norwich36 | Blood Ties

Can't sleep--demons will eat me. In this case, demons of the common cold virus. So I watched "Blood Ties" hoping that after staying up really late to watch the whole thing I'd finally fall asleep.

I'm impressed to have found a show that outdoes even Smallville in the cheesiness factor! The series is of course based on the Blood Price/Blood Ties/etc. novels by Tanya Huff. I loved those books to death, though not so much for the horror plotlines (see P.I. Victory Nelson solve a series of supernatural murders assisted by vampire Henry Fitzroy and her ex-partner on the police force, Michael Celluci) as for the sexay that was Henry Fitzroy and the various love triangles in the series.

It's been a while since I read the book on which the premiere was based, so I can't say for sure, but it seemed like they built up the cheestastic horror even more than the book did, what with Vicki and Henry now sharing an implacable demon enemy. But I won't be watching for the plots, so I don't particularly care.

I was pleased with most of the casting decisions on the show. Christina Cox is a bit younger than the Victory in my head (and why did she become Victoria rather than Victory? Or was that just Mike's nickname for her? I can't remember), but otherwise perfect. Kyle Schmid doesn't look at *all* like the Henry in my head, but he's a hotass, so I don't really care.

cinderella81 has a picture of him in her journal--it's too late for me to hunt down pictures of him, but I like the fact that he looks like a cross between Geraint Wyn Davies (the original vampire detective in Toronto, aka Nick Knight) and Ewan MacGregor. And again, Celluci didn't look anything like my mental image, but I still like the actor. I'm bummed that Tony has been replaced with Coreen Fennel, but I understand that was contractural, because they bought the rights to the "Blood" books but not the "Smoke" books. It sucks, since Tony's relationship with Henry was definitely one of my favorite parts of the series.

So, cheesy cheesy plot, but as long as they heat up the love triangle thing I won't care. It will be weird, though, if Coreen takes Tony's place not just as Vicki's assistant but as Henry's lover. I don't know if I'll like that or not.

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Full name Victoria, but very few people called her that. Victory was Tony's nickname for her.

Ah, thank you!

A person I've known from IRC and now LJ is actually friends with Tanya Huff. Told me about the series a while ago, and I totally forgot the premiere was last night. Thanks for the reminder.

I don't know if you ever read the Summoning books, which certainly had their moments although they weren't as good as the Blood series. In the third Summoning, there are a bunch of elves in the alternative-reality mall, three of whom were based on my LJ friend and his little group—even down to the names (Stewie, Kith, and Andro).

... because I have so much time to add yet another show. *sigh*

I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in it airing on Lifetime and hope it doesn't get canceled too soon. I'm reminded of Blade: The Series airing on Spike TV and it getting canceled quickly because they didn't quite hit their target audience. (Please don't look at me that way, my mother made me watch it; I managed to get out of seeing the last couple because it got canceled.)

Also? I don't know about this spell-check during LJ comments... I could've sworn "canceled" had two l's.

Yes, I've read pretty much everything Tanya Huff has ever written. She has a very slashy sensibility, which I love, though I think the Blood books are my favorite.

Yeah, the fact that it's on Lifetime in the U.S. doesn't seem like a great thing to me--but I think the Canadian station it is airing on is more mainstream? So Lifetime may cancel it, but it will still get aired in Canada?

I watched large chunks of Blade: The Series because I liked the woman undercover vampire, so you don't have to apologize to me. I've watched a lot of really cheesy shows because of my vampire fetish.

Ok, I'll admit I totally found Chase incredibly hot. She reminded me of Callisto from Xena.

Heee! That's pretty funny. I love her writing style as it makes even cheesy plots fun, mostly because they are cheesy and the characters are going 'is this for real?'.

I was pretty floored when he told me. He's all, "Remember those characters? Those were us!!!"

There's a plethora of cheesy (kind of crappy) fantasy out there, but she manages to tell it all with a voice that keeps me reading—as jaded as I am.

(*squeeee* Just in general over the whole thing, first off. *g*)

Yeah, it's funny - they don't look like what I pictured but I'm really liking their evolutions here. Well, other than the romance writer thing. He does look more like a graphic novelist, though. The Henry in my head looked more like a romance writer. :-P

So far I love their interactions, and the interior shots are incredibly moody and wonderful.

The Henry in my head was more masterful, in general--and also a redhead!--but I think this Henry is going to grow on me. And Vicky is really perfect.

So, cheesy cheesy plot, but as long as they heat up the love triangle thing I won't care.

Hellz yes, is the word I am looking for in response to that. Now go tell Tanya Huff that so it will happen.

andpuff

I don't think Tanya Huff has much control over the plotlines of the TV series, alas.

OMG I loved those books! I had no idea at all there was going to be a TV show of them.

Lifetime, huh? Thanks!

Sundays at 9. The first part of the two-hour premiere is available for free on iTunes, but you have to pay to download the second part.

Oy, finally got to watch the ep.

I love Christina as Vicki, and whoever that guy is as Henry, although none of the characters look like what I had in my head.

I didn't like the books, so I was pleasantly surprised to like Vicki (whom I actually loathed in the books).

I also thought that Vicki's assistant was male and became Henry's lover. However someone told me that Tony, Henry's lover, was Vicki's street informant. I wonder if they are going to have Henry be bi, or make him straight?

Hmm. I don't remember VIcki having an assistant, though that doesn't mean she didn't have one--it's been ages since I read the books, and I don't think I actually bought the early ones, just read them in the public library. Tony originally is a street kid, in the first novel (I think it was even implied he was a hustler?), though later he starts taking on more respectable jobs when he hooks up with Henry.

It is rather convenient that by eliminating Tony (which they have to do for contractural reasons) they make it unnecessary to include Henry's bisexuality--who knows what they're going to do with it. I'm actually more curious to see if the eps not based on Huff's actual stories are better or worse than the original.

I have finished the Pilot. I'm pretty much just there for Henry so far. :-D *is shallow* I think the girl that plays Vicki could grown on me but she's a bit stilted and the director obviously thinks that shouting should be encouraged as a way of conveying emotion. Grr!

Don't think much of Coreen and I'll back you on being miffed if it means losing out on a bisexual lover for Henry.

Oh, yeah, the acting is a little...subpar. But the second episode is a lot better, despite it's completely stereotypical depiction of Haitian Vodou.

I'm hoping that Henry's bisexuality will soon be revealed. And yeah, Henry is definitely hot! Much hotter than the vampires in my last few vampire shows (sorry DB, JM, and Geraint Wyn Davies, but it's true!)

Cool! It was enjoyable enough despite dodginess, and it suited my pain-medded-up state yesterday. (I explained I fell down the stairs in the dark twisting my ankle, yes?)

Henry is very delish.

Blood Ties

Vicki

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