When you talk about a wizard called Harry, the surname Potter will inevitably be the first thing in people’s minds. The Dresden Files, following the exploits of supernaturally gifted private eye Harry Dresden, clearly has its work cut out in being anywhere near as popular as young Master Potter.
To be honest, it’s a different concept (based on novels by Jim Butcher), set in a generally realistic modern-day Chicago but one in which forces of great power are circulating, and where spells and wizardry can ward them off...
The cast, led by Paul Blackthorne as Harry and co-starring Valerie Cruz as Lt Connie Murphy (a cop who occasionally calls upon his skills), all act with conviction. However, the show does teeter on the edge of camp, not least in the form of Harry’s enigmatic ghostly mentor, Bob, played by Terrence Mann and resembling a cross between Buffy’s Giles and Hugh Laurie, with a dash of Quentin Crisp in there too.
There was also a flock of “Ravens” in humanoid form, who were actually more like ageing Goth fans, but I did enjoy the chief villain of the pilot episode, the “Skinwalker” entity who kills a victim in order to inhabit their flesh and take on their identity.
Given that it was the first episode, there was a lot of plot to get through as well as needing to establish the regular characters (the main storyline about a gifted kid being menaced by evil also prompted flashbacks to Harry’s own childhood).
In all, The Dresden Files opener was colourful and watchable but couldn't decide if it wanted to be dark and scary or lightweight silly fun. Hopefully it will settle down over the course of the series, however, whether it turns into unmissable TV remains to be seen.
Related story: Sky HD’s other big genre show at the moment is Season Three of Lost.
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