TV Series: Blood Ties

I just watched the final episode of the second season of "Blood Ties". With a heavy heart. The episode ended on a cliffhanger, but after three years of waiting it looks doubtful there will ever be a third season. This is tragic, since it was one of the most intelligent, thoughtful tv series ever made. Despite the low budget the special effects are never silly or unrealistic. None of the actors were known to me before this series, but they all deliver solid performances.

To summarize the series: Vicki Nelson is an ex-policewoman who quits her job due to her failing eyesight. She starts a private detective agency, hoping to do easy jobs like proving husbands are being unfaithful, but a series of circumstances (which I consider to be spoilers and won't name here) lead to her specialising in supernatural cases. If there's a werewolf, ghost or demon walking the streets of Toronto, Vicki is hired to deal with it.

Vicki is aided by two men in her work. One is her ex-partner from the police force who still works as a cop. The other is a 500-year-old vampire who makes a living writing comic books. Both of them love her, and she's constantly torn between the two of them, unable to choose. This love triangle is a subplot that runs through the whole series, often as important as the supernatural threats themselves.

The series has just been released on Blu-ray, which is an indication that it still has a fan base. While "Blood Ties" follows a similar premise to "Angel", it's far superior. The storylines are darker and more menacing. This series was cancelled way too soon. Tragic.