Eerie Indiana - The Complete Series [DVD]

"To whom it may concern. If you're reading this document, it means I'm either dead - or disappeared under mysterious circumstances. My name is Marshall Teller."

Very much in X-Files territory for kiddies [although Eerie preceded that show by two years] plus a little 'Malcolm in the middle' type sitcom as well, this was an entertaining and 'different' series in its day (1991 to 1992). My son (10) likes to watch these episodes, although I have to sit with him as he knows they are mildly spooky. A few of the jokes must go over his head, e.g. lines mentioning Elvis Presley and the Twin Peak's 'Log Lady', but he clearly identifies with the likeable young boy leads (Marshall is 15 and friend Simon is 11, although they look younger). This DVD set looks good on the small screen and the special effects haven't really dated (there aren't that many anyway) - they have high production values giving a similar feel to that of the 1960's classic ScFi series 'Lost in Space'. There aren't that many episodes on each DVD, so obviously the series didn't outstay its welcome. I assume the plug was pulled during season 2, as there was an episode 'The Jolly Roger' that was never filmed. This DVD set has the eighteen screened episodes, with titles such as 'Reality takes a holiday', 'Zombies in PJs', 'No brain, no pain' , and 'Marshall's theory of believability', and also includes the extra 'unshown' nineteenth episode 'Broken record' - which wasn't screened in the US until late 1993, a year after the original series had finished. In 'Tornado days', obsessed 'Howard Raymer' was also 'Max Headroom' (one of my favourite TV characters from 1987). Plus it's great to see John Astin occasionally (Gomez from the classic 1960s Addams Family TV series) as Radford. Also look out for a young Tobey Maguire (Spiderman) in 'The dead letter'.

The storylines range from 'Forever-ware' plastic storage containers (a good skit on the 60's 'Tupperware' parties for those who remember them) to a rather disturbing one about a child's metal dental-work bridge that picks up the dark thoughts of dogs like an aerial [The retainer]. My son particularly liked the 'ATM with a heart of gold', a story about an automated bank cash machine that's generous to a fault (and this is just the first 3 episodes). Typical series quote : 'A haunted toaster, cool !". Although Eerie is a 5* series, this DVD set loses a star for the lack of subtitles. There's no DVD extras either, but then we don't care for such stuff - the episodes stand up well enough on their own. Probably this TV series will only be bought by those who have seen it in their youth, but it still seems to be watchable for today's youngsters. Do check out the excellent kid's film 'Hocus Pocus' [1993] as well, which also starred the young Omri Katz and is pretty much 'Eerie Indiana - The Movie'. So a great value DVD set of a classic children's TV series. "Still don't believe me - you will."

I loved this show as a kid and watched them over and over again when i was younger. I even remembered all the best phrases of Marshall's when i watched it. As soon as i got this dvd box set in was in the dvd player and was all i watched for the next week. It's sooo addictive. I will watch it again and again and again. It was just as good as when i was younger if not better!

Geeks, rejoice! "Eerie Indiana" is FINALLY out on DVD! This series joins "My So-Called Life" and "Freaks and Geeks" in that honoured pantheon of programmes that only lasted one season but managed to make such a big impact on their viewers that they are remembered fondly years after they were axed. "Eerie Indiana" has more of a sci-fi/supernatural bent than the other two, but it shares the same preoccupation with the adult world as seen from young eyes.

Essentially, "Eerie Indiana" tells the story of Marshall Teller, who moves to Eerie and immediately realises that something is out of whack with this place. Together with his new friend Simon, Marshall investigates the Eerie strangeness (boom boom), carefully recording each experience very much like Mulder and Scully in "The X Files", partly for posterity and partly as proof that Eerie is "the centre of weirdness for the entire planet". The series can roughly be divided into two parts: the first half is made up of standalone episodes which introduce the characters and Eerie itself, letting the audience become familiar with the basic idea of the series. The second half is where the audience begins to see the overarcing plot and character threads. Dash X is possibly the most ambiguous character you will ever find for this agegroup, while "Reality Takes a Holiday" is the most ambitious television episode I've seen that wasn't penned by Josh Wheddon, really pushing the boundaries for a series that was nominally aimed at children.

Buy this series not just for yourself but for any kids you know who have a liking for the weird and slightly twisted. I guarantee they'll like it.