REGINALD THE VAMPIRE Season One
The Xl-files
★★★ 1/2
UK Sky Sci Fi, Tuesdays
US Syfy, finished airing Showrunner Harley Peyton
Cast Jacob Batalon, Mandela Van
Peebles, Em Haine, Savannah Basley
Vampires aren’t just bloodsucking killers in this TV take on a series of YA books, they’re something even worse: body fascists. Which is bad news for plus-sized slushie-bar employee Reginald when soft-hearted vampire Maurice breaks the rules and turns him rather than letting him die.
Now Reginald (Spider-man sidekick Jacob Batalon) must try to balance his burgeoning love life with his bloodlust, while avoiding being killed by the local vampire bigwigs appalled at this porky abomination. Things are further complicated when Reginald starts using his bullying boss as a personal blood bank, which reveals glamouring abilities (hypnotising victims) far beyond those of most vampires.
Sure, it sounds like something Buffy would have knocked off in a season one episode (if body shaming had been a hot issue back then), but Reginald The Vampire precariously navigates a thin line between finding the humour in obesity and also highlighting body prejudice for a whole season. Largely it succeeds through its warmth, endearingly quirky characters and self-effacing wit.
Sadly, obesity issues aside, originality is in short supply. Take away Jacob Batalon’s charismatic central performance and there’s not much else that’s memorable here among the pick ’n’ mix of teen vampire romcom staples, although the side effects of glamouring receive a more thorough work-out than usual.
Gaudy production design and garish lighting don’t help, feeling at odds with the show’s darker themes. That said, the show’s probably done its job if it’s convinced us that using “Fat’s Entertainment” as a strap line would be a little crass.
Dave Golder
Todd’s clearly a Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan – at one point in episode nine he refers to a stake as “Mr Pointy”.