

In a nutshell, not Dracula, not scary, not well written (apparently the pair earned just short of 50k each for this garbage) and hard to believe it was worst than the first episode. All budget spent on first episode, direction, well there is none, not often you feel sorry for actors but dear god. Moffat and Gatiss have lived on their PC nice rubbish far too long and need to get bit and walk off into the sunset.

Stop while it's still good and leave the conclusion to your own imagination unless you want it to be ruined by the last one.

Dracula is on a ship to England and he needs to reach their with his thirst for blood quenched, every time. Story, as our creators totem, start with different running threads which all start making sense as the reel roll. I was getting bored but soon regained my curiosity as it past half time. Count Dracula, like first episode, amuses us with his funny expressions and devilish intentions, Agatha is weak by muscle but strong by heart and the other characters are just fine.

However said all that, I still felt that rage in blood missing which I experienced while watching the first episode. That had more good elements of horror, as per me. May be the story required a whole episode spent on a ship. Maybe. Will know when i watch the finale which will decide the fate of this series. But, this time I have faith in Creators :)