Vicki Nelson is a mess. Not a "charming TV mess" with one stray hair, but a former homicide detective losing her eyesight to retinitis pigmentosa, forced to quit the force and become a private investigator just to survive. Then she meets a vampire. But he isn't some brooding teenager in a high school cafeteria. He's Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, a graphic novelist who happens to drink blood. This was the core of the Blood Ties vampire series, a show that hit Lifetime and CityTV back in 2007 and somehow managed to feel more grounded than almost any supernatural drama that followed.
It’s weird.
People forget how much the mid-2000s were saturated with fangs. We had Twilight on the horizon and True Blood just starting to simmer at HBO. Yet, Blood Ties, based on the Blood Books by Tanya Huff, carved out this weird, gritty, Canadian niche that felt less like a soap opera and more like a noir film. It wasn't about the "glamour" of being undead. It was about the paperwork, the dark alleys of Toronto, and the incredibly awkward friction between Vicki, her ex-partner Mike Celluci, and a vampire who was significantly more charming than any 500-year-old man has a right to be.
The Blood Ties Vampire Series and the Art of the Slow Burn
If you watch modern TV, you're used to things moving fast. Plot twists every ten minutes. In the Blood Ties vampire series, the tension was the plot. Tanya Huff wrote these characters with a specific kind of exhaustion. Vicki Nelson, played by Christina Cox, wasn't looking for a supernatural boyfriend. She was looking for a paycheck and a way to prove she wasn't "broken" because of her failing vision.
The chemistry wasn't just sexual; it was professional. Mostly.
Henry Fitzroy (Kyle Schmid) was a revelation for fans of the books. In an era where vampires were either monsters or sparkling icons, Henry was a creator. He was an artist. He understood the "long game" of existence. The show excelled when it leaned into the procedural elements. It used the supernatural as a lens to look at human obsession, grief, and the fear of losing control. When a demon shows up in the pilot, it’s not just a monster-of-the-week; it’s a catalyst that forces Vicki to admit she can't do everything alone.
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Honestly, the budget was low. You can tell. The lighting is moody—partly for atmosphere, partly to hide the fact that they didn't have Marvel-level CGI. But that constraint actually helped. It made the world feel claustrophobic and dangerous. You felt the cold Canadian nights.
Why Tanya Huff’s Vision Worked Better on Screen Than You’d Think
Adaptations are usually a nightmare. Fans of the Blood Books were understandably nervous. Tanya Huff’s writing is sharp, sarcastic, and very focused on Vicki’s internal monologue. How do you translate a woman losing her sight into a visual medium without it being cheesy?
The show did it by focusing on the grit.
- Vicki’s apartment looked lived-in and slightly depressing.
- Mike Celluci (Dylan Neal) acted like a real cop—annoying, skeptical, and fiercely protective.
- The vampire lore stayed relatively consistent with Huff’s rules: no sunlight, high stakes, and a deep sense of loneliness.
It didn't try to be Buffy. It didn't have the "chosen one" energy. It was just about a woman trying to do her job while the world got increasingly strange. The Blood Ties vampire series thrived on the "will-they-won't-they" triangle, but unlike The Vampire Diaries, it felt like the stakes were actually life and death for the people involved. You genuinely worried Mike would get killed because he was just a guy with a gun in a world of demons.
The Problem With 22-Episode Seasons
Looking back at 2007, the television landscape was a different beast. Blood Ties ran for two seasons (though often split into different chunks depending on where you watched it). Because it was a procedural, some episodes were definitely filler. You’d have a brilliant arc about a necromancer followed by a somewhat forgettable episode about a cursed object. That’s just how TV functioned then.
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But the filler allowed for character growth. We saw Vicki’s sight get worse. We saw Henry’s vulnerability. We saw Celluci’s gradual, painful acceptance that he couldn't protect Vicki from the things that go bump in the night.
The Cult Following and the "Cancelled Too Soon" Club
It’s been years, and yet the "Blood Ties" tag on social media stays active. Why? Because the show ended on a cliffhanger. Well, not a cliffhanger in the "everyone is about to explode" sense, but a lack of resolution for the central trio.
There was a specific energy to Canadian supernatural dramas of that era—think Lost Girl or Being Erica. They had a soul that big-budget US productions often lacked. They felt personal. When the Blood Ties vampire series was cancelled, it left a hole for fans who wanted their supernatural fix served with a side of dry wit and realistic struggle.
Vicki’s retinitis pigmentosa wasn't a plot device that got cured by vampire blood. That's a huge deal. Usually, in these shows, the disability is a "curse" that gets magicked away. Huff and the showrunners kept it. It stayed a part of her character, a looming shadow that made her more desperate and more capable.
What Most People Get Wrong About Henry Fitzroy
People think Henry is just another "Edward Cullen" prototype. He’s not. He’s a survivor of the Tudor court. If you actually look at the history the show hints at, Henry Fitzroy was the only acknowledged illegitimate son of Henry VIII. In the show, his "origin story" isn't just a cool historical footnote; it dictates his behavior. He’s royal. He’s entitled. He’s also incredibly lonely because everyone he has ever known is dust.
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Kyle Schmid played him with a mix of arrogance and genuine affection for Vicki. He didn't want to "save" her. He wanted a partner who could look him in the eye and not blink.
Vicki Nelson didn't blink.
How to Watch the Blood Ties Vampire Series Today
If you’re looking to dive back in, or if you’re a newcomer wondering what the fuss is about, finding the show can be a bit of a hunt. It pops up on various streaming services like Amazon Prime or Tubi depending on your region and the current licensing whims of the gods.
- Start with the Pilot: "Blood Price" (Parts 1 and 2). It sets the tone perfectly.
- Read the Books: If you finish the series and feel empty, Tanya Huff’s Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact, and Blood Debt are mandatory reading. They go much deeper into the lore and Vicki’s internal struggle.
- Watch for the Chemistry: Pay attention to the scenes in Henry’s loft. That’s where the show really lives.
The series handles the supernatural by making it mundane. A vampire isn't a god; he’s a guy who needs to keep his fridge stocked with something other than milk. A demon isn't an abstract concept; it’s a problem that needs to be solved before the sun comes up. This "blue-collar" approach to the paranormal is why the Blood Ties vampire series holds up even when the special effects don't.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to revisit this world or support the legacy of the series, there are a few concrete things you can do.
- Check Digital Storefronts: Since physical DVDs are becoming rare (and expensive), keep an eye on Apple TV or Vudu. The show often goes on sale for under $20 for the full series.
- Support Tanya Huff: The author is still active and her Blood Books are available in ebook and physical formats. Buying her work is the best way to honor the source material that made the show possible.
- Engage with the Community: There are still active fan forums and Tumblr tags where people discuss the nuances of the Vicki/Henry/Mike dynamic. The "Vickuci" vs. "Team Henry" debates are still alive and well.
- Look for "Blood Ties" on Ad-Supported Streaming: Platforms like Pluto TV or Tubi often cycle through these 2000-era gems. Setting a "Watchlist" alert can help you catch it when it’s free.
The show was a product of its time—the clothes are very 2007, the phones are bricks, and the music is peak "edgy TV drama." But the heart of it? The story of a woman refusing to give up even as her world goes dark? That is timeless. The Blood Ties vampire series didn't need a massive budget to tell a story that mattered. It just needed a detective, a vampire, and a very grumpy cop in a cold Toronto alleyway.