gsrwrites

Let me start this off by talking about that other wizard named Harry. The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter himself, subject of seven books and eight movies. You now the one.

NO

YES

I lived and breathed those books in the day. I got my hands on them just as the movies were coming out and so I knew them before and better than the movies. Harry Potter is the books. They were my first love, and I’m prejudiced in their favor. That’s the way it goes and it’s not because the movies are worse or even bad. It’s a silly emotionally based thing but they win in my fandom devotion. Thus, I hate the movies. Every little stupid detail that was changed, cut, and merged is a war crime as I see it. Snape being ten years older than in the books is enough to make the movies a monstrosity in my mind. I know people outside my bubble of fandom interest consider it an academic subject. I know the arguments for it. I don’t care. The books will always be first. I don’t claim it’s logical.

It works that way for the Dresden Files too.

My exposure pre-show was reading one short story in an anthology. Okay, it was pretty good, fantasy is okay, I guess, this Dresden character seems interesting enough. I didn’t read any more. Then comes this TV show. I like the show fine. I came to it clean from influence from the books, so I approached it based on its own merits. If you are a diehard bookie, you are likely to have some problems. To me, they are academic.

So here’s what I like about this series.

1. Paul Blackthorne. PB for short. Saves typing time.

He is a joy to watch. I would probably sit through this show, whatever it was, for him. I like his face, I like his look, I like the way he talks and moves. He is charming and tragic, adorable with a quietly miserable quality I find fascinating. I caught a bit of a CW show on TV the other day and happened to see this guy on it. I sat through the last half hour of ‘Arrow’ for PB. He has depth. He is also scruffy and a bit of a shmuck. I don’t know much about Harry in the books. Does he capture him? Beats me. But I like this Harry. He is full of guilt and self-hatred, an idealist twisted into a cynic through his exposure to evil—some of it through his own hand. Those themes resonate with me. He is trying so hard to do good, to be good. PB brings that through.

I perused some fan art of the books and noticed Harry tends to be depicted rather more attractive, younger, cooler than PB. I like this Harry world-weary, mature, and sad. He looks poor. He has a tough time following orders and fitting in. He’s a natural trouble-maker who gets into messes and uses sarcasm as self-defense. A hero because he fights the darkness within himself. That’s the show, anyway.

2. Bob.

Bob in the books is a spirit of intellect housed inside a skull who makes dirty jokes and snarks around. What is a spirit of intellect and why should I care? Bob on TV is a dead human who looks like Terrence Mann. Superior by far. I empathize with someone who has human emotions, motivations, and can make facial expressions. Just for that he’s better, but one of the real highlights of the show is the relationship between Bob and Harry. There’s more going on here than having an actor to act with.

Familial camaraderie is infectious in TV shows. A smart show will grab onto that and not let go. We feel like this group of people are our friends, like we’re friends with them. Dresden gets that through Bob and Harry. Harry has a friend in this show, someone he’s known a long time, a family member almost, who knows everything about him, and they’ve gotten used to each other’s quirks and personalities and it just flows from them effortlessly. That human connection is beautiful. Besides all the writing bits this smoothes out—giving someone to explain the plot to, someone who comes up with plot fixes because he knows a bunch of stuff, having them discuss backstories and plot points together—giving Harry a friend he can intimately connect with, was genius.

I praised PB and TM needs credit too. I like his Shakespeare vibe. TM has charisma, he knocks those lines out like polishing up a cheap fake makes it look like the real deal. He’s funny, he’s sad, he quips and bites and makes you want to give him a hug. Watching him spar with PB is plain good TV.

3. Realism.

One thing that got me looking into the world of Dresden is its relation to the pulpy crime novels of the Dashiell Hammett age. I love that hardboiled stuff and Butcher gives it a healthy blend with urban fantasy, for flavor. Hammett is good, but a little fantasy might just bring it up to something really special. I wish I could have followed that idea through, but I had a tough time reading the books just because of it. I tried to read two of them and made it halfway through. It’s a taste thing. If you like fantasy, that’s great. I like my fantasy on the light side, magic-lite, let’s say. A world rather like this one we’re in, but with just a few differences if you know where to look. I prefer it grounded. The show gets a lot of flak for toning down the magic, and it does. I think they did this for two reasons. One, it’s expensive. Less magic equals less special effects, no duh. Two, most people don’t like genre shows. Even on the Sci-Fi channel. Everybody likes detective shows (or we wouldn’t have so many confounded procedurals following the formula ‘they solve crimes’). Plot-in-a-bag, tried and true, make it a detective show. They want it to appeal, so they limited the CGI monsters and constant sparkly lights. Bookies hate it. I kinda like it.

I like magic mysterious, organic, a little unknowable. There probably is a way to understand it, but like a lot of things in life, I sure don’t. So a guy waves his hand and that makes something happen. I don’t know how my laptop works, and I’m fine with that too. Mystery is part of life. This grounding in reality bleeds into other areas of the show. Harry wears an ordinary-ish coat, not a trench coat. Because it looks realer. He uses a souped-up hockey stick instead of a carved wizard staff, because it’s more likely for people to be carrying a hockey stick around. There is no SI department in the Chicago PD because there couldn’t be one in real life. Magic-lite.

That’s the good stuff I get out of it. This show ain’t perfect though. The writing is okay. Not great. Not ‘Danger Man’ good. The times are far between when I think, “Dang, that was a sharp piece of writing there”. This show is fun and it’s a diversion. I’m not bored watching it. It’s cool, it’s sleek, it has a jivey rhythm that flows with Harry’s narration even when it’s not pumping out well-crafted lines. I never wince at the dialogue, and sometimes it’s really pretty good.

Plots. Eh. Who watches TV for plots? Characters and worlds rope people in, and this show has that. It would have benefitted from a solid over-arc, if only because monster of the week is trite. Building up the world and the strange people in it are highlights of the plotting. You get the sense they were just waiting to let these characters loose and see what cool things they’d do. I don’t really care what the plots were. They’re just tools to get the real story going about Harry and his struggles and exploring this twisted gritty Chicago. I don’t blame the writers for forgettable plots. The first season is always hindered with introductions and you can’t judge it on that. Given time to mature, the episodic stories would have improved.

First seasons don’t count anyway. MASH’s first season of goofy, wicked humor is unrecognizable from the later saccharine-flavored political orgy for which it is best known and loved. Supernatural went from a testosterone-charged road trip horror show to Dean and Sam crying on each other’s shoulders every five minutes when they’re not stopping the apocalypse…again. Left to grow, it would have hit a groove. I wanted to see more of the world and the plot possibilities just begging to get out, maybe more incorporation of material from the books (Molly? Thomas?), everything getting into that sweet spot where the writers and crew know where they’re going but haven’t gotten there yet. It could only have gotten better.

Moving on from this, what’s next? I’m going to try to pick up the books again, after watching the series through. I liked the short story I read so I’m opting for Side Jobs. Short is my forte and it breaks the intimidation factor of a—what is it now? 14 part series? Dense indeed. The fandom rightfully belongs to the bookies so I can’t see much future with fanfiction, since I’m not there yet and might not make it ever.

Honorable mentions:

Love Morgan. He’s normally the type I find more interesting (Knight Templar, humorless, weird, captain of a secret society…He’s Eliot Ness as a wizard), but in this case I like him as a foil to Harry and a friendly enemy.

The sets are so good. No good pictures online.

Nicholas Cage produced. Many influences from Sorcerer’s Apprentice apparent. Both have a similar vibe.

gsrwrites

Research on the Medjai sword. Fanfic likes to call it a scimitar, but it is not so. I saw it once refered to as a flamberge, but this is a European sword of very different origins. As far as I can tell, the Medjai sword is a stylized version of the Turkish yatagan (or yataghan).

Actual prop from The Mummy Returns:



This sword is unusual because of its forward-curved blade, which is not seen in many curved swords. This fact launched my research.









The Media sword exaggerates the curve and features a streamlined hilt, but the styles are very similar.

"It consisted of a single-edged blade with a marked forward curve and a hilt formed of two grip plaques attached through the tang, the end of the hilt being shaped like large ears. The gap between the grips is covered by a metal strap, which is often decorated. The blade varies from 60 to 80 cm in length and is curved forward (like the Iberian falcata, or Greek kopis), sometimes reclining backwards again towards the very end. This blade form is often referred to as being 'recurved.' While the back of the blade is made of softer steel, the sharp edge is made of hard, tempered steel for durability."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatagan

Check out the pommel as well:




Clearly based on the dual grip construction on the yatagan.



Some other forward-curved bladed weapons are the kukri knife, although these are from way over in Nepal so I can't see much relation except accidentally :



There may also be some relation to the Persian pesh-kabz.





Although these are primarily thrusting daggers designed to penetrate chain mail, they may have influenced the design of the Medjai sword seen in the film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesh-kabz

None of these weapons are Egyptian in origin, or even as far as I can tell, widely used in Egypt. The Medjai don't seem to prefer swords evolved from those of ancient Egypt like the shotel and khopesh, which would make sense given their origins. However, they obviously became Arabized at some point, so Arab weapons are acceptable, but Turkish? I have seen little information on swords used by Bedouins and other nomadic groups. Here's this bit of information:

"The traditional sword of the Bedouin tribes that live in the Sinai Peninsula, in Israel and in Jordan. The Bedouin swordsmiths will use every available blade for their swords. I have seen blades of Turkish Kilij’s, Persian Shamshir or even European military saber blades re-mounted in the classical style of the horn hilt – in a simplified Shashka hilt form."
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=67

Tuareg swords:

"Takoba (also takuba or takouba) is the sword that is used across the western Sahel and among ethnic groups such as the Tuareg, the Hausa, the Fulani. It usually measures about one meter. Takoba blades can exhibit several notable features, including three or more hand-ground fuller grooves and a rounded point. The word, takoba, is derived from Hausa takobi^[1], but is also used among other peoples Tuareg and the Fulani. Takoba were also commonly manufactured in Hausa city states such as Kano.

Since the Tuareg have an aversion to touching iron, the takoba's handle, like many iron implements, is covered in bronze or other material.

There is much debate about whether the takoba was used only by the imúšaɣ or warrior class or whether it could be borne by vassals.

As with most crafted items used by the Tuareg, takoba are crafted by the ìnhædʻæn (singular énhædʻ) caste, who are of a different ethnicity from the imúšaɣ and speak Ténet, a secret language. The imúšaɣ believe that theìnhædʻæn have magical powers, which some theorize to be associated with their traditional roles as metalworkers and to the imúšaɣ aversion to both metalworking and touching iron." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takoba

I don't believe the Bedouin ever developed a distinct style of sword. Here are some pictures of Bedouins with swords.







All the pictures I have seen resemble the scimitar with its single, downward curve. Fanfics often refer to Ardeth's sword as a scimitar, but even though I cite chief influence from the yatagan, it makes about as much sense to call the sword of the Medjai a yatagan as it does scimitar. Scimitar does have a nice ring and Middle Eastern sound to it though, and is very recognizable. Perhaps calling it a "saif", Arabic for sword, is the best bet.

gsrwrites

THE OUTCAST
Drake does American accent for most of it. Nice. Good look at a job that clearly makes him feel guilty.

SOMEONE IS LIABLE TO GET HURT
This one is just terrible. Hacky gadgets, lame plotlines, random stuff that makes no sense. The only way this can fit in with the rest of the series is if Drake is telling this as a story to some enemy interrogator and making a bunch of stuff up. Otherwise, the storyline with the gunrunners was a good idea, but so poorly executed. Only good part was Drake operating a radio set. Oh, and he can fly helicopters, apparently. As far as I'm concerned, this episode never happened.

JUDGEMENT DAY
Drake must protect a Nazi war criminal from Israeli commandos out for revenge. Notable: Drake looks miserable and tired straight through, as he just came off some other, unseen job and suddenly is put on a new assignment. Scruffy indeed. An absolute chain smoker in this episode. Some great lines about duty. Love the part where he finds out what the war criminal did. One of the meaner episodes.



TO OUR BEST FRIEND
Drake apparently has a best friend named Bill Vincent in Baghdad, a fellow M9 agent. I am convinced Drake has major respect for the sanctity of marriage. Bill's wife knows exactly how to play off it to get him to buy her story.  Brief reference to Colony 3, I think. Some interesting comments on loyalty. Excellent scene with Drake crashing into an opposition agent's car and their ensuing, extremely subtle, verbal sparring. Also good stuff with Drake failing to intimidate his wicked superior. Thought it should have ended with Bill running away with his wife back to the Soviets, and possibly getting killed in the process. Instead Drake saves the day.



MAN ON THE BEACH
Features the tried and true plot of spy set up by his handlers, and forced to clear his name. Another of those Drake in the jungle episodes. Drake dances. He is the only man who can get away with lounging on the beach fully clothed. Favorite part is where the crestfallen and recently escaped Drake draws "?!" in the sand. The only time I can recall that Drake is seriously injured (by machete, naturally).



Just to show Drake can use a gun.

The Top Episodes:
Yesterday's Enemies
Colony Three
A Date with Doris
It's Up to the Lady
Judgement Day
The Outcast
To Our Best Friend
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk

Honorable Mentions:
The Battle of the Cameras
No Marks for Servility
Don't Nail Him Yet
Whatever Happened to George Foster
Parallell Lines Sometimes Meet
Sting in the Tail
English Lady Takes Lodgers
Are You Going to be More Permanent?
I'm Afraid You Have the Wrong Number

The Worst Episodes:
Such Men are Dangerous
Someone is Liable to Get Hurt
The Hunting Party
The Man with the Foot
Koroshi
Shinda Shima

The only saving grace of the final two color eps in McGoohan's blue eyes. Everything else--terrible.

My favorite episodes deal directly with Drake's difficulties with his trade and the moral quandries it puts him in. I just like that, so even though the honorable mentions are excellent episodes with fine plots and all that other stuff, they were lacking in that element of ethical spycraft that I find most interesting about this show.

Does this conclude then my foray into Danger Man? I would like to get my hands on the first series now. I hear good things about it.