L'odyssée fantastique

The first season was, as the subject line says: excellent. It was intriguing and rather unique as alternate world themes go. It made me want to watch season 2.

Season 2 was okay, but it started to become apparent that this was going somewhere that I didn't want to go, with a shift away from the first season concepts that made it so interesting to me. It was still worth watching though.

I watched season 3 to find out what the ending would be. I won't give it away, but it was very unsatisfying and disappointing in my opinion. This part of the series devolved into a teen drama that was more annoying than entertaining.

They should have tried to end this (with a different ending) in season 1 or season 2.

The Odyssey is not a well known sci-fi show but it still ranks up there with the twilight zone and the outer limits. This show takes place in the mind of a boy named ''JAY ZIEGLER'' who while trying to get his father's antique telescope back from some local bullies falls from a treehouse hits his head and goes into a coma. He then proceeds to descend to a world known as ''DOWNWORLD'', he can't see or hear what's going on in ''UPWORLD'' [reality] but his Odyssey in downworld seems to coincide with events going on around him in upworld. this show is far too complicated for me explain in one sitting so i will make it cut and dry. after he goes into downworld he finds out that his long lost father is there but he's only 16 and is the ruler of the world. he joins ''ALPHA'' a bookworm who turns into a smart and witty companion for his long trek to the tower which the equivalent to the white house. he also meets a bully named ''FLASH'' who decides to leave the thug life and turns out to be a very good friend and allie to JAY. along the way our trio meet assorted weirdos, have to solve mind boggling questions and mind mazes, monitors [ like the L.A. P.D. but only half as ruthless], and MEDEA who is played by the talented and beautiful young actress ANDREA NEMETH who will stop at nothing to destroy JAY whom she feels is the ''wrecker'' [the equivalent to the anti-christ] who will destroy their world and change everything. It also is good to note that ANDREA NEMETH also plays SIERRA JONES, a bright young teen show newscaster who has also fallen into a coma. they both reside in the same coma treatment facility in upworld, even though they have never met before they both exist in downworld. to wrap this up this is a terrific saga of a young man on his quest for the truth about his father his life, and his future. ILLYA WOLOSHYN brings a dynamic performance as JAY, ASHLEY ROGERS as ALPHA is awesome, TONY SAMPSON brings a great character to the show as FLASH, and the ultimate goddess [can you tell i'm partial to her?] ANDREA NEEMTH brings a ray of light to the show that is unmatched as MEDEA and SIERRA JONES.

When I was just a youngster I would always try to watch this show when it came on. I can't remember how many episodes I watched or which ones I watched exactly but I do remember the feeling of mystery, another world, the dream world. I remember I quite liked the show but was always sad that I hadn't seen all episodes. Well now I can finally sit down and watch it once for all. I'm actually a bit wowed that a few famous actors are in this show too.. such as Ryan Reynolds and Devon Sawa (who I actually remember from my neighbourhood - he was my classmates brother growing up in BBY North). So yeah, kind of fun to see this again. I certainly remember it a bit different, and back then I was so young many of the kids in this were older than I was. Now watching it feels a little bit different but at the same time I'm swept away and feel like a kid again when I watch it. The music too was just right for this show... sort of ethereal and magical. So yeah, a quirky weird little show but I think it was a hidden gem of a show.

The first two seasons were quite creative and resourceful. Fun adventure, real life struggles. It really sparked my imagination. Each episode had unique characters and played well on the hierarchy of age. And friendship and growth was always a cornerstone. It was relatable content.

Season 3 got weird. Jay's character was disgustingly immature and we're to believe a teen idol 3-4 years older than Jay would be interested in him. Badly forced romance. Keith had such an attitude towards Jay I don't know why they were friends. The Downworld didn't make sense either. There was nothing really purposeful happening until the final episodes.

Probably one of the better examples of fantasy work, especially for television. A very deep, and well acted series, never really gets old. I really wish they'd release the series on tape and/or DVD so that I could buy it. Really well done.