Blood Ties – TV's Other Vampire Series

Canadian Series Offers a Tough Heroine Missing Since Buffy Ended

Jul 19, 2009 Jo Ann Woodsum

In Blood Ties, private investigator Vicki Nelson solves crimes with supernatural elements with the help of vampire, Henry Fitzroy, and her ex-partner, cop Mike Celluci.

Based on the “Blood” books by Tanya Huff, the television show Blood Ties centers on private investigator Vicki Nelson. Vicki, a former Toronto homicide detective, has left the police force due to failing eyesight.

Series Opener

The series opens with Vicki witnessing a murder while walking home. She’s not sure exactly what she saw, but she thinks she saw an unnaturally strong man wearing a long black coat kill another man and then vanish. Coreen Fennel, the girlfriend of the murder victim, is convinced that her boyfriend was killed by a vampire and hires Vicki to solve the case. During the course of her investigation, Vicki meets Henry Fitzroy, a graphic novelist with an interest in the murder. Vicki also re-teams with her former homicide partner and ex-boyfriend, Mike Celluci, to help work the case.

By the end of the two-part series opener, the hallmarks of the series – a dark sense of humor, supernatural crimes, unresolved sexual tension and sharp banter between the characters - are all in place. During the case, Henry had revealed himself to be a 480-year old vampire. After solving the crime which involved occult elements, Coreen convinced Vicki to hire her as an assistant in her office.

Season 1

Other episodes in Season 1 feature zombies, telekinetic kids, demons, ghosts and other supernatural forces. But the show is about more than the ghoul of the week. The heart of the show is the love triangle between Mike, Henry and Vicki.

Dynamic Actors Bring Characters To Life

The chemistry between the three principals is crucial to the success of the series. Vicki is still drawn to her ex-lover, Mike. But she is also attracted to charismatic vampire Henry. The jealousy between Henry and Mike, and Vicki’s attraction to both men keeps the tension percolating.

• Christina Cox brings a wonderful mix of toughness, humor and sexiness to the role of Vicki. Cox’s background in boxing and martial arts is evident in the action sequences. Vicki’s prickly shell could be off-putting, but Cox’s mobile face lets us know that despite her outer toughness, Vicki’s prickly shell guards a warm heart.
• Henry is beautifully portrayed by Kyle Schmid, who brings a playfulness to Henry that makes him irresistible. Vampires – at least the good ones – are typically portrayed as deeply conflicted characters. Buffy’s Angel, Twilight’s Edward, Moonlight’s Mick St. John and True Blood’s Bill Compton are all tormented characters, torn between their desire to be human and the dark side of vampirism. Henry is refreshingly un-tormented. As the son of Henry VIII, he has a hedonistic view of life. He does not kill in order to feed preferring to seduce women and enjoy a little snack at the same time. Despite his lighter moments, Shcmid makes it clear that Henry is in no way “tame”.
• In some ways Dylan Neal has the hardest role as Mike Celluci. Mike is the “by the book” cop who is still carrying a torch for Vicki. Naturally, he becomes jealous of Vicki’s relationship with Henry, especially after he discovers that Henry is a vampire. Given Henry’s romantic appeal, his foil has an uphill task as a viable romantic interest for Vicki. However, in Neal’s capable hands, Mike remains appealing because of his understated sexiness and his clear love for Vicki.

Enjoyable Secondary Characters

Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (the gold standard in vampire television), Blood Ties is leavened with enjoyable secondary characters. Dr. Rajani Mohadevin, played with sly wit by Nimet Kanji, is the coroner. Mohadevin combines science with an open mind to the supernatural. Kanji steals every scene she’s in. Mike’s current partner, Dave Graham played by Keith Dallas, is a three-time loser in the marriage stakes which he feels gives him an edge in the relationship advice department. He frequently offers tips to Mike on how to win Vicki back.

Season 1 on DVD

Blood Ties began airing on Lifetime in March 2007 and quickly gained a cult following. Season 1 is available on DVD. Disc 4 of the Season 1 DVD set contains a series of “behind the scenes” vignettes featuring interviews with Cox, Neal, Schmid, author Tanya Huff as well as executive producer, Peter Mohan. Season 2 is scheduled to be released on DVD in October 2009. Complete episodes of Season 1 and Season 2 can be viewed at Lifetime.com.

Unlike True Blood, Blood Ties is strictly PG. While there are scenes of sex and violence, they are discreetly filmed. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the heart of Blood Ties is romance. The unresolved sexual tension between Vicki, Mike and Henry keeps viewers coming back for more. And the ghouls of the week are fun too.

Fans of the series might be interested to learn more about the "Blood" books on which the series is based, see the article "Blood Ties the Books Behind the TV Series".

The copyright of the article Blood Ties – TV's Other Vampire Series in Sci-Fi TV is owned by Jo Ann Woodsum. Permission to republish Blood Ties – TV's Other Vampire Series in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Blood Ties	Vicki Nelson	Henry Fitzroy
Mike Celluci

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Comments

Jul 19, 2009 11:48 AM

Guest :

FINALLY, someone who gets this show. Props to you on a great description of this show. Henry didn't whine about his lot in life, he had learned to live with it. He was turned by the woman he loved, he wanted to be with her forever and live forever, even though the territorial issue was there he thought true love would bypass it.

The chemistry between the main characters of this show was magic. What was even more amazing was that Kyle Schmid was only 22 when he started filming this show. He managed to make us believe he was the bastard son of Henry VIII and a vampire to boot. He played the role with the perfect amount of aristrocacy and arrogance that a royal would have. The give and take between Henry and Mike was perfect and had Vicki not entered into the pictures in another time or place they would have probably been good friends as I think they admired each others.

This show was the forerunner of all the current vampire shows that are out now, it aired before Twilight, True Blood and Moonlight. The Blood Books that it was based off preceded Angel, Buffy and all the others yet lifetime in their infinite wisdom chose not to renew the series. Can you say IDIOT!!!!!! My only hope is that with each new vampire movie, with each new rating boost they receive, that it causes great indigestion in the hearts of the idiot lifetime executives that turned their backs on this show. I don't have to name them or her as every Blood Ties fan knows who she is, don't we??

Again, thank you for the great article. You captures a lot of what the series was about.

Jul 21, 2009 3:24 PM

Guest :

Thank you for posting a very well written description of my favorite TV show "Blood Ties". You hit the nail on the head and I need not comment much beyond saying thank you for actually watching (and understanding its appeal) the show before posting your review - refreshing!
I miss Blood Ties and the charismatic cast and I have yet to find another show that offers the same chemistry and fun that Blood Ties had to offer. Lifetime really goofed by cancelling the show. Thanks again.

Jul 22, 2009 6:16 AM

Guest :

Thanks for the great article on 'Blood Ties' - a way better show than several other vampire/detective series, yet sadly overlooked. It is refreshing that Henry is proud of who and what he is and has accepted his vampire lot with good grace and no moping or brooding. He has a good live. All the characters are rich, the mysteries interesting, a lot of humor, and the crackling sexual tension between guys vying for the prickly and commitment phobic Vicky. Also agree the pathologist is a wonderful character and scene stealer. I hope people discover this series in DVD. It ended way before its time.

Aug 2, 2009 10:01 PM

Guest :

Blood Ties, is one the most entertainment Vampire series I have ever see.
Too bad that new seasons have not appeared after the initial sessions.

Aug 24, 2009 10:19 AM

Guest :

Thank you for such a fantastic review of Blood Ties. This show is amazing and really was cancelled before it should have been. It is so rare that you get a show where the entire cast just clicks, and this one had that element in spades, which made the show so much fun to watch. It would be nice is someone out there woke up and saw what great potential is here for at least a movie to wrap up the series.

Again, thank you so much for the great review!

Aug 24, 2009 11:17 AM

Guest :

Spot on review.
Lifetime truly screwed the pooch on this one.
Vicki does have a "Buffy Summers" appeal to her, w/o the woe is me SMG gave off sometimes.
that is said with love, simply adore Buffy Anne Summers.

6 Comments