Forever Knight
| Forever Knight | |
|---|---|
 Title Card for "Forever Knight" | |
| Genre | Horror Crime drama Mystery |
| Created by | Barney Cohen James D. Parriott |
| Starring | Geraint Wyn Davies Catherine Disher Nigel Bennett Ben Bass Deborah Duchêne Blu Mankuma John Kapelos Lisa Ryder Gary Farmer |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 70 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 44–48 minutes |
| Production companies | Glen Warren Productions Paragon Entertainment Corporation Tele München TriStar Television USA Network (1995-1996) (season 3) |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | May 5, 1992 – May 17, 1996 |
Forever Knight is a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern-day Toronto, Ontario. 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.
Plot
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 is actually Nicholas, an 800-year-old vampire (his human name was reference to his status as a literal knight in medieval France). Remorseful over centuries spent as a vampiric 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, photodermatitis, 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 human who knows his true nature is his friend Natalie Lambert, a city medical examiner who doesn't like Nicholas using his special powers as she believes it increases his need for blood.
Nick's ultimate dream is to find a way to become human once again, but his quest for redemption is complicated by the arrival of fellow vampires Lucien LaCroix and Janette DuCharme. Lucien LaCroix, who was a general in the early Roman Empire, and who was turned into a vampire by his daughter Divia as Pompeii erupted in 79AD, originally made Nick a vampire in 1228. Janette was also 'brought across' by LaCroix, before he brought Nick across. They were Nick's companions for many centuries until he left them, seeking redemption and a way to reclaim his lost humanity. 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 protégé back to a more violent life.
During the series, Nick had two partners. For the first two seasons it is Don Schanke. At the beginning of the third season, Detective Schanke dies in an airplane explosion caused by a bomber, and Nick is assigned a new partner, Tracy Vetter, a rookie detective who gets the assignment due to her father's high-ranking position in the police force. Tracy finds herself increasingly attracted to Javier Vachon, also a new character, who is a vampire who had been a conquistador in life. Nick and Vachon know about each other, and Tracy knows about Vachon being a vampire, but she never knows Nick is also a vampire. Although Nick continues to protect the "innocent" civilians, he finally gets tired of the life he lives. Nick is faced with the choice to either move on or attempt to recapture his humanity through a method that puts Natalie's life in the balance. At that point LaCroix appears and indicates the time to leave is near and he must either bring Natalie over or leave her to die. Nicholas decides that neither option is acceptable and hands LaCroix a wooden stake. We do not see what LaCroix does, but we hear him say "Damn you, Nicholas" in stress and frustration, and the scene cuts out to the building where Nick lives and a shot of the sun rising. The ending is left to the viewers' interpretation but the implication is that Nick dies with LaCroix's help, hoping to join Natalie in an afterlife.
Cast
- Geraint Wyn Davies as Detective Nick Knight
- Nigel Bennett as Lucien LaCroix
- Deborah Duchêne as Janette DuCharme
- Catherine Disher as Natalie Lambert
- John Kapelos as Detective Donald Schanke (seasons 1 & 2)
- Gary Farmer as Captain Joe Stonetree (season 1)
- Natsuko Ohama as Captain Amanda Cohen (season 2)
- Ben Bass as Javier Vachon (season 3)
- Lisa Ryder as Detective Tracy Vetter (season 3)
- Blu Mankuma as Captain Joe Reese (season 3)
- Greg Kramer as Screed (season 3)
Production
Development
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 (using a pilot that had been re-shot with Davies).
Vampire powers
Nick Knight, as well as several other vampire characters, demonstrates a number of superhuman abilities. As a vampire, Nick has not aged throughout nearly 800 years of existence. In most cases he is invulnerable to harm from gunshot, blunt force trauma, or blade. Vampires in the Forever Knight universe also display the powers of super strength and speed, enhanced senses, flight and a degree of hypnotism/mind control. However, Nick's hypnotism does not always work, especially if the victim has physical evidence that proved opposite to what Nick would have them believe. Vampires in the Forever Knight universe are not reanimated corpses as their heart beats a few times every ten minutes, as is stated in one episode. None of the vampires turn into such things as bats, wolves, mist or fog.
Two episodes reveal that vampirism in the Forever Knight universe is to some degree a psychosomatic condition. Although vampires suffer the standard aversion to garlic and combust in the presence of holy objects or sunlight, vampires that have forgotten what they are due to suffering a physical or mental trauma are completely unaffected by these things.
Episodes
The series aired on CBS from 5 May 1992 to 17 May 1996, broadcasting three seasons and a total of 70 episodes. Reruns were also seen in syndication during the mid-to-late 90s.
Home media
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1 (US only) in 3 volume sets. Madman Entertainment released the entire series in Region 4 (Australia), in the same format.
| Season One | ||||
| Set Details | Notes | |||
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| |||
| Release Dates | ||||
| North America | Germany | United Kingdom | Australia | |
| 21 October 2003 | 19 February 2010 | — | 1 July 2015[2] | |
| Season Two | ||||
| Set Details | Notes | |||
|
| |||
| Release Dates | ||||
| North America | Germany | United Kingdom | Australia | |
| 4 January 2005 | 27 May 2011 | — | 2 September 2015 | |
| Season Three | ||||
| Set Details | Notes | |||
|
| |||
| Release Dates | ||||
| North America | Germany | United Kingdom | Australia | |
| 3 October 2006 | — | — | 14 October 2015 | |
In other media
Novels
There have been three novels written based on the series:
- Susan Sizemore (1997). Forever Knight: A Stirring of Dust. Boulevard Books. ISBN 978-1-57297-238-4.
- Susan M. Garrett (1997). Forever Knight: Intimations of Mortality. Boulevard Books. ISBN 978-1-57297-313-8.
- Anne Hathaway Nayne (1997). Forever Knight: These Our Revels. Boulevard Books. ISBN 978-0-425-16491-4.
Soundtracks
There have been two soundtrack CDs released that contain selections from the score. The first was released on 25 July 1996 and the second was released on 11 May 1999
| No. | Title | Artists | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Forever Knight Theme" | Fred Mollin | 1:30 |
| 2. | "The Hunger" | Fred Mollin, Stan Meissner, Lori Yates | 3:12 |
| 3. | "What a Wonderful Thing Humanity Is" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:16 |
| 4. | "Dark Knight/France 1228/Cherry Blossoms/The Ambush" | Fred Mollin | 3:29 |
| 5. | "Suite from Queen of Harps" | Fred Mollin | 7:23 |
| 6. | "Suite from the Hunted" | Fred Mollin | 5:23 |
| 7. | "Nick's Piano Theme/Suite from Forward into the Past" | Fred Mollin, Geraint Wyn Davies | 6:58 |
| 8. | "Black Rose" | Fred Mollin, Stan Meissner, Lori Yates | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Suite from Amateur Night" | Fred Mollin | 5:19 |
| 10. | "If You Love Something" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:11 |
| 11. | "Suite from Be My Valentine" | Fred Mollin | 6:41 |
| 12. | "Father Figure/Nick's Lullaby to Lisa" | Fred Mollin | 2:30 |
| 13. | "Suite from Dark Knight" | Fred Mollin | 6:12 |
| 14. | "You Would Do Well to Avoid Me" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:14 |
| 15. | "Touch the Night" | Fred Mollin, Stan Meissner, Lori Yates | 4:21 |
| 16. | "Avenging Angel/Time Stands Still" | Fred Mollin | 3:02 |
| 17. | "Curiouser and Curiouser/Nick and Janette" | Fred Mollin | 1:39 |
| 18. | "Suite from Undue Process" | Fred Mollin | 5:06 |
| 19. | "Suite from a More Permanent Hell" | Fred Mollin | 4:16 |
| 20. | "Baby, Baby/CN Tower Finale" | Fred Mollin | 1:34 |
| 21. | "Only One Thing Is Truly Permanent" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:17 |
| 22. | "Dark Side of the Glass" | Fred Mollin, Stan Meissner, Lori Yates | 3:21 |
| Total length: | 76:36 | ||
| No. | Title | Artists | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Forever Knight (Main Title)" | Fred Mollin | 1:43 |
| 2. | "Night Calls My Name" | Fred Mollin, Lori Yates | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Humanity" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:23 |
| 4. | "Suite from Black Budda: The Explosion/ Vachon Blinks/Goodbye, Schanke/Flashback #2" | Fred Mollin | 5:06 |
| 5. | "Suite from Blackwing: Flash to the Spirit Plane/Vachon and Tracy/Vachon's Flashback/Nick on the Spirit Plane" | Fred Mollin | 6:22 |
| 6. | "You Are One Strange Guy" | Fred Mollin, John Kapelos | 0:17 |
| 7. | "Suite from the Human Factor: Janette on the Stairs/Flashback#2/In the Mall/The Shooting/In the House/Drama Unfolds" | Fred Mollin | 8:41 |
| 8. | "Heart of Darkness" | Fred Mollin, Lori Yates | 3:47 |
| 9. | "Suite from Faithful Followers: The Cult Meeting/The Big Moment" | Fred Mollin | 4:42 |
| 10. | "Suite from Let No Man Tear Asunder: Tracy and the Doc/Nick Rescues Natalie/Vachon and Tracy/Lacroix on the Air" | Fred Mollin | 3:41 |
| 11. | "Knight in Question: ER Tension" | Fred Mollin | 1:40 |
| 12. | "Lacroix Reads a Book" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:17 |
| 13. | "Destiny's Edge" | Fred Mollin, Lori Yates | 3:18 |
| 14. | "Suite from Stranger Than Fiction: Natalie's Fantasy/Andrew Gets Weird" | Fred Mollin | 2:40 |
| 15. | "How Does He Do It" | Fred Mollin, John Kapelos | 0:16 |
| 16. | "Love You to Death: Charlie and Lucy/Nick Flies" | Fred Mollin | 1:27 |
| 17. | "Suite from the Fever: Tracy and Vachon/The Terror/A Sad Wrap-Up" | Fred Mollin | 3:13 |
| 18. | "Ashes to Ashes: More Lacroix and Divia" | Fred Mollin | 2:16 |
| 19. | "Hasta la Bye Bye" | Fred Mollin, Geraint Wyn Davies, John Kapelos | 0:26 |
| 20. | "Suite from Games Vampires Play: V.R. Yet Again/Nick Plays Again" | Fred Mollin | 3:43 |
| 21. | "The Hunter: Nick Flashback #1" | Fred Mollin | 2:16 |
| 22. | "One Law" | Fred Mollin, Nigel Bennett | 0:26 |
| 23. | "Break the Silence" | Fred Mollin, Molly Johnson | 3:14 |
| 24. | "How I Have Faith" | Fred Mollin, Geraint Wyn Davies | 0:18 |
| 25. | "Suite from Last Knight: Nick and Nat/The Big Moment/Lacroix and Nick Encore/The Final Decision/End of an Era" | Fred Mollin | 9:01 |
| Total length: | 72:34 | ||
Reception
Awards
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,[3] 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 | 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 | 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 | Nominated |
| Best Dramatic Series | Nominated |
See also
References
- ^ Guiley, Rosemary; Macabre, J. B. (1994). The Complete Vampire Companion. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-671-85024-1.
- ^ "Forever Knight Australian DVD listings". Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ May 30 – June 5, 2004 issue of TV Guide.
External links
- Forever Knight official site (Sci Fi Channel). Archived from the original on April 5, 2004.
- Forever Knight at AllMovie
- Forever Knight at IMDb
- Template:Tv.com show
| Characters | |
|---|---|
- Forever Knight
- 1990s Canadian science fiction television series
- 1992 Canadian television series debuts
- 1996 Canadian television series endings
- CBS network shows
- English-language television programs
- Television series by Universal Television
- Television series by Sony Pictures Television
- Television series produced in Toronto
- Television shows set in Toronto
- Vampire detective shows
- Vampires in television
- Romantic fantasy television series
- Reincarnation in television
- Works about atonement