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Dresden Files, The
SERIES: Sci-Fi, Sunday 8:00p (60 minutes)

Dresden Files, The
Critic Score
Metascore: 55 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.9 out of 10
based on 13 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?
based on 48 votes
read user comments
rate this tv show

Starring Paul Blackthorne, Terrence Mann, Valerie Cruz, and Conrad Coates

This supernatural detective procedural about a Chicago P.I. with ties to the spirit world is based on a series of books by Jim Butcher.

GENRE(S): Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
FIRST AIR DATE: January 21, 2007

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

83
Christian Science Monitor Gloria Goodale
These unsettling scenes are tough on the eyes, but happily, star Paul Blackthorne is well worth watching, full time.
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80
Hollywood Reporter Marilyn Moss
Brooding, seductive and smart.
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75
USA Today Robert Bianco
Like Harry, the show has yet to fully master its tricks. There are a few decent jolts, but nothing is truly frightening or even that threatening. And while the show can be amusing, it's never exactly side-splitting.
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60
Variety Brian Lowry
If the series doesn't generate any grand creative magic, it at least possesses a certain old-fashioned charm.
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60
Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan
If you don’t like hints of Harry Potter mixed in with fairly straightforward procedural elements, this may not be the show for you.
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50
Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy
Even with Blackthorne's occasionally engaging portrayal of Harry Dresden, this whodunit lacks the wit and imagination that might transform it into something special.
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50
Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn
An uneven fantasy series that's not eerie enough to be a culty favorite or goofy enough to be a guilty pleasure.
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50
New York Post Linda Stasi
The series has great potential, and frankly I can't tell you why it doesn't ever quite reach it - other than it somehow lacks, er, magic.
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50
New York Daily News David Hinckley
"Dresden" hasn't put a spell on me at the start - but it's not bad. It's just that on Sundays, opposite such shows as "Desperate Housewives" and "Rome," not bad is not nearly good enough.
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50
Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall
It isn't until the werewolf-themed fourth episode that "Dresden Files" finally gives you a trick worth applauding. Hopefully, there's more of that to come.
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50
San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman
"The Dresden Files" is currently mediocre, a series searching for the right tone, seemingly unsure of itself and all the while not quite selling itself to the non sci-fi crowd.
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40
The New York Times Ginia Bellafante
It has the feeling of pizza with pineapple on it — which is to say, not actually for grown-ups.
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30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen
Dresden's investigations amount to a lot of ho-hum hokum... and his relationships are largely paint-by-number bland.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this tv show is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 48 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jessica gave it a9:
Love It! This is my replacement for Charmed.

Justin S. gave it a0:
This show sucks! The books are SOOO much better, the tone is way off, Dresden is WAAAY off, well everything 'cept the name is off, and the banter with Bob is kinda close. But even on its own merits, its a really bad show. Not engaging, way to cliche, nothing really original.

Julie K gave it a9:
I liked the show from the beginning. It was a bit slow with the magic but picked up by season end. Dresden is a down to earth guy, not a muscle-bound-stuck-on-himself jock. That's appealing to see now a days.

Debbie B. gave it a9:
I really like this show. It was one of my favorite shows on Sci Fi. I liked it from the start, but the more episodes I watched the more I wanted to know about the characters. I found the characters to be charming, and quirky. I hope Sci Fi lets them have a second season.

miriam h. gave it a7:
I love Harry. The show is just OK though. Gets a bit too far-fetched, sometimes.

robin M. gave it a9:
well done, entertaining & nice to see a main character who is not yuppie-shallow & picture perfect for a change

a e gave it a9:
Character driven series have to start off slow. It takes a little time to get to know people. A second season would let the show really hit it's stride--and make me extremely happy.

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