Review of "Blood Ties"

Also, Blood Ties would do well to stay away from the age-old stereotype of "bisexual woman who doesn't know what she wants," because uncertainty is a large part of Vicki's character.

Right at the outset, she appears to be caught between two men, one of whom is a vampire, and she's understandably confused about the new territory she finds herself in with the investigation. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that her attraction to Henry is substantial and that the history she shares with Mike is bleeding into the present.

As far as building a series around a strong female lead, Lifetime has done a great job. Vicki's mental and physical abilities are never called into question by any of the male characters surrounding her; it is taken as fact that she is the best at what she does. And Vicki is no stranger to hand-to-hand combat, taking down thugs and demons right from the get-go. She is at the center of the show at all times, commanding the action and just generally kicking butt.

It's safe to say that fans of Buffy or The X-Files will probably enjoy Blood Ties. It even has the same '90s feel and some of the endearing cheesiness (and hokey special effects) that featured in those shows at times. It's all very tongue-in-cheek, as the show wisely doesn't take itself terribly seriously.

The production values, however, are rather hit or miss, especially the aforementioned special effects. But the cinematography and fight scene choreography are both excellent, evoking a stylized, cohesive direction that the writing sometimes lacks.

Also worth noting are the music and sound design elements, which fit right in with both the spookiness and goofiness of the story.

However, the '90s vibe is inescapable — and rather inexplicable. Some of the costumes and special effects seem as if they've been lifted straight from 1996. It's only really distracting in the case of the supernatural characters, but it still becomes a glaring problem when a scary villain invokes a giggle instead of a gasp. In the premiere, we come face to face with a major demon, a being who is supposedly so evil and fearsome that he'll bring 1,000 years of darkness to humanity, yet he resembles something out of a cheesy '70s sci-fi movie.

Likewise, the supporting characters seem as if they were purchased wholesale from a clichéd TV personality catalogue. Henry is the consummate sexy, suave vampire with murky intentions; Mike is the straight-edged cop with feelings for his ex-partner; and Coreen is a vampire-obsessed college kid. It may be a bit too early to judge, but Vicki is really the only personality that shines above stereotype at this point.

Though the show has some growing to do if it's ever to achieve the same kind of cult status that its predecessors enjoyed, it has a solid start with a likable lead, a fun story setup, and the wide open question of Vicki's sexuality. All it needs is to develop the character as she was presented in the novels, spend a little more time on the villains, and stay away from tired monster-of-the-week story lines.

If Blood Ties can heat up the screen by taking more chances with Vicki's character (and better exploring her past), then the show will be one to watch. As it stands, it's a fun, though clichéd romp into Buffy's territory.

Blood Ties premieres Sunday, March 11, at 9 p.m. EST on Lifetime.