Customer Reviews

Forever Knight - The Trilogy, Part 2

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nick Knight ( Geraint Wyn Davies) is a vampire who has lived for almost 800 years. However, he has always wished that he could become mortal again. To repay his debt to society, he works as a homicide detective for the Toronto Metropolitan Police. While he secretly uses his vampire abilities to solve the city's most difficult cases with his smart-mouthed and witty partner Don Schanke ( John Kapelos), he attempts to find a cure for his case of vampirism with his best friend and fellow medical pathologist Natalie Lambert (Catherine Disher).

I have been a fan of the vampire genre my whole life. There have been many films and television shows that have focused on that very subject. However, Forever Knight is one of the best overall that I have ever seen. All I can say is that I am extremely excited about the release of season two on DVD. The first season DVD set was not very well put together in my opinion. But it looks like the powers that be are rectifying their mistakes. We get actual extras this time and at a much better price than before. However, for me in this case, the lower price and fantastic extras that are being offered, are just icing on the cake. I want the set mainly for the episodes themselves. The first season of Forever Knight was excellent. But the second season is my favorite one of the whole show. After the first episode, Lacroix was only shown via flashbacks for the entire first season. We finally get to see Nick's vampire mentor and sire Lacroix return and do more than just connect us to Nick's past. The second season really lets Nigel Bennet show us why he is the most talented actor on the show. He plays Lacroix perfectly throughout the season. Secondly, the plot lines in season two are considerably better than the first season as well. A great example of this, is the episode "Close Call" in which Schanke gets closer to the truth about Nick.

Overall I could not be happier with the second season set they have put together. With a fantastic season and great extras at a more afforable price, I consider this set a must own for any fan of the vampire genre.

A solid 5 stars...

Season 2 is a little more sophisticated, a little better directed than season 1. In it you see Nick begin to slide a little back into his old life, just a little, just enough to make you question if his redemption is, in the end, entirely possible despite all his efforts. They've done away with the repeated bits of filler scene and added more flashbacks, which is a good thing.

A big complaint of my husband's is that the show is inherently cheesy. The costumes, the acting, the whole thing is done slightly camp, slightly overblown, a little dramatic. But in this it reminds me of traditional theater, and I like it. That element isn't quite as aparent in this season though. What is aparent are that this show holds the begining of a lot of actors and actresses that went on to bigger and better things - looks for some of the main actors from Andromeda and someone in particular from Stargate, just for a couple of names.

So... all I'm waiting for is season three. They have to put it out now, since they've put out these two, right?

Right?

...please?

This is the second season of FOREVER KNIGHT, a Canadian series that was produced in the mid 90's. The hero - played by Geraint Wyn Davies - is Nicholas Knight, a Toronto homicide cop who is also a vampire who was "brought across 800 years ago and wants to atone for his sins, to be mortal again".

This was/is an excellent series that was/is terribly underated. The writing was clever, the acting superb and although it was done on a tight budget the limitations did not detract from the show.

Most of the cast from the first season has returned for this one, his vampire family, Jeanette and Lacroix (Deborah Duchene and Nigel Bennett), his partner Schanke (John Kapelos) and confidante Natalie (Catherine Disher). The most notable exception is the police captain, played by Gary Farmer in season one and Natsuko Ohama in this season. The show has seemed to find its stride in this season, the basic premise and relationship foundations have already been made which, in my opinion, makes the second season better than the first. Several of the episodes are paraticularly good - 'Close Call' - Schanke begins to catch on that something is different about Nick; 'Curiouser and Curiouser' - Nick falls down the rabbit hole; 'Baby, Baby' - a misunderstanding from Nick's past returns; 'A More Permanent Hell' - the end of the world appears imminent and Lacroix's past is revealed and 'Be My Valentine' - a feast for Nick and Natalie fans.

This set offers much more in extras than the previous set, there are commentaries from Nigel Bennett ('Curiouser and Curiouser' and 'A More Permanent Hell') and from creator James Parriott and Geraint Wyn Davies ('Blood Money' and 'Killer Instinct'). In addition there are interviews with Parriott and Wyn Davies on the series in general.

The only questions that remain are: When do we get Season 3 and any chance of a movie and/or a Season 4?

My order from amazon showed up today. I was drawn to the special features first which are interesting, but I still really wish Sony had given us some "deleted scenes." (Sony if you're reading this by some chance, please consider using the "lost footage" from Gillian Horvath) The quality on the first 2 discs is truly dreadful in some scenes (worse than season 1 in some cases), especially in ones with "blue light." The worst ones I noticed after skimming the discs were in "Bad Blood." All the Nick/Janette scenes in the heavy blue light are very pixelated. You can barely see any detail on their faces. My own digital recordings look much better in those cases (thank heavens for those). However, the other 4 discs look really nice and sharp. I'm very pleased with those. The production order will take some getting used to (I'm used to Sci-fi's airing order).

+'s: Color improvement, sharpness enhanced, sound improvement, interesting interviews, neat box

-'s: Heavy grain on 1st 2 discs, major problems with pixelation in "blue-lighting" especially, *no* deleted scenes or bloopers, low quality menu design

Overall, I suppose these are an improvement from season 1 (except the 1st 2 discs). They got more lazy with the menus this time though, but the box-art is lovely once again and the box opens the same as season 1. These are worth collecting, especially if you have tape recordings. Season 3 on DVD will depend on these sales as well.

So, if you're a fan or like seductive vampires, go ahead and pick up a set! Sony also kindly reduced the price on season 1, so both seasons are the same in price.

I didn't get to see much of this show when it aired - it was on at weird times on random days, but I loved what I saw. I ordered the first two seasons as soon as they were available for pre-order.

Yes, the effects are a bit cheesy, but they had a low budget, and I have an imagination - it works. What is really important is the stories, which are dark and well-written. Nick, the vampire cop, is always facing moral dilemmas, and draws upon his 800 years of experience to try to make the right choices. I don't want to give away any of the story lines, but I just love the show.

I'm now waiting for the third season, but I fear that it may never come. I can't even find a place to vote for it. I've been to the company website, and they don't know or care about anything that isn't on their list. They can't even tell me who to write to to ASK if they are considering putting the third season on DVD. Frustrating. I really want to know how this ends!!!!

I have to disagree with "weirguy," this isn't just for die-hard fans. Newcomers should be encouraged to try this series. Fans of Buffy, Angel, X-Files, Roswell and Millenium should find this show very entertaining. Nick Knight, the vampire looking for redemption by protecting humanity as a cop, is an engaging character. The series had a lot of action, and was pretty good with special effects, especially for the time period. Since Nick is so old, many episodes flashed back to historical times with great costumes and sets. Good mysteries, great interaction between established characters.

All three seasons have been released, and unlike some tv releases - this show had an ending. The writers/director knew the show would only go to season 3 and they planned a story arc to finish in that time. Highly recommended.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN*

Unspectacular ratings led to the cancellation of FOREVER KNIGHT after its first season in 1993. At that point the show had already gathered a large cult following, and that following was outraged. Thankfully, they vented their frustration through extensive campaigning to get the show back on the air, and for one of the few times in television history, it worked. One year after its untimely demise, FOREVER KNIGHT returned to television, and the world is all the better for it. The show's second season is widely regarded as the series' best, due to further character development, intriguing plotlines, and a wealth of great episodes (26, to be exact; the first season had 22).

Season two got off to a fantastic start with the turbulent premiere, "Killer Instinct". The previous season's finale, "Love You to Death", had closed with a brief glimpse of LaCroix (Nigel Bennett), back from the "dead" to torment vampire cop Nick Knight (Geraint Wyn Davies) in the present. In "Killer Instinct", Nick must deal not only with the return of LaCroix, but with an investigation from Internal Affairs as well - an investigation that threatens to reveal Nick's secret to the world. "Stranger Than Fiction" involves an Anne Rice-style horror author being protected by the police - and whom Nick is developing an attraction to. "Forward Into The Past" is a sweet episode, in which Nick must save a woman whom he befriended forty years ago. Nigel Bennett shines in "Father's Day". Jack The Ripper comes to modern-day Toronto in "Bad Blood" (it turns out that he was one of LaCroix's nastier creations ... !) There are some excellent flashbacks in "Can't Run, Can't Hide", where Nick recalls his time spent feeding off corpses of the slain during the Vietnam Conflict. "Amateur Night" is one of the show's sillier episodes, as Nick and Schanke (John Kapelos) try to protect a famous female action star. The inevitable "diplomatic immunity" episode comes in the form of "Beyond the Law". Natalie (Catherine Disher) finds a cure for Nick's vampirism in "The Fix", while Nick examines his feelings for her in "Be My Valentine" (that episode also gives us a fascinating look at one of LaCroix's past romances). HIGHLANDER writer Gillian Horvath writes "Queen of Harps", which turns out to be an all-around wonderful episode which includes flashbacks to Nick's pre-vampire days. "A More Permanent Hell" is one of the series' best episodes, due largely to the brilliant flashbacks to LaCroix's pre-vampire days. That episode also introduces LaCroix's eerie daughter, Divia (Kathryn Long), who would appear once more in the third season. "Curioser & Curioser" is a magnificent episode, and in my opinion the highlight of season two. In the episode, Nick blames himself for the death of humans at the Raven; as his guilt consumes him, it begins distorting his reality. (The ending of that episode is to die for.) There are some wonderful scenes in "Near Death" as well, where we learn that Nick hasn't quite redeemed himself ... yet. "Baby Baby" presents an interesting theory about vampires becoming human, and giving birth (a theory further explored in the third season). "Close Call" is one of the weaker episodes. The plot, involving Schanke nearly discovering Nick's secret, is great, but the execution is not: most of the episode is made up of lengthy flashbacks to previous episodes. Finally, the season concludes with "Crazy Love". While that episode doesn't give us a cliffhanger as grand as the one provided by season one, it does introduce the eerie and far more realistic eye effects that would be used for vampires through the rest of the show, as well as more realistic landing effects.

As this season focuses more on the characters than did the previous season, one can't help but focus more on the actors as well. Close scrutiny reveals nothing but excellent acting all around. Geraint Wyn Davies is terrific. His on-screen chemistry both with confidante (and lover?) Natalie/Catherine Disher and bumbling but lovable partner Schanke/John Kapelos is completely believable, as is his contempt for his former master LaCroix/Nigel Bennett. Bennett truly steals the show. Yes, LaCroix is evil, but Bennett's performance and delivery of LaCroix's cynical witticisms is simply irresistible. Also great in this season is the charming Deborah Duchene; it's always a delight when Janette shows up. Gary Farmer, who played the chief of police in the first season, is replaced by Natsuko Ohama. Ohama's chief is very different from Farmer's, and though I was a little thrown off by her arrival at the start of the season, I had warmed up to her by its finish. This season was also John Kapelos' last on the show before his character's untimely demise in the opening of season three. Ironically, in Schanke's final scene, he declares, "That's it. It's over. I am out of here. The fat lady has sung!"

There's more great costumes, dark lighting, and charmingly claustrophobic sets in this season, not to mention some of Fred Mollin's finest music. The writing never falters and the directing, as well as the show itself, is immensely stylish. FOREVER KNIGHT has an atmosphere and style completely its own; no doubt that was a major part in amassing the show's huge fan base. Those who enjoyed season one will love the second season; it's arguably better than the first. All in all, an excellent second season, and I can't wait to watch season three.

I'd just about given up hope that season 2 would ever come to DVD. And now not only is it being released, but with extras! That was the only disappointment about the first season. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the 3rd will come out too. Excellent show, very good writing this season, don't miss it.

I am so glad Sony is releasing Season 2. I want to take just a moment to thank them for deciding to go ahead and release the second season. It is my personal favorite. Although it is not mentioned in amazon's info, supposedly there are going to be some extras too! Woo hoo.
I think the second season delves much more into each of the characters and the storylines are a bit more involved than the first season was. Of course this is becuase all of the exposition was done in the first season and now the writers can dive right into the stories.
I will definitely be preordering this (as well as probably buying a copy from a regular store.)
If you like FK (or even vampires, cops, etc) buy this set. We want to make sure we get the third season eventually.

Finally purchased this DVD set, and I am very happy with the purchase. I love the plots and characters. Each episode has a unique and engaging story line. I would like to see the final season 3 episodes released.