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Demons

The cast of Demons
  • Posted at 2:50pm
  • 08 January 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 17 comments

I tried very hard to think of Demons as enjoyable hokum. It's not aimed at me, I thought, because I am not 13 and I don't believe monsters exist in suburban London, or suburban anywhere for that matter.

Well, I've given up, in the face of overwhelming evidence that Demons simply isn't very good. I could just about go along with its premise - a middle-aged demon-hunter seeks out his godson, who is the last of the Van Helsing clan of vampire-killers - if only it was well-written and even scary.

But it isn't. The thrills are rare and there is no real sense of peril. For example in the third episode the demon, a big rat person (yes, really) falls straight into that James Bond villain trap of imprisoning his prey in two separate, potentially lethal situations, taunting them for a bit, then wandering off and giving them loads of time to free themselves.

I know they are going to escape at the last possible second, just as you will know they are going to escape at the last possible second, after the bad rat has disappeared. So where's the fun and anticipation in that? Yes, of course, we always know that, say, Doctor Who will spring himself from any given deadly situation, otherwise there'd be no series, but it's generally so well done that there's that tiny element of doubt, just enough to keep things enjoyably menacing.

Demons needs to frighten its audience more, obviously within the parameters that it's a Saturday teatime show aimed at a family audience. Kids are resilient and love a few shocks every now and again. But presenting them with villains that wouldn't disgrace a village hall production of Dick Whittington just doesn't cut it.

And, if there's a second series, Demons's characters need more flesh on their bones, so to speak. Young Luke, the last Van Helsing, is a blank pretty boy, obviously aimed directly at teens, and young teens at that - probably, even, 12 year olds and younger.

His best friend is Ruby (yes, her presence was indeed announced, with weary inevitability, by a blast of the Kaiser Chiefs' Ruby), a whiny irritant who's in love with Luke but who can't bring herself to tell him. Yawn.

As for the grown-ups - poor Philip Glenister as Rupert Galvin, Luke's mentor and godfather, grapples with a thoroughly pointless American accent, while Zoë Tapper (so good in the recent Affinity) as Mina Harker, a blind concert pianist gifted with second sight, is called upon to do little except stare, twitch and smile enigmatically. It's a waste of everyone.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 08 February 2009
  • at 8:59pm
  • by Tont

Turned Tv over to Demons, Saw the Bloke from the Office hold up a Gun and say "A bunch of daffodils it ain't and I didn't get it from Tescos.,,,,,,Turned over.

  • Posted on 04 February 2009
  • at 9:22pm
  • by david r

Just seen Demons for first time. Will not be watching it again...very, very poor... sooo old hat, plus the sound quality was APPALLING...COULDN'T HEAR THE DIALOGUE FOR PITY'S SAKE !!

  • Posted on 29 January 2009
  • at 10:42am
  • by Edward

Oh My God! Can anyone possibly think this show is good?The characters have about as much depth as a coat of varnish,the acting is terrible and crater-face Glennister's American accent on a par with Dick Van Dyke's immortal interpretation of cockney. When the US is producing great drama like Madmen,24,Dexter etc does anyone think they'd be interested in showing this? {I assume this is the reason for Glennister's character).Which is worse, this or Bonekickers?

  • Posted on 25 January 2009
  • at 5:25pm
  • by tinaangel

I love demons its a breath of fresh air a show you can just relax and let wash over you it's fun a good old fashion feel good show. oh and christian cooke looking totally hot is a great bonus

  • Posted on 25 January 2009
  • at 5:25pm
  • by tinaangel

I love demons its a breath of fresh air a show you can just relax and let wash over you it's fun a good old fashion feel good show. oh and christian cooke looking totally hot is a great bonus

  • Posted on 18 January 2009
  • at 10:35am
  • by david

does this alison graham actually know what shes talking about? This family entertainment. Even Dr Who has monsters in modern London....get a real reviewer not a reveiwer who just wants her fee no matter what

  • Posted on 17 January 2009
  • at 10:21pm
  • by Amy

Demons is Awesome! Luke is Amazing! i disagree with the article completely!

  • Posted on 17 January 2009
  • at 7:47pm
  • by William

The show has many flaws, but the greatest is that the characters have no personality, and it's hard to care about them even a little. I suppose I was expecting to see Gene Hunt verses the supernatural. Sigh. Just goes to underline how good Buffy and Angel were.

  • Posted on 17 January 2009
  • at 7:47pm
  • by William

The show has many flaws, but the greatest is that the characters have no personality, and it's hard to care about them even a little. I suppose I was expecting to see Gene Hunt verses the supernatural. Sigh. Just goes to underline how good Buffy and Angel were.

  • Posted on 14 January 2009
  • at 2:58am
  • by pollyp

Phil Glenister's accent is horrible as a Brit who lives in America, I am glad lots of Brits think its horrible too! I haven't quite written off the show yet - it is disappointing although the premise isn't completely awful, it's just been badly executed so far. I've only seen 2 episodes but I am willing and hoping that like Torchwood did with season 1 it's got off to a slow start and will pick up steam.

  • Posted on 12 January 2009
  • at 9:40pm
  • by Sceptic101

Well ITV need theor own version of everything the BBC does and 'Demons' is ITV's answer to 'Bonekickers'.

  • Posted on 12 January 2009
  • at 1:18pm
  • by Bigbeemer

Sorry to disagree, but I actually quite enjoy Demons(and I am well out of my childhood)!

Don't think too deeply about it...just sit back as you should be doing on a Saturday evening!

Please don't make a series based on the recent production of the 39 Steps....it was a travesty of the original book.

  • Posted on 11 January 2009
  • at 5:06pm
  • by Jo

Could only stomach watching 30 minutes of this prog. Badly written with characters who are underwritten and unsympathetic - (just like Torchwood we need good characters). Why has Philip Glenister got that awful American accent. Is he trying to get away from his Life in Mars character? Well it's embarrassingly bad.

  • Posted on 10 January 2009
  • at 12:36pm
  • by Zozi

I was disappointed and very bored, but my 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughters liked it, which says it all. And I stupidly had thought that watching Dr Who, Merlin, and other well-scripted dramas would give them some idea of being able to distinguish between quality and tat when they see it, but as in so much with children I was sadly mistaken..........

  • Posted on 10 January 2009
  • at 10:17am
  • by MazY

After all the advertising, I watched the first episode expecting to see something dark and gritty. Instead I got light and paltry. Reality shows aside, I think it was one of the worst things I've seen on television in some time.

It was yet another reminder of the disaster that usually results when UK television tries to emulate American television. We always end up making ourselves look completley unqualified. Whoever thought that we could do Buffy (so to speak) and get away with it should be sacked.

This show, I think, will be forever seen as the show that tried too hard to be something that it's not - down to the completely absurd and pointless American accent.

  • Posted on 09 January 2009
  • at 4:23pm
  • by Sydney Arborbridge

Demons…dull, dull, dull…

  • Posted on 09 January 2009
  • at 2:48pm
  • by nellyb

Buffy writ small, isn't it, although Philip Glenister gives me hope for something better, in spite of the accent.

I think it'll do quite well, though, because it's a popular concept and people want a bit of escapism just now.

Which reminds me...I do hope the Beeb is planning to make a series out of the Hannay stories following The 39 Steps. So many pieces I've read and people I've spoken to enjoyed this immensely for itself (rather than sourly comparing it with the unfilmable book and the Hitchcock version), especially Rupert Penry-Jones's charm and comic timing and his sparkling chemistry with the lovely, stroppy Lydia Leonard. I'd watch a series of that!

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