The Dresden Files: What About Bob?

Starting with a "previously on ..." (always a good sign for continuity), then jumping straight into the meat of the episode with Dresden's new girlfriend (whatever happened to Susan?) stealing Bob's skull, What About Bob? is a lot darker and more sinister than recent episodes (particularly last week's Charmed-lite debacle), exploring both Bob's backstory and Harry's childhood, his father's death and his subsequent upbringing by his creepy uncle, Justin Morningway (Bob's original owner).

Sprinkled with flashbacks and tie-ins to earlier episodes (including Detective Murphy's brush with black magic in The Boone Identity), the story ups the ante for Harry as Murphy reopens the five-year-old investigation into the death of Justin Morningway, suspecting that Harry may not be as innocent as he always claimed. Tensions rise as their friendship is put to under severe pressure, and even Bob's loyalty is sorely tested as a surprising Big Bad (who, sadly, doesn't appear to be sticking around) offers him the chance to regain his corporeal form.

Magic is well used, the story holds together and everyone acts their socks off - making What About Bob? the best episode of the series to date.

The Dresden Files: Walls

This episode of The Dresden Files was another doozie. Walls was the story of a gang of students using an evil magical artifact to pull off sensational robberies, with Harry being drawn in after the girlfriend of one is killed outside his office in what appears to be a hit'n'run.

Anyway, definitely creepy, these kids running around with the severed hand of a dead thief and using it to walk through walls. Extra creep points for the hand being covered in wax and used as a candle, and the bits where the ghost of said thief materializes while riding around in the body of one of said hapless kids.

"Oh no I have an Evil Hand" is totally what I kept thinking all throughout this episode. That one line from Angel is forever emblazoned into my memory, I swear.

I liked the remarks about how technology doesn't work for him, and the bit where he and Bob were flabbergasted that his answering machine actually picked up a message for once was great. I especially liked how Bob wished him luck turning it on.

And this played nicely into Harry revealing how a tech-impaired wizard does his spying: with bees in a jar. Yeep! Very clever use of sympathetic magic there, not to mention a way to get the audience cringing as he puts that jar up by his ear and his eye!

And speaking of things that were pretty cool: Harry throwing fire around at the end! FINALLY! It's about time we see him pull a fireball on something!

Another creep-inducing moment where the boys are coming out of the bank and one of 'em gets chopped in half coming out through the wall.

Touching on the side effects of Harry's powers again, and of magic in general, the main "in universe" thrust of this tale is to highlight the dangerous consequences of using black magic, prompting a show-stealing, understated performance from Conrad Coates as Morgan, the High Council Warden, and the appearance of a gruesome waxy monster. Terrance Mann also delivers on the Bob front, as always, meaning that even though this might not be quite as strong as the last couple of episodes, the powerful performances bring it so close as to still merit an A- Grade!

Walls also drops another hint about Harry's shady past as well as further insight into Bob's character, which goes a long way to creating the world building illusion that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Good writing is what will ultimately make or break this show and its recent track record suggests that - as long as they continue with this calibre of material - the show could have a long and healthy life. Battlestar Galactica has just been renewed for a fourth season, so, with bigger viewing figures (if not the critical acclaim), I would guess that the short term future, at least, is secure for The Dresden Files

Soup of the Week & The Dresden Files: Soul Beneficiary

This soup tastes like you spent all day cooking. Plus you can spoon the leftovers over baked potatoes!

Broccoli-Cheese Noodle Soup

1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli
2 oz angel hair pasta (not sure how to measure this out - I had too many noodles)
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup water
3/4 cup milk
Pepper
6 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
1/2 cup sour cream

Cook both the broccoli and pasta according to package directions; drain. In a large saucepan, melt butter, stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in the water, milk and pepper until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted. Stir in the broccoli, pasta and sour cream; heat through (do not boil).

The Dresden Files: Soul Beneficiary

Waking up in bed with room service delivered by a pretty blonde would make any sane man question his luck–and might even cause a bit of confusion Heh. Well, that’s what happened to Harry Dresden.

This episode had Harry investigating a case of black magic. At first, it just seemed a run of bad luck with two people dying in his apartment. One was a client, one was the client’s wife. Both died supposedly of heart attacks. Yet, the thing was that Harry found out neither really had died.

Come to find out, the wife was in league with a morgue assistant who just so happened to be a dark wizardess. The scheme they had was simple. Drug an unsuspecting man, move him to another city, and have think he was married. Then, with a life insurance policy taken out, the wizardess would kill them and then resurrect the man after having collected the money and start the process all over again. Neat trick, huh? Yeah. That was until Harry Dresden got involved.

The two women, who turned out to be lovers as well as partners-in-crime, abducted Harry and set out to do the same scheme using him. However, it backfired, of course, and Harry was able to escape. It was hilarious when the one woman (the one playing the wife) was trying to kill him, and he was like, “wait honey, can’t we talk this out?” Heck, she was wielding a fireplace poker at him! I guess that’s what drugs do to you. Then, when Murphy came to pick him up, she had to help him into the Suburban she was driving, twice. He climbed out. Now, that was funny.

Oh, the skull Bob lives in is supposedly his own skull. That is to say: his skull when he actually had a body. That was his punishment. Apparently, he’d brought back to life the woman he loved using a resurrection spell, which is against the laws of magic–because it’s considered dark magic. So, now he has to spend eternity as a ghost inside his own skull. Yikes! Nice touch, though.

The Dresden Files: Bad Blood

This episode we're treated to the Dresden Files' take on the world of vampires. We learn a little bit more about "The High Council" and Harry's past. But I just wasn't that impressed with much about the show.

The take on vampires found here is the same take on vampires found just about anywhere. They like to dress up and be sexy, they hang out in clubs, they're immortal and bisexual. These vampires also congregate in 'houses' - similar to the Blade series. Only here it's the "Red House" - where Dresden's friend Bianca resides - and the "Black House" - comprised of vampires who can't afford swanky digs and instead live in seedy apartments.

Bob insists that Harry shouldn't trust Bianca because she'd kill him if given the chance. However, we never see why this is the case. In the flashbacks to when Bianca and Harry met, they have sex and she protects him - but there's no sign of her betraying him or trying to kill him. In fact, he asks her to kill him (in one of the few interesting and revealing moments of the episode) but she refuses.

Less interesting than the vampires is Clive, the vampire hunter. Dresden uses a nifty magic trick to examine Bianca's bodyguard's eye and get a perspective on who is trying to kill Bianca. He immediately declares that "it's Clive." We learn that Clive is a nasty contract killer used by the High Council. Harry somehow knows it was Clive because men in masks hopped out of an unmarked van with machine guns and crossbows. Black ski masks and white vans are the tell tale signs of the High Council's hit man? Not only is this particularly lame, but the action in the episode is directed with all the intensity of a slow motion re-enactment from Unsolved Mysteries.

When the climactic confrontation happens, Harry is shot in the back with two crossbow bolts. He howls in pain and collapses. Harry then shoots two bad guys in the back with a crossbow and then takes out Bianca's traitorous girlfriend. How does he do it? We have no idea because it's never revealed. Harry just manages to get up, somehow grab a crossbow and fire two bolts in rapid succession and then save the day. There's no logic to it, it's lazy and silly.

Was there anything worthwhile in the show? Barely. The episode revealed some more information about how the High Council functions and a bit more about Harry's past with his uncle. We know he was, at one time, wanted for using black magic to kill his uncle. As a supernatural detective series, The Dresden Files is unavoidably compared to Angel (one of my favorite shows). By incorporating vampires into an episode, that comparison is now all the more fitting, and Dresden comes off looking like a pale and entirely unworthy entry in the genre.

Soup of the Week & The Dresden Files: Rules of Engagement

This hearty three-bean soup is very easy to fix.

Taco Bean Soup

1 lb pork sausage

1 lb ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

4 cups water

2 cans (16 oz/e) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans (15 oz/e) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans (15 oz/e) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans (14 1/2 oz/e) stewed tomatoes

2 cans (14 1/2 oz/e) Mexican diced tomatoes, undrained.

1 jar (16 oz) chunky salsa

Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced ripe olives - all optional

In a soup kettle, cook sausage & beef; drain. Add taco seasoning and mix well. Stir in the water, beans, tomatoes, and salsa. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Garnish with sour cream, cheese, and olives if desired.

The Dresden Files: Rules of Engagement

Another enjoyable episode, with some good plotting, a chance for Harry to showcase some more magical abilities, and some nice snide remarks from Bob. I'm liking Bob more as the show progresses--of course I'm also liking the show itself more as it progresses, so I suppose the two go hand-in-hand.

The hi-jinks get underway when Harry's new client, Nikki, walks in the door, wanting him to help her find her Aunt Frida's boyfriend, a Mr. Primko, who apparently high-tailed it with Aunt Frida's money. Searching for Primko, Harry finds a body that's been scorched to death by a hellion. Morgan, from the White Council, sticks his nose in, as he has some interest in the case, then Murphy arrives. They both seem convinced Harry had something to do with Primko's death.

Then Harry discovers that Nikki isn't Nikki at all, but a Caryn Harris, and she's being pursued by Sarota, a menacing sort who destroys Harry's wand and otherwise causes problems. I don't like him. Things gradually become clear as I discover that Primko was himself a hellion, a recruit of Sarota. Sarota makes hellions, one of whom is Caryn's boyfriend Matthew Jacobs, who's gone free agent as an unrestricted hellion. Sarota wants to get him back under control by getting hold of Jacobs' Chain of Sin, and has entered into a bargain with Morgan and the White Council in order to do so.

Then Harry finds out Jacobs isn't trying to go Hellion Free Agent to wreak destruction, but is actually trying to make himself mortal again, because he's truly in love with Caryn. Harry can't let go of the case, in spite of several opportunities to do just that (including Caryn firing him at one point), and against Bob's advice he cooks up a plan to help the star crossed lovers. In the end all is well, but Harry has double-crossed Sarota, who seems to be a pretty powerful figure in the world of Dark Magic. He's also double-crossed Morgan, ostensibly one of the good guys. And you know one or both of those things is going to come back and bite him in the ass sooner or later.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, and it seems to me the show is largely going in the right direction. The plot had enough twists and turns that I actually had to pay a bit of attention. I liked the banter this week between Harry and Bob, and between Harry and Murphy. I didn't quite buy Harry's sudden devotion to the case, which seemed to be rooted in an attraction to Caryn that didn't quite make sense the way it was set up, and the ending was a bit pat, but overall a good installment of a show that seems to be beginning to find its footing.

The Dresden Files: Hair of the Dog

The episode opens with a man fleeing through a graveyard. He is violently attacked. Murphy calls Harry about a dead body found in the park. However, the body is a women's and she has been partially scalped, and her upper canines have been extracted. Murphy connects the death to 7 similar murders, including one found in the river last week. There's no immediately cause of death, but silver iodide is found in her mouth and lungs, as if she inhaled it.

Harry, of course, is immediately clued in that the woman is a lycanthrope (werewolf, though they never use that word in the episode). The FBI moves in and takes the case over, pushing Murphy and Dresden both out of the way and threatening Dresden with jail time.

Instead Dresden focuses on the victim's roommate, Heather, and is able to put the pieces together as to what happened to her. But there's a twist he's not aware of--the hostile female FBI agent is also a lycanthrope, and her partner is killing lycanthropes in order to cure her of her affliction. Unfortunately, he's been bitten, too.

This was a episode, with some genuine creepiness and strong emotion, and I hope the show continues with this trend.

Quote of the night: "I'm turning my sense of smell up to eleven."