RockyMtnVideo
Season 1: One of the best pilots ever, followed by an excellent, well-plotted, well-written, first season.I should say that I am probably not in the normal Roswell demographic (being much older), but I am a sci-fi fan, which was an initial draw. Although this may have been targeted at a younger audience, anyone who passes on the opportunity to view it (with that "younger audience" excuse in their head), is missing out on something quite special. The best analog is Romeo and Juliet, which even though it has a bit of teen angst moments (as does Roswell), was, in fact, a quite serious ("deadly serious", in the literal sense) story revolving around a pair of "star-crossed" protagonists, and so it is with Roswell.Although the first season of Roswell has some characters who provide some (very slightly) levity, the real gut of the first season's storyline is just as serious (and often deadly) as what was dished up by Shakespeare. Roswell is a taught, well-written drama, and not simply "young adult" fodder. The fact that it is also artfully woven into the fabric of (arguably) one of the most famous elements of sci-fi lore… well that just makes it that much better.Suffice it to say that Season 1 is an enjoyable roller coaster ride of many different story threads, all of which lead to a finale that, although not necessarily a cliff-hanger, does leave some threads in place, to carry the story into the next season.Season 2: There are a handful of shows in this season that I really don't care for (and I see other reviewers that feel the same way). They just don't "fit the mood" of the first season (as well as the mood of most of the second season). Although most of the second season retains the dramatic mood of the first season, there are a few episodes that are decidedly "lighter", and then those others (that I don't like, e.g. "Meet the Dupes", and its follow-on episode, being the primary problems). Again, IMHO, they "just didn't work". Although it is possible that those episodes may have been derived from story lines in the original books (and I haven't read them, so I wouldn't know for sure), they feel more like plots lines stolen from an old Star Trek story line.That said, the second season still works pretty well, albeit not quite the "home run" that was the first season, but you just have to "look past" a number of annoying episodes. Some very unexpected things happen in this season, that certainly add to the drama and tension, but the most important thing to know is that the season finale ties up a lot of the season one/two plot threads, and, although you still might wander what will happen to these characters after that season two finale, things end well enough that you can use your own imagination to spin up any variety of "possible futures" for the primary characters, even if you never see another episode. (And, that is very fortunate, considering what follows.)Season 3: OK. I said it in the title, but have to repeat it here. If you want to walk away from this series "feeling good about it", and thinking that you've watched something "really special", that you can savor for years to come, then you HAVE TO absolutely, positively pretend that Roswell was canceled after the first two seasons! I really feel like the writers ran off on some "retreat", between the second and third season, and then proceeded to ingest large quantities of hallucinogenic drugs (maybe for days on end), and then proceeded to plot out the third season episodes, while they were tripping their brains out.Again, avoiding spoilers, I will simply say that from the very first episode, the whole season goes off the rails. If you had a six year old watching this episode with you, even at their age, they would likely be saying "why did (those characters) do that?" And "that seems like a really stupid thing to do". (And they, the six year-old, would have plenty of opportunity to repeat those questions while watching numerous other episodes, throughout season three.) You wonder if (while on their drugged-out retreat) the writers decided to watch Ally McBeal (or maybe Bewitched) reruns, while they were high as a kite, and then said "Hey!, Let's try some of THAT stuff on Roswell!".Again, I'm being intentionally vague, but if you still aren't convinced, I'll simply say that one season 3 episode comes complete with a "laugh track", and even the Star Trek influence gets far more literal. It simply is "not the same show", or the same characters, that you came to love, and care about, for the first two seasons.So, "you have been warned". Watch TWO seasons of Roswell, and I expect that you will have a very enjoyable experience (and may even re-watch them again, and again, as I have). If you watch the third season, you will never forgive yourself, for having ruined (or "fouled") the experience.FINAL NOTE: At the time of this writing, Roswell can be streamed from both Netflix and Amazon (and maybe other places?). However, Amazon seems to have a monopoly on episodes that are presented in their full 16x9 format. Despite the fact that the original series aired in 1:1.33 (pre-widescreen format), it was "shot wide" (as were most programs at the time), and (unlike the DVDs, or Netflix) the Amazon episodes are all full, widescreen episodes. (To be clear, they are NOT in high definition, but simply contain far more "visual content".) Bottom line, they are far more enjoyable in their widescreen format!
Dennis Reyolds
I remember watching this series back when it aired in 1999, or maybe it was early 2000, after all I live in Norway. I was also attending my last or second last year of elementary school and uncertainty was a subject regarding next year would bring at middle school was prominent. Anyways, this was during the times of the great Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and of course Roswell. (Warning with some major spoilers which also are minor, strange but true.) The main story is about three teenagers that are connected to the crash in Roswell, New Mexico all the way back to 1947. If you enjoy(which I still do) Buffy then you will most likely enjoy this. The characters, the music, the storyline, the ups and downs of these teenagers are incredible. The relationship between Max and Liz rivals the relationship between Buffy and Angel. Its one of the most beautiful love stories I can think of, and I promise you after you see the pilot and hear "Crash into Me" by Dave Matthews Band play at the end while these two starstruck teenagers connect you will be hooked. Not to forget Sarah Mclachlan fear playing while Liz lays dying. Another song that will be forever indistinguishable is Dido's intro-theme. To contrast their relationship we have Michael and Maria, whom totally are irregular and funny, and pretty intense, and almost even more charming than Max and Liz(!) Also Alex and Isabel brings some certain charm to this show. Even Kyle and his father sheriff Valenti, whom both are very annoying are also extremely fascinating and unique. While some of us fans find season 1 the absolute best, the remaining two seasons are entertaining but they are a shift from the more personal and exciting drama/mystery/science fiction of season 1. For reasons you have to find out yourself, I give this serious a 7 out of 10. While first season deserves 9 out of 10, its what comes after that somewhat destroys the scoring. However you look at it, this show is a legendary show that should only be compared to its likes, like Buffy and Angel. If you are looking for a show to fill the gap that Buffy gave you, this is the show, and it will make you reminisce back to the earlier seasons of Buffy. The mood, the chemistry, the feeling is marvelous. This seriously will feel like something larger than life. And you will feel that you died and just came back to life five days ago. So come on, you will be starstruck, for a while at least!
