The Dresden Files: The Complete First Season

Although it wouldn't be wrong to describe this Sci Fi Channel series as a cross between Monk, Charmed, and The X-Files, that's a too-facile description which fails to do justice to an imaginative and engaging show. Private detective Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne) investigates kidnappings, assaults, and homicides that appear to have natural (if sociopathic) motivations…but Harry knows better—and he alone realizes that these particular crimes have been committed by supernatural entities. How, you ask? Well, because he's a wizard, and he can count on assistance from the spirit of a medieval alchemist he calls “Bob” (Terrence Mann). Police Lieutenant Connie Murphy (Valerie Cruz) frequently brings Harry in on bizarre cases, but she's not exactly comfortable dealing with occult forces. Carefully calibrated to be dark but not grisly, most of the 12 episodes from the 2007 season compiled here are quite good, although the ghostly sidekick gets tiresome and Blackthorne has an annoying tendency of telegraphing macabre humor in his dialogue by arching an eyebrow before delivering the line. Nonetheless, the show's plots are cleverly developed and the physical production looks sharp. DVD extras include audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and deleted scenes. Recommended. (E. Hulse)