Gustav and one of his former students, Arthur Bauer, find a rare herb and develop a formula called the quinidrine solution, which they hope will reverse the effects of a vampire's bite. When Arthur is kidnapped, Gustav allows himself to be captured by Lucard so that he can test the solution on himself and Arthur. But the formula doesn't work, because Max has confused it with his high protein energy drink and has consumed all the quinidrine. When the kids arrive to free Gustav, Max is able to fend off Lucard and his lieutenant, Klaus, by firing energy bolts at them through his fingers. They escape back to the house, where the kids quickly use their last remaining quinidrine leaf to mix up another batch of the solution for Gustav and Arthur. Gustav is saved, but Bauer chooses to reamin a vampire. He attacks Gustav, but doesn't know about the Cross of the Magyars, the house's protective talisman...which then destroys him.
Dracula: The Series is a short-lived syndicated series about Count Dracula and his struggles with Gustav Van Helsing, as well as Gustav's young nephews — Maximilian and Christopher Townsend. They were also aided by a schoolgirl, Sophie Metternich. Romantic tensions developed between Chris and Sophie. The series was filmed in Luxembourg, and produced by Phil Bedard and Larry Lalonde, best known for their work on John Woo's Once a Thief and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.
The series formula was relatively straightforward, with the four heroes learning of some plot by Lucard/Dracula and attempting to foil it, with at least some success. In keeping with the novel, but not most film and television lore, vampires could walk in sunlight but lacked their powers. Anyone bitten just once by a vampire transformed into a zombie-like servant. This process could be stopped by applying holy water to the bite.
