Dresden Files DVDs

I haven't read any of the Dresden novels, but I wanted to learn a bit about them due to the upcoming Dresden Files RPG. Normally I wouldn't care anything about a licensed game based on a property that I was unfamiliar with, but this game is going to use the Fate system. As I've mentioned before, that's a system that I'm quite interested in.

A quick look at some online reviews indicated that the Dresden Files TV series was favorably viewed by at least some of the fans of the books. Taking this as a good sign, I ordered the first (and only) season on DVD.

My wife and I watched all twelve episodes over the space of two days, and they were quite enjoyable. The acting is generally good, the stories are entertaining, and the presence of a few meta-plots makes for some extra interest. For the record, most of the meta-plots appear to be resolved, or at least partly resolved, over the course of the single season. The main one that I felt was unresolved was more of a "where are they going to go with this?" situation than it was a "what the hell is going on here?" situation. So, the ending of the series doesn't leave you on a cliffhanger.

The special effects are mostly good as long as they are kept to minor effects, but the few fully animated creatures aren't really rendered all that well. Fortunately, they are kept mostly to the shadows.

With vampires, werewolves, ghosts and wizards, this should be a good series for anyone who's a fan of fantasy set in the modern day. I'm generally not, and yet I still enjoyed them.

Finally, I feel reasonably well enough educated on the universe of the Dresden Files to better appreciate the game when it comes out. I may still try to read one or more of the novels if I have time, but if I don't then I'll at least have some idea of what's going on when I read or play the game.