The first season of the *V-Wars* is a rather gloomy, atmospheric, show that combines elements of supernatural horror, as well as modern environmental issues related to climate change. Its rough style and physical narrating is something that will make the audience feel uneasy throughout its duration, as they experience the disarray and instability of society falling apart due to the extraordinary events. It is based on some real-world fears rooted in the primer, an ice-melt that brings a deadly virus, which brings levels of urgency and relevance and make the series anything but typical in a vampire series.
The play and the emotional response thereof are achieved through performances, particularly that of Ian Somerhalder who portrays Dr. Luther Swann and who reveals the sense of the moral dilemma and personal tribulation in the face of societal collapse. The character of the supporting role, which is especially evident in the vampires struggling between the two sides of their nature, such as Michael Fayne, is depicted with depth and it makes their evolution both sad and frightening. The series also has a heavy, realist aesthetic in visual terms with stark sterile high-tech settings as opposed to the chaotic underground vampire scenes. The horror has practical effects, but the effects in some cases would have worked better with higher quality CGI to bring out the supernatural.
The pacing is usually fast and exciting, and some rushed plot developments and unequal portrayal of characterization slightly undermine emotional catharsis. Nevertheless, the show is able to generate an atmosphere of tension and an intense experience, which causes one to ponder about the difference between ourselves and others, the fear of being overpowered, and the beasts inside our beings. In general, V-Wars S1 is a provocative, disturbing treatment of horror that will haunt the mind long after the watch and will make the audience think about what is acquainted with civilization.
