DVD Review | Andromeda (Season 1, Box Set 1)
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: B+
DVD Special Features: B+

As with "Babylon 5", I only watched the first episode of this series and was
so turned off by it that I never bothered with it again until Miss Jen-Jen
suggested I give it another chance.  I did and, darn it, I'm hooked on yet
another friggin' show.  The fact that Gene Roddenberry came up with the
concept spoke highly of it, but that Kevin Sorbo was starring in it didn't. 
I never enjoyed "Hercules" much and didn't think he was a particularly strong
actor for the demands a show like this was going to make on him, but I admit
to being proven wrong.

In the premier episode, "Under The Night", Dylan Hunt (Sorbo) is in command
of the Commonwealth starship Adromeda.  It's an extremely well armed,
well-manned craft and it needs to be since they are about to be at war with
the Nietzscheans.  Aside from the crew, the ship also has a central computer
that shows itself in the form of an extremely beautiful woman (Lexa Doig,
"Jason X").  When the ship is lured into a trap, the Andromeda fends off her
attackers as best she can while Hunt orders the crew to abandon ship.  In
order to avoid being caught and boarded, he flies into the event horizon of a
black hole and remains frozen in time there for 300 years.  It's only when a
salvage ship pulls the vessel free and boards her that Dylan discovers that
his entire civilization is gone and he is being hunted on his own ship.

"An Affirming Flame" continues the events of the previous episode where Hunt
must fend off the boarding party and put together a motley crew who might
come to share his vision of creating a new Commonwealth.  Regular faces now
include Beka Valentine (Lisa Ryder, "Jason X"), Tyr Anasazi (Keith Hamilton
Cobb, "All My Children"), Seamus Harper (Gordon Michael Woolvett, "Bride Of Chucky"), Rev Bem (Brent Stait, "Stargate SG1") and Trance Gemini (Laura Bertram, "Seasons Of Love").  "To Loose The Fateful Lightening" finds the crew of the Adromeda looking for supplies at an old guard station and
discovering a group of children, survivors from the original inhabitance who
are waiting for the High Guard to unlock weapons that will allow them to
destroy an old enemy.

Loyalties are tested in "D Minus Zero" when the Andromeda is ambushed by an unknown enemy and relentlessly pursued.  Beka believes her command decisions are best for the crew and Dylan disagrees.  Events in "Double Helix" allows the crew to attempt to act as negotiators between two warring races, only Tyr's loyalties lean towards those of his own people who are raiding ships
from the other race.  While he makes the best decision in the end that he
could, unease and unrest aboard the Andromeda continue on as the unlikely
crew awaits their next adventure.

ADV Films has delivered an excellent looking Widescreen transfer of the show
and a quality audio track to boot.  It's the first time these episodes have
been seen in this format and they look gorgeous.  As for extras, we are given
plenty.  First up is an audio commentary actor Kevin Sorbo and producer Allan Eastman on "Under The Night".  While I still think it's an incredibly weak
episode, the two men really give some great information, have excellent
chemistry together and make it an enjoyable experience.  I actually look
forward to hearing more from them in the future.  There's also some character
profiles of Dylan Hunt and Adromeda accompanied by interviews with the actors who play them, alternate takes, a short behind-the-scenes bit, bloopers, an image gallery, glossary of the High Guard, an All Systems University 101, a
timeline, image gallery, prop and set concept drawings, production biography
as well as some TV spots and trailers.  All in all, it's one heck of a
package.

"Andromeda" has found a loyal audience and an ever-growing fan base.  After
watching the first five episodes and seeing how much care has been put into
this release, I'm ready to see the next one.  It was rather amusing to see
Lisa Ryder and Lexa Doig in the show together after having watched them both in "Jason X".  Oddly enough, Ryder played the android in "Jason X" while Doig played the level headed human lead and now Doig is the android while Ryder is level-headed human.  It's funny how that works.  Enjoy!