What do comic books, well developed action figures and great television shows have in common? 'Witchblade'. Mysterious name you may think. So what’s up with that? Behind that name is a popular comic book that’s been in publication for several years. The 'Witchblade' TV series is adapted from the comic book. The story is about New York City homicide detective Sara “Pez” Pezzini, and how she finds the 'Witchblade,' an ancient gauntlet/sword that has enigmatic powers to fight the forces of evil. The Witchblade chooses Sara to be its next wielder, causing her to seek her destiny. 'Witchblade' has a very good mix of hard charging action, suspense and even a spiritual element. Everything has a dynamic “cool” look about it, especially the characters. After seeing an episode, you’ll probably have the urge to wear sun glasses and a leather jacket while riding a Harley. Usually, a TV series takes at least one season for the characters to be developed and hit their stride. Not with 'Witchblade'. The characters are already well-established— except perhaps the character of Jake McCartey (Sara’s partner) needs a little more backstory, but that will probably be taken care of in coming episodes. 

Sara Pezzini (portrayed by Yancy Butler) has a complicated life, especially with the loss of her father and recently, her best friend. Yancy does a fine job of presenting this inner turmoil as her character copes with the pressures of being a homicide detective and the newfound powers of the 'Witchblade'. Yancy is a rising star shining bright; keep your eyes on her. Jake McCartey (portrayed by David Chokachi) ultimately becomes Sara’s detective partner. David’s performance is credible and his character seems to have abundant information sources, including a mysterious connection with the CIA, as well as being an “ex” surfing champion. Hopefully David’s role will expand as the show goes on, since the storylines tend to leave him behind when the action happens.

Danny Woo (portrayed by Will Yun Lee) is Sara’s former partner. “Former” meaning the graveyard-dead type of former... But, Danny returns as Sara’s spirit guardian (so you could say they’re still partners). Will’s rendition of his character is good, and humorous at the right times. The role of Danny also presents opportunities to deliver fore-shadowing and mysterious information among other things— let’s hope the writers explore these possibilities. Kenneth Irons (portrayed by Anthony Cistaro) is an obsessed billionaire who covets the Witchblade. However, he can’t make it work, because the enigmatic artifact will only let women successfully use it. So, he has plans to get close to Sara, possibly to manipulate her for his own purposes. Anthony delivers an outstanding performance, being suave and cunning at the same time. Ian Nottingham (portrayed by Eric Etebari) is in Irons’ employ as a jack of all trades bodyguard who specializes in martial arts and a frosty demeanor. He has a connection with Sara from a past life that will reveal itself in future episodes. Eric’s accomplished acting brings the word “cool” to new heights as his character effortlessly dispatches those who would stand against him, or his employer.

The writing in 'Witchblade' is a kaleidoscope of mysterious events, action and emotional drama. As the storylines unfold, the writers reveal plenty of secrets for maximum impact— if you like your cake and TV shows with lots of layers, then you’ll like Witchblade. Your brain will get a workout keeping track of the sub plots, symbolism and cryptic scenes which will make you wonder what’s going to happen next. So far, the episodes are connected with information from previous stories, which builds a tapestry of a complex story, but that has a disadvantage; if you miss an episode, you may be confused about certain events. The cinematography and editing of the show is excellent, and with the resources of TNT, 'Witchblade' features special effects similar to 'The Matrix'. Fast cuts and montages set to a hard-driving Rock soundtrack heighten the effect of the action. At the same time, the dramatic scenes are staged well with ample close-ups to show the emotions of the characters. The use of moving inanimate objects also lends an aura of mystique to the show. Powerful images abound, such as Sara wearing the Witchblade walking unharmed through a wall of flames. Although, the constant flashing back and forth of the Joan of Arc suit of armor during Sara’s use of the Witchblade is a bit overdone. 

'Witchblade' is produced by Ralph Hemecker, Dan Halstead, and Marc Silvestri, with a good portion of the writing from J.D. Zeik and Ralph Hemecker. It looks like they have a budding hit on their hands. If they forge ahead with unpredictable elements, well-developed characters and taut storylines, they’re on the right track. Be sure to check local listings for scheduled air dates and times. UB


The Official Witchblade Web Site
http://www2.warnerbros.com/witchblade/home.html

TNT Original Movies— Witchblade
http://www.tnt.tv/movies/tntoriginals/witchblade/

Witchblade— The Original Series
http://www.witchbladetv.com

Top Cow Productions
http://www.topcow.com  

Barry Marshall is a self-professed  'Xena Warrior Princess' follower as well as a true Science Fiction buff. He looks exactly like Brad Pitt and is a devout bodybuilder. Barry has written various children's books, numerous articles for literary magazines and is currently working on several screenplays.  To continue his Xena obsession further, he is also the webmaster of the Ultimate Xena Fan Fiction Directory, which is officially listed among the Top Ten Xena sites on the Net.  

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