The Vampire Diaries collides with Game of Thrones’ political drama, in Sky’s fantasy offering Vampire Academy.
Based on the book series of the same name by Richelle Mead, in a world where vampire royalty ‘Moroi’ are guarded by half human ‘Dhampir’, they navigate changing political forces and the threat of their evil counterparts ‘Strigoi’. Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre – who worked together on The Vampire Diaries with Plec as showrunner and MacIntyre as the memorable Sheriff Forbes – adapt the series. Their experience with supernatural dramas produced the ideal team to bring something new to the table.
The mythology of the series stands out as it incorporates elemental powers into its magic system. That’s a key plot point at the start as Lissa Dragomir (Daniela Nieves) discovers the extent of her power alongside forging alliances. Rose Hathaway (Sisi Stringer), her best friend and protector is in a similar predicament but as a Dhampir, she’s training to be a guardian.
Creators are evidently braver at diverting from the source material for book adaptations. While that doesn’t always land with readers, if done well, it can expand the original story. Vampire Academy is a great example as instead of discarding the books completely, it gives fans additional insight into the world of St. Vladimir’s Academy and fills out a lot of the backstories that didn’t make it into the first book. Familiar storylines are then weaved in amongst all that. They manifest in recognisable ways but offer an element of surprise.
Despite a few of the magical moments not landing on the CGI front, the production of the series is effective. The costumes and set design make particular statements as they set the tone, mixing the old with the new. Ornate medieval buildings contrast the modern attire; imagine Gossip Girl meets A Discovery of Witches’ Elizabethan England.
The volume of simultaneous plotlines is, however, overwhelming. Even though the mythology is quite toned down, the script leans too much on all the six books in Mead’s series. Just when we start discovering Lissa’s role within the Dragomir dynasty, several other plot points are presented, filling the season with information as opposed to creating tension. This is particularly true for Tatiana (Anita-Joy Uwajeh), whose introduction as a political rival appears random.
Vampire Academy finds its stride in the latter episodes, where the cast develop an endearing camaraderie. Rose and Lissa’s friendship faces challenges and the romantic stories gather momentum, producing gut-wrenching scenes that are synonymous with Plec’s previous projects.
Dimitri (Kieran Moore) also attracts attention as a character. His tense backstory as a Dhampir guardian holds intrigue as Moore brings what can only be described as measured aloofness to the role. He hovers over the ‘bad boy’ stereotype but never seems to stay there for long. Moore and Stringer go through the wringer throughout the season and their natural chemistry means that even when they’re at odds, you’re left fixating on every minute interaction.
Each character garners enough attention in the finale to tie off loose ends as we learn more about their motives, with memorable scenes featuring Moroi outcast Christian Ozera (André Dae Kim) and Lissa. Lord Dashkov (J. August Richards), is likewise a scene stealer and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
Episode 8 hosts unforgettable moments that pertain to the vampire society’s future but also to key characters facing hard truths. Since the series becomes darker as the episodes progress, the send-off to the season feels chilling and Vampire Academy clearly holds more unexpected twists for possible future seasons.
All episodes of Vampire Academy are available now on Sky and NOW TV. Read more TV reviews at SciFiNow here.
