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Ultraviolet (TV serial)
Encyclopedia
Ultraviolet is a 1998 British
television serial
written
and directed
by Joe Ahearne
and starring Jack Davenport
, Susannah Harker
, Idris Elba
and Philip Quast
. It was produced by World Productions
for Channel 4
.
). Michael discovers that his partner Jack (Stephen Moyer
) has gone missing on the night before his wedding to Kirsty (Collette Brown) whom Michael is secretly in love with. As he investigates Jack's disappearance, Michael uncovers a secret government vampire hunting squad consisting of soldier Vaughn Rice (Idris Elba
), scientist Angela March (Susannah Harker
), and a Catholic priest Pearse J Harman (Philip Quast
). He also discovers that Jack has been turned into a vampire and ends up being recruited into the squad. Over the course of the series Michael and the vampire hunters investigate various vampire related cases, often involving medical experimentation, as they try to determine what the mysterious agenda of the vampires is. As they do so they deal with the personal consequences of their job including Michael's need to hide the truth from Kirsty, Angela's grief over her husband who was killed after he turned into a vampire, and Pearse's diagnosis of fatal leukemia.
A hallmark of the series is the scientific methods used by the agents as they investigate a variety of cases. The theme of scientific methods being used to investigate the paranormal has a long history in British television (see Quatermass and the Pit
and The Stone Tape
). In Ultraviolet these methods allow the vampire hunters to develop modern weaponry to fend off their foes - instead of stakes, they carry automatic handgun
s and submachine gun
s with carbon
bullets and specialized sights that use video cameras to differentiate between vampires and humans (vampires are invisible to recording devices); instead of wreaths of garlic
, gas grenades containing concentrated allicin; instead of sunlight, lamps emitting ultraviolet
light. The traditional idea of religious symbols repelling the creatures is regarded as a placebo
and not relied upon. A major character describes it as "a matter of faith...on both sides." The thrall
attributed to vampires is explained as chemical suggestion
, a side effect of feeding. The conversion of humans into vampires is regarded as pathological infection
, not demonic possession
. The vampires in turn use scientific tactics, not supernatural ones. Genetic engineering
plays a major role in the vampire conspiracy. They use cars with UV resistant
glass for ground travel during the day, and time lock
ed caskets for long-distance air travel. They use speech synthesis
software to communicate over telephone lines.
To maintain a more modern and realistic feel the word "vampire" is never spoken in the series; the members of the organisation avoid the word, perhaps because of its superstitious connotations. The term "Code Five" is often substituted (a visual use of the Roman numeral V is the closest the series gets to citing the word "vampire"), as is the slang "leech". Notably, vampires themselves rarely appear on camera in the series and with the exception of one character those that appear do so only briefly. Investigations usually involve the team members dealing with the humans who, wittingly and unwittingly, serve vampires.
Fox Network
developed an ongoing series version of Ultraviolet, starring Eric Thal
, Lisa Going and Mädchen Amick
and with Idris Elba
reprising his role from the British series. The American version did not however progress beyond an unaired pilot episode. Howard Gordon
, one of the producers contracted to develop the series, admitted in an interview that "we screwed it up and it just didn't come out that well."
The original UK version has been screened by the Sci-Fi Channel
in the US. It was shown originally as a three-part miniseries (each part being two of the original episodes shown consecutively), and during some later airings all six episodes were shown in a marathon format.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television serial
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
written
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
and directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Joe Ahearne
Joe Ahearne
Joe Ahearne is a British television writer and director, best known for his work on several fantasy-based programmes including Ultraviolet and Doctor Who...
and starring Jack Davenport
Jack Davenport
Jack Davenport is an English actor, best known for his roles in the television series This Life, Coupling and as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He has also appeared in many other Hollywood films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley...
, Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker is an English film, television, and theatre actor. She is the daughter of English actress Polly Adams and actor Richard Owens, and the great-niece of Gordon Adams. She was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1990 for her role as Mattie Storin in House of Cards...
, Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
and Philip Quast
Philip Quast
Philip Quast is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his role as Inspector Javert in the stage musical version of Les Misérables, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors and Police Rescue.-Personal life:Quast was born in 1957 in...
. It was produced by World Productions
World Productions
World Productions is a British television production company, founded in the early 1990s by acclaimed producer Tony Garnett. The company's first major series was the police drama Between The Lines , and throughout the decade they went on to produce a succession of highly successful drama series...
for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Synopsis
The series follows Detective Sergeant Michael Colefield (Jack DavenportJack Davenport
Jack Davenport is an English actor, best known for his roles in the television series This Life, Coupling and as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He has also appeared in many other Hollywood films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley...
). Michael discovers that his partner Jack (Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer is an English actor who has starred as vampire Bill Compton in the HBO series True Blood since 2008.-Early life and career:Moyer was born in Brentwood, Essex...
) has gone missing on the night before his wedding to Kirsty (Collette Brown) whom Michael is secretly in love with. As he investigates Jack's disappearance, Michael uncovers a secret government vampire hunting squad consisting of soldier Vaughn Rice (Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
), scientist Angela March (Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker
Susannah Harker is an English film, television, and theatre actor. She is the daughter of English actress Polly Adams and actor Richard Owens, and the great-niece of Gordon Adams. She was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1990 for her role as Mattie Storin in House of Cards...
), and a Catholic priest Pearse J Harman (Philip Quast
Philip Quast
Philip Quast is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his role as Inspector Javert in the stage musical version of Les Misérables, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors and Police Rescue.-Personal life:Quast was born in 1957 in...
). He also discovers that Jack has been turned into a vampire and ends up being recruited into the squad. Over the course of the series Michael and the vampire hunters investigate various vampire related cases, often involving medical experimentation, as they try to determine what the mysterious agenda of the vampires is. As they do so they deal with the personal consequences of their job including Michael's need to hide the truth from Kirsty, Angela's grief over her husband who was killed after he turned into a vampire, and Pearse's diagnosis of fatal leukemia.
A hallmark of the series is the scientific methods used by the agents as they investigate a variety of cases. The theme of scientific methods being used to investigate the paranormal has a long history in British television (see Quatermass and the Pit
Quatermass and the Pit
Quatermass and the Pit is a British television science-fiction serial, originally transmitted live by BBC Television in December 1958 and January 1959. It was the third and last of the BBC's Quatermass serials, although the character would reappear in a 1979 ITV production simply entitled Quatermass...
and The Stone Tape
The Stone Tape
The Stone Tape is a television play directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Michael Bates and Iain Cuthbertson. It was broadcast on BBC Two as a Christmas ghost story in 1972...
). In Ultraviolet these methods allow the vampire hunters to develop modern weaponry to fend off their foes - instead of stakes, they carry automatic handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
s and submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
s with carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
bullets and specialized sights that use video cameras to differentiate between vampires and humans (vampires are invisible to recording devices); instead of wreaths of garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, gas grenades containing concentrated allicin; instead of sunlight, lamps emitting ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
light. The traditional idea of religious symbols repelling the creatures is regarded as a placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
and not relied upon. A major character describes it as "a matter of faith...on both sides." The thrall
Thrall
Thrall was the term for a serf or unfree servant in Scandinavian culture during the Viking Age.Thralls were the lowest in the social order and usually provided unskilled labor during the Viking era.-Etymology:...
attributed to vampires is explained as chemical suggestion
Suggestion
Suggestion is the psychological process by which one person guides the thoughts, feelings, or behaviour of another. Nineteenth century writers on psychology such as William James used the words "suggest" and "suggestion" in senses close to those they have in common speech—one idea was said to...
, a side effect of feeding. The conversion of humans into vampires is regarded as pathological infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
, not demonic possession
Demonic possession
Demonic possession is held by many belief systems to be the control of an individual by a malevolent supernatural being. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or personalities, convulsions, “fits” and fainting as if one were dying...
. The vampires in turn use scientific tactics, not supernatural ones. Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
plays a major role in the vampire conspiracy. They use cars with UV resistant
Cerium(IV) oxide
Cerium oxide, also known as ceric oxide, ceria, cerium oxide or cerium dioxide, is an oxide of the rare earth metal cerium...
glass for ground travel during the day, and time lock
Time lock
A time lock is a part of a locking mechanism commonly found in bank vaults and other high-security containers. The timelock is a timer designed to prevent the opening of the safe or vault until it reaches 0, even if the correct combination are known...
ed caskets for long-distance air travel. They use speech synthesis
Speech synthesis
Speech synthesis is the artificial production of human speech. A computer system used for this purpose is called a speech synthesizer, and can be implemented in software or hardware...
software to communicate over telephone lines.
To maintain a more modern and realistic feel the word "vampire" is never spoken in the series; the members of the organisation avoid the word, perhaps because of its superstitious connotations. The term "Code Five" is often substituted (a visual use of the Roman numeral V is the closest the series gets to citing the word "vampire"), as is the slang "leech". Notably, vampires themselves rarely appear on camera in the series and with the exception of one character those that appear do so only briefly. Investigations usually involve the team members dealing with the humans who, wittingly and unwittingly, serve vampires.
Episode titles
- "Habeas Corpus"
- "In Nomine Patris"
- "Sub Judice"
- "Mea Culpa"
- "Terra Incognita"
- "Persona Non Grata"
Legacy
In 2000, the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Fox Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
developed an ongoing series version of Ultraviolet, starring Eric Thal
Eric Thal
Eric Thal is an American film and stage actor, perhaps best known for his film roles as Ariel, opposite Melanie Griffith in Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us; Sam Nivens, Donald Sutherland's son, in The Puppet Masters; Samson, opposite Elizabeth Hurley, in Samson and Delilah; Meade Howell, the...
, Lisa Going and Mädchen Amick
Mädchen Amick
Mädchen Amick is an American actress best known for playing Shelly Johnson on the cult television series Twin Peaks and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.-Early life:...
and with Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
reprising his role from the British series. The American version did not however progress beyond an unaired pilot episode. Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon
Howard Gordon is an American screenwriter and producer.-Life and career:Gordon was born in Queens, New York, New York. After graduating from Princeton in 1984, Gordon came to Los Angeles with fellow filmmaker Alex Gansa to pursue a career in writing for television. Both broke into the industry...
, one of the producers contracted to develop the series, admitted in an interview that "we screwed it up and it just didn't come out that well."
The original UK version has been screened by the Sci-Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the US. It was shown originally as a three-part miniseries (each part being two of the original episodes shown consecutively), and during some later airings all six episodes were shown in a marathon format.
External links
- Official Ultraviolet Homepage
- Joe Ahearne explains why Ultraviolet was not continued: "Well, there are so many reasons and I don't think you can point to any one. So, in no particular order..."