As a long time fan of Tanya Huff’s Vicki Nelson series of books (aka The Blood Books), I approached the new Lifetime TV series with some trepidation. I wasn’t so much worried about how the supernatural elements would translate to the screen. With almost every network leaping on the current genre revival bandwagon, this show would only succeed if the three main characters were successfully portrayed. You would have to believe and more importantly, you’d have to care.
Three episodes in and my fears have been mostly laid to rest. Vicki Nelson, a Toronto PD detective who chose to quit the force rather than ride a desk after developing retinitis pigmentosa (a condition which means her night and peripheral vision is gradually failing) is played to perfection by Christina Cox. She has the right combination of toughness, vulnerability and looks to carry off the part. Dylan Neal as Vicki’s ex-partner detective Mike Celluci does a great job with a character that could have come across as stuffy. Finally Kyle Schmid’s portrayal of graphic novelist Henry Fitzroy, who also happens to be a 450-year-old vampire and the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, is sexy, seductive, playful and dangerous. These three have a wonderful chemistry together that really makes the show come alive. My only casting reservation at the moment is Gina Holden’s Coreen who is unfortunately stuck with the sidekick role, but hopefully her character will be given something meaningful to do as the series continues.
The two part pilot episode is a reasonably faithful adaptation of the first book in the series, Blood Price. Vicki is walking home from a date when she witnesses an attack on a young man by a cape-wearing figure. She gives chase but the figure vanishes and unfortunately she’s too late to save the victim. The cops arrive, including Vicki’s ex-partner Mike Celluci, and they discover the victim has bite marks on the neck and is drained of blood. The following day Vicki gets a visit from the victim’s girlfriend Coreen, who is not happy with the police investigation and wants Vicki to take the case. As the body count rises Vicki is drawn to the theory that a vampire is at large in the city. When she continually spots the same man as she carries out her investigation, she discovers that Henry Fitzroy is indeed a vampire but not the person responsible for the murders. He has his own reasons for not wanting a vampire killer on the loose in his city.
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Article comments
1 - BigFire
Why did they change Henry's profession from writing bodice ripping romance novel to graphic novelist?
2 - Bill Sherman
Why did they change Henry's profession from writing bodice ripping romance novel to graphic novelist?
More visually interesting, perhaps? I've only seen the voodoo episode, but there was a nice camera shot in it of Henry inking black shadow into a comic panel . . .
3 - Justin Mohareb
According to Tanya Huff's blog, they changed it from a romance novelist to a graphic novelist because drawing is just more visually stimulating than writing.
4 - Marie
Loved the review. I agree that the chemistry between the three leads sparkles and the series is great fun. It's my new favorite show.
5 - Tony Woolstencroft
Thanks Marie. Much appreciated. Hopefully it will appeal to the Buffy/Angel fans and become a hit.
6 - Mary
I've been searching all over the web, looking for the ratings numbers for Blood Ties. Do you happen to know where they would be posted? I read somewhere that the premiere drew 1.6 million viewers, but it's all I could find. Thanks for your help. Blood Ties is my new favorite show.
7 - Tony Woolstencroft
I've been trying to track them down myself but haven't found them yet. Rumour has it that Lifetime have only picked up 13 of the 22 episodes until they see how it goes. Haven't been able to verify that one yet. But it's been picked up by Virgin Media's Living channel in the UK and goes out sometime in July. Here's hoping...
8 - kat
I have been trying to find one of the songs that played in the episode "Heart Of Ice" and i can't find any websites that tell what it was so i was wondering if you knew?
9 - Angela
I was wondering if anyone knew the name of the song that was playing in Episode "Stone Cold" when Vicki was burying the stone pieces of that boy in the ground. I would LOVE to have that song.
10 - Ashley
Does anyone know the name of the song that plays in the begining, end, or the song in 'Heart Of Ice' where Vicki is standing by the shades and Henry is eating? D: Please help.
11 - jojo
Song is Carlucci Girl Nobody