Forever Knight

Not to be confused with the Ben 10 characters The Forever Knights.
Forever Knight

intertitle
Format Supernatural drama
Police procedural
Created by Barney Cohen
James D. Parriott
Starring Geraint Wyn Davies
Catherine Disher
Nigel Bennett
Ben Bass
Deborah Duchêne
Blu Mankuma
Natsuko Ohama
John Kapelos
Lisa Ryder
Gary Farmer
Country of origin Canada
No. of episodes 70 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 44–48 minutes
Production company(s) Glen Warren Productions
Paragon Entertainment Corporation
Tele München
TriStar Television
USA Network
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original run May 5, 1992 (1992-05-05) – May 17, 1996 (1996-05-17)

Forever Knight was a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a way to become human again. The series premiered on May 5, 1992 and concluded with the third season finale on May 17, 1996. A similar series, also set in Toronto involving a vampire working with Police is the 2000s series: Blood Ties.

Contents

Cast

Synopsis

The series followed the adventures of Nick Knight, a Toronto cop working the graveyard shift with his partner Donald Schanke. Unbeknownst to most of his colleagues, Nick was actually Nicholas, an 800 year old vampire (his human name was a pun based on his status as a literal knight in medieval France). Remorseful over centuries spent as a cold hearted killer, Nicholas works as a cop and often ends up using his special abilities to bring criminals to justice. Nicholas explains his need to work on the night shift by claiming to have a skin disorder which requires him to stay out of sunlight. Refusing to feed from humans he survives by drinking bottled animal blood, something that most vampires find repulsive. The only one who knows his true nature is his friend Natalie Lambert, a city medical examiner. Nick's ultimate dream is to find a way to become human once again, but his quest for redemption is complicated by the arrival in Toronto of fellow vampires LaCroix and Janette. LaCroix, who was born in the Roman Empire, and Janette were the ones who made Nick a vampire and were his companions for many centuries. Janette now runs a night club, while LaCroix works as a late night talk radio host. While Janette is scornful, yet tolerant of Nicholas's new lifestyle, LaCroix actively attempts to seduce his protege back to a more violent life. At the beginning of the third season Detective Schanke is murdered and Nick is partnered with Tracy Vetter, a rookie detective who gets the assignment due to her father's high ranking position in the police force. Tracy is never aware of Nick's true nature but finds herself increasingly attracted to Javier Vachon, a vampire who had been a conquistador in life.

Powers and abilities

Nick Knight, as well as several other vampire characters, demonstrated a number of superhuman abilities. As a vampire, Nick did not age throughout nearly 800 years of existence. In most cases he was invulnerable to harm from gunshot, blunt force trauma or blade. Vampires in the Forever Knight universe displayed also the powers of super strength and speed, enhanced senses, flight and a degree of hypnotism/mind control. However Nick's hypnotism did not always work, especially if the victim had physical evidence that proved opposite of what Nick would have them believe.

Production

See also: List of Forever Knight episodes

The series originated as a 1989 CBS television movie, Nick Knight, with Rick Springfield playing the title character.[1] In 1992, CBS began broadcasting the series as part of its Crimetime After Primetime lineup, with a new name and with Geraint Wyn Davies now playing Nick Knight.

Media

Novels

There have been three novels written based on the series:

Soundtracks

The have been two soundtrack CDs released that contain selections from the score. The first was released on 25 July 1996[2] and the second was released on 11 May 1999[3]

DVD releases

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 (US only) in 3 volume sets.

Season One
Set Details Notes
  • 22 Episodes
  • 5-Disc Set (North America) / 6-Disc Set (Germany)
  • 1035 minutes
  • 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Subtitles: varies by region
  • English (Dolby Digital 2 0 Surround)
  • The North American and German releases contain different edits of the episodes. The German episodes are longer and not censored. This is also how the show was originally broadcast in the respective regions.
  • The German release is in two parts, each containing 3 discs.
Release Dates
North America Germany United Kingdom Australia
21 October 2003[4] 19 February 2010[5][6] N/A N/A
Season Two
Set Details Notes
  • 26 Episodes
  • 6-Disc Set
  • 1148 minutes
  • 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Subtitles: English
  • English (Dolby Digital 2 0 Surround)
Release Dates
North America Germany United Kingdom Australia
4 January 2005[7] N/A N/A N/A
Season Three
Set Details Notes
  • 22 Episodes
  • 5-Disc Set
  • 969 minutes
  • 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish and French
  • English (Dolby Digital 2 0 Surround)
Release Dates
North America Germany United Kingdom Australia
3 October 2006[8] N/A N/A N/A

Reception

Forever Knight was nominated for 13 Gemini Awards, and won once in 1996. It was also nominated for a Golden Reel Award in 1992, but did not win. It was ranked #23 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever in 2004,[9] but was taken off the list in 2007.

Year Award Category/Recipient Result
1992 Golden Reel Award Best Sound Editing - Television Episodic - Effects & Foley Nominated
1993 Gemini Award Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series Nominated
Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
  • Albert J. Dunk
 Nominated
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor Nominated
Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Nominated
1994 Gemini Award Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
  • Albert J. Dunk
 Nominated
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
Best Dramatic Series Nominated
1996 Gemini Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Nominated
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series Won
1997 Gemini Award Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series
  • Fred Mollin
 Nominated
Best Dramatic Series Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ Rosemary Guiley, J. B. Macabre (1994-10-19). The complete vampire companion. p. 170. ISBN 9780671850241. http://books.google.com/?id=CSUvAAAAYAAJ 
  2. ^ ASIN B000001P1P, Forever Knight: Original Television Soundtrack (13 May 2010)
  3. ^ ASIN B00000J7W6, Forever Knight: More Music From the Original Television Soundtrack (12 May 2010)
  4. ^ ASIN B0000C23T1, Forever Knight: The Trilogy, Part 1 (12 May 2010)
  5. ^ ASIN B00319UYCQ, Nick Knight, der Vampircop - Staffel 1, Teil 1 (3 Discs) (12 May 2010)
  6. ^ ASIN B00319WLJU, Nick Knight, der Vampircop - Staffel 1, Teil 2 (3 Discs) (12 May 2010)
  7. ^ ASIN B0006D3HE2, Forever Knight: The Trilogy, Part 2 (12 May 2010)
  8. ^ ASIN B000H5TH16, Forever Knight Trilogy: Part 3 (12 May 2010)
  9. ^ May 30 – June 5 2004 issue of TV Guide.

External links

Forever Knight
Characters
Novels
See also
  • Book:Forever Knight
  • Category:Forever Knight
  • Portal:Television