When i viewed the 13 episodes of the first season, in a span of two days, i had no idea there wouldn't be a second season. I'm totally baffled over this decision by the ABC executives.
As a fan of the occult and vampires some of the basic elements for good entertainment were there, but The Gates were so much more than another show about bloodsuckers, for the same reasons HBO:s Walking Dead is more than a zombie series.
This quality production had a great storytelling and a marvelous cast that blended harmoniously together. Some classical themes from vampire movies were used but many ideas were also fresh and incorporated in the template for a good drama series. Without giving away any plot-info i simply state the obvious fact that the co-existence of vampires, werewolves, witches and humans in a gated community with all of the problems this could and of course would impose, would it be real, was nothing less than a stroke of geniality from the creators Richard Hatem and Grant Scharbo. The development of the plot is skilfully crafted and as some questions are answered during the final episodes new ones are raised and with the final scene in episode thirteen still in front of my eyes it's more than a bizarre feeling that this episode was also the last one.
To single out one actor wouldn't be fair, but with that said, no fan of this series probably won't deny that Frank Grillo was phenomenal as head of police Nick Monahan or that Rhona Mitras cold elegance served as a perfect contrast to Claires blood cravings.
I simply can't understand why this suspenseful show didn't appeal to an American audience. Maybe the world wasn't ready for another show about vampires, after True Blood aired in 2008, but compared to The Gates that show, though humorous, lacks suspense.
It's my firm belief that had the show aired in Europe, or Sweden for that matter, the success had been total. A Shame, and i hope ABC changes their twisted minds because I want more of this.