There was once a time when vampire stories were everywhere. From Twilight to The Vampire Diaries, they seemed to be destined to reach high levels of popularity. Now, however, that doesn't seem to be the case. Is the vampire story done? Or will it rise from the dead, much like the vampire itself? Are fantasy fans tired of vampires? Or is it possible that they might have their day in the sun again? There are bound to be answers to these questions. However, it is equally important to understand why the questions exist. The vampire story will probably continue to exist in some form.
After all, vampires have their fans. Yet will these stories reach the level of popularity of stories like Twilight or The Vampire Diaries? It's hard to know. Will the vampire story return from the dead? Or will it remain something of a niche genre, only loved by some hard-core fans? Hard to say for sure. To answer these questions, it's crucial to understand what went into the popularity of these vampire stories. The vampire story, from the beginning, has been about the forbidden. In the case of stories like Twilight or The Vampire Diaries, it's about forbidden love. Is that all that's required for a vampire story to become popular?
RELATED: A Dark Souls TV Series Can Save The Fantasy Genre From Itself
Well, it's definitely an aspect of its popularity. Therefore, it is important. A lot of people like stories that make them feel a bit naughty. It's like the phenomenon of suddenly wanting to know exactly what is in a room with a "keep out" sign. Without the sign, no one would care. Yet with it, suddenly what's in the room becomes important. It's the same case with the vampire story. In Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, this taste of the forbidden comes in the form of vampire-human romance. It's intriguing to watch two people who maybe shouldn't work on paper come together and work out well. It's also interesting to watch a somehow forbidden relationship that shouldn't be happening, at least based on reason and morality.
There are also the vampire characters themselves. They have the ability to destroy people, but that amount of power is also enticing. Characters like Stefan and Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries and even Edward Cullen from Twilight are charismatic not in spite of, but because of their vampiric nature. The vampire story is all about exploring the forbidden, after all. And what could be more forbidden than having inhuman levels of power? There's also the drinking blood aspect, which is something forbidden to mere humans. However, the vampire story offers a safe way of exploring what it would be like to have such power and such a diet. It allows its fans to imagine what it would be like to live forever, something else humans can't do. The forbidden aspects of the vampire story are what make it what it is.
They allow people a way of exploring their darker side without any harm coming to anyone. And that is a desire that many people will probably always have. So is the vampire story truly dead? Or will it experience a resurgence in the future? No one can know for sure, but it seems possible that vampire stories will make a comeback. It might not happen right away, and they might come back in a different form than the forbidden vampire love stories, but come back, they will. After all, it's hard to kill a vampire. The vampire story will likely be a similar case. Are fantasy fans tired of vampires finally? Probably not, or at least they won't be forever.
Of course, not everyone will agree. For some people, the vampire story never died. It was just in hiding a bit. And that's fine. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to fiction. Everyone consumes different media. Yet, it seems possible that a vampire story will again reach the popularity of Twilight or The Vampire Diaries. It might be a forbidden love story, or it might be something else entirely. Either way, fantasy fans probably haven't seen the last of the vampire. Luckily, for those who like a bit of darkness or a taste of the forbidden.
The vampire story will rise again. And that's for the better. What would a world without vampire stories be like? Fantasy fans probably don't want to find out. Whatever story it is that will take off will likely satisfy fans' desires for the forbidden yet again. And that's the whole point of the vampire story. To allow people to explore their darker sides safely. To give people some forbidden fruit. And to have fun while doing so. So be on the lookout for the vampire story's return. It will probably come when fans least expect it. That would be like a vampire.
MORE: Loki and Shadow and Bone Prove That Sometimes Bad Guys Are More Fun