Moonlight: The Complete Series

Any private eye knows a lot about other people's secrets. L.A. private eye Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) has a secret of his own. He's a vampire, dwelling in a covert netherworld complicated by friendship with an undead finance honcho (Jason Dohring), memories of the alluring ex- wife (Shannyn Sossamon) who turned him into a vampire, and a relationship with a human (Sophia Myles) he feels drawn to protect - and maybe to love. But no matter how tempting, Mick knows a vampire-human romance is eternally dangerous. This 16-episode, 4-disc set of the series voted the 2008 People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama is a sure entertainment bet for all who like their vampire stories sleek, intense and passionate.

A thoroughly entertaining series that lasted just one season, Moonlight tells the story of a sexy vampire who wants to do good. (Think along the lines of Angel from the Joss Whedon series of the same name.) Mick (Alex O'Loughlin, August Rush) became a vampire in the 1950s when his beautiful vamp bride Coraline (Shannyn Sossamon, A Knight's Tale) created his new incarnation. Shunning that lifestyle and turning against his wife when she attempts to add a little girl to their family, Mick creates a new identity for himself as a private detective. The job has its perks. Mick, who normally shuns fresh human blood, doesn't feel as badly partaking from the fluids of a criminal. Though Coraline would actually make a more intriguing ongoing love interest for Mick, he falls in love with Beth (Sophia Myles, Underworld). The two have a history together, too, though Beth doesn't remember it right away (Mick saved her from Coraline some 20 years ago); now, they're working together. O'Loughin and Myles make a handsome couple, but they don't share the type of chemistry that makes his scenes with Sossamon so intoxicating. Moonlight originally aired on CBS during the 2007-2008 television season. The season was truncated to just 16 episodes due to the Writers Guild Strike. Because of that, the series at times feels unresolved--especially in the finale. But Moonlight is well-crafted and has beautiful production value. Mick at times utters groaners like, “Being a vampire sucks,” but the Aussie actor makes it work. The series in some ways is debating the age-old question of whether eternal life is a blessing or a curse. The answer depends on who--or what--you are. --Jae-Ha Kim