What we now know as the vampire didn’t really come into being until the 18th century, when mass hysteria took over Europe due to several vampire sightings claimed by the population (particularly in Transylvania). They would exhume the bodies of suspected vampires; decomposing bodies (or ones that were delayed by perhaps freezing temperatures) only furthered the belief in the undead.
What we now know as the vampire didn’t really come into being until the 18th century, when mass hysteria took over Europe due to several vampire sightings claimed by the population (particularly in Transylvania). They would exhume the bodies of suspected vampires; decomposing bodies (or ones that were delayed by perhaps freezing temperatures) only furthered the belief in the undead.
It came as no surprise that vampires would eventually evolve from oral folklore and mass hysteria into the written word, the term itself emerging around the same time printed novels began to gain popularity as a new form of storytelling, thanks to the increased production of paper.
People could now read stories privately in their homes, and writers could tell their versions of a story to more than just a few. The literary vampire began with poetry like “The Vampire” by Heinrich August Ossenfelder in 1748:
And as softly thou art sleeping / To thee shall I come creeping / And thy life’s blood drain away. / And so shalt thou be trembling / For thus shall I be kissing/ And death’s threshold thou’ it be crossing / With fear, in my cold arms.
Even then, the representation of the vampire is erotic and charismatic. Still, it wasn’t until John Polidori’s novel The Vampyre was published in 1819 (Polidori basing the magnetic vampire on Lord Byron) the penny dreadful Varney the Vampire in 1847 and then Dracula by Bram Stoker in 1897 that the legend in modern stories took off and created the version of the vampire we are most familiar with.
Even then the representation of the vampire is erotic and charismatic…
And just as ways of telling stories changed over time (from oral to the novel, for instance) because of emerging technology, the same can be said today because of the invention of moving pictures.
Vampires appeared in film as early as 1913, but Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula created the character’s most popular characteristics. With over 170 versions of Stoker’s Dracula in film, it is no surprise that the legendary character finally turned to another storytelling medium: television.
Without further ado, I give you 35 of the greatest vampire shows on television (shows with less of a vampire focus will be lower on the list, and of course, this is my personally biased selection) as of 2014:
TOP 35 Vampire TV Shows
#35 Dracula The Series 1990
I have never actually seen this, but Mia Kirshner (The Vampire Diaries and 24) was one of the stars, and Geraint Wyn Davies (Forever Knight) also makes a few appearances.
#34 Port Charles
Spin-off soap from General Hospital that, yes, includes vampires….
#33 Valemont
This includes familiar faces for those who love genre TV. The ‘episodes’ only ran 2.5 minutes each.
#32 Vampire Prosecutor
This Korean vampire show revolves around a vampire who utilizes his abilities to solve crimes. You can watch it on Viki.
#31 Hemlock Grove
I wanted to like this one more than I did, but it’s still worth checking out if you don’t mind the gore and gratuity. It does have a good cast.
#30 The Little Vampire (1986)
A classic for those lucky enough to have seen it…
#29 Vampire High
Cheesy but fun for a binge watch; stars a young Meghan Ory (Once Upon A Time).
#28 Young Dracula
Dracula for kids that adults can enjoy too.
#27 Demons (2009)
About Van Helsing’s last descendant, who must stop the dark forces of the world, namely vampires.
#26 Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman’s underrated TV series is a must-see if you don’t mind dated effects.
#25 Becoming Human
A short spin-off of the BBC’s Being Human that is definitely worth checking out!
#24 The Dresden Files
Harry Dresden: “What is it about bad girls? They lie, cheat, won’t suck your blood even when you beg them to, and for some reason, no matter how badly they treat us, we still can’t walk away.”
This show is all about the star Harry Dresden, a wizard detective! A vampire might show up too…
#23 Supernatural
Dean Winchester: “Hey, you think this Dracula can turn into a bat? That’d be cool.”
While not my favorite vampire mythology of all time, I love this show’s humor and the dynamic between the brothers.
#22 The X-Files (Bad Blood)
Mulder: “I think you were right about this being a guy who’s watched too many Dracula movies. It’s just that he happens to be a real vampire.”
Who doesn’t love The X-Files? While not a show about vampires, they do exist on the show. One episode starring Luke Wilson is particularly fabulous… (Note: this would have a better spot on the list if the show were more about vampires than aliens.)
#21 The Munsters
A true classic!
#20 The Addams Family
Another classic!
#19 Blade: The Series
Shen: “I told you, I put the word out. What do you want me to do? Tack up flyers around the neighborhood. Lost vampire. Last seen ashing her mother. May be suicidal, homicidal. Both. Needs her meds.”
A short-lived series about the adventures of Blade, a half-human/half-vampire.
#18 Lost Girl
Bo (I consider her a psychic vampire even if she is a Succubus): “You know, I think you’re the first person I’m going to enjoy killing.”
Vex: “Well that’s awfully judgmental, you barely know me!”
I love this show about Succubus Bo and her pals! A great urban fantasy (not perfect) that incorporates vampires into its mythology, not to mention that Bo is a sort of vampire as well.
#17 The Gates
Nick: (referring to vampires) “She’s right. They’re not all monsters.”
This is just great camp and an entertaining soap that is worth watching (it does get better as the episodes continue), especially when Christian (Paul Blackthorne of Arrow and Dresden Files) comes into the story.
#16 Ultraviolet
Mike: “So why hasn’t anyone tried taking one of them alive? (Vaughan gives him a look) All right. Dead, then. Undead. Whatever you call it.”
A British show about vampires that stars Idris Elba, Jack Davenport, and Stephen Moyer (before True Blood) is definitely must-see TV. It’s actually pretty good too.
#15 Sanctuary
Nikola Tesla: “I’m a vampire. Some people are threatened by that.”
This is all about the immortal Nikola Tesla! He has some of the best one-liners out there.
#14 Dark Shadows
Embed from Getty ImagesVictoria Winters (about Barnabas): “He really does come from another time. He’ll never find it. Because it’s gone forever.”
Barnabas Collins really says it all.
#13 Forever Knight
Janette: “Poor Nicholas… tortured by a soul he hasn’t got.”
Before Angel and Mick, there was Nick Knight! While the effects are dated, this is a great vampire show, WAY ahead of its time.
#12 True Blood
Eric Northman: “TruBlood, it keeps you alive, but it will bore you to death.”
Series 1-4 is much stronger than the later abysmal seasons. Mostly, I just love the Eric, Sookie, and Bill triangle, and as the show reaches the end, I hope I can get the ending I was cheated of in the books. [EDIT: Nope. Hated the ending.]
#11 Being Human U.S.
Aidan: “I am a killer. At my core, that’s what I am, and I have to fight against that every day.”
Being Human (U.S.) – While I don’t think this show is as good as the original, it really came into its own fantastic show. Extra points for a perfect ending. Oh, and for bringing in Kyle Schmid to play a vampire named Henry!
#10 Penny Dreadful
Only 3 episodes in, I am already really impressed with the poetic writing, and intrigued by the mystery of Dracula. I only wished it toned down some of the unnecessary content.
#9 Kindred: The Embraced
Julian: “I am the prince of this city. You have violated my laws.”
This series needs to be rebooted. The mythology is fantastic and all the characters really intriguing. It’s very 90s but find a way to watch it if you haven’t seen it yet.
#8 The Vampire Diaries
Stefan: “For over a century, I`ve lived in secret. Hiding in the shadows, alone in the world. Until now. I`m a vampire and this is my story.”
This show has its ups and downs, but it’s incredibly entertaining! Plus, it has Damon Salvatore, and even though I like Damon and Elena, I have to say I loved the ending between Damon and Bonnie in the season finale!
#7 Dracula
While not a hit with critics, I thought this series really found its voice by the end. I really wanted to see this engaging interpretation of Dracula continue. A real pity.
#6 The Originals
Klaus: “If we turned every man you dropped your knickers for, then human beings would cease to exist and we’d have no bloody food.”
This show just gets better and better in my book! I love the family relationships AND the potential romances.
#5 Blood Ties
Vicki Nelson: “I’m busting your chops for talking about demons and I was out hunting a vampire.”
Yes, some of the effects are cheesy, but never the witty dialogue. Also, I loved the triangle between Henry, Vicki, and Mike!
#4 Angel
Angel: “Why would a woman I’ve never met even talk to me?”
Doyle: “Have you looked in the mirror lately? No, I guess you really haven’t, no.”
While I personally don’t think the magic ever reached the same level as the first 9 episodes of the show, this was a fantastic series full of laughs and romance.
#3 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Giles: “In every generation, there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.”
Groundbreaking and innovative, Buffy never ceased to entertain and create new paths for other genre shows to follow.
#2 Being Human U.K.
Nina: “It’s a lot to take in. I mean werewolves, ghosts, vampires. I didn’t even believe in homeopathy before this.”
While the first three seasons are the best, the story and writing as a whole never disappoint. This is truly well-written television at its best.
#1 Moonlight
Josef Konstantin: “You seriously drink this stuff? What is it, like, non-fat, soy, vegan blood?”
I love everything about this canceled too soon series, from the romantic relationship between Mick and Beth to the snarky Josef. I still miss this show
What are your favorite vampire shows?
RELATED POSTS:
If you love vampires, be sure to also check out my Top 35 Vampires in Film and Television
Check out my review of Penny Dreadful
Some Romantic Moments: Hayley and Elijah’s First Kiss, Klaus and Camille and Aidan and Sally.
Ha! Dracula the series, I watched every episode of that series when it was on but I probably couldn’t tell you what any of them were about at this point. I did feel that the actor playing Alexander Lucard (aka Dracula) was good and it was enjoyable TV.
I was a devoted Port Charles watcher back in the day. Casting on that was really good with Michael Easton as the major vampire. But it’s a soap and it was a desperate soap at that time so it’s writing and acting leaves something to be desired.
And, of course, as I said with the other post Forever Night, Blade: The Series, Kindred: the Embraced are definite favorites. And I agree with you I would really love for someone to reboot Kindred.
Being Human US was a show I wasn’t able to stick with for the long haul. Especially after they killed off Aiden’s sire (forget his name). But I loved the casting of Kyle Schmid as Henry so that got me back for a few episodes.
Some of the other ones don’t look familiar, looks like I have some web searching to do to see if I can find some of these. Great article as always!
I would have put Dark Shadows at no 1- it had a special magic and Barnabas Collins is the most fascinating and beautiful vampire there is!