Demons

Meds · January 03, 2009, 10:47:35 AM

A new starts tonight on UK channel ITV.

A new show starts on UK channel ITV tonight called Demons.

Philip Glenister (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes) returns to ITV in a fantastical new drama series: a contemporary spin on the legacy of Bram Stoker's Dracula set above and beneath the streets of modern-day London.

Glenister plays Rupert Galvin, a larger-than-life American with a tragic past and a zero tolerance policy to the rabble of mythical "half-life" entities that exist all around us. When he bursts into the life of his teenage godson, Luke (Christian Cooke – Echo Beach, Robin Hood), whose father died in mysterious circumstances 15 years before, little does Luke know what will be thrust upon him.

There are supernatural forces of evil at work and it is Luke's destiny, as the last descendent of the Van Helsing line, to smite the half-lives that stalk our streets. A unique online experience, Demons: The game, will accompany the show allowing players to immerse themselves in Luke's deadly mission.

While trying to juggle an ordinary life of school exams, parties and learning to drive – not to mention keeping it all from his mum - Luke is catapulted into a world of vampires, demons and zombies, along with his best friend Ruby (Holliday Grainger – The Bad Mother's Handbook, Waterloo Road). But he remains cool – it's in his blood after all...

Helping Galvin to train Luke in his quest is the beautiful but icy cold Mina Harker (Zoe Tapper - Affinity, A Harlot's Progress) a blind concert pianist with a history, who is also the foremost authority on the undesirable entities preying on humanity. The sinister and mouldering Father Simeon (Richard Wilson – One Foot In The Grave, Merlin) is Luke's other source of information on the lore and myth behind the creatures he faces.

But before they have time to properly prepare Luke, he is faced with a daunting opponent in the form of the villainous Gladiolus Thrip (Mackenzie Crook -The Office, Pirates of the Caribbean) a sinister vampire with a burning hatred for the Van Helsing line and all they stand for.

Throughout the series Luke faces an array of terrifying adversaries – including the half-man half-rat Mr Tibbs (Kevin McNally – Pirates of the Caribbean), who bears a deep and personal grudge against a member of the team...

Producer Julian Murphy explains what attracts him and fellow producer Johnny Capps to the supernatural genre.

"It's simple; the script and storytelling process allow us to use our imaginations in ways that simply aren't acceptable in your average cop show. And then there's the challenge of realising that vision. It's much more exciting when you don't know how to bring something to the screen!

"We focused on the Van Helsing legacy because it gives us a ready made mythology and experience has taught us that this is very important in dramas of this kind. But perhaps the most important inspiration was London itself and, more importantly, the secret world that lies beneath those very clean and modern streets."

Dangelus · January 04, 2009, 10:37:03 AM

Have been looking forward to this! Must make sure media center is set to 'record series' now....

iceman · January 04, 2009, 11:38:01 AM

This looks cool

Dangelus · January 06, 2009, 02:14:11 AM

Watched the first episode yesterday. Looks promising.

Anybody else catch it?

Meds · January 06, 2009, 11:37:51 AM

I posted this lin and i still havn't got round to watching the episode. Going to put it on tomorrow, so i'll post back then. Some reports here In the UK have not been great but i take no notice of that though It may be because of Gleinisters US accent, Dangelus have you read anything as well?

Dangelus · January 06, 2009, 12:38:58 PM

Not read anything yet, like you I like to make up my own mind. I enjoyed it. It was the pilot and I think it has established plenty in one episode. Won't go into anything now as you have yet to watch it but I would be interested in your thoughts then.

celestialteapot · January 08, 2009, 07:03:23 PM

We were planning to watch it between shows at work but it unfortunately tied in a certain announcement from the BBC that had pretty much the entire show staff in the crew room... ;-)

X · January 08, 2009, 07:25:03 PM

I saw it and I actually liked it and found it a good source of entertainment from across the pond.

Dangelus · January 08, 2009, 11:44:08 PM

Yeah, as I said it has promise. It obviously recycles some ideas but it would be difficult not to considering the subject / genre. Again, early days but I was quite impressed with the productions values, sets / location etc are good. Looking forward to future shows.

Geoff G.o.B · January 09, 2009, 08:57:29 AM

gotta say I'm not planning on watching many more. The title screen looked like something off CBBC (kiddies tv channel). Glennister's accent was awful and totally out of place. Don't get me wrong, after life I Mars I think Glenister is a legend and his gritty British accent would have been perfect for this.
Its trying to be a British Buffy but won't take itself seriously enough. Both Torchwood and Dr Who have the right mix of humour and darkness to make them work, this first episode lacked that.
It felt like I was watching a Halloween special of Hollyoaks (Beverley Hills 90210 to our American chums), I fear its got a lot of work to do if its going to become popular in my household. :thumbsdown

Dangelus · January 09, 2009, 10:24:38 AM

It borrows a lot from Buffy maybe. I can't understand why they made that character an American when his accent is really not up to par, it was not necessary for the plot. It is set in London but the 'kids' have regional accents. Very Hollyoaks!

I think what has got me interested are the Demons. I thought they were well done and I like the classification system they use. It is VERY early days so I am going to give it a chance.

X · January 09, 2009, 01:52:14 PM

Quote from: Dangelus on January 09, 2009, 10:24:38 AM
It borrows a lot from Buffy maybe. I can't understand why they made that character an American when his accent is really not up to par, it was not necessary for the plot. It is set in London but the 'kids' have regional accents. Very Hollyoaks!

I think what has got me interested are the Demons. I thought they were well done and I like the classification system they use. It is VERY early days so I am going to give it a chance.

Accent not up to par? As an American, I thought the guy was a midwestern american. I didn't even realize that he wasn't.

Dangelus · January 09, 2009, 02:56:25 PM

Really? That's interesting. It's not terribly bad but maybe because he is a well known face over here and being British myself I am picking up the British nuances in his voice?

X · January 09, 2009, 03:28:53 PM

That might be it. Maybe it's all part of expectations. You expect him to have Brit undertones and find them. I have no expectations and thus can see him speaking in one of the numerous American dialects.

Dangelus · January 15, 2009, 11:49:41 AM

Anybody been watching this then?

Watched the second episode a couple of nights ago. I'm still going to give it a chance but I can see so much 'Buffy' in this in terms of setup but it is nowhere near as good.

The best thing about this episode was Richard Wilson. I hope he is in it a lot more.