"Dracula" NBC Episode 5 "The Devil's Waltz" review

5 great things about Episode 5:

• Van Helsing's glorious steam punk laboratory with wondrous glass ceiling, walls of dials and levers, pipes, pumps and bubbling vessels. "I don't have the equipment!" he complains. Huh? It's the size of a few cricket pitches.
• "Downton Abbey" meets the Spanish Inquisition with a demented nanny character torturing Renfield before his boss flies in.
• The fight scene in the "Wild, Wild West" inspired train car complete with henchmen flying through the air and a decapitation courtesy of Grayson.
• The continuing use of atmospheric Bulgarian locations to replicate London.This is the best looking network show for 2013.
• The back story with Renfield - loyal employee and lawyer - a huge improvement on the insect devouring slave in Bram Stoker's original tale.

"Dracula" NBC TV series Episode 1

Don't you love a bit of steampunk?
Sorely missing from US network television. Remember CBS's "The Wild Wild West" (1965)? Yes, we have had steampunk movies with horror fiction connections ("Van Helsing", "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" - triumphs of art direction and production design but hated by critics). Yes, this new retelling of the Bram Stoker novel is all over the shop, but so what?
We have had myriad silly retellings of  "Dracula" (from Dracula's Dog to "Blacula"). Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I think the "LA Times" critic nailed it.
It looks great, as is a prerequisite for steampunk opuses. The Prague locales are sumptuous. The lush budget shows on screen. It comes up with some wild connections (a Jack the Ripper cover up, a cartel of energy industrialists battling Dracula and Jonathan Hawker as his PR man). The casting of Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("The Tudors") is perfect.
A few times during the show I did find myself saying: "What the ....?" (e.g. the light bulb bit) or "Where is this going?"
But just sit back and enjoy it. It's network TV that is not a crap sitcom, police, reality/talent/cooking shows.

My favourite TV theme music/openings

• "The Name of the Game" 1968-1971 Dave Grusin composer
• "Search" 1972-1973 Dominic Frontierre
• "The Wild,Wild West" 1965-1969 Richard Markowitz
• "Hawaii Five-0" 1968-1980 Morton Stevens
• "The Father Brown Mysteries" 1974 ITV Jack Parnell
• "The Persuaders" 1971 ITV John Barry
• "The Avengers" 1961-1969 ITV Laurie Johnson
• "Banacek" 1972-1974 Billy Goldenberg music with George Peppard rowing up? down? the Charles River

Terrific opening titles from TV, past and present

• "The Wild, Wild West" (1965-1969) complemented by Richard Markowitz's theme music, the four screens of villains are later used in the frozen four scenes pre-commercial breaks. Hard to explain, Youtube it.
• "Hawaii Five-0" (1968), the camera zooms, Jack Lord on the high rise balcony. Sublime. I love 1968.
• "Dexter" of course - inspired and witty - breakfast of champions.
• "True Blood", style later copied in "Banshee"
• "'American Horror Story" (2012- , FX) It's a bit "Se7en", but still wonderful.
• "The Name of the Game" (1968-1971)
• "Search" (1971-1972)
• "The Father Brown Mysteries" (1974, U.K.)
• "Callan" (1967-72) the swinging light bulb is iconic - simple yet effective
• "It Takes A Thief" (1968-1970) Wayne Fitzgerald has done countless shows and movies, the master. Dave Grusin's cool theme music is the perfect match.
• "Boardwalk Empire" (2010- , HBO)
• "Mr and Mrs Murder" (2013 , Aust., Network 10) comic strip/pop art inspired. Go Australia!
• "True Detective" (2014- , HBO) together with T Bone Burnett's music is inspirational.

It is often hard to separate great opening titles from great theme music, as one complements the other.