Vampire Academy is a reboot of Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy novels, adapted for Peacock by Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre. It follows Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir as they train at St. Vladimir’s Academy in 1997, a world where vampires exist in open society, split between the Moroi royal bloodlines and the Dhampir guardians who protect them. The show premiered on September 15, 2022, with ten episodes, and it was canceled after one season in January 2023.
The series is not a faithful retelling of any single book. Instead, it draws from the six novels, mixing their characters and plot threads into a new story. That approach means the show borrows names, settings and relationships from the source material, but it does not follow a fixed narrative path. It is the second adaptation of Mead’s work, following the 2014 film of the same name, which also served as a reboot.
Trailer, via Peacock.
The Core Friendship
The show centers on Rose Hathaway, played by Sisi Stringer, and Lissa Dragomir, played by Daniela Nieves. Rose is a Dhampir, half-vampire and half-human, training to become a guardian. Lissa is a Moroi princess, pureblooded vampire royalty. Their bond is the engine of the series, and the show spends its runtime exploring how their friendship holds up against the strict class divisions of vampire society.
Their relationship is built on trust, loyalty and shared secrets. Rose protects Lissa fiercely, even when it puts her own life at risk. The series leans into this dynamic early, establishing the stakes before the plot machinery kicks in. It is a strong foundation, and the actors carry it well.
The World of St. Vladimir’s
The academy itself is a central character. Set in 1997, it is a boarding school for Moroi and Dhampir students, complete with dormitories, classrooms and a courtyard. The show uses the campus to create a sense of place, showing the contrast between the privileged Moroi halls and the less comfortable quarters where Dhampir students live.
The world-building is solid but not deep. The show explains the hierarchy of vampire society quickly, introducing the royal families, the guardians, and the undead threats. It does not spend much time on the political machinations that drive the books, instead focusing on the personal drama between the lead characters.
New Versions of Old Faces
The show introduces several characters as re-imagined versions of figures from the books. Tatiana Vogel, played by Anita-Joy Uwajeh, replaces the original Tatiana Ivashkov. Mia Karp, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, replaces Mia Rinaldi. Meredith, played by Rhian Blundell, appears as a minor character.
These changes alter the established lore. Some fans will find them jarring, while others will appreciate the fresh perspective. The show handles the re-imaginings inconsistently, sometimes explaining the changes and sometimes letting them sit unexplained.
The Cast
The ensemble cast is led by Stringer and Nieves, who anchor the series with a chemistry that feels genuine. Kieron Moore plays Dimitri Belikov, the stoic guardian instructor who becomes a romantic interest for Rose. André Dae Kim plays Christian Ozera, the sarcastic Moroi prince. J. August Richards plays Victor Dashkov, a suspicious professor with a history tied to the royal family.
Jonetta Kaiser plays Sonya Karp, a teacher and mentor to Rose, while Andrew Liner plays Mason Ashford, a fellow Dhampir student. The recurring cast includes Angela Wynter, Lorna Brown, Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Cornelius Macarthy, Jason Diaz, Jennifer Kirby, Joseph Ollman, and Pik-Sen Lim.
What Works
The show’s strengths lie in its performances and its pacing. Stringer and Nieves sell the emotional weight of their friendship, and the series moves quickly enough to keep viewers engaged across its ten episodes. The writing is competent, though it rarely reaches the heights of the books it draws from.
The visual style is glossy, with production design that evokes the luxury of vampire royalty and the grim practicality of Dhampir life. The show uses its budget to create a distinct look, from the grand hallways of the academy to the dark forests outside its walls.
What Falls Short
The series struggles with its own ambition. It wants to be a faithful adaptation and a fresh reboot at the same time, and the tension between those goals shows in the storytelling. Some plot threads feel rushed, while others are left unfinished.
The show also leans heavily on its source material. Fans of the books will recognize the names and the setup, but newcomers may find the world confusing without prior knowledge. The series assumes familiarity with the novels’ structure, which limits its appeal to a broader audience.
The Cancellation
The show’s cancellation came as a surprise to fans. It ended after one season, leaving several plot threads unresolved. The final episode offers a conclusion of sorts, but it leaves room for a potential continuation that never arrived.
Ranking the Episodes
Here is how the ten episodes stack up:
- Episodes 1–3 — Strong openings that establish the world and the core relationship.
- Episodes 4–6 — Midseason slump with slower pacing and filler subplots.
- Episodes 7–9 — A resurgence of energy, with the romantic triangle between Rose, Dimitri and Christian taking center stage.
- Episode 10 — A satisfying but truncated finale that wraps up some threads while leaving others hanging.
Final Word
Vampire Academy is a mixed bag. Its strengths — the performances, the world-building, the central friendship — are substantial, but its weaknesses — the uneven pacing, the reliance on source material, the rushed conclusion — hold it back. It is a worthy entry in the genre, but it does not reach the heights of the books it draws from.
The show is currently available to stream on Peacock, and it remains a worthwhile watch for fans of the source material or for anyone looking for a stylish supernatural drama. Its cancellation was a disappointment, but the material is strong enough to support a future continuation if the right creative team comes along.
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