Van Helsing
New Syfy series “Van Helsing” explores a world dominated by vampires while a hunter named Vanessa Helsing realizes she has powers. Dan Power/Helsing S1 Productions/Syfy

Vampires are dominating TV shows this fall. Syfy’s “Van Helsing,” a series about the mythical bloodsucking creatures and a hunter who can stop them, premieres on Friday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. EST. The series is based on the 2004 movie of the same name starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale.

Although it’s easy to dismiss another vampire-themed show, “Van Helsing” offers a unique perspective on these evil creatures. First off, there are two different kinds of vampires – the feral who have mostly feasted on blood and have animalistic personalities, and the second are ancients – vamps who have lived for a longer time and only drink human blood. Ancients are more sophisticated and less animalistic.

The season premiere, titled “Help Me,” begins three years after The Rising. Vanessa (Kelly Overton), a mysterious dead woman who comes from a long line of vampire hunters, is resurrected. The world is very different from the one she’s lived in. For starters, bloodsuckers have taken over the world and humanity is on the brink of extinction. Worse still, she has no idea where her daughter is.

The official synopsis states that Vanessa is holed up in an abandoned hospital with other human survivors. After she wakes up, she fends off both vampires and treacherous human beings. In doing so, she realizes she has special powers.

Episode 2, which will premiere the same day as Season 1, episode 1, is titled “Seen You” and explores the days leading up to The Rising. It is essentially a flashback episode that details events leading up to Vanessa’s resurrection.

In the sophomore episode, Vanessa is attacked and left for dead by an intruder.

Furthermore, a doctor examines Vanessa’s blood and realizes there are a lot of anomalies.

When a character named Axel (Jonathan Scarfe) and the marines come to retrieve the lead character’s dead body, they become marooned in the hospital since The Rising erupts right outside the building.

“Van Helsing” Season 1 premieres on Friday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. EST on Syfy.