Plot: What’s it about?
There is never a shortage of police dramas on televisions, as people seem to love the various angles taken on the subject matter. Some shows follow the detectives, like NYPD Blue, some deal with the evidence, such as C.S.I., others follow a well rounded course, like Law and Order, and then we have this installment, Forever Knight. If you’re looking for a fresh take on police shows, then this might be your ticket to ride. In this series, the usual police elements are present, such as dealing with clues, evidence, and witnesses, but our main detective is not the usual one seen on these shows, not even close. That is because in addition to being an officer of the law, Nick Knight (Geraint Wyn Davies) also happens to be a vampire. But he has a disdain for his own kind, to say the least and now he seeks to reclaim his place as a normal human. He has some help from a forensic scientist, a woman known as Dr. Natalie Lambert (Catherine Disher). She has been working on a cure for his supernatural condition, which seems more possible by the second. His quest is blocked by the master vampire Lucien LaCroix (Nigel Bennett), who will not have Knight turned back to his human state, even if it means taking numerous lives. Can Knight somehow return to his old life, all while keeping justice intact on the streets, balancing his own personal life, and trying to suppress the urges that come with his affliction?
I know, the concept of a vampire cop sounds kind of lame, but trust me, this series is good and only gets better in later seasons. I suppose it could be because I am a fan of horror movies and some police dramas, which makes me kind of a target viewer, but even so, I was skeptical when I sat down with Forever Knight. I ended up liking the first season a lot, but the episodes in later seasons are even better, so there is a lot to look forward to with this series. In this second season, all the structure is in place and the show begins to roll, as the story moves forward, thanks to less exposition. Once the basics of the world of the show are unfurled, the story gets complex and the Forever Knight world expands. Never to an extent of confusion, but the simple texture of most of these episodes isn’t indicative of the entire series. We needed the slow start though, to get used to what the rules of Forever Knight were. So sit back and enjoy this first season, then get ready for things to kick off once more sets have been released. This is by no means a great series however, just a solid one with some fresh substance. The wait between seasons was quite extensive, but the fans maintained interest and Columbia has delivered, with this second set of episodes. The audio and video are on the same level, so some problems persist, but the studio has given the fans some solid supplements. That leaves me to give this second volume of Forever Knight a recommended, but let’s hope the third set comes sooner than later.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. I was still let down in this area, as the episodes don’t look that impressive. I am unsure if compression is an issue here, but it would seem to be, as the episodes just have that overly compressed texture. I saw a lot of jagged edges and shimmering objects, not what we want to have present. The show has dark visuals also, which makes things even more difficult. Now, I wouldn’t call these episodes unwatchable or even close to that, but I do think the visuals could have been enhanced. Then again, given the show’s limited audience, I doubt a new edition will be unveiled anytime soon. So while rather mediocre, at least the episodes look passable.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here sounds much like it would have when the show was broadcast, as the original stereo soundtracks are preserved. As the audio is stereo, there isn’t much depth or presence to speak of, but then again, the material doesn’t need much. In other words, the elements are all in proper order and sound good, but don’t expect the kind of dynamic presence a full on surround mix could provide. Even so, there is some nice separation in the audio here, which adds at least a little spice to the experience. The music sounds good too, while dialogue is crisp and clean at all times in all of the episodes. In an unusual move from Columbia, no alternate language tracks or subtitles have been included, which is a disappointment. If nothing else, optional English subtitles should have been tacked on, but no such luck.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The first volume was devoid of supplements of any kind, but this time, we’ve been given a decent selection of extras. A select assortment of episodes include audio commentary tracks, with creator James Parriott and stars Geraint Wyn Davies and Nigel Bennett. These sessions prove to be quite good, with a brisk pace and a wealth of behind the scenes information. I do wish all the episodes could have graced with these tracks, but even so, I am pleased to have the ones that were included. You can also watch a featurette that examines the show’s process, as well as a “questions from the fans” segment. In the latter, the stars from the commentary tracks return to answer questions posed by the show’s fans. All in all, a solid collection of extras, but let’s hope to see a few more audio commentary tracks on the third volume.
