My Top 10 Vampire Character (5 thru 1)

5. Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer – t.v. series)

Spike was put through a lot during his run on Buffy, and after prissy boy Angel left Spike took over as the main male vampire lead. He was violent, brooding, twisted and British, and somehow viewers, myself included, got hooked on the romance between him and Buffy. Unlike vampires nowadays who fall in love with humans faster than they can kill them, he actually had to struggle with this idea and it almost tore him apart (we all remember robot Buffy!).

4. Selene (Underworld 1 and 2 – films)

It was refreshing to see a female vampire who was head strong, independent and able to kick some butt. She broke all the vampire rules. Selene was different from the usual femme fatal female vampire; she was one of the top vampire warriors who listened to her gut and did not let anyone stop her from doing what she wanted. Obviously this was still a Hollywood film so she did all of this while wearing a skin tight leather jumpsuit, but just because you’re a tough female doesn’t mean you can’t be sexy.

3. Edward Cullen (Twilight Series – book series by Stephanie Meyer)

Yes I am sure you are wondering why I have Edward on my list when I bashed the vampires from Twilight. Well this is a list of my favorite vampire characters, and I cannot deny the fact that I too became obsessed with Edward while reading the books. I would like to note that I am talking about the book character not Robert Pattinson’s version from the films. I don’t know how to justify having him on the list, but here he is. Just accept it, I have.

2. Lestat de Lioncourt (The Vampire Chronicles – book series by Anne Rice)

But why not Brad Pitt’s character Louis you ask? Well if you have read the actual books then you wouldn’t have to ask. Like Edward above, I am referring to the book character not the Tom Cruise version of Lestat. You love to hate this character, but you also start to understand him. I think that everyone can find a little of themselves in Lestat, whether they want to admit it or not. He never apologizes for who he is or what he has done. He is the quintessential vampire bad boy.

1. Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series – book series by Charlaine Harris; True Blood – t.v. series)

Eric is the Lestat of The Southern Vampire Series: tall, blonde, handsome, unapologetic and ruthless. Many say that Anne Rice’s vampires are the vampires to compare all other vampire too, and since Eric was created after Anne Rice’s books then shouldn’t Lestat be first?

Well, again, this is my list so I make the rules! All I have to say is read the books and then you will know why he is number one.

(Side Note: Anyone else notice the leather motif going on in all of these photos? Why do you think that is?)

Underworld (Films 1 and 2)

This isn’t the first vampire action film, but I do think it brings something new into the genre. In the Underworld universe the vampires are a gun totting aristocratic clan who stay out of the human world. These vampires still have the usual traits that are found in popular culture but with a modern twist.

I think the most important thing that sets this series apart from any other vampire action films has to be the strong female vampire lead. Humans are pretty much non-existent in these films, but the audience must still pick someone to relate to or to cheer for, and in this case it is Kate Beckinsale’s character Selene.

The female vampire is usually portrayed as a victim or as an over sexualized, manipulative creature. Selene is a strong, independent vampire who is the one saving and protecting a man. Sure sure, she is wearing a skin tight leather outfit throughout the films, but I don’t think that vampires need to follow the same gender roles as human characters do.

I think that is why storytellers like the vampire so much. Not only are they mysterious, dark and live outside the normal roles of society, but they are able to see humanity in an entirely different way since they have lived for hundreds of years.Vampires can be used to break the conventions within society and say things about humanity from an outside perspective.

However I would like to note how ridiculous all the guns are in these films. They are very trigger happy vampires.