Lucy from Dracula Deserved Better

Dracula's been adapted for the screen hundreds of ways, and the character of Lucy Westenra--his first vampire convert on English soil--goes through some interesting iterations.
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[@MadameTamma]

To me Lucy's slow death was the scariest part of the book. She'd just sit curled up in bed in her dark room all the nights leading up to her death, terrified to go to sleep, knowing she'd wake up feeling awful, knowing something horrible is happening to her but having no answers and no control.

[@SteamPoweredGoth]

Having spent a week in the hospital where the staff basically told me nothing about what was going on (in fairness they're very overworked so I don't really blame the nurses, when I finally talked to a doctor she was helpful.) This is such a mood. It's so overwhelmingly frustrating and I had some baseline for what was happening and knew I wasn't dying. Rereading that part of the book hits different.

[@SingingSealRiana]

now imagine you would not know it was a vampire book and there where not any for reference, you go in knowing nothing . . . and the only cases of feeding on humans befor was the poor womans child by the hands of dracular brides

[@erikbjelke4411]

Yeah. So many people assume, because "Sexy Vampire" has become such a trope, that Dracula is a "Victorian Sex Fantasy." The book actually has very little sexual text or subtext, vampirism is treated more like the spread of an insidious and virulent disease than anything to do with sex, and Lucy's death is much more like watching a loved one fade away from a terminal illness. Especially after Quincey tries donating blood, and it fails, and Seward and Van Helsing agree there's nothing more to be done, and Lucy is going to die. . . yet she holds on for a full day afterwards. All these people who love her, watching for a full 24 hours, knowing there's not a goddamn thing they can do, that her death is coming soon. That's incredibly horrifying. That it happened to a happy, lovely young woman who was the light in everyone's life just makes it even worse. Seriously, Lucy should be the easiest character to adapt: just play her as someone who truly, genuinely *LIKES* every single human being she meets, and her death will have the requisite tragedy, pathos, and horror.

[@oliviadoyle3623]

I believe the 3 heroes in Dracula were repulsed, not solely due to her being sexual in itself, but rather due to how much she changes. Imagine the one you love doing a complete 180 and becoming an entirely different person. Cruel. Preying on children.

[@theasinclaire52]

Maybe it was the weird juxtaposition of sexuality and savagery Lucy had become. The idea of a woman being sexual, which good girls didn't do outside of marriage, would be horrible to Victorians. And the idea of a woman being violent? Impossible! *Clutches pearls*.

[@oliviadoyle3623]

@@theasinclaire52 Yeah I absolutely agree, the passage does a wonderful job portraying the many aspects of horror the protagonists feel at seeing Lucy in such a state.

[@SingingSealRiana]

agree, someone you love acting compleatly out of character is unsettling as hell, even if you are not a pearl clutching victorian scandalised by them dishonoring themselfs

[@Ethan-lj4cn]

"lucy might still be out there, noming on kiddos" iconic

[@PassTheMarmalade1957]

Though not accurate to the book, where Lucy saw Mina as more of an older sister, the idea of Lucy being in unrequited love with Mina, and her popularity with men being a deliberate front to hide her sexuality, is a really interesting adaptation idea, particularly given the attitudes of the novel's time period, and the fact that it was published just two years after the infamous trial of Oscar Wilde (who was an old acquaintance of Bram Stoker's.) That would be an interesting new angle for the whole 'Dracula and Victorian sexual repression' idea - Not straight sexual repression, but queer sexual repression. Too bad the TV series decided to take it to the conclusion of "Spiteful lesbian bitch gets her comeuppance. Also incestuously bites her mother."

[@The_Lauren_Fox_Catalogue]

Lady Marmalade I've actually intended to write that sort of thing in a novel for a while now. That Lucy and Mina were actually girlfriends, the suitors were just around to make sure no one found out they were gay, there is no Van Helsing, Mina fought Lucy and Dracula on her own, and Mina married Harker for convenience after she thought Lucy died. Yeah, 'thought'. This idea came about after I realised something: "Has anyone actually written a story where Lucy lived and continues to live into the present day?". Turns out no, this is basically her redone backstory while she's a supporting character in the present day and still having some baggage from her relationship with Mina that she projects onto another former girlfriend (who is a more recurring character in the series).

[@amandapike2477]

I would love a gayer Dracula film (Don't laugh). Lucy in love with Mina and a surprise reveal that Jonathan is the reincarnated lost wife of Dracula all along. It would take the reincarnated wife trope that was invented in the 60s by Dan Curtis, to a whole new level.

[@MidnightIsolde]

Lady Marmalade perhaps. But maybe Carmilla would be a better bet for that seeing as it's already in the story. I know creativity and "any interpretations" and all that, but I have doubts about seriously changing novels characters and plots etc - it's not as often done eith other literary works as it is with Dracula and some others - it's like the novel and Stoker is not taken seriously so you can mess with it.

[@corylusbluefox9482]

Amanda Pike That would be the best!

[@jan-erikella7772]

Fun fact: Oscar Wilde courted Florence Balcombe and was extremely vexed when she decided to marry Stoker instead.

[@1987MartinT]

In Dracula Dead and Loving it the main reason why her flirtatious behavior is treated differently depending on whether she's a vampire or a human is that she's just flirting as a human, while she's trying to lure in prey as a vampire. A girl being flirty is fine. A girl being flirty because she wants to get close enough to kill the person she's flirting with is horrifying.

[@vanelilyskull]

You need to do one of these for Mina too! It's strange (and disappointing) how modern portrayals of Mina tend to be less progressive than the book's.

[@margaretgibbs6673]

Exactly. Its like the Irene Adler effect (is that a thing? It should be) where a female character who was...actually pretty progressive for the time, interesting on her own, smart and capable and with a story that didn't revolve *solely* around romance then gets reimagined in really cliche ways. (Usually involving being reduced to a love interest role.) I know Mina and Irene Adler were the exceptions often rather than the rules and that's part of why they're so special: but how even does a novel and a short story both written in the freaking Victorian era end up feeling more progressive in their depictions of these characters than a lot of adaptations in the next century? Come on, people, we can surely do better.

[@SingingSealRiana]

and the whole thing between her and dracula?! WTF is that?! He did not want her ans she wanted him even less, he only went after her cause he was pissed with jonathan and that was the best way to hurt him (also maybe without hurting him?!)! If dracula where capable of feelings and bonding, the only person he showes any inclination towords is jonathan, not mina! His attack on mina is exactly that, he did not seduce her in trance like he did with lucy who was mere prey, he did not just feed on her, he kept her awake and aware to traumtise her, forced her to dink his blood to bind her to him hoping to weaken his enemies through breaking them up . . . the whole thing is rape coded with him trying to turn her into nothing more but a tool to hurt her man . . . . how did people get the idea of romantisicing that?! If you are desperate for tragic romance, go for jonathan cause the whole thing can get regarded as jelousy coded, with how posessiv of jonathan he was, even after he long served his role and all . . . .

[@BetterWithBob]

It's happened with lots of famed female figures throughout mythology and folklore. Maid Marian was originally a tomboy and master of disguise who fought Robin Hood to a standstill while disguised as a boy in one ballad - but Victorian writers turned her into a proper lady who gets captured and needs to be rescued. Guinevere in the earliest parts of Arthurian mythology was a powerful sorceress who was also a warrior queen, but later got reduced to being in a love triangle with Arthur and Lancelot

[@jessicaborth1590]

really awesome thorough dig into Lucy's character. when my ballet class did a student production of Dracula, I danced Lucy,. and while our teacher took a lot of direction from the Coppola movie, she also recommended we read the novel and see some of the other movies as well to inspire our interpretations. I found Lucy very similar to another standard ballet role, That of Odette and Odille and I danced her a lot like that role too but played with it a bit I played Lucy as a human absolutely naive and childlike lots of the flitting and wide-eyed wonder. then when she was seduced by Dracula, I kind of segued the naitivity to something of a sexual awakening and transitioned her slowly into the "voluptuous wantoness" but when I did Lucy as a vampire I did the total animalistic thing!, lots of snarling and quick jerky movements and even had her crawling on all fours a lot

[@HeirofAzaran]

A great characterization.

[@rachellesch8681]

The Lucy storyline was always the one that I connected with the most. I first read Dracula my freshman year of high school and during that year I had an infection in my aortic valve and ended up having two open-heart surgeries. The descriptions of Lucy’s vampire induced illness reminded me of my own illness and hospitalization. One of the IVs they put in me left a mark in my neck that looked like a vampire bite. Even more so when the infection returned four years later and I was even sicker. I would get these heartburn like chest pains at night which would keep me from sleeping and I would pace through the halls of my house like a gothic heroine. It, without much exaggeration, felt like something was sucking the life out of me.

[@Hosenrolle1]

21:52 *_"She even tempts Mina into deviancy"_* That's not entirely true. These two women are under the influence of Dracula. A lot of different things happen during the storm sequence. The animals in the zoo go crazy, the inmates of the lunatic asylum go crazy, and Mina and Lucy are also under the influence of Dracula and are no longer themselves. Lucy definitely does not seduce Mina here!

[@Hosenrolle1]

@@Hecateofcrossroads I criticized Maven’s statement that Lucy tempts Mina into deviance in said scene because it is a demonstrably false interpretation. The storm sequence shows - and there are interviews with the makers of the film to prove it - Dracula’s effect on various creatures. On humans and on animals. However, Maven presents it as if Lucy is a temptress in this scene, but omits the fact that a) Lucy herself is under Dracula’s influence and b) you don’t see Lucy “tempting” Mina. We only see the two women running around in the labyrinth, most of the time even alone and not with each other.

[@LindleyLottie]

GOD BLESS THIS VIDEO! The evolution of Lucy (and Mina, as well) has always been so fascinating and anger-inducing for me. Most of my friends don't believe me when I tell them she was never intended to be a "loose woman" archetype.

[@callum6123]

I'm so glad you did a video on Lucy. I read Dracula when I was 11 and I always had a kinship with her as a gay person because of how everyone feared her sexuality. In an odd way she really helped me out. All I want is a movie that has her as the protagonist. Thank you so much

[@HeirofAzaran]

Or at least one where she's a more important character.

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

One can argue that the most tragic aspect of Lucy’s corruption by Dracula is how unnaturally the change itself occurred. Lucy was a good-hearted and well-meaning girl, beloved by all she knew, and was guilty only of being a product of her environment. For her identity to be so suddenly and so drastically altered to the point of hardly resembling itself, and unrecognizable to those who care about her, is appalling. Especially considering that this change did not occur in a natural way. This fundamental change in her identity was brought about practically instantaneously. She was forcefully stripped of control over her mind body and spirit by a malicious fiend who saw her as nothing but prey. Lucy’s personality may very well have changed throughout the course of her life, this is common in all people, but it would have been in a natural and gradual way. Perhaps those changes would be accepted by her various admirers, companions, and loved ones. Lucy’s corruption was not this sort of change. It was assimilation. It was consumption. It was the selfish hot-wiring of a human being’s free will so that it may be more desirable to the hot-wirer. That is why it was tragic.

[@therealGibralter]

I mean it is almost like Dracula is a horrible monster! That corrupts all he touches and shouldn't be admired and the loss and turning of poor Lucy was about how even the most innocent of people could be turned into a monster by him and not a commentary on sex!

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

therealGibralter Yeah, almost.

[@MidnightIsolde]

oh my god agree with this so much. The Freudian angle is taken way way too far with this novel. Dracula is a personification of evil - of the Devil really. But because we live in an atheist nihilistic time, we just can't seem to take seriously a story of good and evil and of corruption of innocence; of rich and wrong; truth and lies; light and darkness. Instead, modern thought and "critical theory" rolls it's eyes at the established ideas of the past that have for many centuries served us, in favour of 'anything goes'. The problem with the critical approaches to Dracula that focus on sex, gender, feminism etc is that it affectively says 'oh it's so sexist/misogynistic/old-fashioned... how dare it portray vampirism, possession of dead bodies and preying on children negatively'... oh wait.

[@696190]

Isolde makes a good and a problematic statement. The problem with the original story isnt that possession of dead bodies and preying on children is portrayed negatively, the problem is these negatives are associated with aspects of sexuality and identity that an overly conservative society saw as harmful and dangerous, and that is what modern interpretations try to sift through. Also, while atheism is on the rise, we arent a nihilistic society, because people search for other anchor points for civic values, the problem is we have a hard time agreeing what works best.

[@MidnightIsolde]

696190 I may not have been clear enough in my first post. I know that supernatural and horror aspects are filtered through portrayals of sexuality and gender, and so the negative association is metaphorical not literal. So it is the negative association of female sexuality with monstrosity that modern critics find troubling. However, looking at the progress of vampire fiction as a whole, there is a progression of seeing the vampire in a more positive light, as the stories become less clear cut good v evil narratives. This blurred lines leads to somewhat problematic treatment of vampires (and other evil personas) as not being evil and having potential for reform - a dangerous idea when applied to real life people. Regarding Dracula, the critical observation that sexuality/liberated women = vampires/monstrousity/demonic etc. is itself somewhat problematic. Because it looks from the vantage point of modern ideology etc, and so the interesting ideas of the story about a test of religious faith; good v evil; and the demonic get pushed to the sideline, even though thoses ideas are more intentional imo on Stoker's part. The fact that sexuality etc is used in the imagery of monstrousity, is because it reflects norms of late c19th ideas, as well as longstanding ideas of the demonic in fiction and superstition. Due to our fixation on oppression, sexuality, gender and other civic liberty rights, we tend to focus on that aspect of the novel more. We undrstand the novels portrayals of evil as to be understood only as metaphor for the mundane, rather than literal evil. Which leads us to think that there's no useful moral (or otherwise) lesson to be learned from it due to thinking that the message is old fashioned/ misogynist/bigotted/oppressive. Imo this means we lose some deeper aspects of the narrative. And let's be honest, the Freudian sexuality and gender angle is 'old hat' now and frankly done to death. The pursuit of civic values, equality, progressiveism has become something of a new doctrine - a new religion and marker of morality/virtue, taking the place of waning traditional belief. The point is, though we like to believe that we are a less dogmatic and more openminded time (as science, progressiveism and athiesm have proclaimed), the same human need for beliefs and rules and the need to be 'holier than thou' remains. On the nihilistic side, we also have a materialistic and vacuous society through consumer culture, media, celebrity and the waning of 'traditional' moral codes.

[@quaesitrix881]

What puzzles me is how Mina is always chosen to be Dracula's romantic interest rather than Lucy. As far as I remember, he chose Lucy, made her a vampire, and when she was killed he was so pissed that he decided to take Mina as revenge. Something like : you took someone from me, so I'll do the same to you, except that this time I will turn her slowly so that you can agonize over it, and use her to spy on you as a bonus ^_^ I have read the book many times but not recently, so maybe I am misremembering, or inferring too much from it, but anyway, that is the impression I always had. Lucy as a choice, and Mina as revenge/convenience. I do remember one comic about Dracula, not an adaptation but more a spinoff, and it had Lucy in it as Dracula's bride. This was the first time I saw an adaptation like that and I thought it was brilliant :) Then there was Anno Dracula, which mentioned Mina being kept alive as a vampire by Dracula as punishment. No much else that I know of, though. The chances of it being explored in an adaptation are very low : if we decide to have a Dracula romance, then we can't have the romantic interest dying at the start/middle of the story, leaving the other half without any romance ^_^ Maybe that is why the names and personality of Lucy and Mina are so often switched ? (Aside from the effect of changes in the societal context, as you already mentioned.) I can't see what book Dracula would see in book Mina : she isn't half as interesting as book Lucy. The weird thing is that, once Lucy is dead, everyone keeps worshipping her and heaping praise upon her for being... erm... there ? For being their mascot ?...

[@theasinclaire52]

I think you have a point. Most adaptations paint Mina as the reincarnation of Dracula's true love but that wasn't true in the book. I think another reason he went after Mina was she was helping his enemies and he wanted to hurt them any way he could.

[@SavouryGalette]

Dan Curtis' Dracula also had Dracula in love with Lucy and taking revenge by targeting Mina.

[@representationmetaphorique]

That bit in the 2013 version where she says "Why didn't you tell me it was perfectly natural for a woman to fall in love with another woman?" That got me. Katie McGrath is a real good actor.

[@amandapike2477]

Yeah, but Vlad the freakin' Impaler's master plan for revenge is standing someone up for a date... And Dracula is stripped of his traditional powers and has a cringe worthy Southern accent.

[@representationmetaphorique]

Amanda Pike I know, it's bad, but that part is very sad and poignant.

[@darianrose2195]

@@amandapike2477 The fact that he "punished" Lucy and not Johnathan, who I came to hate, was one of the biggest sins of the show.

[@arubinojr5670]

Look. They clearly knew they weren't getting a second season and had to shift gears fast once they figured out how off the path they were.

[@sparrowhawk4641]

That part fucking broke me

[@representationmetaphorique]

Maven, you always look so beautiful, but white suits you so well !!!

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

erin h Heh. Clothing puns.

[@representationmetaphorique]

The One and Only Michael McCormick I didn't even notice that !

[@representationmetaphorique]

That wasn't meant to be sarcastic, I literally didn't notice it !

[@tyrant-den884]

yeah, its the color which draws the eye.

[@representationmetaphorique]

Tyrant-Den oh hush maven looks beautiful in white

[@QuintonReviews]

It's been so many years since I've seen your stuff, and your absolutely stunning still! Keep up the good work.

[@naranara1690]

THE QUINSTERRRRR

[@Flowtail]

Quinton, please *you're

[@theresacherco3503]

Hi Quinton

[@Luanna801]

This is such an awesome idea for a video! It's fascinating to see how Lucy's evolved over the years, and I'd honestly be really interested to see more of these character overviews in the future. Personally, maybe it's just me, but I never felt like Lucy's death was meant to implicitly "punish" her for anything in the novel. After all, her fiancé Arthur is very much a useless aristocrat too, and he gets to survive, while badass Texas gunslinger Quincey is killed off. So if Stoker was trying to make a point about the pampered aristocracy not being able to survive... you'd expect that to have gone exactly the other way. I honestly think book!Lucy's death was just supposed to show how horrible Dracula is, that he could murder someone so lovable and sweet and (arguably worse, to the heroes) turn her into a monster. And honestly, I think that role would work just fine in a modern adaptation. The only real issue is the way human!Lucy's purity and innocence keeps getting played up in contrast to vampire!Lucy's "voluptuousness" in a way that arguably demonizes female sexuality. So I think, if I was doing a Dracula adaptation, I'd focus more on how kind and loving real!Lucy was, and how horrifying it is that Dracula killed her personhood and made her into a heartless killer who murders children (which is, after all, one of the worst crimes most of us can imagine). That interpretation is still very true to the novel (because all of that is very much there - as in the quote at 4:09 about "the sweetness turned to heartless, adamantine cruelty") but it leaves out the problematic sex-shaming implications.

[@Luanna801]

BTW, I always very much interpreted Lucy's attempted "seductions" of Arthur in the book as just trying to get him close enough that she could bite him. Sure, she says she wants to "kiss" him - but that's exactly the same word Dracula's Brides use to talk about biting Jonathan and eventually *killing* him. So I thought it was pretty clear that Lucy meant the same thing. There's this really interesting scene in the book when Lucy is on her deathbed (not quite a vampire yet, but almost there) and tries to get Arthur to give her a "goodbye kiss". And then when Van Helsing stops her, she has a moment of clarity and /thanks him/ for protecting Arthur. So that also implied to me that whatever she was trying to do would have hurt him somehow, and I think it's such a poignant little moment that for that brief second, she still has just enough humanity left to realize what she was about to do and be horrified. And then that humanity is lost forever.

[@merchantfan]

Yup, I always assumed that was the intention in Stoker's novel. After all, there's no sign that Dracula is sexually attracted to the women either. Blood is the metaphor for sex, there's not necessarily any sex involved.

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

+Nacha255 You should watch Loose Canon by Lindsay Ellis where she would analyze the portays of characters over time and its social context. Those were good

[@MavenoftheEventide]

I worked on those videos with her, you'll see my name in some of the credits.

[@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747]

+Maven of the Eventide Yes, I've noticed them, I was also Impressed of how similar your critical aproach was to that of Lindsay's when I started watching your videos. But of course, Lindsay doesn't fearure enough Vampires

[@m3rrys0ngstr3ss]

I could imagine the vampirism manifesting as depression - Lucy maybe getting that flattening affect that comes when you're in an episode.

[@matthewcampos6517]

"You gotta lure them in somehow...is it working?" Yes, more please!

[@juliamavroidi8601]

After you talked about Tanz der Vampire last time, I'm really disappointed, you didn't mention the musical. 😉 Also I found it interesting that novel!Lucy doesn't prey after men, like Dracula preys after women, but children. It reminded me of how infanticide is often viewed as a "female" crime, just like rape is viewed as a "male" crime.

[@darkservantofheaven]

as bad as Lucy gets it when it comes to her roles in adaptations of dracula, at least she shows up. Which is more than we can say for Quincey Morris, the young rich american from texas (who they make into a cowboy in the Copolla film) I mean they also give Van Helsing the role of hero or the one who lands the killing stroke on Dracula but its Quincy Morriss with a bowie knife...in gratitude John and Mina name their son after him. (he shows up as a mentor to Blade in the Tomb of Dracula comics for a small time) . I think I've only seen him in one role; Francis Ford Copolla's Dracula. (though he does appear in a few films according to his wikipedia page, 1 of which has him merged with Arther Holmwood to make Quincey Holmwood...and you play as his descdendets in the Castlevainia games Bloodlines and Portrait of Ruin who are distant relatives of the Belmont.) I think he becomes a vampire in later a few sequel novels.....perhaps one day a more faithful adaptation of the novel will include him in bigger role...fat chance tho

[@TheMexicanLynx]

I love how the Japanese Castlevania canon conceptualized Quincey's son John Morris as a bastard to not mess with the canon of the book proper (too bad Sega of America and Konami of america added that "John saw Quincey die" nonsense). The games with his son and grandson at the helm, John Morris and Jonathan Morris II were amazing I always wanted to see an adaptation of Stoker's novel with the Castlevania twist, but... with Konami as it is nowadays and Castlevania's head honcho Koji Igarashi gone... Nah, I'll stick to the novel proper.

[@Undeadharpie]

I'd love to see you tackle penny dreadful

[@DollOfTheDamned]

Kelly Barry That season 3 final though?...Ouch.

[@krashd]

In Jello.

[@Kralisedra]

I've always despised adaptations reducing Lucy to being "slutty". because Lucy in the book is a kind, pure person which makes her death all the more tragic and her lack of humanity as a vampire all the more disgusting. the boyfriend squad might be horrified by her sexuality, but most of the readers are horrified because she becomes sadistic, cruel, and vicious.

[@anastasiazhdanova1578]

They make her promiscuous in order to make Dracula killing her her own fault (kinda), so Dracula could remain a cool character in the eyes of audience, you know. If Lucy is banging guys in droves, heartless and slutty, she is no longer victim, someone we have sympathy for.

[@margaretschaufele6502]

The 1979 film, when Van Helsing grieves after staking his daughter, it always hits a pang in my heart.

[@DokkaChapman]

But Lucy, I'M BRITISH!

[@DimitrisGenn]

Dokka Chapman so are *these* !

[@mortchen5494]

that made me laugh

[@HeirofAzaran]

@@DimitrisGenn UH! UH-hu-huh!

[@merchantfan]

In the book, her progression seems very like the disease consumption/tuberculosis which pretty much any reader of the time was familiar with complete with appearing to look better right near the end. Considering that *25%* of deaths in the 1800s came from consumption (and it was also a "romantic disease" with many tragic beautiful female characters dying of it), perhaps the horror of Lucy's voluptuousness is not necessarily regular female sexuality, but necrophilia. Think about how many people had lovers and spouses die of that disease and them looking better in the end. The thought of it would be horrifying and yet tempting since it was the last time you'd ever be able to touch them. Maybe a new take on Lucy could follow the "horror of disease" aspect? Substitute a new common and scary disease that takes young people in their prime like cancer? This would obviously be a non-sexy Dracula bc a Dracula who makes you lose your hair and vomit (this is from the chemo, but could be part of it) is not going to be very popular with the ladies.

[@696190]

I read the interpretation of vampirism as a tuberculosis metaphor before, but never this well represented. Also, given not all cancers manifest similarly, it is that much harder to have it used as a common metaphor, at least not the same tuberculosis would have been in the 1890s

[@HeirofAzaran]

@@696190 I agree this is a great way of looking at it, and showing Dracula has more depth than interpretations typically give it.

[@LostStarzOfTheSky]

Lord does this post hit different now

[@NorthStar8211]

Lucy from the Coppola version is probably my favourite incarnation of the character. I liked the spoiled, upper class, naughty-minded but essentially innocent attitude of hers. It gives her some personality that distinguishes from Mina whereas in the book I felt they were too much alike except that Lucy is the more privileged one. While Mina is still my favourite of the two, I don’t think that Mina’s working class values and Protestant ethics did much more for her. She did get bitten after all and she almost fully turned into a vampire herself. She just got lucky because it happened to her after Lucy when the men had taken notes and guarded Mina better (and even so, she only got away with it because they managed to kill Dracula before she had fully transformed). Regarding the men’s repulsion at seeing Lucy as a vampire, I personally believe that it has less to do with her volumptuousness but probably more to do that with the fact that she has blood on her mouth, that she has been feeding on children and that she is an undead corpse that was not supposed to be walking among the living in the first place. Plus, the men were just using their brains here: it is pretty obvious that when an undead girl asks for hugs and kisses with blood dripping from her mouth, she is not actually interested in hugs and kisses and even the most easily tempted man should be able to tell that she is luring people to their doom. Might I add that the reason that Lucy is fully covered in the 1958 version is possibly because even as a vampire, she is still an innocent victim and her modesty should be protected in death by not having too much bare skin exposed. This is perhaps meant to contrast with the revealing attire of the cunning vampire bride. I would say that she should deserve the same treatment since she is technically a victim too but maybe she was not a very good person when she was alive so nobody should care about protecting her modesty. In the 1977 version, Lucy is not entirely forsaken by God. She is certainly possessed by Dracula but, as in the book, Van Helsing does say something about her taking the place among the angels and her soul being free when she is truly dead, which I suppose is what is meant to have happened based on her peaceful look after she has been staked. As Van Helsing observes, she is not “the devil’s undead but God’s true dead”. Speaking of that version, I just love the way that undead Lucy casually walks towards her lover until there is hardly any space between them and nobody tries to stop her or even step back. She is not even pale and does not even look like she recently died.

[@anastasiazhdanova1578]

NorthStar8211 Coppola’s Lucy despite all her privilege and flirting was still a very kind girl who cared about her loved ones, Mina for example. Even when she herself was sick and transforming into vampire she still cared for her friend and encouraged Mina to go abroad and marry Jonathan, even giving her own ring as a gift.

[@anastasiazhdanova1578]

As for Mina it was her brains and strong will that helped her survive. Not some “she was good girl” thing. She used the mind link against Dracula. She just turned out to be smarter and stronger than titular vampire. It was Stoker’s“New Woman” vs decaying aristocracy presentation. Mina was working woman, advanced in technology- she was the future, she survived. Lucy represented the departing past, she died.

[@museofthesea]

I would be super horrified and disturbed if a very innocent young woman I knew suddenly turned wanton. Like, what was done to you? What happened to you that effected this abrupt change? Especially if she lost the rest of her personality at the same time. And was dead. And killing children. Yeah, I think the guys in the book were right to be horrified.

[@Luanna801]

Fair point. It does arguably have implications that being "wanton" in general is bad, especially considering the very sexualized way *all* of the female vmampires are portrayed in contrast to the human heroines. But outside of that context, I'd absolutely be horrified by a friend's personality changing that much too, and I think you could definitely portray the real horror here as not being Lucy's sexuality, but that Lucy's real personality has been so completely killed. I think it could also help if you included another human heroine who was sexual and not in any way punished for it. (Stoker originally planned to have another main heroine named Kate Reed - maybe bring her back in and have her play that role? Since I don't like the idea of changing Mina's personality so completely to make her that character.)

[@sophiaako7663]

this happened to me, i'm nearly asexual yet for a year I slept with over 30 guys (some non-consensual) and had no sense of self because of extreme trauma and alcoholism. it truly was my soul leaving my body. i feel grateful to feel my soul slowly returning.

[@Shenny4everTBBT]

Btw, I love that you put “The Mist” from Dracula the Musical in the background of the video

[@whitelioness87]

Fantastic character breakdown, Maven! Been watching this video rather frequently on my downtime. Seeing your analysis of the 1977 BBC version compelled me to hunt it down on KZbin. Watched that one voraciously for a month until it got taken down, so I'll have to scrimp and save until I can cough up 100 bucks to buy the DVD. I love Frank Finlay's Van Helsing, and Louis Jourdan brings a quiet, calculating, demoniacal intelligence to the Count. Monstrous and dangerous, yet suave and philosophical! Keep doing what you do please and thank you!

[@johnnyb8825]

The 1977 BBC version is still on KZbin (albeit with Portuguese subtitles) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqLCdYVqiMyCbq8. I actually saw that version on TV in 1977 at the age of 11. I found it scary, especially Lucy! And yes, Dracula remained "rational" (and sometimes even cynical) despite being a vampire, whereas the other vampires in the story (Dracula's wives plus Lucy) seem over-dramatic and somewhat irrational, as if they don't quite know what they're doing. Maybe this was because Dracula was a more experienced vampire and because he had been "a soldier and cunning statesman" prior to becoming a vampire. He was also the "boss" of the other vampires in the story.

[@whitelioness87]

@@johnnyb8825 Ahh excellent! Appreciate you posting the link, sir!

[@johnnyb8825]

@@whitelioness87 You're welcome!

[@ingonyama70]

It's terrific that you're giving Lucy some attention. No one seems to care about her outside of being "the first dead girl". Honestly, me too. I've always adored Mina, and felt bad for Jonathan -- poor guy went through way too much hell. But Lucy? Never gave her a second thought. And that's a big problem. To sell Dracula as a figure of power, as a legitimate threat or a sexy bad boy, we have to care about the people he's killing in some fashion. I don't like the sound of that 2013 TV series, but I'll take Dracula developing a hate-on for Lucy because of perceived slights against Mina over the nothing we get for most of her appearances. It would be interesting to see a complete retelling where it's Holmwood who dies instead of Lucy, and she has to help her friends slay the man she loved before *he* can turn into a sexy predator monster. Then again I am a sucker for character growth, especially in female characters.

[@Canadamus_Prime]

I like the white dress Maven. Anyway, it's interesting to see how the interpretations of these characters differ depending on the period in which the material is presented.

[@gentlerat]

Given that your pal Lindsay Ellis has recently been positive about Mel Brooks movies, I’m wondering if the two of you could have a debate on “Dracula Dead and Loving It.” It’s not a format either of you tend to do much, but it could get interesting.

[@mikaylawilliams7213]

That hair, makeup, and outfit are terrific.

[@CTKaraokeQueen]

Ooh please please PLEASE do more of these character-based videos! This was such a fantastic video and I learned a lot 😄 Another smash success!!

[@tyrongkojy]

Coppola's film was more cannon and accurate than most everything we had gotten so far, especially in tone and feel. Plus it's awesome.

[@Tricksterbelle]

I... have that nighty in pink. Thanks so much for including the latter BBC miniseries. It's such a fascinating take on Lucy, as well as the juxtaposition of syphilis and vampirism.

[@thegayghost872]

This reminded me a lot of Lindsey's Loose Canon series. Maybe you two can do a crossover when she eventually covers Dracula!

[@DuelaDent52]

Ghostwriter She actually used to work closely with Lindsey Ellis back during the latter's time with Channel Awesome.

[@trifontrifonov4297]

You never mentioned it, so I will drop this reomendation here: The Dracula Tape - Fred Saberhager. It retells Dracula from the POV, well Dracula, while injecting some common sense in it, like the fact that Lucy dies mainly due to the blood transfusion and not so much due to Dracula's bite. The sequel is about Dracula meeting Sherlock Holmes. They are actually really good reads.

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

There's weirdly three books about Holmes meeting Dracula. I guess people really took to that mashup.

[@trifontrifonov4297]

This one had an interesting angle: SPOILERS!!!: The plot starts when a (maybe) criminal group kidnaps Dracula, because of his uncanny resemblance with Sherlock Holmes causes them to mistake him for the great detective. They basically look like twins, only twins separated by centuries....

[@DimitrisGenn]

Trifon Trifonov how does one manages to kidnap motherfucking dracula?

[@trifontrifonov4297]

Mainly bad luck. It a running gag in the book series that Dracula's unholy powers were grossly overexagurated by Van Helsing and his crew and that he is as prone to bad luck as everybody else. (He does have said unholy powers but they serve little purpose when you are blindsided by coinsidence and bad luck)

[@rjmayo]

There's a book I really liked when I read it called The Cure for Dreaming that isn't a Dracula adaptation, but the main character's favourite book is Dracula and as a result there's a brief conversation about Lucy and her love interest. Seeing this video mades me want to reread it with your points in mind.

[@taniaselfindulgart3847]

There's a rather awkward french musical (I enjoy it, but I understand it's bad) by Kamel Ouali, "Dracula, l'amour plus fort que la mort". There Lucy is punished for being slutty, very openly so, but she also remains one of the most interesting characters, and, most importantly, she gets to sing her last song while being banished to hell (on a side note, Van Helsing lies to the Scooby Gang implying they are saving her soul, but we see her go to hell instead of heaven). In this song she admits she's always known she is "an easy girl", 'bad daughter of a good family". But the music and the staging frame her death as absolutely tragic, and the punishment as too cruel. It tackles that she was never happy and understood perfectly well her life that seemed to be a paradise from the outside was a hell on earth where she was confined, and she pleads for her friends to love the mess that she was, and remember her as she was, even is the story punishes her for being herself. I find it interesting how this musical paints the punishment of slutty Lucy by numbers, but makes her one of the most compelling characters at the same time.

[@nininoona]

I'm so late to the party here (just found your channel) but I wanted to say that of all iterations of Dracula in cinema, Dracula 2000 was one of my favorites: Simply because of the explanation of Dracula's history/backstory (ie. Judas Iscariot), I thought that was an interesting twist. ^_^

[@sauronbagginsd8032]

Love how you’ve included the 1977 BBC Dracula! The best adaptation of the book IMO

[@EvilTurtleSlash]

The idea of Lucy still being around drinking kids reminds me about a thought I have after watching the Universal Dracula as we never see Dracula staked in the movie so I had a dark thought about Van Helsing actually being a servant of Dracula who lulls Harker and Mina into a false sense of security.

[@JustAPrayer]

This is my favorite video you’ve ever made. Lucy is such an under appreciated character. Granted I’ve yet to see any versions of Dracula that handle Mina right either.

[@dto1270]

In the 1922 German film, "Nosertu"(sp.) the vampire was not named Dracula... The vampire was known as "Count Olok"... The movie is now being revived and will premier in movie theaters Christmas 2024

[@PunkPansy-]

"You know what this scene needs? A NIPPLE!" - Francis Ford Coppola directing Bram Stoker's Dracula

[@leadingblind1629]

OMG you played The Mist in the background!!!! I LOVE YOU. But why didn't you discuss the musical?? I think Lucy was so true

[@MavenoftheEventide]

Honestly? Because I haven't seen it :( It came and went so fast on Broadway that I missed it. I haven't even been able to get ahold of the official soundtrack to listen to it, I only have the cheesy Demo/Concept version where Douglas Sills sings both Dracula and Seward. I used to listen to it on loop back in my Douglas Sills obsessed days. And The Mist is the best song! It's been stuck in my head all week, though, and my family is probably so sick of me singing it by now.

[@leadingblind1629]

Maven of the Eventide I came across a fan video to clips from the movie Dracula 2000... About 9 years ago. The music it was set to was Life After Life, which is Dracula and vampire Lucy's song. There are a lot of major issues with the Broadway story, but you can't find the soundtrack and the bootleg performance on KZbin. Personally, I would recommend you watch the English subtitled German spoken version of the show with Thomas Borchert... I hope I spelled that right LOL! I absolutely adore adore adore James Barbour as Dracula. Life After Life is probably my favorite song, Follow very closely by loving you keeps me alive. The big major issue with that show is the Dracula / Mina Romance for many obvious reasons but mostly because it isn't explained and it's fairly rushed. It probably wouldn't carry so much weight for me if it weren't for James Barber's performance on the soundtrack. But the reason I recommend the German version is it slightly awkward for me to watch a really badly made bootleg with very bad camera and microphone to a rather husky Dracula because it was in James's overweight days. And the often cut "invitation" ... when Lucy calls to Dracula... Well that's a song that if it were ever actually performed correctly, which I don't think it was in any rendition I've seen so far - then Lucy would really come across as almost schizophrenic. Or like her pure mind was fighting with what Dracula's powers for making her want

[@leadingblind1629]

Maven of the Eventide and I also want to point out that Lucy has a cute little song called how do you choose? She is rather wholesome and sweet and has all three of her boyfriends. Unfortunately they don't allow bright enough on her being the vampire Lucy, but it is a Broadway musical very strongly based off of the Francis Ford Coppola movie. If you want a major exciting treat - at least it is in my book Dash look up the Korean cast of Dracula for the seduction. There's a man named jinsu who has crazy bright Punk hair playing Dracula, he's a popstar there and he is rather amazing.

[@leadingblind1629]

Maven of the Eventide last reply I promise!!! But I take it back! The Takarazuka invitation is phenomenal! I liked ... Hope you like the link on Twitter I shared... Anyway... Ahem... In the Broadway show it seems Dracula uses Lucy to reach Mina. The show isn't explicit that I remember... but he might have seduced and changed Lucy in order to make Mina's choice easier? Cause her friend would already...yeah I'm stretching too fat...

[@JimCullen]

I absolutely love Wildhorn's Dracula! My highschool performed it and I was in the band. I actually think that may have been what first awakened my love of vampires. (After Darren Shan's books planted the seeds when I was much younger.) It's still one of my favourite adaptations of Stoker's novel, and one of my favourite pieces of vampire fiction there is. And surprisingly more faithful to the book than most of the films.

[@beckyginger3432]

This is really good it shows such understand of the characters! And such understanding of Lucy!

[@Avalanche616]

This was a super important video. thank you for making a truthful look at how juvenile our look at how vampires, sex, and the feminine ideal .

[@danahimrich4066]

Awesome video! I'm working on a novel where Vampire!Lucy is a major character, so I enjoyed seeing a run-down of what's come before.

[@hotterblood]

11:30 According to David Skal, this is further emphasized by the fact that Lucy is played by a famous “jazz baby.” The wild days of the 1920s are being symbolically killed off. I was disappointed to not see the one exception to the “Lucy as side victim” on this list. The Dracula adaptation done by Dan Curtis (he of Dark Shadows fame) starring Jack Palance had Lucy as the reincarnation of Dracula’s lost love, and he only goes after Mina to punish the men who staked her. (Also, I can’t prove it, but I think the reincarnation trope was invented by Dark Shadows with the introduction of Barnabas Collins - who, as you’ve pointed out in one of your other videos, was probably the first reluctant/sympathetic vampire.)

[@HalloweenMonarch]

I love this video! And I love that I could hear 'the mist' in the background! Subbed! 😊💀

[@Look_look_at_my_cats]

I just love that song that plays between each adaptation, I assume it's from one of them - that "Luuuuuuucyyyyyyy" gets me every time! Also, I love that dress/wrapper combo, the wrapper especially! So pretty!

[@GoingRampant]

A fascinating overview of the different portrayals. It provides an interesting perspective on changing gender roles over several decades. The strange mutation of a century-old woman who never develops past one point in her life is a bit like a vampire story itself. I believe the idea of Mina being a reincarnation of Dracula's long-dead wife originated in the Dan Curtis 1973 Dracula, which he brought over from Dark Shadows. (I'm pretty sure Lucy in the Dan Curtis version is no one really special, just a friend of Mina's, and the horror comes from Dracula preying on a woman who does nothing wrong, just happening to be a friend of the woman he fixates on.)

[@THEStephenBroady]

Loved this video, I can't wait to see one about Mina. Also, wouldn't it be interesting to see the story from entirely Lucy's viewpoint (maybe surviving, though not at the expense of Mina dying of course).

[@Kerwin-Kendell]

Maven, this was really interesting (read the novel a few times, watched most of the films you touched on). At first I thought this would be too... not-my-thing, but listened without prejudice. Love your outfit, looks, & manner darling. As a night-owl it would great meeting you....cheers!

[@viperdarkness7472]

You know after researching the meaning of Mina and Lucys names, being love and Light, i think the core message of Dracula is, that even when the Light dies Love will still make it trow. Or maybe I‘m reading to much in to it...

[@MavenoftheEventide]

You can never read too much into vampires! XD

[@viperdarkness7472]

Maven of the Eventide true I have been thinking and maybe that is the reason some films change the names around, changeling the meaning to: even if love dies light will still survive.... that of corse has to be Jugend on a case by case base... but i think that would be interesting

[@themysteriousplutonian7955]

I've also heard that their names are the way are because of a famous vampire scare case, Mercy Lena Brown, who was exhumed on suspicion on vampirism. After discovering her body fairly fresh, they burned her heart and liver and fed the ashes to her supposed victims. It didn't actually do anything because they were dying of tuberculosis, not vampirism. She had died of tuberculosis too. She just hadn't rotted because it was winter. Anyway, separating "Lena" into two names gives you "Lucy" and "Mina". www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-new-england-vampire-panic-36482878/

[@viperdarkness7472]

The Mysterious Plutonian wow, thanks.

[@TheNicolevertone]

I hate the trope of Dracula loving someone who looks like his long-lost love, though I admit that it makes for an excellent horror trope if handled effectively. The trouble is, I have only seen it thrown in as a "romantic" addition. I would loath being loved simply because I resemble someone else. It would mean my relationship is predicated on someone else's assumption that I am somehow like that unknown person. My own growth would be stunted because I'd never be free to be myself or explore who I am outside who I resemble. Throwing in reincarnation, people aren't static. We still change with our experiences, choices, and the things we learn. So, imagine still being an essentially new person in a relationship with someone who loves who you were and is always looking for that person, inevitably being disappointed in who you are by contrast. Throw in more supernatural elements, gaslighting, and manipulation, and you have a very creepy horror story.

[@Blue_Cas]

One thing I liked about the 92 film was when Mina calls Van Helsing a "murdering bastard" for killing Lucy. I was always drawn to the sympathetic side of the vampires and found it strange that I sided with Mina in that moment even though Lucy was eating children.

[@GraveyardShift-tl6ri]

"b-but lucy i'm... british!" "so are these~!" *flaunts breasts* WHAT THE FUCK IM FUCKING DYING WHATTTTTT

[@Catzbe]

I enjoyed this longer video. I know you can't do them all the time but when you do I'll watch it to the end. Love ya!

[@ladyredl3210]

27:11 wow what an interesting take, and I love the idea of a ballet too.

[@twimatt]

There was a Swedish opera of Dracula set up, and the actress playing Lucy was black. I've never seen a POC Lucy before and Sweden is very, very white so that's something? Swedish television broadcasted it from a culture program they have and I only saw the first act, which ended with Lucy getting bitten by Dracula. It's very bloody and very impressive. The only way to see the show seems to be travelling to Stockholm in 2019 when they'll set up it again, but there are some behind-the-scenes of the show on youtube, courtsey of Kungliga Operan (The Royal Opera)

[@kellycardinal9609]

I am dying to know what you think of Lucy's character in Netflix's Dracula!

[@emmacouperus]

This is such a good perspective! I read the novel recently, and I was really intrigued by Lucy, so much so that I decided to play her in my D&D-group's Curse of Strahd campaign (my lovely DM actually let me!). I didn't even know about the way she had been interpreted in later adaptations and was quite surprised, since I saw her exactly like how you described book!Lucy in the video. Of course in Curse of Strahd the transportation from her normal world to this magic-filled plane makes her a bit less vivacious in the beginning, but I'll get there ;)

[@davidkempf1271]

Nice job! You knocked it out of the park again. When I was in college I won an award for my paper on Dracula. I think I will go dust it off and take another look now.

[@Vohaul86]

Lucy kinda reminds me of Gwen Stacy: a character to get killed off no matter if the story has been changed from the original.

[@voltairinekropotkin5581]

Spectacular Spider-Man was an exception to that rule. In that version (arguably the best adaptation), Gwen Stacy was upgraded to primary love interest - instead of girl to be fridged before Peter gets together with MJ - and the writers were planning on having her survive the iconic brush with the Green Goblin. Sadly, it was cancelled after they were only 40% done with the planned storyline.

[@Vohaul86]

Well, I don't know about the exception, as she got killed off in the second movie planned otherwise or not. And her surviving the first movie doesn't say much as she also survived many issues in the comics. It's her ultimate fate - her "final destination" - that counts.

[@voltairinekropotkin5581]

That's _Amazing_ Spider-Man (the second series of live-action movies). I said _Spectacular_ Spider-Man (the late 2000s animated series).

[@danielmazin6153]

This premise makes the current off shoot series "Spider-Gwen" all the more interesting. It is one of my favorite comic series today, and I don't think it's a coincidence that that premise of "Spider-gwen" is essentially a "what if?" story where the 'what if' is the reversal of roles of Peter and Gwen, even to the point of [FYI, Spoiler] in the character-dies-to-farther-the-protagonist's-development paradigm.

[@Vohaul86]

+Eoin O'Connor My bad, you're absolutely correct.

[@Dimensioneer88]

I got to play Arthur in the musical and I noticed how "not so innocent" she is. If you've seen the show, you'll know what I mean but basically I called her the original Bella.

[@sarahlilly2412]

imdb88 wait .... there's a musical??

[@MavenoftheEventide]

There are several musicals! And ballets! But imdb88's probably referring to the Frank Wildhorn musical which sadly flopped super hard on Broadway and I never got the chance to see it.

[@Dimensioneer88]

Maven of the Eventide You would be correct, my Maven. That musical version has some kickass songs BTW. My favorites are Life After Life (Drac's villain song), The Mist (Lucy's seduction song), and Deep in the Darkest Night (the "let's kick some ass" song).

[@owmyboring3408]

I never really thought about the lucy character that much, this was a really cool video!

[@lcma9740]

One thing I'm sure of, vampires dress well.

[@ImpudentInfidel]

I'm kind of surprised you skipped the Saberhagen "Dracula Tape" version. In that one it's not Dracula that kills Lucy (he does feed off her but it's a consensual casual fling that they had ended by then), it's van Helsing giving her transfusions from multiple people with no regard to blood type. Dracula only ends up turning her because she asks him to, and then they have nothing more to do with each other before she's killed.

[@crakatoot5480]

Lucy was pure and innconet. That’s why the guys all went so crazy about what happened to her. It’s not talked about much, but Arthur and Quincey spent a fortune going after Dracula. They would not have done that for just anyone.

[@navsikand]

Excellent video, Lucy was always my favourite character and it it's me she's never been properly written as a character in a film. Sophia Myles is probably my favourite screen Lucy.I'm shocked that Dan Curtis version with jack Palance was excluded. This was the first version to present Dracula as a tragic romantic character and Lucy as his dead reincarnated wife. There's also a good prolonged depiction of the fight to save Lucy.

[@jaymz010]

People, seek out the scene in the BBC Dracula when Dracula climbs down the castle wall. It’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in my life.

[@DuelaDent52]

jason newstead Which one? The 1970s version or the 1990s version?

[@jaymz010]

tom fegan 70s version 👍🏽

[@jackfruth3738]

Probably my fav review of yours! Love the ‘loose canon’ style, especially since lindsay isnt doing those anymore.

[@tyrant-den884]

and Francis Ford Copala said: I am going to make a completely cannon Dracula, by ripping of a D&D module. Mina being a reincarnation is from Ravenloft.

[@mundty3264]

Mina or Lucy being reincarnated loves of Dracula predates Ravenloft, being a plot point that appears in both Dan Curtis's 1973 Dracula and 1979's Love at First Bite, with the former probably being the first to include it that I'm aware of. Dan Curtis in interviews was pretty open in stating that he took it from his own show, Dark Shadows.

[@ah-nononoo]

I do hope you plan to watch and discuss the Netflix series!

[@becauseimafan]

23:08 OMG Yes!! *Dracula Dead and Loving It!!!* We freaking _loved_ this growing up, it's so hilarious!! The number of times we'd quote it was ridiculous 😂 This and *Robin Hood Men In Tights* are so beloved from my childhood ❤️😂 one of our favourite quotes to say was: [in a high pitched voice] "Renfield you asshole!" 😂😂 This brought back so many memories... When I was older I finally looked up the movies, found Mel Brooks' filmography and _devoured_ anything I could get my hands on 😁 But this was the last movie he made! I don't know why, he's still around (thank God!), and I was surprised to learn this movie didn't do well 🤷‍♂️ But no idea why he didn't make more.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

I agree. Dracula: Dead and Loving It is underrated and I will die on that hill.

[@WeTravelOnlyByNightAsItsSoHot]

Frank Langella's Dracula is the Most Gothic of all of Dracula's films. It shows all the grief and helplessness of the people involved in the circumstances. The Vampire reflection in the water is one of the most frightening transformations with her skin peeling away.

[@tonywhite2654]

Maven your humor is off the charts funny .Quite refreshing .Oh and btw you're supremely exquisite looking as well .Beautiful AND funny are very hot qualities i love .

[@jordang7479]

For a second I was like "wow two vampire reviews in one week!" Then I remembered I've been binge watching your channel and this is right on schedule. 😊

[@jordang7479]

Dracula dead and loving it is the only Dracula film I've seen all the way through

[@grogery1570]

Watching this I get the feeling that the real "Dracula" trope is 3 gay men delight in the company of a prepubescent girl and one of them marries her to hide their gayness. This works fine until the girl starts becoming sexually curious, her sex ed coming at the hands of a horny masculine visitor. After this encounter she desperately seeks satisfaction from her husband. he is saved from this fate by his gay friends who assist him killing her after which they think she is the innocent girl they all loved, that is weren't threatened by. This explains why I was always cheering for Draculas brides, what straight man doesn't have a thing for a horny woman?

[@SirLaguna]

I love this character retrospectives. I hope you make more in the future.

[@mariomurillo7586]

Loved watching your review with Mahler on the backround.

[@MidnightIsolde]

Personally I really think that the BBC Louis Jourdan version of Lucy - and the production as a whole (Frank Finlay is wonderful as van Helsing, as is Judi Bowker as Mina) - is the closest to the novel in plot, character and authorial intention. Lucy is a bit of a flirt and ditzy, but not OTT as with Sadie Frost. Her experience with Dracula is portrayed as a sexual awakening, but a corrupting one. I'd say that the BBC version retains that element given that it portrays Dracula as a Satanic anti-Christ figure. The demonic possession is carried through with the loss of Lucy's personality - as you say she is blank; like a rape victim - and the possession of her corpse by the vampiric entity.

[@EthalaRide]

in the 2013 show, I think they were setting up Lucy as the main antagonist for season 2. Another strong vampire who wanted Mina's affection, had a history with her, and knew how to play people enough for status and influence. It contrasts Dracula who now had Mina but no longer had his home, his servant, his financial empire to protect themselves. In the show, it was shown as a mistake for Dracula to turn Lucy. He was still a jealous monster who needed to be redeemed and saved/tamed by the gentle and confident Mina. Season 2 would have been very interesting for her character, like Maven said about the one verson that appears to have just lived beyond Dracula's slaying. She would have returned for a plot of revenge on Dracula through Mina, and they probably would have blended her charcter with Carmilla too.

[@spiderlime]

has anyone ever wondered why would dracula, the ruler of a country. a military leader in his day, and master of occult knowledge, be tempted by the wife of a minor aristocrat and wife of a junior lawyer? it seems to me that dracula is motivated by lust for power, the women in the story are the punishment for this lust, including the three vampire brides in his castle. he not only wanted to take over the british empire, but also to escape his "prison". yet, once in england, dracula again compulsively creates his own demise...

[@brennabrodbeck5183]

I just realized that you used 'The Mist' from Frank Wildhorn's version of Dracula. I approve, greatly , as a theatre nerd.

[@CyberSpider35]

I really wish to see more videos like this - videos about characters in different versions of some stories.

[@KSapphire8989]

It would be interest if she did an analysis based on the vampires and Dracula from the Penny Dreadful series. How the theme of Lucy was switched in the series.

[@alainaapple8228]

Wonderful as always, you went into such astute depth and detail and it is much appreciated, thank you! Also, please don't ever stop saying "so sssexay" like that, it kills me every time!!

[@alainaapple8228]

Also, I love the white outfit. Oh heck, I love /all/ of your outfits!!

[@noelrose7419]

Oh cool! I love the idea of focusing on one character in all her iterations!

[@EdenSinger]

This was awesome! I loved Lucy from the latest Dracula (TV show) so much, this was a really interesting watch. Thank you!

[@Redem10]

I like the bit in Dracula dead and loving it were Lucy get stakes and a geiser of blood gushes out

[@KnightoftheDark123]

Were you playing bits of a "the Mist" from the musical version of Dracula!? So happy you added it to the music you play in the backround :D

[@kathrynblakeley9823]

Yes, yes Maven played "the Mist" from the Wildhorn version of Dracula and I right there with you on it. :D

[@glitched-eyes7378]

I love her outfits. She looks awesome every video.

[@lawrenceburgess5027]

One of my favorite videos. Very insightful. Dan Curtis' Dracula was the first to introduce Dracula as sympathetic. So, perchance, that is the one to blame for John Badham's?

[@lordtrigon1733]

I love this entry, it would be so awesome if you did commentaries on some other Dracula characters too.

[@timeslush]

Another great video! These are so in depth and thought-provoking. Thank you for making them! I love this series!