Buffy
Summers thinks she has problems slaying vampires (and being dead – temporarily),
but in comparison to Sara Pezzini, she has it easy. Prophecy says that
Sara’s powers are fated to fail her when she needs them the most.
Sara
is the lead character in TNT’s new fantasy-tinged action series, Witchblade.
The title refers to an ancient gauntlet that can only be worn by the right
woman. From time immemorial, the Witchblade has provided defense (armor),
weapons (a sword can emerge in the wearer’s hand at will) and mystical
abilities making the owner nearly invincible – until it chooses otherwise.
The series explains Joan of Arc’s crusade to save France as being Witchblade
blessed and cursed. Joan was able to rally an army and beat back the English.
When it failed her, she was burned at the stake, accused of witchcraft
when the voices she heard really came from the blade.
Sara
can use all the help she can get. "Pez," as her fellow homicide cops call
her, was seeking in vain proof that mob hitman Gallo killed both her policeman
father and her best friend Maria. A shoot out in a museum accidentally
put the Witchblade on her wrist and saved her both then and in a later
bloodbath that began with Gallo’s murder of her partner, Danny (William
Yun Lee). All of this and Gallo’s eventual end, were detailed in TNT’s
pilot film which aired last August and has been repeated several times
in preparation for the series debut.
Sara’s
problems only seem to have gotten worse in the series. She’s taking heat
from her new captain for the inconsistencies in her report on Gallo. Her
former captain, who was also her father’s partner, reveals that Sara was
really adopted. She isn’t sure if she can trust her new partner, Jake McCartey
(David Chokachi), especially since he won’t explain his information sources.
She also keeps seeing her old partner, Danny, but she can’t tell if he’s
a ghost, evidence that she’s losing her mind or if he’s a Witchblade-created
hallucination.
The
only person who might be able to clarify things is multi-millionaire Kenneth
Irons (Anthony Cistaro), but he can’t be trusted. Irons has long been obsessed
with the power of the Witchblade but since it will not accept a male wearer,
he must instead find a way to control Sara if he wishes to harness its
powers.
The
wild card is Iron’s henchman, Ian Nottingham (Eric Etebari). A mysterious,
ruthless and sometimes imaginative killer, he appears to be Irons’ loyal
minion. Yet the comments he makes to Sara imply that he will act on his
own and that his agenda could differ greatly from Irons.
The
first episode does a decent job of bringing new viewers up to speed quickly
with re-treading material from the pilot. In some ways, it’s more Nottingham’s
episode as Sara’s latest case ties into a shadowy military experiment and
Nottingham’s past.
The
series is well made, though the story twists can be a bit dense at times.
The tone is dark and fast-paced without Buffy’s flippancy to provide counterpoint.
Butler
is utterly credible as the driven, butt-kicking cop carrying the weight
of the world on her shoulders. She’s all woman in the best sense of the
phrase while more than holding her own in each episode’s fever pitched
(and sometimes Matrix-inspired) action. My only complaint is the similarity
of her facial expressions when showing shock, horror and surprise.
The
supporting cast is good and each has his own mystery to spice the pot.
I’m especially glad they kept around Lee as the sassy, blunt but life-challenged
Danny.
The
two prime roles besides Sara belong to Irons and Notthingham, and both
are disturbingly appealing. Cistaro as Irons is politician slick. Sara
knows she can’t depend on him, but she also can’t help wondering how close
she can get to the answers without being burned. Etebari is darkly handsome,
enigmatic yet strangely familiar. Is he a villain with a few shreds of
compassion and decency left or an angel disguised as a devil?
Witchblade
is the worthy inheritor to Angel’s 9 p.m. timeslot albeit on TNT rather
than its network sibling. Both shows are dark adventures with tormented
heroes. My only complaint is that it conflicts with Fox’s Dark Angel for
those who planned to catch up on it during the summer.
Witchblade
definitely has an intriguing premise and the potential for a long, rich
run. TNT’s poor track record in developing original series is worrisome
but if the rumored shared broadcast window with The WB pans out, it could
help the series greatly. Witchblade only needs the most minor of tweaks
to settle into a long energetic run.
Review
© Beth Hannan Rimmels
