Prestige TV has pushed shows to shrink from sprawling 22-episode seasons to tight 8-episode arcs, but somehow, they've also started delivering less. Where older TV dived straight into its premise, modern series often stall with prologues, character studies, and lore-building detours.

One sharp Twitter user coined a name for this annoying storytelling shift, using a perfectly ridiculous example: Surf Dracula. Here's a breakdown of the trope and why the name stuck.

Who Came Up With ‘Surf Dracula’?

The term Surf Dracula was coined by Twitter user @topherflorence on October 7, 2021, in a post contrasting old and new television storytelling styles. "Back in the day if u did a tv show called Surf Dracula you'd see that fool surfing every week," they wrote. "But in the streaming era the entire 1st season gotta be a long ahh flashback to how he got the surfboard," the joke being that "Surf Dracula" is such a transparently dumb premise that it almost demands episodic fun.

How Did Internet Users React to 'Surf Dracula'?

After the tweet gained traction, "Surf Dracula" evolved into a kind of shorthand for audience disappointment, and people began using the phrase to critique real media.

In May 2022, Twitter user @CarlosAlonzoM referenced Surf Dracula to complain about the Halo show's refusal to reach the titular setting, saying, "This show turned out even worse than Surf Dracula." That post included a screenshot of the original tweet and gained over 6,200 likes.

In March 2024, a tweet from @BurstangelIn echoed the complaint when new details emerged about Marvel's Blade reboot, suggesting it might be another origin-story-heavy slog. "Oh boy here we go again," the user wrote, pairing it with a screenshot of the original Surf Dracula tweet. It earned over 12,000 likes in a single day.

By November 2024, the term had shed some of its cynicism. @itsashotgunbaby called Jim Carrey's portrayal of Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog films "a Surf Dracula," but meant it as praise, admiring how the character had been thoughtfully developed before becoming his classic game counterpart. That tweet earned over 39,000 likes, signaling the term’s staying power and flexibility.

What Are Some More Examples Of The 'Surf Dracula' Trope?

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For the full history of Surf Dracula, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.