Poltergeist - Die unheimliche Macht

I'd say it was unique, but Friday the 13th had an equally good series like this based around an antique shop. And, of course, it is like the X-Files and Warehouse 13 and Mellinum...but there are reasons that shows like this are made and develop a cult following. They are almost always really good.

I think the draw back to the show is that it has the title "Poltergeist" and like "Friday the 13th" that kind of set people up for a let down when they realized that it had little to do with the movie franchise.

But, if you accept that it's not based around the film franchise, you can sit down and experience a very entertaining horror show that should have been far more popular.

I've been a fan of this show for many years now. It's online communities are still strong, even though it has been many years since they canceled the show. Check out the yahoo.com groups, there are at least 40 groups devoted to this show. New fan fictions continue to be uploaded. :)

As far as the relationships in the show go, same thing happens to the men. It seems every other episode has the girl Nick or Derek likes being some evil creature, or posessed by an evil creature! Though I have to admit, Nick fighting a sucubus is always one of my favorite things to watch! ;)

The one major gripe I have with it is the way Scifi handled Kat's involvement with Witchcraft. It was totally inaccurate, and as a Wiccan, I find it comic and almost stupid. Especially in Rachel's "Banishing" of Miranda. It would only have worked if she believed it would, which she didn't! It was purile, and very foolish. It made it seem like all you had to do to work magick was to throw your hands in the air and recite a poem.

Other than that, I love the show, and even though there is no longer any hope for new episodes due to the actors distancing themselves from the fans due to an unfortunate misunderstanding with one of them, it remains one of the best shows I've ever had the pleasure to watch. :)

Now, I watch Poltergeist: The Legacy all the time. I like it. But sometimes the writing/characters are a bit off. For example, almost every other villain of the week is after one of the female characters. And, almost every time, the girl falls for him. This show has so many good female leads: a delightful Helen Shaver as a mother/skeptic/psychiatrist; Robbi Chong as a archeologist/black/woman/psychic; and, currently, Kristin Lehman as a brilliant woman trying to be a member of the Legacy without letting it take over her life. All these WONDERFUL female leads and they have to resort to evil dudes of the week to bring out the passion in these characters. Would it be too much to ask that they got a healthy relationship once in awhile with a decent guy, or are they going to mimic Dana Scully in the "My Work is My Life" department? (I certainly hope not!)

This is the only supernatural show that even ever compared to the X-Files level. It is brilliant. I curse whoever canceled it.

The ideas are novel, handled well, have splendidly filmed "shadowbacks" and the cast works very well together.

The idea of a privileged society of "secrecy" and living in an ancient and beautiful castle on a private island appeals to the kid in us and sets us up for wanting to be scared. Then they do it! And then you find yourself wanting to live in the castle too.

The cast feels like family. The place is warm and cozy, with fog and fireplaces. All of this artfully counteracts with the cold and decidedly non-cozy effects of demonic appearances.

The team investigates outside forces and forces within their own walls, some following them home.

Buy all 4 seasons of this if you can.

PTL is one of the most exiting shows ever! With an all star cast like Helen Shaver(who has starred in many movies as well as tv shows) Alexandra Purvis, (who is is the upcoming theatrical release Marine life) and many others, plus special effects and story lines that draw you into their world, it's no wonder there are over 1000 sites devoted enitrely to it! It airs monday-friday on SciFi channel @11eastern, and saturdays on some syndications. Though the show aired it's last episode, there are campains to get it back into production (And we all know what happened when StarTrek fans did that!) :)Watch it and you will understand.