History Series / TheDresdenFiles

* EverybodyLives: aside from the initial murder that kicks off the plot no one dies in [[spoiler: "Rules of Engagement."]]

* IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow: Bob's reaction to Harry's attempt to explain why he kissed Murphy.

** At least the mundane women tend to dress more modestly (and realistically) than their book counterparts. In particular, women in the series generally seem to wear bras and don't have the "points of their breasts" on display as in the books.

* UpToEleven: Invoked by name in the episode ''Hair Of The Dog'' By Harry. He uses some magic chemicals to turn his sense of smell UpToEleven to backtrack someone.

* AccentSlipUp: In S1E5 "Bad Blood", in a flashback, English actor Paul Blackthorne as American Harry Dresden is pure Shropshire for a sentence when speaking of how he travelled around with his late father 'uh lawwt'.

* ShoutOut: "Let me guess, a few years ago you were a [[StarWars Jedi knight]], now you're a wizard named [[Literature/HarryPotter Harry]]. Must be good publicity, but couldn't you have thought of something a bit more original?"

* AdultFear: The first broadcast episode has a Skinwalker [[spoiler:posing as a teacher]] to kidnap a young boy from his single mother, who understandably doesn't take it well when the kid ''is'' kidnapped [[spoiler:by a clan of Ravens who are actually trying to protect him]].

%%* GhostlyAdvisor: Bob is one of these, rather than a SpiritAdvisor.

* BeamOWar: Fired from Harry's trusty hockey-stick.

* BottleEpisode: ''Things That Go Bump.''

* GhostlyAdvisor: Bob is one of these, rather than a SpiritAdvisor.

** Morgan in the books, while technically a good guy, was a LawfulStupid InspectorJavert who watched Harry like a hawk waiting for the slightest excuse to chop off his head, and was more than willing to the Merlin's bidding in provoking Harry into giving him an excuse. The TV version doesn't trust Harry but wants to help the innocent too, which leaves them begrudgingly on the same side more often than not, while having a problem with how visible he makes himself, and the amount of kablooey his larger battles cause. Also, the not trusting him bit isn't purely because he killed Justin in self defense like in the books, but also because he was taught by Justin in the ''first place.'' This Morgan is far from Harry's biggest fan, but we go from "he broke a law, forget ''why'' he did it, OffWithHisHead!" to "yeah, he mostly does what's right, but he's far too reckless and his former teacher likely encouraged that. Keep an eye on this one."

* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons

** In the books Bianca is a high-ranking villainous vampire. In the show, she's much more sympathetic and she and Harry end up on the same side more often than not.
** Morgan in the books, while a good guy, was a LawfulStupid InspectorJavert who watched Harry like a hawk waiting for the slightest excuse to chop off his head. This version doesn't trust Harry but wants to help the innocent too, which leaves them begrudgingly on the same side more often than not, while having a problem with how visible he makes himself, and the amount of kablooey his larger battles cause. Also, the not trusting him bit isn't purely because he killed Justin in self defense like in the books, but also because he was taught by Justin in the ''first place.'' This Morgan is far from Harry's biggest fan, but we go from "he broke a law, forget ''why'' he did it, OffWithHisHead!" to "yeah, he mostly does what's right, but he's got no regard for TheMasquerade, he was the student and relative of a BigBad, and [[DestructiveSavior ye gods, the property damage]]! Keep an eye on this one."

* ManIFeelLikeAWoman: Subverted in "The Boone Identity." When Boone bodyswaps with [[spoiler:Murphy]], he looks down and reaches towards her breasts, but only to (rather uncomfortably) adjust her bra. With a sour expression he notes "This will be interesting," with no prurient undertones.

* EvilUncle: Justin, who was just an EvilMentor in the books.

* ManIFeelLikeAWoman: Just barely averted in "The Boone Identity." When Boone bodyswaps with [[spoiler:Murphy]], he looks down, uncomfortably adjusts the bra, and just notes, "This will be interesting," with a sour expression.

* OurGhostsAreDifferent: Bob, bound to his own skull as punishment for using black magic in life.

* ExpositionOfImmortality: In one episode, [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Bianca]] refers to a building as an enemy's "hideout." Harry jokes that she sounds like a 30s gangster's mol when she says that, and she retorts she ''was'' a 30s gangster's mol. In another part of the same episode, one of Bianca's girls calls Harry "Mr. Wizard," and Harry says she can't possibly be old enough to remember that show--to which she points out she is 57.

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 (Valerie Cruz). He's assisted by Hrothbert of Bainbridge (Terrence Mann), 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 (Joanne Kelly), the sexy vampiress in charge of one of Chicago's more illicit establishments; Kirmani (Raoul Bhaneja), a skeptical cop working under Murphy; and Morgan (Conrad Coates), the High Council's chief enforcer, who hounds Harry, believing him to be a warlock waiting to happen.

* 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. (In Morgan's case, this actually ''softens'' him from the books - he's ready to kill Harry at a moment's notice ''without'' evidence. This Morgan, while distrustful of the relative and former student of a BigBad who has at least once used black magic and has no regard for TheMasquerade or [[DestructiveSavior property damage]], will work with him for the greater good.)

* 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.

* AdaptationalHeroism: A couple of cases.

** Kirmani also scoffs, when Harry goes missing, that he's "probably on a weekend pass to [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Middle Earth]].

* 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.

** The skinwalker in the first episode is still a credible threat, but it's toned down considerably from the EldritchAbomination whose mere ''existence'' is a BrownNote to Harry's magical senses that we see in the books.

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (Paul Blackthorne) 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 (Valerie Cruz). He's assisted by Hrothbert of Bainbridge (Terrence Mann), or Bob, the ghost of a medieval wizard who was condemned to his own skull as punishment for breaking the Laws of Magic.

* 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.

* AdaptationalWimp: The skinwalker in the first episode is still a credible threat, but it's toned down considerably from the EldritchAbomination whose mere ''existence'' is a BrownNote to Harry's magical senses that we see in the books.