There are a lot of TV shows out there and in this golden age of TV streaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic? Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable shows through the years. For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best mythical creatures in TV shows, our attention this time turns to Dr Frankenstein and his monster. From modern reimaginings to a faithful retelling of Shelley’s famous novel, there are a lot of options to choose from. Below, we’ve gathered our top picks. Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favourites feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
The Munsters
The Munsters is a real classic, releasing back in 1964. At its heart are a family of friendly monsters who end up entangled in various misadventures. While some could point fingers and see similarities to The Addam’s Family, The Munsters are wholly original in their set-up and comedy antics. At the center of this is Herman, who happens to be Frankenstein’s monster. The Mother of this family is vampiric Lily while their son Eddie is a werewolf. Count Dracula is their grandfather while niece Marilyn is the “ugly duckling” of the family. The interesting dynamics and differences between their family routine compared to our own is partly why this show works so well.
The Frankenstein Chronicles
The Frankenstein Chronicles starts slowly and takes a few episodes to hit its stride. Once it does though, there’s an endearing, gripping mystery waiting to be discovered. Based loosely on Frankenstein’s monster, Chronicles explores 1820’s London, years after Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein has been released. Someone is trying to re-animate the dead and after finding a stitched together body on the shoreline, Detective John Marlott is tasked with finding out who’s behind this. Split across two seasons, The Frankenstein Chronicles is a moody, well-written period drama worth checking out.
The Addams Family (1964)
The Addams Family remains one of the best family dynamics ever created for the small screen. With Gomez and Morticia madly in love, their children Wednesday and Pudsley are doted over and loved unconditionally. There’s also their butler Lurch, who is in essence Frankenstein’s Monster. While there is an extended family here, including the ever-lovable Cousin Itt, it’s the comedy and family dynamic that makes this so enjoyable. The fish-out-of-water gags for those who end up inside their house works perfectly, while the relationships between characters make this a must-watch.
Monster Squad (1976)
The idea of taking Frankenstein’s Monster, a vampire and a werewolf and turning them into superheroes is an ingenious one. It’s also the premise for 1976’s Monster Squad. At its heart, the show takes cues from the old Batman TV shows and leans into similar styles of comedy. Manning the ship are Dracula, Bruce W. Wolf and Frank N. Stein, who team up to thwart various different foes. Expect wizards, witches and even a no-faced goon as the villains of the week here!
Argento Soma
Argento Soma is an intriguing anime, one that blends ideas from The Iron Giant with Frankenstein’s Monster. The ensuing result is a thought provoking show that dives into the psychology of war. The story is set in the near future as metallic aliens invade the planet. In a bid to try and stop it, Dr Noguchi and his assistant Maki team up to try and bring to life a construct pieced together from the destroyed aliens. However, the experiment soon goes wrong as an explosion kills everyone but this creature, aptly named Frank. In order to exact his revenge, Frank joins an anti-alien task force. Engaging and modernizing the ideas presented in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Argento Soma is well worth a watch.
Penny Dreadful
Set in Victoria London, Penny Dreadful combines blood-soaked horror and mystery beautifully into one atmospheric series. The story essentially sees explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, scientist Victor Frankenstein and medium Vanessa Ives uniting to combat supernatural threats together. It’s a simple enough premise but where this show excels is in its storytelling and acting. Everything about Penny Dreadful oozes charisma and despite a slightly slow start during season 1, it quickly grows into a real powerhouse on the horror circuit. It’s beautifully produced too, with some lavishly dressed sets and some well-rounded characters.
Once Upon A Time
One of the key ingredients for any good fairytale is an element of magic – and an evil witch. Well, Once Upon A Time has magic aplenty in this series that blends the fantastical world of fairytales with modern day America. At the center of this is a young woman called Emma Swann, a woman with a troubled past. She’s drawn to a small town in Maine by her son Henry, whom she gave up for adoption years ago. Only, he tells her about a curse cast by the Evil Queen, something that threatens them all. As Emma tumbles down this proverbial rabbit hole, all is not what it seems. The “Frankenstein” part of this show comes in the form of Victor Frankenstein, who has been rebranded as Dr. Whale; a recurring character dotted throughout the show’s many seasons.
Frankenstein (2004)
Frankenstein is a two-part miniseries that aired back in 2004. Out of all the choices on this list, it’s this series that most accurately brings Mary Shelley’s tale to life. With a stacked cast including Donald Sutherland and William Hurt, this lavishly dressed period drama is certainly worth a watch. For those unaware, this classic Gothic horror revolves around Dr Victor Frankenstein who mericlessly rejects an artificial man he creates. However, this creature soon escapes and vows revenge. Gripping, well written and absolutely absorbing, Frankenstein is a solid series. So, there we have it, our picks for the best TV shows through the years about Dr Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster! What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Click Here To Check Out More TV Show Recommendations!
