… I'd wanted the series, based on the Jim Butcher novels, to be the next Buffy. Or at least the next Charmed. Instead it's an uneven fantasy series that's not eerie enough to be a culty favorite (The X-Files) or goofy enough to be a guilty pleasure (Sabrina the Teenage Witch). …USA Today gives it three stars (out of four) and says:
… All that's missing is the blond vampire-slaying girlfriend — well, that and that magical mix of first-rate wit, chills and drama that made the Buffy-universe the gold standard for such shows. … 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. A wonderful wizard? No. But a good one, and with no angels in sight, good may have to be good enough.The New York Times says:
… in televised form, at least, it has the feeling of pizza with pineapple on it — which is to say, not actually for grown-ups. Wizardry, in the end, is best left in the hands of its most famous interpreter.The Chicago Tribune says:
… There’s something generally appealing about “The Dresden Files” … but this new show probably will do best with a certain slice of the television audience, one that feasted on the likes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.” … Much of the show’s appeal stems from its lead actor, Paul Blackthorne, whose leading-man handsomeness is scuffed around the edges, giving Dresden the right mixture of sex appeal and private-eye weariness. The wizard’s also got a ghostly live-in pal named Bob (Terrence Mann), who can shimmer away - through solid walls - when visitors turn up; the dryly witty Bob may be my favorite character so far, and I hope we get more from him as the series progresses. …The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… Having seen two episodes, "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. … its struggles seem oddly self-inflicted. … The scripts are sometimes nuanced (a bit snarky, a bit creepy), but not unique. The acting is good, but not enough for viewers to be stunned and won over. And the premise seems familiar, if not warmed over. For mainstream appeal, there's something off about the series, something not immediately catchy. Perhaps Blackthorne, who tries mightily to carry this series, needs to be tougher or darker.The Detroit Free Press gives it two stars (out of four) and says:
… based on the opening two episodes screened for review, "The Dresden Files" is cooler in concept than reality. As a crime procedural, the series is certainly a more accessible than the exceptionally tangled terrain of serialized "Battlestar." But even with Blackthorne's occasionally engaging portrayal of Harry Dresden, this whodunit lacks the wit and imagination that might transform it into something special. We get formula escapism and little more.The Cleveland Plain Dealer says:
… a little bit "Angel," a little bit "The X-Files" and not enough of either. … There's impressive talent here, so let's hope this wizard can conjure some mojo fast. Otherwise, fans will stamp "The Dresden Files" too dreary to watch …The Hollywood Reporter says:
… combines first-rate storytelling techniques with equally impressive special effects. The result: a series that is brooding, seductive and smart. … Blackthorne is in his element playing Dresden. His slick looks and slow-moving manner give him a sophistication that the character needs. … s beautiful to watch as it is intelligent and witty to hear. …Variety says:
… diverting … Silly in places, series nevertheless fits nicely alongside other potions and tonics in the basic cabler's pantry. … a sort-of procedural, the kind of undemanding hocus-pocus that goes down easy…9 p.m. Sunday. SciFi.