seaQuest - The Essential Episodes

[Mark_Nguyen]

Okay, so I've gotten ahold of the ol' seaQuest DVDs. I watched the pilot, which despite some horrible acting from the guest stars (the former captain of the boat was completely incapable of portraying any sort of menace) it was quite watchable. Then, I popped in a couple random episodes, one of which for some reason involved "seaQuest vs. Poseidon, god of the SEA!!!!!!", and turned it off.

I'm NOT going to watch this whole thing, but I'm willing to watch a few more episodes before I return the set. So, I'm asking those of you who actually HAVE seen the show since the original broadcast and would like to know which episodes, if any, I shoudl watch from the series. Thoughts?

Mark

 

[bullethead]

Season 1:
-The Pilot
-The Stinger
-The Last Lap of Luxury
-The season finale (Higher Power/An Ocean on Fire)

Season 2:
-Daggers
-The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Season 3:
-All of it except Second Chances, mostly because it has nothing to do with the plot of the season.

 

[Thestral]

Well, I have the S1 dvds and am working through them myself. Haven't seen S2 or S3 since first-run, so hard to comment on them.

But here's what I've got:

Season 1:
All of it, except
- The Devil's Window
- Greed for a Pirate's Dream (quite good on its own, but makes less sense without the former; include if that doesn't bother you too much)
- The Regulator
- Abalon

Though even those are solid, IMO.

If you mean truly essential from Season 1, then
- Pilot
- Games
- Give Me Liberte
- Better Than Martians
- The Stinger
- The Last Lap at Luxury
- Such Great Patience
- Higher Power/An Ocean on Fire

I won't try and comment on Season 2, except that it was usually enjoyable, even when ridiculously wacky; but you can probably give most of it a miss.

I'd agree with bullethead on Season 3, except I really liked Second Chances, so would include it.

 

[RandyS]

I say watch it all. It's a relatively short show and while the latter half of it doesn't stand up to the excellent first season, the whole thing is better than anything on TV now.

In my opinion of course.

 

[Amaris]

I love SeaQuest, and the first season in particular. Here are some recommendations from me:

Season 1:
Pilot
Treasures of the Tonga Trench
Give Me Liberte
Bad Water
Whale Song
The Stinger
Hide and Seek
The Last Lap at Luxury
Abalon
Higher Power / Season Finale

Season Two:
The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Season Three:
Brave New World

Now, someone may direct you to some S3 episodes, but I am not at all a fan of Season 3.

 

[Brikar99]

I'd watch Season 3 again before I watched Season 2, but overall I'd say just watch Season 1.

 

[Thestral]

I love SeaQuest, and the first season in particular. Here are some recommendations from me:

Season 1:
Pilot
Treasures of the Tonga Trench
Give Me Liberte
Bad Water
Whale Song
The Stinger
Hide and Seek
The Last Lap at Luxury
Abalon
Higher Power / Season Finale

Season Two:
The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Season Three:
Brave New World

Now, someone may direct you to some S3 episodes, but I am not at all a fan of Season 3.

All good choices from S1. Though I haven't rewatched Abalon yet and I'm not sure about based on the DVD blurb...

What was so bad about 2032?

 

[saturn5]

Man that's going to be a short list!

Anything with Stephanie Beecham or Mark Hamil. And that's about it

 

[bullethead]

What was so bad about 2032?

It was about war, which is what submarines are made for. That plus ditching a few of the characters offscreen and replacing Roy Scheider with Michael Ironside. I personally didn't mind it as it meant there was an actual direction to the show and I like just about anything with submarine warfare in it.

 

[Amaris]

I love SeaQuest, and the first season in particular. Here are some recommendations from me:

Season 1:
Pilot
Treasures of the Tonga Trench
Give Me Liberte
Bad Water
Whale Song
The Stinger
Hide and Seek
The Last Lap at Luxury
Abalon
Higher Power / Season Finale

Season Two:
The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Season Three:
Brave New World

Now, someone may direct you to some S3 episodes, but I am not at all a fan of Season 3.

All good choices from S1. Though I haven't rewatched Abalon yet and I'm not sure about based on the DVD blurb...

What was so bad about 2032?

Well, while it wasn't perfect, Season 1 was all about the science of having this massive scientifically, technologically advanced submarine to use in the pursuits of exploration and discovery. It was so cool to see Robert Ballard show up after each episode to discuss scientific facts to round out the episode. In Season 2, they started hitting heavier on the fiction than the science, and by Season 3, they tossed it completely out the window in favor of dramatic and forced humor sitcom submarine antics. Plus, yes, Roy Scheider replaced by Michael Ironside. Just didn't do it for me.

 

[shivkala]

After discovering it on instant viewing for Netflix, I've been slowly making my way through the series and am surprised "Knight of Shadows" wasn't on the list. I was really impressed with it and I could recall many of the scenes from when I last watched it, over 10 years ago. What impressed me particularly was how the characters did not dismiss the possibility of the supernatural. Too many shows with a basis in science tend to explain away the inexplicable and I think this episode really showed how some things can be beyond our understanding.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

In Season 2, they started hitting heavier on the fiction than the science, and by Season 3, they tossed it completely out the window in favor of dramatic and forced humor sitcom submarine antics.

I don't remember any sitcom antics in 2032. There was a little humor in the episode dealing with Hudson's ex wife but overall the show had a more serious tone. Even Piccolo grew up a little and became a bridge officer and they made Lucas man up and become an officer. The only thing I didn't really like was how Henderson suddenly became SeaQuest's chief engineer.

 

[bullethead]

In Season 2, they started hitting heavier on the fiction than the science, and by Season 3, they tossed it completely out the window in favor of dramatic and forced humor sitcom submarine antics.

I don't remember any sitcom antics in 2032. There was a little humor in the episode dealing with Hudson's ex wife but overall the show had a more serious tone. Even Piccolo grew up a little and became a bridge officer and they made Lucas man up and become an officer. The only thing I didn't really like was how Henderson suddenly became SeaQuest's chief engineer.

I think the Henderson thing was because they needed a reason to keep her around and have something to do. I don't even know what she did in the second season. IIRC, in the premiere she was on her first assignment or something.

 

[Amaris]

I don't remember any sitcom antics in 2032. There was a little humor in the episode dealing with Hudson's ex wife but overall the show had a more serious tone. Even Piccolo grew up a little and became a bridge officer and they made Lucas man up and become an officer. The only thing I didn't really like was how Henderson suddenly became SeaQuest's chief engineer.

The first season focused on science and world politics and is the most grounded season. The second season started to mix it up with stupid situations. One of the worst additions to the show, in my opinion, was Dagwood. Then Season Three comes along, and Michael Ironside is the new Captain and the show just sinks from there (and I say this as someone who liked Michael Ironside). Aliens, Time Travel, Psychic implants, I mean, it's not as bad as how Season Two got toward the end, but it just didn't save the remaining tatters of a once terrific series.

In other words, take what Roy Scheider said and I'm in agreement. If you're not familiar with what he said:

"It's childish trash," Scheider claimed in an interview while filming the second season. "I am very bitter about it. I feel betrayed." Scheider also described the second season as being "21 Jump Street meets Star Trek."

When I say sitcom antics, I don't mean just the comedy stuff. To me, Dag is a terrible attempt at a lovable mascot. I also refer to the dramatic stuff, which is just too sitcom-ey to me. It got more serious, but the damage had been done.

 

[OmahaStar]

I remember watching SQ when it originally aired, way back when. I remember loving the first season, then the second season turning to cheese, and the third season being more or less a spin-off.

A year or so ago, I Netflixed the first season, and enjoyed it all over again. I haven't bought it yet, but I intend to.

A week ago, I got an email from deepdiscoun.com promoting a 9.99 sale they were having. It's basically a collection of crap with a few gems ... and SeaQuest season 2.

Now, the way I remember it is Bob Ballard took one look at the new direction and cut ties with the series, so no more sciency stuff after the episodes ... The cheese factor was turned way up ... and this is when they went from being a science fiction show to a Lost in Space type show with giant monsters, sea gods, aliens, and at some point having the sub transported to another planet, left on the surface of the waterless world.

Naturally, I have to get it. I can justify it at that price.

I also seem to recall Dom DeLuise doing a guest spot at some point.

Now I'm wondering if season 3 is on its way yet? Or is it a problem as with Earth: Final Conflict where each season is owned by a different company and they have to work it out before being released?

 

[JarodRussell]

I remember the first season to be pretty good. I don't know when it started to involve time travel and aliens and other shit, which was the point where I stopped watching.