Music, Mischief, and a Beating Undead Heart

TV SERIES REVIEW
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire (first two episodes)
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Genre: Live-action, Musical, Family, Fantasy
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 16 x 25m episodes (screened the first two episodes for review)
Cast: Kenzi Richardson, Jiwon Lee, Shaun Dixon, Milo Maharlika, Faith Hedley; recurring Kate Reinders, Jeff Meacham, Kim Coles
Where to Watch: all episodes premiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, October 15

RAVING REVIEW: For a generation that grew up with Vee in animated form, VAMPIRINA: TEENAGE VAMPIRE isn’t just a new series—it’s a graduation, a chance to see a beloved character wrestle with bigger stages, bigger secrets, and the universal growing pains of finding yourself. VAMPIRINA: TEENAGE VAMPIRE takes the beloved character, swaps animation for live action, and keeps the beating heart (or not beating in Vee’s case)—music, friendship, and the struggle of fitting in—front and center. A tween vampire leaves Transylvania for a performing-arts boarding school in the human world, where she has to juggle secret identity anxieties, artistic ambition, a loving (and protective) family, and an overzealous ghost chaperone who complicates even the simplest moments. The fact that this is the character’s first live-action portrayal gives it a built-in curiosity factor, and the two episodes I screened suggest a series designed to balance hijinks with a serialized emotional arc.

What stands out first is the tone: bright, brisk, and pop-forward without feeling disposable. When the songs work, they function like quick confessionals—little windows into Vee’s head where the fear of exposure, the thrill of stage lights, and the day-to-day awkwardness of being different all collide. That choice makes the show appeal to both kids and the adults watching with them; the melodies are catchy, but the subtext—identity performance versus literal performance—gives the numbers weight.

Casting helps. Kenzi Richardson’s Vee is written as earnest with a touch of impulsivity, which is key: a secret-keeping lead needs to project warmth and be instantly worth rooting for. Jiwon Lee’s Sophie is the grounded roommate who can anchor scenes without draining them of fun, while Shaun Dixon’s Elijah brings the kind of “too cool to care, actually cares” energy that keeps the stories from feeling generic. Milo Maharlika’s Demi, the hyper-enthusiastic ghost, is the biggest swing; the character’s over-protectiveness is both a plot device (complications!) and the emotional tension (Vee has to define her own boundaries). The ensemble’s chemistry already conveys a series that understands how to do comedy—classes, clubs, auditions, and secrets colliding at very high speed.

The “secret in plain sight” gags (concealing fangs, disguising bursts of vampire strength, ghostly mishaps behind every corner) come off as playful rather than cheap, which is important for keeping the magic tactile for younger audiences and charming for older ones. The series feels reminiscent of Disney’s heyday in live-action series, blending heart and comedy with characters we care about.

The show leans into a classic but always relevant axis: belonging vs. authenticity. Vee’s dilemma isn’t just “don’t get caught,” it’s “how do I become who I’m trying to be without erasing who I am?” That foundation is more than pure monster-in-school shenanigans, and the early episodes appear to treat the stakes seriously even when the jokes are there. The series also uses the arts-school frame to talk about craft and courage—audition nerves, creative jealousy, the weirdness of being “a legacy” student vs. a newcomer. Those specifics keep the show from feeling like any other supernatural tween comedy.

Richardson’s lead is already comfortable enough to carry the musical numbers without them feeling like breaks in the story, and Lee’s roommate dynamic allows for small, sincere moments that aren’t bogged down. Dixon’s laid-back quality is the right foil for Vee’s intensity. Faith Hedley’s Britney—talented, confident—adds just enough friction to the school ecology to create interesting rivalries without cartoon-level villainy. Around them, the faculty and family presence (including Vee’s parents) give the show a conscience and a pressure valve when adolescent stakes feel enormous. That mix—supportive adults, flawed peers, and one well-meaning supernatural chaperone—keeps the series anchored in kindness even during its messiest hallway catastrophes.

The show’s sweet spot is short-form musical storytelling fueled by character motive, not just an homage to its animated predecessor. When the songs match the emotional—such as the fear of being seen, the jolt of applause, or the relief of telling the truth to the right person—the series takes off. If the creative team shapes numbers as narrative accelerants, the season will move most of the kids watching, as well as the tweens who grew up with Vee, and even the adults watching as background noise.

Two-episode verdict: a lively, sincere re-introduction that respects its audience and the character’s legacy. The live-action switch works because it emphasizes performance and vulnerability—two things that are inherently human even when wrapped in supernatural metaphor. The identity aspects are strong, and the ensemble is cohesive, giving the show a clear differentiator in a crowded field. To reach its ceiling, it needs to push escalation, deepen consequences, and keep Demi’s protective chaos on a leash that serves Vee’s growth rather than swallowing it. By turning a childhood favorite into a story about owning your voice and embracing who you are, VAMPIRINA: TEENAGE VAMPIRE proves that sometimes growing up can be its own kind of magic.

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[photo courtesy of DISNEY CHANNEL, DISNEY PLUS]

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