Year:
2000
Studio:
Fox
Feature:
4/5
DVD:
4/5
Feature
Season 1 of Dark Angel was amazing -- a darkish science fiction near
future setting with a kick-ass and beautiful genetically engineered
young woman. Played by Jessica Alba, Max was an appealing combination
of wise-cracking toughness and human vulnerability. Her relationship
with Logan Cale (Michael Weatherly) added a lot and made it more than
just another action-adventure show.
The year is 2020 (or so). The United State was devastated by The Pulse
some ten years ago, which wiped out all electronics and plunged the US
from a technological leader to a third-world country. But life goes on
and people make do with what they have. There is still government but
it's more corrupt. There are still corporations but they are more
cutthroat. It's a world in need of a hero (or heroine in this case).
Unfortunately, Max doesn't want to be that heroine. She's an X-5,
genetically engineered by Project Manticore. Max and 11 other siblings
escaped Manticore when they were kids, just before the Pulse. Now, ten
years later, Max just wants to blend in and be another human. But
there's always the worry that Manticore will find her and bring her
back.
Max is a Jam Pony messenger, when she isn't a cat burglar that is.
That's how she meets Logan Cale -- she breaks into his penthouse to
steal a cat goddess statuette. Although she makes an abrupt departure
that's not the end of the two. For you see, Logan is Eyes Only, an
underground reporter who pirate broadcasts Streaming Freedom Videos,
exposing corruption in Seattle (where the world is based).
Logan locates Max and convinces her to help him in return for his help.
She will do jobs for Eyes Only and he will search for information on
the other Manticore escapees. It's a partnership that will have its ups
and downs, fights and reconciliations, and ultimately lead perhaps to
something more between the two.
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Cast
Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly make a good couple. They fell in
love while working on this show (and although their engagement was
called off, I think maybe it's back on) and it shows a bit. They have a
great supporting cast including John Savage as their Manticore father
Lydecker, Valarie Rae Miller as Max's best friend Original Cindy, and
William Gregory Lee as fellow X-5 Zack.
DVD
This is a six-disc DVD set. Four episodes -- the 2-hour pilot plus
three others -- include commentary, usually by the episode director and
someone else; though the last episode has commentary by stars Jessica
Alba and Michael Weatherly. The last commentary was very entertaining
and you realize that neither actor liked the second season at all, but
they did have great respect for the first season of the show.
There is a 22-minute "Dark Angel: Genesis" feature; a six-minute
"Seattle Ain't What It Used To Be" featurette about the sets; a
six-minute "Creating an X-5" featurette about training and stunt work;
audition footage for Michael Weatherly (with Jessica Alba), JC
MacKenzie (Normal), Alimi Ballard (Herbal), Valarie Rae Miller
(Original Cindy), Jennifer Blanc (Kendra), and William Gregory Lee
(Zack); a five minute blooper tape which looks like was shown at
conventions; and a trailer for the Dark Angel video game.
Recommendations
I really liked Dark Angel, especially season 1. It was a serious show
with good characters and actors. The DVD has a good number of extras.
It's worth seeing. |