Remembering Forever Knight
Joel Bjorling

When I first heard from a friend about a TV show featuring a vampire cop, I was as perplexed as I was intrigued. A VAMPIRE is USUALLY the bad guy--the monster, the predator, with bloody fangs, pointed ears, fiery eyes, smelly (as you'd expect the undead to be), and slimey. But a vampire with a badge? In FOREVER KNIGHT, Nick Knight struggled to overcome his bloody past, his unwanted vampire nature, and passionately desired to attain reconciliation for his "sins."

Nick's (Geraint Wyn Davies) bout with vampirism began around the fifteenth century with his unholy initiation by the vampre LeCroix, who continued to stalk him, even into the twentieth century. LeCrois, played by Nigel Bennett, with a razor-cut, sharp features, and debonair attire, appeared to Nick at inopportune times, chiding him for his thirst to regain his mortality. Curiously, LeCroix was not just a festering thorn in Nick's undead flesh, but was also a talk-show host whose soothing, beguiling words mesmerized the late-night airways. (Can you imagine who would dare sponsor his program?)

Nick had some dashing women in his life. One one hand, there was Dr. Natalie Lambert (Catherine Disher), the forensic pathologist, who experimented with his vampire blood, trying to turn him from vampire death to mortal life; on the other was Janette (Deborah Duchene), a "drop dead" vampiress, who,. at various times, was Nick's lover as well as confidante.

Last but not least was Nick's detective partner, Don Skankey (John Kapelos). He never really knew about Nick's being a vampire; however, they were nearly in an auto accident when Nick freaked at the sight of a crucifix. In addition, he always wondered how Nick moved so fast around crime scenes and, especially, how he was able to reach a roof or penthouse in a matter of seconds.

IT WAS AS IF HE FLEW!!

Much of the thrust of FOREVER KNIGHT was Nick's coming to terms with his vampire nature. For all the times he cursed it, it constantly saved his life. Once, he was shot by thugs and thrown into the trunk of a car. They thought he was dead, but they got a surprize that they never expected. Being a vampire rescued Nick from every deadly element.

AND HE WANTED TO BE MORTAL?

FOREVER KNIGHT gave a new twist to the vampire legend and mythology. No longer was the vampire a killer, but a conveyor of justice. Considering the tradition of vampire tales, this was a revolutionary concept. Nick Knight was not, in fact, evil, though he constantly battled what he believed to be the evil in himself.

In that way, he was very human.

Maybe Nick finally got his heart's desire after all.

NOTE: Not only is Joel Bjorling a fan of FOREVER KNIGHT, he is also a member of the Geraint Wyn Davies and Deborah Duchene fan clubs. He is an honorary member of the Count Dracula Fan Club.