seaQuest DSV: Season One

Next to the vacuum of out space the second most popular location for science fiction is undoubtedly the ocean depths. After all, the two have much in common. Both are inhospitable, requiring special apparatus to live and work and both lend themselves to exploration by large, futurist ships. In 1993 as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine took care of outer space seaQuest DSV showed how man would conquer the world’s oceans. Although each of the three seasons seemed to be completely different series, the first season was the most entertaining and consistent. The premise was simple; by the year 2018 the depletion of natural resources has driven mankind to explore and colonize the world’s oceans. Such endeavors as mining, farming and manufacturing have been not only moved off shore but beneath the waves. Of course, everywhere that humanity goes conflict is sure to follow and this situation is no different. To help keep the peace the UEO, United Earth’s Oceans is formed, commissioning the Deep Sea Vessel, Seaquest, to patrol the seas, keep the peace and explore the depths. After an attempt to steal the vessel the UEO asked Captain Nathan Bridger (Roy Scheider) is asked to take command of the best ship the UEO has to offer. After all, no one is better equipped to command the Seaquest, Bridger was the designer. Bridger is finally coaxed out of retirement by his old friend Admiral Noyce (Richard Herd). He was happy on an isolated island where he was studying communication with dolphins and mourning the loss of his late wife. Ultimately, Bridger finds himself in a myriad of problems of world importance.

As with any science fiction show seaQuest finds itself with the standard variety of characters to popular its decks. Second in command to Bridger is the young, level headed Executive Officer, Commander Jonathan Ford (Don Franklin). If Bridger is the deep sea version of Jean Luc Picard, part military, part explorer, Ford is his Riker. He respects the chain of command and lives for the rules that govern the service. Bridger finds an old friend among the crew of the seaQuest, Chief Manilow Crocker (Royce D. Applegate) the head of ship’s security. He is the prototypical old salt, ready for a brawl and protective of his ship. Then there is Lt. Cmdr. Katherine Hitchcock (Stacy Haiduk). Since is the most beautiful member of the crew she naturally is too by the book for her own good. Every crew on television needs a resident bad boy and for seaQuest this role is filled by Lt. Benjamin Krieg (John D'Aquino), the supply and morale oficer who can manage to obtain just about anything possible. There is also a little romantic tension since he was briefly married to Lt. Cmd Hitchcock. For a little comic relief there is Lt. j.g. Timothy O'Neill played to perfection by Ted Raimi. Since seaQuest is also a scientific vessel there are a few egg head types aboard. Dr. Kristin Westphalen (Stephanie Beacham) is the more humanized form of Bridger, the closest thing to a peer to him on the ship. Then there is the resident kid genius Lucas Wolenczak (Jonathan Brandis) who among other things designed a device so that the dolphin Darwin can talk to humans. While Lucas is a bit of a ‘know it all’ brat there are some typical teen attributes provided to the character. In one episode Lucas looks with teenaged lust at Hitchcock only to be shot down by a parental glace from Bridger.

In the first season the series did make a real attempt at not being just a knock off of an earlier show, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. To do this they had the ship visit a variety of locations using the premise that many different colonies have been formed beneath the sea. In one episode, seaWest, they visit an undersea mining town adding a little old west feel to the mix. In another episode Lucas visits a communications base populated by a group of young computer geeks. He is pulled into a plot to take over the world’s communications grid for the ‘protection’ of humanity. Through natural disaster, dangers from politics and corporate greed the seaQuest ventures out to save the day.

The first season did have the best cast for the run of the series. It was also a cut above the typical television action series around at the time, the once exception being the previously mentioned Deep Space Nine. Roy Scheider is well cast as the reluctant commander of the vessel. He can pull of the role of a man of science who also has to serve as the military command of a large and powerful submarine. His character of Nathan Bridger is loosely based on famed deep sea explorer Bob Ballard. I have a friend who went to the Titanic with Ballard and notes that Scheider nails the basic personality. In one scene Bridger threatens to completely destroy ancient artifacts that two nations are warring over. He states that no piece of the past is worth a single human life, a very Bob Ballard comment. Jonathan Brandis was added to gain a bit more of the young female demographic. He also represented the growing number of young people who have become computer literate in the early nineties, the advent of the internet age. Stacy Haiduk is more than the usual eye candy. She takes on her role with precision and talent. In all the cast here does well, unfortunately most would leave in later seasons.

The DVD release by Universal is part of their growing collection of television seasons sets that have come out recently. SeaQuest is a welcomed part of this growing trend of releasing cult classic TV. While many remember this as a lightweight series they are most likely thinking of the later seasons. The first season is pretty solid with good scripts, acting and direction. The full screen video is better than you can see on syndicated television. Recently, the Sci-Fi channel showed most of the series over a few days. I was pleasantly surprised that the DVD did have a brighter video with far better contrast. The stereo audio is mixed to Dolby 2.0 and has a reasonable dynamic range. While some of the lower frequencies are clipped the over all audio is also better than you will get on cable. For extras there are over a half an hour of deleted scenes that will be appreciated by the die hard fan of the series. If you enjoy a good Sci-Fi yarn this is once for your collection.

Posted 12/30/05