It would be easy to dismiss Moonlight as yet another vampire trying to get along in the modern world TV series. It’s already being compared, sight unseen, to Angel. Actually, Moonlight’s themes are more closely aligned to the Beauty and the Beast mythos, with a touch of pre-noir private eye thrown in for luck.
True, Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin) is a vampire by circumstance and a private investigator by lifestyle choice. And, yeah, he’s a do-gooder by nature, defying the conventions of vampirism to help the living. He even eschews fresh blood, opting instead for “retail” blood, which he procures from a mortal dealer named Guillermo (Jacob Vargas) who works in the LA County morgue. (How Guillermo knows St. John’s secret isn’t revealed in the pilot episode.)
What we do know is that Mick St. John is eternally 30 years old, thanks to being bitten 60 years ago by his bride, Coraline, who apparently didn’t think the fact she was a vampire was something they should have discussed before getting married. Maybe thinking it might save their troubled marriage, Coraline, in 1982, found a mortal child who could become their “daughter.” That didn’t set well with Mick, so he saved the child and torched the wife.
The child, Beth Turner (Sophia Miles) is grown now, and is an Internet investigative reporter (they have those?). Of course, she’s blonde, ambitious and quick on her feet, even though she works for a tabloid website. When a series of vampire-style murders plague L.A., Mick finds himself suddenly reconnected with Beth. Mick has been assigned by vampire czar Josef Konstantin (Jason Dohring) to get to the bottom of this, and Beth, self-proclaimed media whore that she is, wants that perfect headline.
It sounds very campy, and it is — there are the obligatory shots of the brooding hero, perched on a nighttime rooftop, long black coat lapping about him. There’s also a fair amount of satire. Josef, the 600-year-old vampire, comes off more like a playboy CEO than an evil lord of the undead. In the vampire underworld of Los Angeles, it’s all about business and living the good life.
Moonlight manages to make the vampire clichés work — in fact, it turns them on their ear. It’s all very silly, but it’s just clever enough for a Friday night at home. With the popular chick flick inanities of Ghost Whisperer as a lead-in, Moonlight may have a chance to develop its storyline.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Brent
Guillermo isn't a mortal, he's another vampire.
2 - Tina
I hated it!! Rip off of the series Angel!!!
3 - kystorms
I am so thrilled to see you liked Moonlight! I say this show rocks and i am a HUGE Buffy ~ Angel fan, i am not in any way worried this will fail due to any similarities
thanks for the good review
4 - Mark
Glad to see you liked it, my wife and I enjoyed it as well. We have enjoyed both Buffy and Angel and currently also watch Supernatural and Ghost Whisperer. It's nice to have a break from the usual cops n robbers and CSI shows, although we do watch them too, thank goodness for PVR's. Keep up the good work!
5 - irishjoy
This show was nothing special. It's just a bad rip off of Angel. There was nothing that original about it. The whole sun just hurts, doesn't kill. Yeah, that's been done on Supernatural. Also, even if it wasn't a bad rip off, the story was borderline retarded. The professor was an idiot, having his assistant was a cliche, and not a one of those people could act. This is by far one of the worst vampire shows I have ever seen.
6 - Linda Sanders
I love the music, please let me know who the female artist is, and the name of the song that she sings?????? Thanx!
7 - Joy
I like the Moonlight series. It is a change from all the CSI shows on now. I like some of them, but it is good to have something else to watch. I loved the Buffy series and I think this one is just as good or better!
8 - Sunlight
Well I think that the initial premise of Moonlight is positive, the main two characters are strong and have chemistry, I just think that the supporting characters are not strong enough to really help Mick and Beth carry the show. I am missing more of other supporting character development to have a great story line and also open future possibilities for script development. All top shows, like ER, GREYS ANATOMY, CSI, or even the classics like SEINFELD etc, all the characters in their own right are strong and the script writers give them space to grow. I would say good beggining but we need more to make this a really successful show
9 - Terri
I love the show, I think it will do well!
I also love the music, please let me know who the female artist is, and the name of the song that she sings at the end of Friday's (10/26) show? Thanks,
10 - John D. Anthony
I really like this show. The characters are well developed, the story line is different enough to keep my attention and it doesn't rely on cheesy special effects to make each episode stand out.
I'm worried about it's likely lifespan, however. I'm guessing that at some point the writers are going to "turn" Sophia Myles' character, Beth, and she will then have to grapple with all the moral dilemmas and ambiguities of being a modern, ethical vampire.
My fear is that they will wait too long. Sophia Myles has too much talent to waste on playing the plucky, resourceful investigative reporter that's already been done a thousand times. Turn her now and the show's got some future.
11 - olya
I love this show because it adds excitement to my already sorta boring life. The plot line is good and mysterious. Two things you have to look out for. The characters are hot and the romance in an already mysterious show is amazing. Angel was very boring and I found it lacking the excitement that moonlight. If moonlight really is a copy of angel then it does a way better job that Angel it self.
12 - claudel
This show is fantastic! The chemistry between Beth and Mick is amazing. It can be a little campy but so what? I don't think it has anything to do with Angel or Buffy - and yes I watched both. I agree with previous posting - Angel was boring. This is a more sophisticated vampire series. It doesn't hurt that Alex O'Laughlin is on fire. What do they put in the water in Australia anyway? Also, I agree that the soundtrack is phenomenal. Does anyone know anything about that? Keep this show on the air!
13 - Donna
Does anyone know the name of the last song on the episode of moonlight that aired November 16th ???
14 - ImTheBunny
Not off the top of my head...but I know who will.
Check out the music thread at. It is in the episode music area, and it has the names of all the songs that have ever been featured on the show.
15 - BB
where do you find the music for the last episode
16 - Angie Lira Ryan
I really like this show . I can't understand all the flak about -- it's like this show and that show .There are alot of hospital shows, and many dumb shows, CSI= 3 so what ???? This show has it all, Great cast and Alex Mick is well '''' wonderful to look at and so sexy . I sure hope CBS does everything it can to keep it going ,it has the "Fans", all we need is scripts !!!!!! Plus if you don't like it-- don't look at it , I will!!!! Signed a loyal , loyal Fan Angie
17 - JB
I love the show. I think it's great. It's entertaining...
I look forward to coming home on Friday and watching Ghost Whisperers and Moonlight...and Numbers...
Keep it coming, I'm having such a good time, please don't wreck my Fridays
18 - Harriett
I love the show Moonlight. I hate it when some special come on doing the time Moonlight should be on. Love it! Love it!
19 - Ray Ellis
Ididn't see the Garth Brooks special. I assumed it was a Moonlight spinoff about vampires living among us.
20 - Donna
Wow! Is there a hotter guy on TV at the moment? I think not...... Oh Yeh Good show too
21 - Leonie
The music on the end of the first episode is from Evanescence and is called My Immortal.
22 - Rafferty Rulz
Moonlight returns Friday, April 25th @ 9pm EST on CBS with the first of four new episodes. Episode 13 is entitled "Fated to Pretend."
23 - MrAlex'sFan
I just love the show:) no more words needed...
24 - me
moonlight rocks!!!!!!!!!!
25 - juanita morris
I loved "moonlight", and I was very sad, when it was taken off. They always take off the Best Shows