DVD Review: Moonlight: The Complete Series
WGA-Strike Stricken Short Lived Vampire TV Series Hits DVD
Jan 26, 2009
Brief Overview of Moonlight: The Complete Series
Mick St-John (Alex O'Loughlin) is a very thorough private investigator based in Los Angeles, where he operates his own business, out of his home. Upon investigating the murder of a young woman, he crosses paths with a determined young blonde reporter named Beth Turner, who works for an online publication named Buzzwire.
Mick and Beth often run into each other, as each' investigations inextricably lead to the same clues and culprits. Beth finds that Mick has an incredible talent for finding clues, and catching the bad guy.
Little does she know she is rubbing elbows with an 82-year old vampire
Having been turned by his newlywed bride in the mid 1950's, Mick is a creature of the night, who lives among humans (as does most of the vampire community), using his supernatural senses to detect clues normal humans might miss. Mentored by young looking but centuries-old vampire/wealthy businessman Josef Kosten (Jason Dohring), Mick fights injustice while keeping his secret and that of his fellow immortals', for fear of being hunted down and destroyed.
Each week, Mick and Beth investigate newsworthy crimes which often may or may not have been perpetrated by one of the undead. As the series progresses, Mick and Beth feel drawn to each other, as they discover their past connection, and future together if any.
Overall Analysis of Moonlight: the Complete Series
Following in the vein of previous vampire themed shows to merge with police procedurals (the excellent Forever Knight comes to mind, and Angel to a schlockier extent), Moonlight seemed to have that right balance of drama, mixed with the supernatural themes which wouldn't be out of place in an Anne Rice novel.
Though much of the dialogue was banal at best, there was enough of a decent story in each episode, to provide enough fodder for the requisite elements of any show featuring an immortal bloodsucker -- namely, the use of superhuman senses in finding clues, the mandatory moral tale about learning from one's mistakes after having lived so long, and last but not least, the vamp out scene in the action packed finale.
The show explored the hidden world of vampire society to some extent, all the while explaining its own mythology, which differs somewhat from other vampire genres. For one thing, these vampires can't survive on animal blood, only human blood will do. Also, sunlight will not kill them, but will weaken them considerably. As for the other bits of folklore, they are varied somewhat, with stakes paralyzing a vamp, and only fire or decapitation sufficing in permanently destroying a vampire.
Alex O'Loughlin does a good enough job of narrating and acting in the lead role, and Sophia Myles (who ironically played a vamp herself, in the first Underworld movie) does her best to play perky and determined, being faced with dealing with a true vampire around her on a daily basis. Mind you, she isn't given much to play with, and so she's reduced to somewhat of a borderline supporting role.
Jason Dohring is the most fun to watch, as the ever so cleverand wisecracking Josef Kosten, a vampire so full of himself, whose moral center is somewhat lacking. Josef is at ease killing for blood, yet respects the rules of his people. The interactions between Mick and Josef make for some of the more entertaining relationships on the show.
Look for two episodes of interest, with the pilot displaying much of what to expect out of a powerful yet nobel vampire detective, and "Fleur de Lys" is another, where we learn Coraline's (Shannyn Sossamon) true vampire heritage,which reaches back into some of the great bloodlines of recorded history.
DVD Features
This set is remarkably devoid of features, save perhaps for an audio episode commentary by the star of the show, Alex O'Loughlin.
7 out of 10, for stayig true to its genre, without falling into slapstick and silliness, à la Angel.
 |
 |
