I meant to post a comment on the new SciFi Channel series of The Dresden Files yesterday, but really, it's hard to work up much enthusiasm. It's not that the show was bad-- if it was bad, I'd have no problem writing something saying that. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that good, either.
The series, for those not aware of it, is based on a popular set of fantasy novels by Jim Butcher, following the adventures of Harry Dresedn, the only wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. Dresden ekes out a living as a sort of mystical private investigator, doing jobs for members of Chicago's underground magic community, and occasionally helping the Chicago PD with supernatural crimes. The books start off with an episodic PI case or two, and quickly develop an overarching plot-- eight books in, it's actually teerting a little under the weight of backstory, but whatever.
The first two episodes follow the "episodic PI" format, with Harry getting a case at the beginning of the hour, and solving it by the end. There's no indication of whether there will be a multi-episode arc in the future-- it probably depends on whether the series finds an audience. Neither of the episodes so far is taken from the books, though there is apparently one based on the first volume coming up.
As for the particulars of the show...
My reaction was more positive than that of the Slush God, and more on the lines of SF Signal (via Tobias Buckell). It's hard to really translate First Person Smartass narration into video-- the late, lamented Nero Wolfe series on A&E is one of the few to do it well, and they had to resort to heavy use of voice-over. Also, they had first-rate actors in Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin to play the key roles.
The Dresden Files is nowhere near as successful, but that's not a big surprise. It's the Dumbass Horror Movie Channel, after all-- I don't expect brilliance (I'm not a fan of Battlestar Galactica, so it hasn't raised expectations for the network). There's not that much of Harry's cynical voice in the show, and the voice is most of the fun of the books.
Is this the sort of thing that could shake out over time, and turn into a pretty good series? Probably. My opinion of the show is probably slightly higher after two episodes than after just the first, and it might get better with future viewing. As it turns out, I'm playing intramural basketball on Sunday nights this term, which means I'll be looking for something to watch as I cool down after games, and this fits the bill reasonably well.
At the moment, though, my initial reaction is "Well, it could be a lot worse..."
(One other note, on the SF Signal review: the author laments a missed opporunity, saying "They could have taken each book, and made 3 or 4 episodes out of each one." I'm highly dubious about that idea-- for one thing, that would require an awfully big investment both in terms of production capital and audience goodwill. More importantly, though, I just don't think the books are all that deep... They're fun, but it's not like there are lots of subtleties to be lost if they streamline the plot a bit.)
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I enjoyed the second episode significantly more than the first. Better interactions with Bob, better interactions with Murphy. The Wonder Woman routine was pretty fucking stupid, but enh.
Frankly, Butcher's a dumbass if he thought his books would translate that easily to series television. I think they're doing a remarkably good job of staying faithful to the core of his stories so far while at the same time prettifying up Dresden and his world to appeal more to the mainstream (and increasingly female) audience SciFi is courting. They couldn't have made literal translations of his relentlessly violent, gore and injury-filled stories and accomplished the same appeal.
Frankly, Butcher's a dumbass if he thought his books would translate that easily to series television.
Has he said anything stupid about the series? I haven't really been looking, but I haven't seen anything where he commented on it at all.
If I were him, I'd do the Happy Dance all the way to the bank with the fat tv-money check, and then keep my mouth shut to avoid the Crazy Screechy Monkey factor.
I've only seen the first episode - will catch it on Fridays, myself - but I was underwhelmed. You're right; it wasn't bad, but it was sort of meh. I hope it improves.
But I'm glad it's not serialized. It takes a lot of faith to get started with a serialized show these days; the networks are too prone to yank them quickly if they don't pan out right away. That's bad enough if it's self-contained episodes; if you're left hanging in the middle of a story it's painful.
And now you've made me want to go put a Nero Wolfe dvd on.
I saw episode 1 and thought I would keep watching. It is real hard to tell how a series will shake out based on the first episodes anyway - only if it is horrible can you really tell. This wasn't horrible. When the TV characters develop their own personalities and I am not comparing to the books, we'll see. I would rather that they focused on Dresden and not turn it into a vampire show, which could happen based on the novels.
Ah...I misunderstood your comment regarding the SF Signal review to mean "the Author" as Butcher. I understand, now. In truth, I thought it was a confusing comment for Butcher to have made, since everything I've heard regarding his opinion of the show and its writing has been highly complimentary.
The show intrigues me, but doesn't have the focus that it needs to really take off.
I'm left wondering where "Dresden" came from? I'm thinking it's something (the word) that I may have seen used in reference to the Bible or some other Christian/non-Christian religious text.
Anyone?