Wolf Lake is an American supernatural drama television series that originally aired on CBS from September 19 to October 24, 2001. Nine episodes were produced, but only five aired before the series was canceled by CBS. The full series, including the four unaired episodes, was later picked up and broadcast on UPN in April–May 2002. Wolf Lake depicts a pack of werewolves living in a Seattle suburb.
Contents
Summary
Seattle policeman John Kanin proposes marriage to his girlfriend, Ruby Wilder, and she accepts. However, as she gets into her car, she is attacked. The only thing Kanin finds of his now fiancee, is a severed hand. He travels to her hometown of Wolf Lake to find some answers. However, his experiences there raise even more questions. What John doesn't know is that some of the inhabitants of Wolf Lake are actually werewolves. The werewolves, or the ones who survive the change, live on the "Hill" and enjoy special treatment, separated from the normal humans.
Cast
Main
Lou Diamond Phillips as Noah Cassidy (unaired pilot) & Detective/Officer John Kanin
Paul Wesley as Lucas "Luke" Cates
Stacy Edwards as Alexandra Kelly (unaired pilot)
Jeff Fahey as Russell Kelly (unaired pilot)
Bruce McGill as Dr. Sokolov (unaired pilot & Willard "Will" Cates (recurring; episodes 13)
Tim Matheson as Sheriff Jack Kohanek (unaired pilot) & Sheriff Matthew "Matt" Donner
Graham Greene as Professor Duke Joseph (unaired pilot) & Mr. Sherman Blackstone
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Sophia Donner
Sharon Lawrence as Vivian "V" Cates
Scott Bairstow as Tyler Creed
Mia Kirshner as Ruby Wilder/Cates/Creed
Recurring
Kellie Waymire as Miranda Devereaux
Fiona Scott as Presley
Carmen Moore as Deputy Molly
Christian Bocher as Buddy Hooks
Guest stars
Bill Mondy
Gregory Itzin
Sam Anderson
Levi James
Craig Olejnik
Sarah Carter
Ralph J. Alderman
Craig Bruhnanski
Steve Makaj
Kelly Dean Sereda
Deanne Henry
Ryan Robbins
Jodelle Ferland
Episodes
Rupert Wainwright directed an unaired pilot for the series with some characters and plot points that were changed when the series was later directed. Wainwright's unaired pilot is featured on the DVD release of the entire series.
The first five episodes of Wolf Lake aired on CBS in September–October 2001, before CBS pulled the series from the air. The series later was reaired on UPN, with the final four episodes debuting on UPN in April–May 2002.
Broadcast
ITV bought the rights to show the series in the United Kingdom. In August 2006, the Sci Fi Channel bought the syndication rights to reair the series in the United States.
Home media
The series was made available on DVD in 2012.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an aggregated score of 20% based on 2 positive and 8 negative critic reviews. The website’s consensus reads: "Wolf Lake's ill-defined story and uninvolving sense of mystery make it a yawn-inducing watch."
While Ron Wertheimer of The New York Times said it was "a promisingly quirky pilot", Variety's Michael Speier remarked that it "sometimes works as high drama but sometimes comes off as extremely silly".
While the series was poorly rated, it received two Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Main Title Design and Outstanding Main Title Theme Music.