"He was brought across in 1228. Preyed on humans for their blood. Now he wants to be mortal again. To repay society for his sins. To emerge from his world of darkness, from his endless forever night." Thus begins each episode of Forever Knight, the cult-favourite Canadian TV program about a vampire (shot in Toronto, and they didn't even attempt to make it appear to be Chicago or New York!).

     Forever Knight originally aired from 1993-96. It is the story of French nobleman, Nicholas de Brabant who became a vampire nearly 800 years ago. Guilt-ridden and wishing to become mortal again, he now works the night shift in the Toronto Police Department as homocide detective, Nick Knight.

     If this premise sounds kind of silly, well, it definitely is --- yet it is all good fun and grows on you with each episode. For the most part, the major characters are well-developed and interesting:

     In addition to interesting characters, the creators of Forever Knight have made good use of flashbacks. In most episodes, Nick remembers (and the viewer sees) a scene from his past. These continually add new information and layers to his history. We see what he has been through and how he has grown.

     Although Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Forever Knight are very different types of programs, there is at least one obvious similarity. The characters of Nick Knight and Angel are both guilt-ridden and hate living the life of a vampire. In their "previous" lives as Nicholas de Brabant and Angelus, both were vile killers of hundreds or even thousands of people. Apparently neither has attacked a human for a long time, yet both have a nice supply of vintage blood in their fridges. And both have unsuccessful relationships with 20th century human females. Like Romeo and Juliet, the relationship between Angel and Buffy, and that of Nick Knight and Natalie Lambert, is the love that cannot be. The differences are just too great, the problems too difficult. These relationships are doomed from the start.

     Aside from the one major similarity between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Forever Knight, in the final analysis the two shows have completely different points of view. Forever Knight focuses on the story of a vampire who is paying penance as a modern day cop, solving day-to-day crimes. "Buffy's" emphasis is on the slayer, not the vamps. This is also apparent in the different ways each show portrays the vampires' abilities. Nick and the other vamps in Forever Knight have the ability to move extremely fast, to fly, to hear distant sounds and conversations, and to hypnotize others. Joss Whedon is obviously more concerned with the slayer and her friends. He gives his vamps little more power than the ability to brawl once in awhile and maybe show some martial arts kicks and punches. Two shows about vampires, but two very different shows.

     And how would I rate Forever Knight? I missed its original run on TV, and only recently came across it, beginning my viewing about midway through the second season. Because I was fresh from enjoying lots of wonderful BtVS episodes, initially I was rather neutral about Forever Knight. But after watching it three or four times, I was hooked. I like the show and enjoy finding out more about Nick and all the others that are a part of his life. My only annoyance comes from the over-emphasis on Nick's angst at being a vamp, hating it, and wanting to be mortal. This causes him to do such extreme and silly things as attend a 12-step program, in the ridiculous hope of being "cured" of his vampirism. Angel certainly coped much better with his "condition."