Kindred: The Embraced is an American television series produced by John Leekley Productions and Spelling Television.[1] Loosely based on the role-playing gameVampire: The Masquerade,[1] the series premiered on Fox on April 2, 1996, and ran for seven episodes before it was canceled with one episode unaired on May 9, 1996. Scripts for two other episodes were never filmed.[1]
Synopsis
The series initially focused on San FranciscoPoliceDetective Frank Kohanek (C. Thomas Howell) who discovers his city is home to numerous vampires while investigating alleged mobster Julian Luna (Mark Frankel). Julian is not really a mobster, as Frank thinks; in fact, he is the Prince of the city, the ruler of five groups of vampires in the city, collectively called "the Kindred". Frank had been romantically involved with Julian's former lover, Alexandra. Before Alexandra dies as punishment for breaking the "Masquerade" she asks Julian to protect Frank as a special favor to her, which he does. The two form an odd sort of friendship as the series progresses. Julian provides Frank with insights and information regarding the vampire community as related to crimes he is investigating. Frank is able to act discreetly on Julian's behalf if needed. Further, Frank is shown to be somewhat resistant to a vampire's powers due to his past physical intimacy with a vampire.
Julian, in his role as Prince, is shown to be the only force that can stop the clans from breaking the uneasy truce that keeps them from fighting with each other. The vampires survive thanks to the "Masquerade", disguising themselves as humans, and Julian strictly enforces the laws that govern them to protect their anonymity. Any vampires who break those rules find their lives ended. Vampires are shown to slip into human society rather easily, holding a variety of jobs. The senior vampires who compose the conclave of San Francisco are depicted as wealthy heads of industry and business leaders.
Julian struggles with his romantic feelings for human reporter Caitlin Byrne (Kelly Rutherford). Further, Julian is assisted by and finds comfort in his trusted friend, Daedalus, who is the senior vampire for one of the five clans.
Characters
Main
Julian Luna (Mark Frankel), a vampire of Clan Ventrue, and prince of the city
Eddie Fiori (Brian Thompson), a vampire of the Brujah clan
Archon Raine (Patrick Bauchau), a vampire of the Ventrue clan, and the former prince of the city
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
1
"The Original Saga"
Peter Medak
John Leekley
April 2, 1996 (1996-04-02)
A police detective, Frank Kohanek, has learned that vampires exist, but doesn't realise that he's surrounded by them. The businessman whom he suspects is a mobster, Julian Luna, is the Prince of the San Francisco "Kindred" clans. Frank's girlfriend, Alexandra (Kate Vernon), is Julian's ex and also a vampire. When she reveals herself, breaking the Masquerade, her unlife is forfeit.
2
"Prince of the City"
Peter Medak
John Leekley
April 3, 1996 (1996-04-03)
The feud with the Brujah is escalating. Against Masquerade policy, Eddie Fiori has ordered the death of Boyle, an informant of Detective Kohanek. However, the vote by the ruling primogens is split and Eddie is not sentenced to Final Death. Julian has fallen in love with reporter Caitlin Byrne, a human who wants to do an article on him because he is wealthy, powerful, and unseen. In order to control her, Julian buys the San Francisco Times and appoints her as the editor.
A recently Embraced and insane Kindred is making the news as a serial killer. Falling in love with human women is an issue for Julian, Cash and Daedalus.
Cash and Sasha have become lovers and Julian grudgingly gives permission for Cash to Embrace Sasha. He's too late, however, because the Brujah clan, trying to provoke a war between clans, has already Embraced her.
5
"Live Hard, Die Young, and Leave a Good Looking Corpse"
Zane (Ivan Sergei), a rock star Embraced by Lillie, endangers the Masquerade, but she's having trouble admitting that he's a problem. Sasha embraces her Brujah blood.
Lillie is jealous of Caitlin and sends a P.I. to take photos of Julian and Caitlin together. The P.I. ends up capturing Eddie's assassination attempt on film. Frank ends up with a copy of the photos and shows them to Caitlin, so she breaks up with Julian. Lillie, meanwhile, has sided with Eddie, who is still planning to kill Julian. Heads will roll, but not the ones Eddie plans.
7
"Bad Moon Rising"
James L. Conway
Phyllis Murphy
May 1, 1996 (1996-05-01)
With Brujah primogen Eddie Fiori gone, fights are breaking out all over San Francisco to determine which Brujah will succeed him. This is to be expected. What isn't expected is the return of the Nosferatu Goth (Skipp Sudduth). Julian ran Goth out of town years ago, but he has returned, stronger than ever. And, when he performs the ritual and drinks the blood of the human infant he has just kidnapped, he will be unbeatable.
8
"Cabin in the Woods"
Ralph Hemecker
Curt Johnson
May 8, 1996 (1996-05-08)
Julian hasn't been out of San Francisco in seven years. So when Caitlin asks him to go away with her for the weekend, Julian leaves Archon in charge and goes with her sans bodyguards to Manzanita Springs in Sonoma County where Caitlin has secured a secluded cabin in the woods. Unbeknown to Julian, the sole survivor of that bloodbath, a Brujah named Cameron (Titus Welliver), has reunited with the three remaining Manzanita Springs Brujah and has plans to take over Eddie's seat on the San Francisco conclave.
Release
Broadcast
The series premiered on Fox on April 2, 1996.[2] New episodes aired weekly until May 9, 1996, after which the series was canceled and no additional episodes produced.
Home media
All eight episodes were released in a two volume DVD set on August 21, 2001.[3] On August 5, 2013, it was announced that The Complete Series, packaged with the Book of Nodrole-playing game supplement, would be released on October 22.[4]
Reception
Sci Fi Weekly's Kathie Huddleston called Kindred: The Embraced a "cross between The Godfather and Melrose Place" that held promise, but was very confusing to viewers with the five vampire clans and a particularly confusing pilot episode.[clarification needed] While she felt the character of Frank appeared "to be pulled straight out of a bad cop film," she praised the character of Julian as a "multifaceted character who's both good and evil."[2]Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly also compared the series to The Godfather "soaked in blood," calling it "knottily mystifying." Like Huddleston, he disliked the character of Frank, wishing he'd been killed by a vampire early in the series, while praising "the elegant, intelligent prince" Julian.[5]
