by Chantal Ashford, Contributing Writer
I am a fan of anything vampiric. After finding out, surprisingly late, about the Showtime new series, Let The Right One In, I was seated. With the 2008 film and the American remake, Let Me In,in 2010 being top-tier, what could this show bring?
Set in New York City, Mark Kane’s (Demián Bichir) and his 12-year-old daughter, Eleanor’s (Madison Taylor Baez), lives were changed forever 10 years prior when Eleanor turned into a vampire. Now, in the present, we have a father desperate to find a cure, and doing his best to provide human blood for his daughter.
The pair moves into an apartment, trying to keep a low profile, only for Eleanor to befriend her next-door neighbor, a sweet and awkward kid, Isaiah (Ian Foreman). The young vampire does heed the warning, but none of it matters, as the two become closer than close. But to make matters worse, Isaiah’s mother, Naomi (Anika Noni Jones), is a cop.
To add more to the plot, we add another vampire, Peter (Jacob Buster), and his sister, Claire (Grace Gummer), and their loyal partner, Matthew (Nick Stahl), who are trying to find a cure for Peter.
The series doesn’t only showcase Eleanor and Isaiah’s friendship. Knowing they are opposite but the same, their friendship is a sweet, short journey. They want to fit in, and they find each other. Eleanor can trust Isaiah with her secret quickly, as they know one another.
With Mark and Eleanor being back in, there’s a new drug on the street, Mitigan, an opioid manufactured by Peter and Claire’s late father, to fund the search for a cure. The drug kept the lights on, but turns the users into crazed, blood-thirsty addicts, leaving body parts around the city. The murders bring in Isaiah’s mother, Naomi, the lead investigator, and Mark gets closer to make sure she doesn’t end up on his trail.
With the suspense and horror elements carrying the show, Let The Right One In also gives an emotional story of character vulnerability, sacrifices, and making amends while holding onto past demons. The writers reached into a broader world and created new characters to fit into the mysterious web of fright.
The acting is compelling enough to keep the show exciting and the viewer returning. Baez, as Eleanor, a childlike vampire, wishes to have a life outside of a closed-in apartment. You begin to feel for her, but also know the consequences of her being around people.
Mark is a devoted father ready to be forgiven for his sins, but he won’t stop until he finds a cure. Once a loving and compassionate father, you see a hardened, determined man looking to end his child’s suffering.
My favorite scenes are when Bichir, Baez, Foreman, and Jones play a part in them. Their characters kept you focused, wanting to know everything about them, and hoping for rainbows and sunshine, because this isn’t happy ever after type of show.
By the end of the first season, you don’t know who to trust. Will Eleanor ever get cured? Can Mark be forgiven for his sins? After the season finale, there are so many possibilities. And with that ending, there is hope for a wilder season.
Let The Right One In may not captivate as much as the 2008 and 2010 films, and the 2004 novel, but the characters will keep you hooked.
Score: 6/10
Let the Right One In is currently streaming on Showtime
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