Lifetime launched a new television series on Sunday, March 11, 2007, entitled “Blood Ties.” The series centers on a young former female cop named Vicki Nelson. She left the force because of a degenerative eye problem that would have tied her to a desk job. Instead, she now owns her own business as a private detective.
One evening as Vicki is headed home from a failed date, she witnesses a gruesome murder. The problem is that her failing eyesight has her questioning exactly what she saw. That, coupled with the fact that the assailant disappears essentially right before her eyes, has Vicki somewhat puzzled and intrigued. But her ex-boyfriend, police detective Mike Cellucci warns against getting involved.
Vicki considers taking his advice. That is, until she is approached by the murder victim’s girlfriend, Coreen, who wants her to investigate the murder. The girl is convinced that her former lover was killed by a vampire and she wants Vicki to prove it. Although the detective doesn’t believe the girl’s story, she eventually agrees to investigate further since it will allow her to explore.
Before very long, three murders have taken place with the only thing they appear to have in common being the method by which they were killed. Vicki, with the help of the coroner, determines that there is a lot of strange evidence in the case like salvia that doesn’t match anything human or animal and a bat’s wing at the crime scene that turns out not to quite be a bat’s wing. All in all, things are not adding up.
Although Vicki wants to disprove the vampire theory, it becomes more and more difficult to do, particularly once she discovers that the sites for the killings, when plotted, begin to form a pentagram.
Meanwhile, a third person is also looking into the murders. The attractive young man, named , Henry Fitzroy, seeks to prove that a vampire did not kill the victims in question. Why? Because, he is a vampire who doesn’t want his kind blamed for murders they did not commit. He, too, discovers the pentagram link and ends up at the next potential crime scene right along with Vicki.
The two investigators fail to save the life of the proposed fourth victim. However, they save his friend, in the process, learn a lot about each other. They agree to team up to solve the case. Henry shares information with Vicki about the lower level demon that he believes is committing the murders. He also warns her that, should he succeed in completing all the murders on behalf of his human master, that act will release a much more powerful demon; one with which Henry is all too familiar.
Vicki and Henry save yet another victim but this time Henry is mortally wounded and must feed on Vicki to survive. This act bonds the two together. They manage to track down the human who started the whole situation. It turns out that he did it in order to gain the power and control over – – of all people – – Coreen Fennel, the girlfriend of the victim of the murder that Vicki first witnessed.
Henry and Vicki, of course, manage to save the day at the last possible moment and, in the process, begin the friendship that will be the basis for the show as Vicki teeters between Henry and former love, detective Cellucci.
Christina Cox plays Vicki Nelson with intelligence, spunk, and a quiet sexuality that is bound to grow as her relationship with Henry develops. She is appealing and fun to watch on screen with just the right amount of spice and vinegar to temper her obvious physical attributes.
Kyle Schmid as Henry Fitzroy is appropriately sexy and charming, as one has come to expect from those portraying vampires on screen. However, he also brings an unusual warmth and wit to the role that is somewhat uncommon. He has obvious chemistry with Cox so it should be fun to see where that takes the pair.
Dylan Neal as Mike Cellucci is equally handsome (blond to offset Schmid’s dark looks). However, I find him a little grating on the nerves, condescending, and far less of an equal match to Cox’s character. But this is, after all, just the first episode so we’ll have to see where that relationship might go.
Gina Holden, as Coreen, who it seems will become Vicki’s assistant, is an intriguing addition to the mix. We didn’t see enough of her in this episode to gage her value as an actress but she is certain attractive enough and appears to be every bit the spitfire that Cox is so they should make a good duo.
I couldn’t find the name of the coroner. She may only be a reoccurring role. I hope not, though, as I thought she added a bit of fun and mystery into the mix.
I’m impressed with the show thusfar. It is well done; classy and very much in the film noir method that is popular today. It think it is gritty and kind of fun, filling a hole that was left after “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” went off the air. However, it is too early to say if this one can keep up the pace and the quality. If it can, Lifetime may have a hit on its hands.
