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In its seven-year run on television, Party of Five managed to portray extreme emotions in a contained, tasteful, and level-headed way without sacrificing poignancy or richness. Aimed at a teen audience but with crossover appeal to most viewers, the series dealt with recurring themes of loss and disappointment, made all the more interesting because Party of Five's major characters, especially in season one, are youthful siblings coping with the recent deaths of their parents in an automobile accident.
Shocked into a beyond-their-years awareness of the fragility of ordinary life and the importance of loyalty and loving bonds, the Salinger offspring--24-year-old Charlie (Matthew Fox), high schoolers Bailey (Scott Wolf) and Julia (Neve Campbell), 11-year-old Claudia (Lacey Chabert), and baby Owen (various infant actors)--bring a deeply felt, sometimes desperate gravitas to lesser but still significant misfortunes in relationships, peer pressures, and ambitions. On top of that, each has to take on responsibilities beyond their experience--hiring nannies, raising money for mortgage payments, etc.--and make sacrifices robbing them of formative experiences. Charlie, accustomed to adult freedom, has to rejigger his plans and move back home as a surrogate, and often resented, parent(if he doesn't do this, his brothers and sisters could be separated and sent to foster homes.) Ultra-responsible Bailey, with little time for homework, buddies or girls, loses perspective and gets hung-! up on an older, appealing nanny (Paula Devicq). Top student Julia's academic career fades as she seeks a second family among undeserving thrill-seekers. Claudia, a gifted musician, pawns her violin.
Despite all that drama, the essence of Party of Five is the Salingers' homing instinct, the way they survive internal and external conflict to find their way back to reassuring family rituals--among them weekly (free) dinners at the restaurant their late father owned. The 22 episodes on six discs in this boxed set typically test the Salingers' hopes, dreams, and mettle, and while stories can certainly be unsettling, a viewer is never left with serious worries that things won't turn out all right. Among the highlights are "Homework," in which Julia, having made plans to attend a party rather than salvage her failing grade in English lit, stays home instead to save Bailey's bacon by writing his difficult term paper. The powerful "Thanksgiving" concerns a face-to-face meeting between the Salingers and the drunk driver (John Rubinstein) who killed their parents. Most memorable is a suite of episodes featuring Megan Ward as Bailey's girlfriend, Jill, a possible drug addict whose fate rocks the startling season finale, "The Ides of March." --Tom Keogh
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After a few weeks I've finally watched all 22 episodes of the first season of Party of Five. I never caught the first series when it was first show on English TV (I think I must have started watching it during the second series). I loved it though. What a fantastic show! It follows the lives of 5 (really 4 because Owen (the baby) is just over 9 months old and doesn't really get up to much!) brothers and sisters as they come to terms with the deaths of their parents in a car crash six months earlier. Relationships, friendships, work , school, grief, growing up etc - it's all here and it's all handled really well. It's got some great acting in too - Matthew Fox is now in Lost and Neve Campbel has gone on to star in several films. Jennifer Love Hewitt becomes a regular in later seasons.
I see that the second series has been released over in the states - please release it (and the other seasons) over in the UK soon!!
I see that the second series has been released over in the states - please release it (and the other seasons) over in the UK soon!!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having remembered watching this show the first time around, I was delighted to see it had been released on DVD. It is great watching it the second time around, and it brings back loads of great memories from the mid-late 90s. Catching up with the original story of the five kids fending for themselves and how they manage is still as good. Also getting to watch a very young Matthew Fox (now starring in 'Lost') is bonus! If you were a fan of the show, then you won't be disappointed. My only concern is when will I be able to buy the 2nd series?!!
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Excellent!
Have been waiting for this for a long time, while it only took ten years it was as cool to enjoy this first season all over again, brought back so many memories and hasn't faded at all, still seems as relevant today as it did in '95.
I can't compare this to any other show on TV, POF has a unique situation, cast and story I just wish they made TV like this over here, like the other reviewer says: all we get is Hollyoaks (re-affirm my take on life and do a re-run of 'This Life' please - save us from the scourge of reality TV and empty UK soaps!!)
The extras were ok, nothing outstanding, these covering the shows creation and writing etc with a few anecdotes thrown in, a few episodes have actor commentaries from Fox, Wolf and Caharlet, but not very many and Neve Campbell (learned her name is pronounced like 'Kev', something I never knew, always thought it was like the Irish pronunciation) is noticeably missing from the proceedings which is a pity, but then the extras weren't the reason I bought the box set, just to have the first season on DVD and be able to travel back to 1995 and visit the Sallangers any time I wanted was more than enough.
When are we gonna get the rest, please, release season 2 on DVD as well, you can't stop now!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
San Francisco. As Social Services hover, the Salingers strive to stay together after their parents are killed in a car crash. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. D. L. Rees
before they were famous!
Saw all these when first broadcast on channel 4. Still as relevant as ever. Matthew Fox even sexier as a youngster than now. Read more
Published on 27 May 2009 by Vm Johnson
just like I imagined it would be
I've watched this show when I was woung and now I have the chance to revisit it.
I give 4 and not 5 stars because of the DVD box, which is poorly executed.
I give 4 and not 5 stars because of the DVD box, which is poorly executed.
Published on 17 April 2009 by Miguel Correia
Party of Five - season 1
It's nice to see how it all began. There's so many great acting here.
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Ms. R. Ramos
The best......
..... £16 could ever buy. I am no teenager but loved this series when shown on TV. In fact I maintain it is the best thing ever to grace the television screen. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2009 by Queen Bee
FINALLY!
Thank God they saw fit to release this amazing TV show. The ultimate predecessor to 'Dawson's' and even 'The OC'. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2006 by "lizzielovesjuicy"
An Amazing TV Programme
This is one of my favourite TV programmes of all time: the acting, the storylines - everything was superb about this series. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2005 by Ms Jacqueline Turner
my girlfriend liked this...
much like dawsons creek, i was subjected to this series week in week out. this is much better however. Read more
Published on 22 May 2004 by Rory
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