With the advent of the smaller, basic cable networks original series began popping up on TV. Unlike the major network counterparts these smaller stations can target a smaller audience and still turn a profit. One such network is Turner Network Television or as it is better known; TNT. Like many of these smaller networks TNT started out in one direction, football. It then went into airing colorized versions of many MGM classic films which did not sit well with the fans. Then, as most of these basic cable stations do, they realized that original programming was their future. Sure, they still show a lot of reruns of ‘Law & Order’ but is seems like most networks are flooding the cable with them. Now TNT is known for two of the most successful original dramas around; ‘The Closer’ and ‘Saving Grace’. These shows were partially because of the success of one of TNT’s first original series; ‘Witchblade’. Back in 2001 this science-fiction fantasy series caught the imaginations of the audience and had people discovering TNT. It had all the elements necessary for a hit. It featured a strong female protagonist in possession of a magical gauntlet that gave her fantastic powers and abilities. It was based on a graphic novel that also was turned into anime and manga series. This provided a built in fan base who flocked to the series. Many series are cancelled before their time. Usually the networks don’t have the vision or patience to let the fan base develop. In this case the demise of the series came due to personal problems of the leading actress, Yancy Butler. Unfortunately she had alcohol abuse problems that lead to rehab and the close of the series. Thankfully this talented woman has pulled her life together and has been restarting her career. Most of her fans will admit that ‘Witchblade’ was the pivotal point of her career and now Warner Brothers is releasing the entire ‘Witchblade’ series on DVD.

The series was written by Marc Silvestri who had a long career in one of the most influential comic book publishers. There he wrote many stories for the popular ‘X-Men’ franchise. While working with the graphic novel house ‘Top Cow’ he came up with the idea for ‘Witchblade’. One thing he knows is how to make the fantastic come across as believable. His fictional characters are typically set in the real world. This helped the fans readily identify with the characters. They walked the same streets in New York City as we did. It just happens that they had super powers. Joining him in writing the scripts for the episodes and much of the directorial effort was done by Ralph Hemecker. His previous television work was usually darker, more intense series that usually are on cable networks. The pairing of these men was pure genius. Some fans of the comic book or graphic novels complained that the series was not true to the mythos they created. They should realize that this is a different format and some changes are required to tell the same basic story in a completely different means of presentation. The series was darker than most TV shows of the time. It provided a rich, full back story that is revealed gradually over the course of the two seasons it ran. Visually the series was extremely interesting. There was a juxtaposition of the real setting of New York against the magical ‘witchblade’ and other supernatural people and places.

Sara Pezzini (Yancy Butler) is a detective in the New York police department. In the mini series that preceded the series Sara began having dreams of a strange gauntlet that provide power, strength and agility. In these dreams she also saw women in the past that held the ‘Witchblade’. Now Sara is in possession of the weapon. In its dormant state it looks like a little bracelet that she rarely takes off. When there is danger or she explicitly activates the blade it magically transforms into the gauntlet that surrounds her right hand and forearm. The ‘Witchblade’ allows Sara to deflect bullets, Wonder Woman style; a very useful function considering she is always getting into situations where people are trying to kill her. In times of great danger the blade can extend itself into a full set of armor complete with a powerful sword extending from the glove. It turns out that the ‘Witchblade’ is sentient. It has a strong will of its own which usually conflicts with Sara headstrong personality. Over the millennium the blade has chosen a strong woman to wield it. Sara is only the latest in a long line of such women. Others that have used the blade include Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. The blade is more concerned with the long term battle not necessarily the survival of the current owner. What ensues is a battle of wills between Sara and the blade. Sara tries to convince herself that if she can control the blade it can be of great assistance in her detective work. There is a love hate relationship between Sara and the blade. In some ways she is addicted to its power but she is unwilling to yield her own strong will and individualism to it. This is a classic theme in comic book heroes. As it was been said in ‘Spider-Man’ great power brings great responsibility. Sara is driven to bringing criminals to justice but the blade is constantly pushing her into a far more epic battle of good versus evil.

In the first season Sara’s partner Danny Woo (Will Yun Lee) is killed. She is despondent about the death and always wondering if she could have prevented the tragedy. Soon after his death Danny appears to Sara in a ghostly form. He tries to guide and console her and Sara does her best to listen to her late trusted partner. Her new partner Detective Jake McCartey (David Chokachi) is handsome and often as intense as Sara. The main villain in the series is Kenneth Irons (Anthony Cistaro). He found the blade in Greece and has been trying to find some way to harness its power for his own dastardly plots and schemes. Like most arch villain masterminds he rather not get his hands dirty with the messy work of killing people. For those chores he usually dispatches his right hand man, Ian Nottingham (Eric Etebari). One of the most powerful abilities of the blade is to stop, slow or turn back time. Many fans did not like this ability and how it was used to completely reboot the series in the beginning of season two. This negated some of the key plot points of the season and created many inconsistencies going forward.

Even with the aspects that were not well received by some of the die hard fans this series remains one of the more imaginative ones that hit the tube. It was just beginning to recover from the season two opening reboot when it was cancelled. The series was also starting to move away from the bad guy of the week episodic stories to a more serialized theme. Sara was moving towards greater understanding of the blade and just how it fit into her own personal history and family tree. Warner Brothers does credit to the many fans of the series that are still out there. All 23 episodes are included here although it would have been nice to have included the original mini series as a little extra. This is quality television that is head and shoulders above the countless crime dramas that are always one.