Roswell - Season 1 [DVD] [2000]

"I'm Liz Parker and five days ago I died. After that, things got really weird". So begins a new life for Liz and her friend Maria after they discover that three of their classmates at Roswell High aren't exactly from "around here" (quote from back cover). Max jeopardizes exposing the alien's true identities after using his powers to save Liz's life. From then on the alien trio must learn to trust their human friends as they have to evade the special unit of the FBI that start to hunt them. Max and Liz are drawn together but can a relationship work when they are 'different'? Should it be allowed to? The discovery of a possible fourth alien also makes the trio want to discover their own true identities.

The DVD set is unusually packaged in that each of the six discs is self contained in a thin transparent case and these are all kept together by the outer cardboard box. The use of individual cases may have seemed like a good idea but pick the box up the wrong way and they end up on the floor at your feet. Each disc case has its own cover but the same background graphic is used throughout with an enlarged head shot of the main characters overlaid. The use of the graphics is uninspired in my opinion.

Picture quality is very good considering this was first recorded in 1999 with the images being sharp and colours vivid without being garish. Contrast is excellent with blacks coming over as solid and no bleeding along edges. The widescreen format (1.78:1) is great and the picture remains free of any artefacts unless you are looking very hard for them.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 will not stress your rear speakers but this is due there being little in the way of 'sound effects', as it is very dialogue heavy. In this respect the audio proved excellent with dialogue coming across as clear and precise even with loud background sounds.

Some of the soundtrack had to be changed to resolve the legal/financial issues and to quote Jason Katims "I am more exited to watch these versions of the episodes than the originals". In my own opinion some of the key scenes have been changed quite drastically and not for the better. If you are new to Roswell then this will have little impact on you but for any fan the difference is noticeable.

None of the above however can detract from the content, which is still without parallel when compared with other 'teen' programs (with the exception of Buffy). Its appeal has been widespread both, in terms of age and backgrounds, as I know of Doctors and Lawyers that are die hard fans and it's interesting to note that the average age of the Roswell viewer is well above that of the supposed teenage audience.

If you are new to Roswell I defy you not to be drawn in to the story as each episode unfolds. The more you watch the more you will want to watch. Welcome to the world of Roswell.

Okay, the plot. I have to admit that there are ups and downs in the storyline, which lurches somewhat from frenetic conspiracy thriller to teen romance from one episode to another. Those left breathless by the tension of "The Convention" and the high drama of "The White Room" may well cringe their way through the snog-fest of "Sexual Healing", and vice versa. There are some moments of unexpected depth; the exploration of ideas of free will and predestination in the closing episodes are certainly not what you'd expect from a teen show!

The casting is spot-on, with never a bad performance in sight. Shiri Appleby, as the show's narrator Liz Parker, manages to combine Dawson's Creek-style self-awareness with a mixture of steely determination and heart-melting vulnerability and is clearly destined to be a poster girl for a generation of socially self-conscious, intellectual young males. Majandra Delfino, as Maria, provides a combination of comic relief, quirky fashion sense and fierce independence that make her a far more accessible role model than the plastic women of the 90210 and Friends eras. The standout performances though come from Brendan Fehr (Michael) and Katherine Heigl (Isabel), whose respective efforts to deal with their "differentness" bring home the full power of the metaphor of "aliens among us".

In short, this is a piece of "cult" TV which is really far more deserving of mainstream attention. It's certainly up there with "Buffy" as one of the great TV achievements of the late 20th century. Watch it!