Drama
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a little like its titular character. It’s painful. It gets under your skin. And it just might leave a mark.
It’s Carmie Henley’s 13th birthday, and her teen years are beginning just as she expected. Carmie has plans to hang out with her best friend, Kev; she’s anticipating auditions for the school musical; and she wakes up to find herself floating in the air.
Okay, maybe things aren’t going exactly as she expected.
But Carmie won’t let that stop her.
Without giving this superhuman ability another thought, she appears at the auditions, ready to outperform the theater department’s prima donna, Leanna. But just when Carmie is certain she’ll land a place in the cast, she discovers a new power—this time super speed. And her inability to control it sends the theater into pandemonium.
But it’s not all bad. The next day, she uses the newfound power to save her new friend, Madison, from a car crash.
Kev, a well-read comic-book enthusiast, offers an explanation for Carmie’s unusual abilities: She’s a Mythic.
“What’s a Mythic?” Carmie asks.
“They’re legendary monsters that came before man,” Kev replies.
Seeing the shocked look on her face, Kev clarifies that Carmie isn’t a full Mythic; she’s what’s called a Blended (someone who is half Mythic, half human). Specifically, Carmie is a Vampling (a Blended vampire).
At first, Carmie is thrilled with this revelation. Her powers don’t seem to be ones we’d associate with vampires. She doesn’t change into a bat and don’t (at least so far) involve a lot of inconvenient blood sucking. But those powers do include flight, superhuman strength, super speed and energy blasts. What could be better?
Unfortunately, these exciting new abilities come with danger.
When Carmie turns 16, she’ll have to choose between being full Mythic or full human. The Mythics will do anything to make her stay a Mythic. What’s more, a group of people called the Hunters stalk cities to capture Blendeds. These dangerous individuals use stealth, skill and supernatural weapons to trap their targets.
And one of these Hunters may be lurking nearby.
Carmie’s a vampire. And as she learns more about her identity, the viewer learns legends of Mythics, who seem to be godlike figures.
While we learn quite a bit about this Mythic mythology, the show’s approach to the topic resembles that of the Percy Jackson series. Viewers aren’t asked to think of these Mythics as real. Instead, I Woke Up a Vampire inserts Carmie’s coming-of-age journey into these fantastical legends.
But still, several characters display mythical features and superhuman abilities. And these powers can cause harm to other people (both intentionally and accidentally). Some scenes feature characters getting captured or injured as a result of someone’s superhuman powers.
Families may also be concerned with Carmie’s and the other young teens’ behaviors. Middle school-aged children trek around their town, unsupervised; Carmie and Leanna display a rocky relationship that is not adequately addressed by an authority figure; and Carmie’s siblings get away with mildly disrespecting their parents.
If you’re looking for a well-crafted story with unpredictable twists and turns, you might look for your entertainment elsewhere. Still, I Woke Up a Vampire is adequately constructed for its middle school audience. The episodes contain action and mystery, and Carmie’s interactions with her parents and close friends are generally positive.
Some viewers might decide that the mythology, mild violence and middle school angst should stay in Transylvania. But others may find that I Woke Up a Vampire is a show they sink their teeth into.
It’s day 4,745 of Carmie’s unremarkable life.
Well, that’s what she used to think. But when Carmie wakes up with superhuman strength, super speed and the ability to fly, she realizes her 13th birthday (and the rest of her life) might be more extraordinary than she had expected.
Supernatural elements permeate the episode. Carmie displays superhuman abilities, which are attributed to her Mythic background. Kev (who is fascinated with these Mythic tales) passionately recounts legends of these supernatural beings. But his descriptions are neither highly detailed nor particularly spiritual. In a few scenes, Carmie’s dog talks to her. Carmie hears strange voices when she is alone, and sometimes, she receives cryptic (and somewhat menacing) messages in her dreams. A few characters display physical evidence of being Blendeds, including fangs and wings.
Hunters make sporadic appearances while they stalk Blended individuals. In one scene, a Hunter uses a smoke bomb to catch someone. Later, he magically shrinks this individual and imprisons him in a glass jar. This Hunter states that his mission is to “capture and dispose of monsters.”
While she adapts to her newly discovered powers, Carmie has difficulty controlling them. In one scene, Carmie’s lack of control causes lights to spark and the sprinkler system to douse students with water.
Carmie dislikes her classmate, Leanna, who is somewhat of a bully. The girls exchange bitter remarks, and authority figures do not adequately address their rocky relationship. While Kev and Carmie browse in a comic bookstore, the shopkeeper catches a teenager stealing. Two characters narrowly avoid a car crash.
When Carmie expresses feelings of insecurity, Kev supports her and explains that he accepts her no matter what. Carmie is adopted, and she displays a positive relationship with her parents and siblings.
Carmie can’t control her powers. And according to Kev, she could be in danger. While Kev gives Carmie advice to stay safe, a local Hunter conspires with the Collector (a man who collects Blendeds) to catch their next victim.
Depictions of the supernatural stay generally tame. In one scene, a character shrinks and then returns to his original size. Carmie displays flying abilities, super speed and super strength. Additionally, Carmie’s dog occasionally speaks to her, and Carmie’s reflection has a magical glow. Carmie’s lack of control over her powers sometimes endangers her and her friends. For instance, when Kev holds a punching bag for Carmie to use, she accidentally knocks him to the ground.
The Hunter, Dylan, explains that he has adequate training to capture and kill vampires. While he believes that his task is noble, Dylan’s plots against the protagonist might frighten some viewers. The opening scene briefly shows a cartoon drawing of a vampire, who has fake blood running down its lip.
Some kids get away with slightly disrespecting their parents. Carmie’s twin siblings discuss hiding their involvement in a gaming competition from their parents. Likewise, Carmie lies to her parents about her newfound powers.
Leanna and Carmie do not get along, and Leanna can come across as a bully. One scene employs bathroom humor.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a little like its titular character. It’s painful. It gets under your skin. And it just might leave a mark.
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