Television series
The Reluctant Vampire
A warmhearted BBC comedy about Val, a vampire who discovers he's actually alive—and must hide this impossible secret while torn between his family's bloodthirsty traditions and genuine connection with the humans he's meant to hunt. Funny, strange, and surprisingly touching; a gentle supernatural sitcom that plays its absurdity straight.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy gentle, character-led comedy where a mild-mannered outsider slowly learns to be human, and where the bite-sized six episodes feel like a cosy village ghost story rather than a blood-soaked horror.
Skip it if you want sharp, fast-moving jokes or a genuinely frightening vampire tale, since this one leans on warmth and awkward family dynamics, and its laughs arrive quietly rather than in bursts.
What it asks of you: Half an hour per episode across six episodes, with an easygoing, unhurried rhythm, so it rewards patience with small gags and fond character moments more than plot momentum.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
What We Do in the Shadows2014
A mockumentary about vampire flatmates struggling with modern life and each other. Hilarious, inventive, and genuinely affectionate about its ridiculous characters. You'll recognise the DNA immediately.
But Deadpan mockumentary style isn't for everyone, and some of the humour lands on shock value rather than warmth. It's also a film, not a series, so different pacing.
Ghosts2019
BBC supernatural comedy about a couple inheriting a haunted house full of weird, bickering ghosts. Each ghost is a fully realised character, and the show finds genuine emotion beneath the comedy. Warm without being sentimental.
But Relies heavily on British sitcom conventions that can feel dated. Some episodes are stronger than others, and the early seasons take time to find their rhythm.
Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire2022
AMC's lush, darkly comic adaptation explores what it means to be vampire and human in ways both tragic and funny. Features complex family dynamics and a protagonist caught between two worlds, just like Val.
But Far more serious in tone, with genuine darkness and adult themes. The visual style is gothic and operatic rather than cosy-English. Demands more emotional weight than a light comedy.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Reluctant Vampire
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Owl House2020
Same architecture as Val's story: a character discovering they don't belong where they're born, learning to value the 'wrong' people, caught between duty and authenticity. Both are about becoming human—literally or morally—while staying yourself.
An animated series about a human girl stuck in a demon dimension, learning magic and slowly building a found family. Funny, visually gorgeous, and genuinely moving. A show that grows darker and more sincere as it goes, while staying grounded in character.
But Animated, so some dismiss it as 'for kids,' though it's absolutely not. Disney interfered with the final season, cutting it short. Some find the mythology overstuffed.
More like this (8)
Schitt's Creek2015
A family comedy about people learning to connect with each other and a community they initially despised. Sweet without being sappy, funny without cruelty. The character growth is real and quietly moving.
But Takes a full season to warm up, and the early episodes can feel thin. If you want a laugh track or obvious jokes, this whispers rather than shouts.
The Good Place2016
Philosophical comedy about figuring out who you are and what it means to be good. Val's identity crisis would fit right in here—witty, kind, and surprisingly clever about exploring what makes us human.
But Gets increasingly complex and abstract as it goes on. Later seasons prioritise ideas over laughs, which some find clever and others find exhausting.
Our Flag Means Death2022
A pirate comedy about misfits finding belonging and love. Tender-hearted, beautifully acted, and genuinely funny. The tone—playful but sincere—feels like spiritual kin to what Reluctant Vampire is doing.
But Cancelled after two seasons on a cliffhanger, which stings. Some find the whimsy cloying rather than charming. Tone shifts more than some viewers want.
Dead Ringers2023
Dark comedy-drama about twin gynaecologists unravelling. Darkly funny, visually inventive, and deeply character-driven. Shows how you can blend genuine pathos with sharp humour in unexpected ways.
But Much darker and more adult than Reluctant Vampire. Some find it bleak rather than funny. Short-lived (two seasons), so commitment feels risky.
Russian Doll2019
A woman stuck in a time loop learns what it means to connect with others. Blends comedy, sci-fi, and real emotional stakes. Season one especially finds magic in the intersection of funny and profound.
But Second season is divisive and tonally different. The drinking and self-destruction in early episodes puts some viewers off. Existential, not cosy.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency2016
Wildly inventive comedy about a chaotic detective and his reluctant partner. Maximalist, weird, funny, and surprisingly warm. Never takes itself seriously, but cares deeply about its characters.
But Cancelled after two seasons. The maximalist approach means some episodes are incomprehensible. Not for viewers who want a clear plot or straightforward narrative.
Carrion2020
Both Val and the protagonists are people learning how to connect with others despite being fundamentally at odds with the world they inherit. Both find belonging through quiet understanding rather than grand gestures.
A French-Belgian film about two socially awkward misfits who bond over shared strangeness and alienation. Deadpan, tender, visually drab, genuinely touching. Not a word is wasted. You forget you're watching subtitles.
But Bleak and slow. Very little happens. The colour palette is deliberately ugly. If you need narrative momentum or emotional catharsis, this will frustrate you.
Undone2019
Val discovering he's alive mirrors the protagonist discovering she has powers that isolate her from the normal world. Both grapple with being fundamentally different while loving people who can't fully understand that difference.
Rotoscope-animated series about a woman discovering she can manipulate time after a car accident, investigating a mystery while her family falls apart. Visually hypnotic, funny, weird, deeply human. A genuine original.
But Only one full season exists. The animation style is beautiful but disorienting for some viewers. The show doesn't resolve neatly, and the central mystery is less important than the character journey.
People
Cast
Production
- Shane AllenExecutive Producer
- Alison MarlowProducer