The Dresden Files was a short-lived adaptation of Jim Butchers popular book series of the same name which centres on Harry Dresden, supernatural private investigator and the only wizard in Chicagos phonebook. The novels are notable for their wry humour and Harrys likeable supporting cast, and feature a menagerie of mythological creatures and legendary figures who usually swap wisecracks and punches with our protagonists. The television series, working with considerably less than the unlimited budget afforded by pen and paper, shelved the more unique fantastical aspects of the books in favour of a by-the-numbers procedural with some muddled magical exposition. It lasted only twelve episodes before cancellation. Backstories were tweaked, the rules of magic were rewritten, and a blonde female protagonist became a brunette, much to the fandoms dismay, and hopes were dashed when it emerged that Paul Blackthorne had been cast as Harry in place of popular choice James Marsden. Nonetheless, although he plays a wizard whose use of magic is limited to special effects loaned from the 1980s, Blackthorne manages to capture Harrys world-weary and somewhat self-destructive personality. Its almost as if Butchers original character has ended up in some bizarre crossover fanfiction, but the portrayal is a bright spot in a series which sorely needed the same investment from its writers. Also, Nicolas Cage was a producer because he's such a fan of the books, which is almost a silver lining in itself.
