Starhunter

This is simply the most interesting science fiction show on air. Not the biggest, but the only one I tried not to miss. OK some episodes are better than others -what show isn't? What I like is how there's a plot for each episode that is often actually new and not like other shows, and a plot for the series as a whole.

I recommend giving this show a little time to grow on you. Yes, the production values are bargain-basement, but the market is so balkanized these days that big budget sci-fi shows (Firefly, Farscape, Odyssey 5) can't seem to overcome cost-benefit obstacles anymore. Maybe the only way we sci-fi fans will ever get treated to a full run of a non Star Trek show is for something like Starhunher to sneak in under the radar.

I find the cast quite engaging. Michael Pare's character comes across as very down-to-earth (so to speak) as he deals with the loss of a young son years earlier and the current challenge of guiding his brilliant niece through her teenage years. Tanya Allen is lovely as the niece, although she seems a bit old to play a teen. It would be great to see her in a more mature role.

Firstly expanding the cast/crew was an excellent move, allowing for greater intricacy and diversity in the social dynamic, instantly making the show more watchable from a humanized perspective; not sure about every one wearing black, shiny materials though~ a bit Angel-esk or something. "Popa Bear" played almost too convincingly by Steven Marcus is an essential character not only for comic relief, but also as a moral contrast; when one of the crew considers morally ambiguous action, Rudolpho comments and suddenly all other crew are absolved in sheer, sharp contrast to Rudolpho's impeccable immorality. Redesigning the Tulip to the more lengthy, aerodynamic, grey beauty was an excellent idea, as the stunted red ship was not very memorable.

On the whole more aesthetically pleasing, lost the elements of drab realism the first season had and replaced it with a more adolescent-friendly paradigm. Take that last comment how ever you want. Some of the more successful elements still seemed quite formulaic take the relationship between Kali and Travis, it's almost a cliché as writing techniques go, but some times the oldest tricks still work best eh?

Overall i rate Starhunter-2300(s2) as more watchable for mainstream audiences, yet still successful with the more fanatical Scifi lovers among us. If you created or worked on the series what more could you possibly want to hear..? Yeh, I know, "Season 3 is not canceled." ... oh well? As it is written: OM-MANI-PADME-HUNG : ) Tibetan translation: "ubiquitous, infinite compassion" : )

I'd caught an episode or two or the original first season, with Michael Pare, and made sure to keep an eye on it. It's the post-"Star Wars" world, and this manages a surprising visual texture for such a low-budget offering. Pare has turned up missing, and the son he was searching for, is now searching for him. This shows a real influence for the British school of SF TV. It's never as cheesy (or addictive), as "Doctor Who", it's not as funny as "Red Dwarf", and it doesn't have the seriousness of "Blake's 7". Yet, it blends bits of all of them, (and the usual US stuff), into a flaky sort of "Space Detective" series, that can be quite entertaining. The acting is rather low-key, but overall, it fills the airtime admirably. It's pretty low-rent, but it embraces, and occasionally rises above, its humble origins. The Canadian co-production is worth a look for SF fans. I'd like to see "Carvaggio", "Andromeda" (from "Andromeda"), and "Holly" (from "Red Dwarf") in a digital wrestling match!

--Judexdot1--

Similar in plot and feel to "Firefly" although not as funny. Great escapist fun if you're into space opera. Excepting Michael Pare (who is wonderfully world-weary in the lead) the rest of the cast is only familiar to fans of syndicated Canadian and European series. Will perhaps appeal only to genre fans but is worth a look.