History WMG / Dracula

He targets a woman in England who has 3 suitors willing to die for her, and when that doesn't work, he targets a woman who has 5 men willing to die for her. He was DangerouslyGenreSavvy enough for an EvilPlan that hinged on ThePowerOfLove. Unfortunately, it backfired because he underestimated Van Helsing and Mina; Van Helsing prevented Arthur from joining Lucy, and Mina resisted going full vamp and giving her husband or friends such an opportunity.

*** That's how it is in jolly old Uberwald (also American Vampire): different regions produce different strains. If it's good enough for TerryPratchett (r.i.p.) & Scott Snider (not r.i.p.), it should be good enough for you.

AB+ is known as the "Universal Receiver", thus explaining how she could get transfusions from a bunch of different people with no ill effects. Amusingly (or disturbingly, if you're aware of the UnfortunateImplications of the trope's origins), this fits nicely with [[PersonalityBloodTypes her temperament]], especially as depicted in ''LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''.

** Fred Saberhagen's ''Dracula Tape'' runs along a similar idea. He turned her in order to save her, though he wasn't originally planning to. Van Helsing's continued transfusions made turning her necessary. he also refused to do so without her consent.

* And if you want to be very technical, we have no idea HOW they are related to Dracula or if they are related at all. I saw something that suggested that they may have been his daughters. but still speculation. in the novel the weren't referred to as "brides" just as "those three women" and things along those lines. The whole "Brides of Dracula" title came I believe from the Hammer Horror film of the same name of course the idea that they were his wives dates back to either the 1931 film or the Hamilton Dean stage production it was based on
* I seem to recall Van Helsing referring to them as his "brides", but it was pretty obvious he meant more like "concubines". I do like the idea of them as his daughters though, very much-- doesn't that make him something of an OverprotectiveDad with wanting them to get away from Harker, or the four of them more like a quasi-incestuous cannibal clan?
* From the context Van Helsing's narration gave while watching them die, it's more likely that they were just random romanian peasant girls that Dracula picked up in a fit of loneliness... and just like their master, they couldn't let go of the evilness until someone killed them (the "look of peace" is also mentioned in this bit).

** Another theory is that the woman are in fact his real wife and daughters. With the the blonde being the obviously "wife" since the other two woman let her go first to feed on Harker. Likewise considering that the other two are described as having Dracula's noses. It's a good possibility they're the daughters

His stylists. How else do you think he maintained that mustache? and general appearance later when Dracula moves to England Renfield takes the role. Dracula realizing he's incompetent recruits Lucy for the job. after Lucy's death he returns to Renfield briefly before he considers hiring Mina.

[[WMG: Lucy died from the transfusions (or would have, had she not been turned), she would have been perfectly fine (if extremely anemic) otherwise.]]

Ok ok i know what you're all thinking "Not another Time Lord theory" but I have backup here. First lets look at Dracula, TARDIS? either his castle or boxes of earth, it could also be speculated that they are all the same TARDIS and the cloaking unit isn't broken . Companions? the three women in his Castle. later Renfeild Lucy and Mina almost. Dr. Seward also has potential for this his TARDIS is either his medical bag or his asylum and companions either Renfeild Van Helsing or oneo f theother inmates. ofcorse the opposit could be true and Seward is the companion to Van Helsing etc etc. now for Regenerations this si where my alternative theory com es form the reason that each depiction of Dracula is so radicly different from the last and certainly from the original is that they are all A. Regenerations of said Time Lords or B. Legacy Characters and thus not the same people at all. please consider keeping this up or at the very least putting it into the Time Lord article instead of outright removal.

Dracula hired Harker's firm to arrange the purchase of a bunch of homes in London. He then keeps Harker imprisoned, confiscating his letters but letting him keep his diary. The diary chronicles everything that Harker learned from his first-hand experience with a powerful vampire. Once Harker learns everything that he can, Dracula lets him escape back to England so he can tell people about his awful experiences. Meanwhile, the Count deliberately infects and kills a very prominent socialite who is being courted by three people who just ''happen'' to have the resources that can destroy him. One of whom was the student of Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, the world's foremost expert on vampires. Dracula himself hand-picked Quincy Morris, Dr. Seward and Lord Holmwood and gave them a motivation to hunt him down and kill him. With their direct experience in vampire hunting, they use their knowledge to hunt down and destroy every other vampire they can find. Dracula wanted to kill not only himself, but to destroy every other accursed vampire in the world.

* He also forgets to lock Jonathan in his room in the castle, allowing Jonathan to climb down the wall into the Counts vault while he is sleeping - Then does the same thing AGAIN ( at which point Jonathan tries to kill the Count with a shovel).
He forbids his brides from feeding on Jonathan until after he has left the castle, despite Jonathan no longer being of any use - then leaves him in alone in the day, despite knowing Jonathan can climb down the walls.

He reveals himself on the Demeter, risking scared sailors potentially chucking him over board or discovering him.
He feeds on Mina, and has her drink his blood, allowing the hunters to use her to track him and his treatment of Renfield causes the madman to betray the count.

AB+ is known as the "Universal Receiver", thus explaining how she could get transfusions from a bunch of different people with no ill effects. Amusingly (or disturbingly, if you're aware of the UnfortunateImplications of the trope's origins), this fits nicely with [[PersonalityBloodTypes her temperment]], especially as depicted in ''LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen''.

Quincy drives a knife, not a wooden stake, through Dracula's heart. As he does so, the Count smiles. This could be interpreted as joy at being freed from the curse of vampirism... or glee as he turns to mist and escapes.

* Seeing as how a member of Bram Stoker's family is releasing a sequel to Dracula set in the same continuity i'm guessing your right.

** P.N Elrod's ''Quincey Morris, Vampire'' uses this premise as well - unfortunately, [[HoYay Arthur]] was a little too obsessed with finding Quincey's "Corpse" for it to work out.

And just as his oh-so-[[EvilIsSexy corrupting manly wiles]] took in Lucy- he didn't exactly bother with the wiles with Mina- he's got a bit of a man-crush on Jonathan. Let's see- Very intent on keeping Harker in control. Even if it's for the sake of his delicious, delicious blood, keep in mind how modern interpretations of him feeding tend to go. Either [[KissOfTheVampire overtly pleasurable and carnal]] or invasive and [[MindRape mind-rapey.]] (And if we're assuming the Englishman in ''Dracula's Guest'' is Harker too, or simply one of his predecessors, he's concerned enough personally to want to keep him safe, rather than simply sending away for another solicitor. And he does so by sending one of his big ol' wolves to keep him warm.) Declares Jonathan his and his alone when casting away the three Vampire Brides, and gets defensive when one of them knowingly taunts that he himself has never known love. Is incredibly irritated when Jonathan gets away, and takes it out on his virginal loved ones. And in the aftermath of his captivity, redolent with creepy themes of Stockholm syndrome and the Count's desire to be constantly in lordly control, apparently Jonathan's horror regarding what has transpired is enough to [[MindRape cause a nervous breakdown.]] How romantic. Sick and twisted, but romantic. More likely than him harboring a secret flame for Mina, anyway...

[[WMG: The whole novel is just Renfeild's psychotic delusion.]]

* From the context Van Helsing's narration gave while watching them die, it's more likely that they were just random romanian peasant girl that Dracula picked up in a fit of loneliness... and just like their master, they couldn't let go of the evilness until someone killed them (the "look of peace" is also mentioned in this bit).

** In ''{{Nosferatu}}'' and its remake the Count actually tries to lick Harker's finger, freaking him out to no end. The novel's Dracula is a bit more restrained.

* Parts of this novel are canon with the ''{{Castlevania}}'' series, in which this would be Dracula's penultimate "Normal" resurrection.

* Fortunately, [[CastlevaniaBloodlines his son John]] will try to fini* gets whipped*

* Stoker apparently did change the ending slightly to make it more ambiguous. (in one draft, ''his castle collapsed'' as he died. Yes, ''{{Castlevania}}'' has precedent!)

He is the product of {{Unbuilt Trope}}s. Regardless of what other vampire lore goes by, Stoker's vampires are destroyed by: cutting off their head, and removing the heart. We know this works because we see it work on Lucy. We know that whatever Jonathan and Quincey do to Dracula at the end works because he dissolves into dust ''and'' because [[NoOntologicalInertia Mina is no longer an Un-Dead in progress]]. All this proves is that stakes are not necessary for destroying the heart (knives work just as well). It all depends on the situation; using a hammer and stake was Van Helsing's method of choice for an immobile vampire lying in a coffin with no way of fighting back, but he arms the team with knives and guns for destroying Dracula probably in the heat of battle. (Van Helsing has clearly read his ''[[TheZombieSurvivalGuide Zombie Survival Guide]]''... actually, he probably wrote it.)

* [[FridgeBrilliance For the exact same reason]] [[NoOntalogicalInertia Mina is no longer a prospective vampire.]]

[[WMG: Gabriel VanHelsing is Professor Abraham VanHelsing's "dead" son.]]
In the book "Dracula," Abraham VanHelsing is an old professor who knows a bit about slaying monsters. He mentions that he once had a son who died, and doesn't go into much detail. In the movie "VanHelsing" we meet Gabriel VanHelsing, a professional monster slayer who looks about a generation younger than the professor, and who has amnesia. As for which one of the two actually killed Dracula, there's already debate as to wheather or not Abraham's gang succeeded in staking the Count at the end of the book. The Count may have returned, and Abe's son had to go finish the job.

[[WMG: Vampires are a type of [[HarryPotter wizard]] and stay immortal by making [[SoulJar Horcruxes]].]]

* Fortunately, [[{{Castlevania}} his son John]] will try to fini* gets whipped*
* The novel Dracula, possessing as he does a large moustache, will [[ManosTheHandsOfFate move to America and adopt the pseudonym "The Master".]]

He targets a woman in England who has 3 suitors willing to die for her, and when that doesn't work, he targets a woman who has 5 men willing to die for her. So he was DangerouslyGenreSavvy enough to plan a XanatosGambit that hinged on ThePowerOfLove. Unfortunately, it backfired because he underestimated Van Helsing and Mina; Van Helsing prevented Arthur from joining Lucy, and Mina resisted going full vamp and giving her husband or friends such an opportunity.

** P.N Elrod's ''Quincey Morris, Vampire'' ({{Better than it sounds}}) uses this premise as well - unfortunately, [[HoYay Arthur]] was a little too obsessed with finding Quincey's "Corpse" for it to work out.