History Series / TheDresdenFiles

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (Creator/PaulBlackthorne) is Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, solving supernatural mysteries to pay the bills, and occasionally helping out the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago PD, led by Constanza "Connie" Murphy (Creator/ValerieCruz). He's assisted by Hrothbert of Bainbridge (Creator/TerrenceMann), or Bob, the ghost of a medieval wizard who was condemned to his own skull as punishment for breaking the Laws of Magic.

Other characters include Bianca (Creator/JoanneKelly), the sexy vampiress in charge of one of Chicago's more illicit establishments; Kirmani (Creator/RaoulBhaneja), a skeptical cop working under Murphy; and Morgan (Creator/ConradCoates), the High Council's chief enforcer, who hounds Harry, believing him to be a warlock waiting to happen.

It was aired on the Creator/SciFiChannel in 2007 and lasted twelve episodes before being canceled.

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, solving supernatural mysteries to pay the bills, and occasionally helping out the Special Investigations unit of the Chicago PD, led by Constanza "Connie" Murphy. He's assisted by Hrothbert of Bainbridge, or Bob, the ghost of a medieval wizard who was condemned to his own skull as punishment for breaking the Laws of Magic.

Other characters include Bianca, the sexy vampiress in charge of one of Chicago's more illicit establishments; Kirmani, a skeptical cop working under Murphy; and Morgan, the High Council's chief enforcer, who hounds Harry, believing him to be a warlock waiting to happen.

It was aired on the SciFiChannel in 2007 and lasted twelve episodes before being canceled.

* AffablyEvil: Bianca, who seems to have genuine affection for Harry and who disapproves of supernatural drugs like Third Eye. She is still a vampire running what is almost certainly a brothel, and she makes it clear that she may have to kill Dresden one day, and indeed she does attack Harry in "Storm Front" when he accuses her of being responsible for the deaths of the three girls.

** [[spoiler: Heather]] has composite traits of the various werewolves in ''Fool Moon'' and Susan's plotline from the books (bitten by a supernatural critter, having to leave because her growing connection with Harry puts him at risk, and Harry vowing to research a cure even though it's likely impossible).

* HeroWithBadPublicity: Harry in spades. Normals think he is either crazy or a con-man and other wizards are convinced he is a dangerous Black Magic user like the rest of his family.

** The Blue Beetle was replaced with a run-down old army jeep, because it's actually really difficult for a man as tall as Harry to keep getting in and out of one of the smaller cars on the planet.

* SatelliteLoveInterest: Susan, since she does not have her own storyline like she did in the books.

* VampiresAreSexGods: In the series, Harry has a sexual relationship with a Red Court Vamp, which in the novels have a more violent and predatory relationship with humans.

-->'''Amber''': I may be [[Film/TheExpendables expendable]], but you're [[Film/TheUsualSuspects the usual suspect]].
*** That first one probably isn't a reference, since the show predates The Expendables by three years.

** Heather from "Hair of the Dog" also has a strange accent, sounding vaguely Irish at times

* NeverLiveItDown: In-universe Harry used the Black all of one time, in self defense at that, but Morgan and Mai treat him like he's a mass murderer and any time black magic is used in the city they immediately accuse Harry. Only the lack of proof (which obviously doesn't exist) prevents them from killing him on the spot.

-->'''Amber''': I may be [[TheExpendables expendable]], but you're [[TheUsualSuspects the usual suspect]].

* ExecutiveMeddling: The series was going to be a more faithful adaptation of some of the first books, but two weeks before starting they got a new producer. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH1nwP9r6-U&t=20m20s Jim describes it better]], mentioning that he has seen only part of the series once.

* FakeAmerican: Paul Blackthorne as Harry Dresden.
* FakeBrit: Terrence Mann as Bob. In the DVD commentary for the series, the creators jokes that he and Blackthorne swapped accents as soon as the cameras started running.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: In one episode, Harry is reading a book about magical artifacts and tries to say "Le Main De Gloire"[[note]]"The HandOfGlory"[[/note]] and butchers the French horribly. (Even pronouncing the word for hand like the English word "main".) Bob [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it immediately.

* AmbiguouslyGay: Bob will often say things like, for example (while copying the appearance of a little old lady) "I can't believe she wore THAT shawl with THOSE shoes!"
** And he cries during ChickFlick movies.

* PragmaticAdaptation: In the original pilot Bob was, as in the books, merely a talking skull. When it was determined that this simply would not work for a TV audience they cast an actual actor and re-wrote his backstory (Now a ghost instead of spirit of intellect) so that he and Harry could have face-to-face conversations.
** Likewise Harry's staff was re-imagined as a hockey stick he re-purposed to serve the same role because he's trying to keep a low profile (which also led to his costuming being simplified). Not only is it not odd for a guy in Chicago to carry one around (maybe he's a Blackhawks fan), should it be damaged or destroyed it's easier to replace.
*** Also, his "Blasting Rod" was replaced with a drumstick, used as a wand.

** The demonic Sirota also qualifies

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The pilot episode was actually broadcast as the 8th, and follows the book it was based on a lot more than it follows the series. Bob is strangely non-present, his office and lab look differently and his lab is even in a different place. He has a cat like in the book, and his interaction with Murphy is noticeably missing some of the character development done earlier in the series.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: In one episode, Harry is reading a book about magical artifacts and tries to say "Le Main De Gloire"[[note]]"The Hand Of Glory"[[/note]] and butchers the French horribly. (Even pronouncing the word for hand like the English word "main".) Bob [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it immediately.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Mostly some mild Vancouver Doubling, but most egregiously when Harry goes to "West Lafayette"—the mostly rural college town is so violently unlike the urban setting depicted that your jaw will drop. I don't think we even ''have'' street vendors.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: In one episode, Harry is reading a book about magical artifacts and tries to say "Le Main De Gloire" [[hottip:*: "The Hand Of Glory"]] and butchers the French horribly. (Even pronouncing the word for hand like the English word "main".) Bob [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] it immediately.

* AdaptationDyeJob: Murphy goes from blonde in the books to brunette in the show, while Susan goes from brunette to blonde (See also RaceLift).