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Roswell - The Complete Second SeasonRating:
Release Date: 05 October, 2004 Retail Price: $59.98 OUR Price: $44.99 You SAVE: $14.99! |
Roswell - The Complete Second Season Reviews
There's Truth to every rumor
Roswell was one of those shows that I never watched during the original television run. At the time, honestly, I never even heard of it.
However, a little more than a year ago I bought the first season after reading great reviews about it, and was hooked into the story of the three (now four) alien-human hybrids living among the residents of the famous alien-town of Roswell, New Mexico.
While the first season focused a lot on the relationship between Max Evans, one of the aliens, and Liz Parker, a normal human, the second season took a new turn with the arrival (late in the first season) of Tess Harding, another alien, and the realization of just what the four were meant to be.
The second season of Roswell was the middle of the three seasons that ran on network television. It was also the last year it ran on the WB, as it moved to UPN for the third and final season (which is due on DVD this summer).
After enjoying the first season, the second season was certainly different, but it wasn't a disappointment. The storylines were more alien oriented and tended to be a little darker, but all in all, it was a solid season effort and made me look forward to season three.
The three aliens we met in the first episode, Max Evans (Jason Behr), his sister Isabelle (Katherine Heigl) and MIchael Guerin (Brendan Fehr) are joined by Tess Harding (Emilie de Ravin) for the second season. The group finds out late in the first season that they are actually the rulers of their home planet, with Max as king, Tess as queen, Michael as second in command and Isabelle as his wife.
While this is their destiny, they continue to pursue relationships with those people in Roswell who know their secret. Those include Liz Parker (Shiri Appleby) who Max healed in the first episode after she was shot, Maria DeLuca (Majandra Delfino), Liz's best friend, Alex Whitman (Colin Hanks), who dies near the end of the season, Sheriff Valenti (William Sadler) who spends much of his time protecting the aliens and his son Kyle (NIck Wechsler) who is also Liz's ex-boyfriend.
The attraction between Liz and Max served as the storyline in the first season and their relationship becomes much more complicated in season two. While Max's destiny with Tess is known, he still loves Liz and she has to find a way to make him stop loving her to allow his destiny to be fulfilled. The two actors do a fine job, as the chemistry between the two is amazing and you can see the genuine affection Max has for his human love.
Michael and Maria are almost the opposite. They came together in the first season, but are constantly arguing. Their relationship grows much deeper throughout the season and at the end, it is his love for her that keeps him, and eventually, Max and Isabelle, from returning to their home planet.
Isabelle and Alex also had a relationship in the first season. Although it wasn't a central story line for much of the season, it did play an important role near the end when Alex was killed in a car crash shortly after the prom. Hanks' career was taking off at the time and the producers found it best to let him pursue other opportunities, which led to his eventual death on the show.
Sheriff Valenti and his son became keepers of the alien secret late in season one when Max healed Kyle after he was almost killed. They also welcomed Tess into their home after her guardian was killed by other aliens. The sheriff's protection of the aliens eventually leads to his dismissal from his job.
In addition to the episodes, there are three good commentary tracks, a great look at the creation of season two and a couple of featurettes on the second season. While this was a show that I missed in orginal airing, I am glad I got turned on to it on DVD. Fine acting and great writing make for an engaging television show that easily holds my interest over the course of the season.
Not Everything Is Gunna Be How You Think It Ought To Be !!!
If Season One of Roswell was the magical, engaging, heart warming, introduction to the love of Max and Liz as well as the intriging, envolving mystery of aliens in the same town of Roswell then Season Two is the emotionally, gut wretching, middle act to a three part play ( 3 seasons) that will simply leave the viewer exchusted from a rollercoaster of emotions.
Truly, Season Two rips apart all the lives of the character we have come to love deep deep in Roswell from the first season.
However, is this a bad thing ????
Hell No ?
It clear from the commentary tracks that something went a little 'skew whiff' very early on in this middle act. All hopeful dreams are shattered and it would seem that shifts in networks, executive interference and the desperate grab to get rating caused the show to concentrate on the more sci-fi elements of the show. The concepts get slighty more gimmicky and the universe opens up as we met other aliens both friends and foe, goppelgangers and the increasing knowledge of an intergalatic war.
Furthermore, the foundation of the show, Max and Liz, was torn ...no......shredded apart !!! I for one was screaming at the screen during the episode 'The End Of The World' because for me it was. My instant reaction was one of utter disappointment, betrayl - i felt cheated. Why...why...oh why !!!!!
Though did i stop watching ....nup......did i stop enjoying....hell no.....was i emotionally further drawn in to this world ......
HELL YEAHHHHHHH !
For whatever annoyance i had with the show i couldn't stop watching.....i could not stop being completely sucked in to ever emotional, draining punch that Season Two delivered.
Summer of 47 had me suckered punched. The episode was tight, well scripted, a great way to expand the cast's abiltites and all builds to an unexpected and emotionally charged ending that just blew me away. It not like a twist ending or anything but when u know the character and know he wouldn't share his secret for anything, the instance when he does....well it emotional ok :)
However this is nothing compared to the aftermath that is episode titled ' Cry Your Name'. Any fan of Season One is gunna feel it here and this is one of the Season's final episodes so by this stage you are already pretty gutted out.
These are only but a few of my highlights of Season Two and for all my be-gruding ealier about my annoynances they are a staple of the impact and emotions that I persoanlly feel for this series.
In other words, its a credit to the writers as what could they do? Rehash Season One....no...they developed and gave us charaters that we truly love and engage with - my annoynace at the Max - Liz realtionship was due to the impact it had hit me at. Good dramatic televison if u ask me !!!!!
There are like 3 part storylines that faulter in Season Two and a more intensive focus put into the action and sci-fi elements. I believe due to this there is a little less magic emmbedded in the shining light that shone over Season One but the characters and development is too intriguing and emotional to let go.
The electricty of the characters are still there and so is the range of human interpersonal relations which only Rowellians get.
Be prepared for things to change in Season Two, be prepared to be shocked and engaged to one of the most intense 3 part series i have ever seen. Remeber this is Roswell and nothing is gunna be how you thought it would be !!!!!!
* I have taken one star of because though still great televison and powerful drama its clear the show started to rely more on the sci-fi angle with more effects and some hokey storylines. In other words a little dodgy in places but still overall magic.
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