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October 26, 2007

Ferdy at the Movies - Using Television to Make Harry Dresden Boring

by Ferdinand T Cat

The Dresden Files is a series of books about a wizard for hire in modern-day Chicago. Last year it became a television show on the Sci-Fi channel. The show was cancelled after one season, but it has fans who want to bring it back. In the meantime, you can see the one and only season on DVD.

The Girl and her sisters like the show. Bruce doesn't, but that's probably because he's read the books. My problem is entirely different.

The show has three main characters: Harry Dresden, the mystical private eye; Bob, the ghost who is always telling Harry to stay home because it's too dangerous; and Karrin Murphy, the cop who is always telling Harry to stay home because the case is closed. Does this pattern sound familiar? It does to me: I keep visualizing the meeting where they're designing the show, and somebody says, Hey, let's make this show exactly the same as every other private eye show!

Gag me with a spoon.

The real Harry Dresden doesn't work that way. He's part of a great struggle in which he constantly has to balance what's permitted and what's right. His magic involves clearly-defined rules in a known framework. He doesn't simply pull a spell out of thin air every time it's needed to further the plot.

So, if you are looking for something new and different in crime drama, rent Keen Eddie, and if you want to spend some time with Harry Dresden, read the books. The series, alas, is just more of the same old same old.

Respectfully submitted,

Ferdinand T. Cat

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, , guerrilla radio, Right Truth, The Populist, Shadowscope, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, Pursuing Holiness, Adeline and Hazel, Nuke's, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Right Celebrity, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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Keen Eddie was great. I was sorry to see it go. Ferdie, I agree that Pushing Daisies is fabulous and Bionic Woman... Pushing Daisies has been extended to the entire season.

Viva Laughlin (Cop Rock in Nevada?) was canceled after two episodes...


Posted by: kimsch.myopenid.com Author Profile Page at October 28, 2007 9:27 AM

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