Television Review: The Dresden Files
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this supernaturally tinged crime
drama contains fantasy elements (wizards, ghostly creatures,
magical spells, etc.) that could be scary to younger viewers.
There's some violence, both realistic and fantasy -- such as a
bad guy punching the main character repeatedly, drawing blood.
Other minor adult elements include the main character waking up
in bed with a woman, brief kissing scenes, and a quick look at
a woman in her underwear. Brief glimpses of creepy, mildly
gruesome elements (like a skinless corpse) occur
semi-regularly.
Families can talk about crime shows. What do they all have in
common? What sets this one apart from the others? What's the
appeal of crime dramas? Does the fact that there are so many of
them on TV make crime seem more present in our lives? What
things about police and detective work do people learn from
these shows? Families can also talk about magic. Do you believe
in the kind of supernatural powers Harry has? Why are people so
fascinated by the idea of magic in general?
In THE DRESDEN FILES -- based on the popular books by Jim Butcher -- Chicago-dwelling Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne) is a private detective who also happens to be a wizard. Harry's special powers and connections with otherworldly spirits help him (and hurt him) while he solves cases and assists his friend on the police force, Lt. Connie Murphy (Valerie Cruz). Harry solves crimes and gets to the bottom of mysterious events with the help of his more typically wizard-like sidekick, Bob (Terrence Mann), but Bob's powers are limited, so he often finds himself reluctantly reliant on Harry and the two consequently bristle around each other. While most episodes focus on a single case, clues to Harry's past and larger mysteries -- like the details surrounding his mother's death -- reveal themselves more slowly. The backstory also gets fleshed out through flashbacks that show Harry's non-wizardly father (who, coincidently, was a party magician) raising him.
Thanks to the mystery surrounding the death of his enchanted mother and a childhood spent hiding and honing his magical skills, Harry Dresden superficially resembles another particularly notable wizard named Harry. But this Harry's wry sense of humor and Joe Schmo demeanor set him apart from your typical wand waver. He dates waitresses, drives an ancient Jeep, and looks a little rumpled around the edges.
With some ghoulish figures and potentially scary plotlines -- like the abduction of a child or the evil possession of a schoolteacher (one particularly nasty character magically skinned its victims, leading to brief glimpses of skinless bodies onscreen) -- The Dresden Files is best for mature tweens and up.
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