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Love Can Be So Cruel. Review: Dracula – “Goblin Merchant Men”

Season 1, Episode 3

Air Date: Friday, November 8, 2013, 10/9c on NBC.

Rating: ★★★★★

 

 

“…and Harker, never presume to defend me to anyone.” — Renfield

 

“Goblin Merchant Men” isn’t for the faint of heart. There are several bloody scenes thrown into this dire but intriguing episode that reveals much, yet doesn’t quite answer any questions. Dracula continues to blaze a trail, distinguishing itself from other remakes of this classic villain, if you will. I love the way the writers are showcasing the immortal blood drinker as more than just a bad guy—he’s a victim as well.

Becoming Immortal

The lovely blossoming tree does little to distract from the brutality of the opening sequences where we find Vlad Tepes, also known today as Grayson/Dracula (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), being beaten near to death by the Order of the Dragon. As Vlad lies bleeding to death on the cold, hard ground, he reaches out to a vision of his wife Ilona (Jessica De Gouw), which no one else can see. It’s a beautifully tragic moment. The Order of the Dragon has done nothing but invigorate a sleeping beast when they pour that dark foul liquid down Vlad’s throat. Vengeance can be sweet.

Love – Splendid and Cruel

The resounding theme in “Goblin Merchant Men” is love. Whether it is unrequited, unknown, or torn asunder, love always makes a compelling motive for all manner of deeds – both good and bad. Take our beguiling Lucy Westenra (Katie McGrath). She’s being the dutiful friend by taking poor heartbroken Mina (Jessica De Gouw) out on the town to make her forget about “that twit,” Jonathan Harker (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). But Lucy is not without her own agenda for whisking Mina away at all hours of the night. I am quite taken aback at this revelation as I hadn’t expected Lucy to have affections toward Mina in such a way. Cheers to the writers for throwing in a twist. McGrath is elegance with a dagger’s edge as she uses her close friendship with Mina to get closer, but I don’t think Mina will return the adoration in kind. She is still pining for Harker, who will be advised to reconcile with Mina by his employer, Mr. Grayson.

A New Angle

Lady Jayne Wetherby (Victoria Smurfit) seeks out a new drug to help her seers find the vampire she seeks. She surreptitiously asks Mina’s father, Dr. Murray (Anthony Calf), to aid in her acquisition of some powerful medication to help a close friend. I’m biased in that I’m enamored with Grayson/Dracula so Lady Jayne deploying such devious tactics annoys me. I will say Smurfit does an impeccable job of portraying Lady Jayne. I understand her reasoning for wanting to rid London of its “vermin” but she’s prejudiced, plain and simple. Yes, vampires have killed many but it’s not their fault for what they are. I digress. I do like her cunning and wit. She’s got a sharp mind, as well as her tongue…something Grayson seems to enjoy. But he’s on to her.

Grayson: “I was thinking about Lady Jayne Wetherby and her decidedly…unwholesome avocation.”

Renfield (Nonso Anozie): “Really? Which one, sir?”

Grayson: “Her vampire hunting, of course. It stretches credulity to think she’s unaffiliated with The Order.”

Meyers has an unmistakable swagger when he walks. Even as he strolls to his dungeons, he’s a commanding presence—with or without a shirt. But what I’m curious about is why he’s keeping a prisoner—a creature of his own kind—locked up? What use is she? Perhaps she is the guinea pig for the experiments Abraham Van Helsing (Thomas Kretschmann) is working on for him. “Kill me,” the creature begs. It doesn’t escape my eyes to see a tear-stained Grayson crawl back into bed with Lady Jayne. Whatever he is, he’s not without compassion.

As an aside, I have to say I love Renfield. He has to be one of my favorite characters, next to Grayson. Anozie holds his own and gives a powerful performance without raising his voice. What he says to Harker after a business meeting made me want to tuck tail and leave. I’m sure Harker will think twice before he speaks.

Revenge

Van Helsing is employed by Mina’s father to help with Lady Jayne’s plight but we know Van Helsing cannot let the seers find his ally. The somber conversation Van Helsing has with the two seers gives us a glimpse into the tremendous pain of losing his family. He wants revenge so badly, he’s willing to side with his own nemesis, a vampire, to exact his vengeance. Kretschmann is absolutely amazing. His subtlety when delivering his lines adds an air of mystery but also menace, at times. I find it difficult not to hone in on the screen when he speaks. I must also add, when Grayson locks eyes with the seers one final time, it is hypnotic, erotic, and terrifying all at once. Again, Meyers’ acting is nothing short of brilliant.

On a different note, the despair Lord Davenport (Robert Bathurst) feels is quelled only when he learns in a very egregious manner how Grayson blackmailed his son Daniel (Lewis Rainer) and Lord Laurent (Anthony Howell). Lord Davenport’s grief gives way to revenge. But he has no idea who he’s dealing with.

Overall

“Goblin Merchant Men” is fascinating and very alluring. I’m anxious to find out how things play out with Van Helsing’s experiments. Have you noticed how well Van Helsing is aging? And how do you think Lady Jayne will react when she discovers she’s been sleeping with the enemy all along?

 

Tune in to Dracula, Fridays at 10/9c on NBC.

For more on the show, go to http://www.nbc.com/dracula/.

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Photos © 2013 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.