The show centered on a group of young vampires subjected to a daring experiment by the "Elders": taken in by a boarding school that also housed mortal teenagers, with the intent of civilizing the vampires. Many problems faced the students on both the day and night curriculum, including typical teen issues of love, friends and enemies. Dr. Murdoch was on hand to help them along with their school work, but he too had problems that could put the lives of the teens in mortal danger.