In late 2006, still suffering from Angel withdrawal, I started seeing commercials on the Sci Fi channel for The Dresden Files, starring Paul Blackthorne (Lipstick Jungle) as freelance wizard Harry Dresden. It looked like it had a real Angel vibe about it -- this is before Moonlight, mind you -- and I started watching it with my wife whenever I could (she was instantly hooked). We caught most of the first 12 episodes... and then the series was canceled. I know, there are a dozen of the original Jim Butcher-penned books out there, some of which inspired episodes of the TV show, but Blackthorne was delightfully roguish, and I can't bring myself to read any book whose cover shows Harry wearing a black duster -- it's a little too high-school role-playing club for me, and I speak from experience. Luckily, I can watch the 12 duster-free episodes over and over on Hulu, or pick them all up (with the original uncut pilot) here. Check out the first one below.

Tags: Jim Butcher, Paul Blackthorne, The Dresden Files