While 1987’s Werewolf beat it to the punch by a few years, She-Wolf of London is still an important pioneer in lycan storytelling on television. This 1990 series was also ahead of the pack of other supernatural dramas that blended horror, humor, and romance. Created by Universal Television and MCA Television Entertainment as part of the original syndicated programming for Hollywood Premiere Network — the only other original shows produced were Shades of L.A. and They Came From Outer Space — She-Wolf of London was an experiment from start to finish. Rather than being a remake of the classic 1946 film, this new take aimed to be totally different. And indeed it was, although not everyone was receptive to the final product.
In its review, The Los Angeles Times called She-Wolf of London “too plodding and sexless” for either kids or adults. The show was made for cable, so naturally there were certain expectations. Yet the only scandalous element found in the pilot are some British chaps’ bare bottoms as they gawked at the series’ naked (but covered) protagonist, an American grad student named Randi Wallace (played by Kate Hodge). Those wishing for bawdier entertainment were only disappointed as the story was quite chaste, minus some scanty and comical nudity.
What makes She-Wolf of London so special early on is its titular setting. Co-produced and financed by the now-dissolved HTV, the series was shot overseas for the first fourteen episodes. Not necessarily in London, but the average American probably can’t tell the difference. And as a result, the show ended up looking expensive in spite of a low budget. From old universities to gothic churches to country cottages, the English locations enhanced the mood and atmosphere of every “London” story. For the most part, though, Randi spent her time at a bed and breakfast when she wasn’t in class.
She-Wolf of London, “Pilot”
There is practically no sex going on in She-Wolf of London, yet that didn’t stop the sexual tension at the show’s start. Upon sitting down in her mythology course, bright-eyed Randi was smitten with her handsome and slightly older professor. Ian Matheson (Neil Dickson), whose family was hosting Randi during her indefinite stay, reciprocated the attraction. However, after pointing out the colloquial definition of Randi’s first name in the U.K. — Ian explained it means “erotically charged” there, and Randi translated that as “horny” — there was a notable change in the pair’s dynamic. Flirting and jealousy happened on and off before fading almost entirely prior to the story’s ultimate change of scenery.
The show couldn’t make up its mind about whether or not Randi and Ian’s romance was happening at first, but the thing that kept them apart for so long was Randi’s supernatural affliction. When doing research out in the moors, Randi was attacked by a vicious beast of some kind. Local lore would suggest it was a big phantom cat, but everyone at home already knew the answer to this supposed mystery. Soon enough, Randi succumbed to her preternatural problem, and her only confidant was Ian. Lucky for her, too, because Professor Matheson was an expert on the occult and paranormal.
No two werewolf stories have the same mythology. Some lycanthropes bear the mark of the beast on their palm, a few have unibrows, and others are vulnerable to silver and wolfsbane. The fact is, not a lot is known about Randi’s curse. Other werewolves turn with every full moon, whereas Randi apparently changed only during the fullest of full moons. So on average, once a month. Later on, it’s revealed that her transformation could be triggered by more than just the moon; magic induced as well as suppressed it. In the episode “Voodoo Child,” a one-off villain used a crude effigy to force Randi to change. And in “Eclipse,” a bizarre lunar eclipse inhibited the wolf inside, although not without dire consequences.
Love and Curses, “Habeas Corpses”
With a title like She-Wolf of London, the audience expects to see Randi turn into a werewolf every episode. On the contrary, it’s rare for her to become hirsute, fanged, and feral. The meager budget undoubtedly played a large part in why there were so few werewolf appearances. And considering the shabby effects and costumes they had to work with, it’s no surprise they wanted to keep Randi’s inner beast off the screen as much as possible. The original werewolf suit had little articulation of the jaw, the snout was oversized, and the legs stood out because they were hardly hairy. Meanwhile, the second suit was a marginal improvement, even though it bordered on looking like Bigfoot.
To make up for the lack of werewolf action, the show explored other unearthly matters à la Kolchak: The Night Stalker and Friday the 13th: The Series. Randi and Ian routinely investigated supernatural cases. Early in their time together as amateur ghostbusters, the duo encountered a bog man, a demon summoned on Guy Fawkes Night, a brothel full of succubi, zombies, and more. The stakes were high and sometimes felt like the end of the world, but usually things were reset by the next episode, including Randi and Ian’s degree of skepticism.
Ian’s family were none the wiser about Randi’s predicament, with the possible exception of his eccentric Aunt Elsa (Dorothea Phillips). His parents (Arthur Cox and Jean Challis), on the other hand, hadn’t a clue, even when a spirit was possessing their bodies and turning their B&B into a nightmare (episode “What’s Got Into Them?”). As for Ian’s teenage nephew from America, Julian (Scott Fults) was pushed to the background most of the time. The Mathesons and Aunt Elsa didn’t typically aid in any of the ghost hunting, but their absence is felt once the story left London. They grounded Randi and Ian when their lives were overwhelmed by the uncanny.
She-Wolf of London, “Big Top She-Wolf”
After fourteen episodes, HTV pulled funding and production relocated to Los Angeles. The name also changed to Love and Curses to reflect the new L.A. address and a greater focus on Randi and Ian’s full-bloom romance. This last bid to stay alive saw a sunnier makeover, however, the aesthetic overall paled in comparison to before. With the surviving two characters now an official couple, they cohabitated inside a tacky yuppy apartment, and Ian, who was previously fired from his university gig, hosted a talk show about the paranormal.
Love and Curses lasted six episodes before the series was canceled along with Hollywood Premiere Network’s other two programs. This meant Randi never found a cure. The closest came in the episode “Mystical Pizza” when a coven of pizza-making witches claimed they could help Randi. The need to find a remedy was stronger than ever since it was revealed that Randi and Ian couldn’t be physically intimate without triggering the werewolf change. There was clearly more to Randi’s condition, but alas, fans would never know how it turned out.
Creators Tom McLoughlin and Mick Garris didn’t stay on after writing the pilot. The latter was offered an executive producer position, but he didn’t want to be attached to a syndicated series when he was busy with other projects. While he thought his and McLoughlin’s episode turned out well, and a few other episodes are enjoyable, Garris did express dissatisfaction with how She-Wolf turned out as a whole. The filmmaker said the show ultimately didn’t live up to its potential.
She-Wolf of London and Love and Curses are maybe the lightest offering of werewolves on television, however, what this obscurity lacks in lycanthropy it makes up for in campy amusement and likable characters. And before the postmodern movement affected the genre a few years down the line, this show was calling out tropes and making fun of itself. The writing is smarter than it’s given credit for, and Kate Hodge and Neil Dickson are magnetic actors whose performances and chemistry raise the show’s overall value. The outcome is admittedly different from what was promised in the first episode, yet like Randi’s curse, the series was unpredictable. Within that unpredictability, though, lurks a flawed but charming hidden gem from television horror history just waiting to be rediscovered.
She-Wolf of London, “Little Bookshop of Horrors”
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