The moment Carmie Henley bites into her birthday cake, the camera lingers on her fangs—too sharp for any middle schooler—and you know exactly what you’re in for: a parody of vampire lore wrapped in a coming-of-age story. I Woke Up a Vampire, created by Thomas W. Lynch, is Netflix‘s latest attempt to blend supernatural tropes with tween angst, and the results are as predictable as they are occasionally charming.

The premise is simple enough: Carmie (Kaileen Angelic Chang) discovers on her 13th birthday that she’s half-vampire, a revelation that complicates an already chaotic middle school life. With her best friend Kev (Niko Ceci), a comic nerd who serves as the voice of reason, and a supporting cast that includes werewolves, fairies, and a gorgon collector, Carmie navigates the perils of supernatural adolescence. The show’s strength lies in its ability to balance action and mystery with more grounded themes of family and friendship. Lynch’s writing shines when it leans into the absurdity of its premise, like Carmie trying to hide her fangs during lunch or Kev geeking out over vampire lore.

However, the show stumbles when it tries too hard to be relatable. The episodes often drown in exposition, with characters explaining their powers and backstories in ways that feel unnatural for their ages. The pacing is uneven, and some plotlines—like Dylan Helsing’s (Zebastin Borjeau) hunt for Carmie—feel rushed or underdeveloped. The performances are hit-or-miss; Chang has a winning charm as Carmie, but Ceci’s Kev sometimes veers into caricature, especially in his more exaggerated nerd moments.

Where the series excels is in its visual storytelling. The cinematography uses shadow and light effectively to create a gothic atmosphere that contrasts with the bright, colorful world of middle school. The show’s musical numbers, like “Welcome To The Outside,” add a playful energy that keeps the tone from becoming too dark. Yet, these moments are few and far between, and the series often feels like it’s treading water, waiting for the next big supernatural reveal.

In the end, I Woke Up a Vampire is adequately constructed for its middle school audience but lacks the depth to captivate older viewers.