I loved seaQuest DSV but for me the show ended after the first season. I agree with about all the changes that went on. To me each season felt like a completely different show. If I remember correctly its why Roy Scheider wanted to leave the show. I did buy the first season when it came out and still own my original model of seaQuest. Loved the design of the ship.
Thank you for telling me that is really sad that he has died.I found out what killed this amazing tv series and I don't know if you know our not but the jest of it is that the ones in charge wear extremely nasty to the cast and they just didn't know how to do a cohesive story the reason why he quit the series was he was tired of being abused a nd there was nothing he could do to stop the rest of the actors from being treated like dirt but as far as I am concerned the second capitan of the seaquest was the heart and soul of seaquest and from the moment on in which he was no longer in command of the sequest the series was dead it's like having the original captain of the Enterprise gets fired after season bomber two ended and despite that trying to continue with out james t Kirk.
As I have heard ... Brandis was really trying to get a foot hold in other main stream movies .... He had a small part in the Bruce Willis WW2 Movie called "Hearts War" ... that ended up getting cut out ... I read someplace that he was really ticked off about it ....... its was kind of a "Comedy Relief" type scene .... you can find it on you tube ... its kinda funny
Great video, great job! I remember really liking the first season and the show that came on after it, Earth 2. I remember Earth 2 got cancelled and if I recall Seaquest was up against Lois & Clark, which was a hit out of the gate, and Space: Above and Beyond on Fox during season two. So it was yet another case of too much genre programming on the same night and ultimately none of those shows lasted very long, even Lois & Clark. I’ve rewatched them all and I’ve been surprised how well they all hold up, in their own ways. Except for season two of Seaquest, you’re right on the money about how week that was!😉👍📺🐕
I've been toying around with the idea of series like this since quarantine began, unaware someone had already done it and you've done it BETTER than I could have! You've got a new sub, and I hope you do NBC's 'The Pretender' soon.
Great video , sea quest was one of my favorite shows growing up , 100% agree biggest issue was the writing and development of characters., well lack of
Seaquest was the bomb, I loved it so much. I was 9 years old and mesmerized by the concept & all those unique characters. It would take me years to understand certain historical references or concepts like discrimination. The casting was very well done, all those fleshed out personalities were enjoyable and I still feel a connection to them even though I haven't watched any of the episodes in decades.
SEAQUEST is probably why I love ocean-related movies and TV all the time. Beautifully done series that unfortunately had communication issues throughout its history.
Wow! It’s like you’re in my head! This was my baby growing up - I taped every single episode... it was my own personal show y’know? Great video! AND you said nearly everything I’ve thought for years, right down to if they blended seasons 1 and 3 they’d probably have had a hit. I hope they revisit it someday. Still a strong concept.
I do like how refreshing it was during the first season that we didn't see "red shirts" die every episode. And then the second season happened where we couldn't get through an episode without one of the crew dying.
I was just a kid when this aired and I remember loving the first season, tuning into the second season anticipating more of the same, being utterly perplexed and just giving up. Now I know why. This is the first video I've watched from your channel and it won't be the last, great work. Another show I remember from my youth that definitely falls into the category of forgotten television is Renegade with Lorenzo Lamas. Motorcycles and bounty hunters, what more could you want?!
Loved seeing this! seaQuest was inspired by voyage to the bottom of the sea and I spent 18 months creating it with James Lima and Richard Lewis! There are many reasons why DSV should have worked but it was plagued by politics and bad timing!
Still kinda miss your pr stuff (although I understand) but I'm enjoying your new stuff. Request: the mostly forgotten but excellent Space Above and Beyond
If SeaQuest ever gets a reboot, I’d say have it set where man is exploring the Galaxy, but the story is focused on an ocean planet with small islands and continents and have colonies being established on land and under the sea and have SeaQuest assigned to said planet. Start the series on Earth with the prototype SeaQuest being launched and doing trial runs with its state of the are tech as well as having the crew doing training only to have it all cut short because of a crisis on the planet that SeaQuest is assigned to.
I got to visit the set in Orlando in the 90s. It really was a complex set and the water/tanks/tubes were very real. In person with no acting or framing, some of the sets looked cartoonish and fake up close, but the show really sells the parts that aren't CG.
Those tubes that allowed dolphins 🐬 to explore the ship/set had to be real for dolphin scenes I guess....that set must have been fantastic to explore...should be s seaQuest ride at seaWorld
Another show I really liked! Your comments are right on the money!, look forward to seeing more of your reviews. And Kent McCord, ...LOL...oh boy, I could never again see him as anything after that Galactica 1980 disaster.
I full on believe, the reason why Roy Scheider did not stay on, was because in an interview, before "seaQuest DSV" began airing, Mister Scheider said, he would not want to be a part of the show, if it became a fantasy. And it did.
edward james olmos said essentially the same thing about battlestar galactica reboot….if they introduced aliens and other typical sci fi tropes he would leave
Some great episodes of seaquest and loved it as a kid. does not age as well as some other scifi from that era though. Favorite episodes like Lucas getting dropped off with the teenage hackers, terrorist takeover, and the search for the space capsule episodes stick in my head
The aliens and paranormal aspects ruined SeaQuest. Even as far back as “Knight of Shadows”, where they introduce ghosts and the afterlife, that took the show in the wrong direction. They had a good a character, Lieutenant Shan, that was introduced in “The Good Death”, and you see in the Season 1 finale they try and get as much out of him as they can, but he’s gone by the start of Season 2. What they frankly should’ve done that even Star Trek never figured out, was taking Lucas, and making a proper character arc about getting the kid ready for adulthood. “Photon Bullet” hints at some of this, but never pursues it. I wanted some of the senior officers and scientific crew to mentor Lucas, give him some direction about getting emancipated by his 17th birthday, helping him set up an apartment so he had a home while on leave, testing for his Top Secret clearances, and pursuing a future as a civilian. Then, when he chooses to go Navy, it causes real tension between the characters, and gives each of the underutilized actors a chance to play up their reactions to things changing around them.
I kinda like the paranormal, actually, because SeaQuest is more like into the Unknown, also there a lot of stories about the Ocean from Seamen, the cruise and of three Navy itself, sometimes it's bit fun to do some paranormal stories gives people on their feet. 😂
great show - wish they rebooted it in to a gritty series like bsg. with todays climate change fear, setting it 50 - 100 years from now and its very believable
So much to say about this show! Seasons 1 and 3 were good, and 2 had SOME redeeming moments, but there was soooooo many things left unanswered that I would love to see even "made for TV" movies to answer. Like, where is Bridger's son who he thought was dead but obviously isn't? Fortunately there was a MASSIVE online community that had created tons of fan-fic carrying on these story lines. etc. Heck, SeaQuest was so influential to me that I have created a company and we are working on building underwater habitats. I regularly go back and watch episodes from this show, (the pilot, the Stinger, etc.). The CGI has not aged well, but this is still one of my favorite TV series to have ever existed.
I think I read that Roy Scheider wasn’t involved for more of season 3 because he didn’t like how the show went from Science to Sci-Fi. He attempted to leave early but his contract required at least the two seasons and a part of the third.
It seems more than just Beecham didn't approve of the move to Orlando. Stacey Haiduk was invited back as Hitchcock, but she declined for the same reason. As for the reasoning for the retooling in season 2, you nailed it. NBC was fools for trying to attract kids to the show, then burying it at 9pm on Sundays in most markets toward the end. In the San Diego market, they had the nerve to put it on Wednesday nights against Deep Space Nine's 4th season when "sh*t was getting real" with the Klingons. The only time I switched over to SQ2032 was during "Dr. Bashir, I Presume", which was a... I believe the proper expression is "dogwater episode". I taped the rest to watch later. Additional mistakes were using the show "Earth 2" as a lead-in when they buried it on Sunday nights during Season 2. I think at that point it was Sunday at 10 in San Diego lol Amusing fact: a lot of people involved in SeaQuest who are still around got pulled into "The Orville". It wasn't just a "Star Trek love-in". One of the most notable people is composer John Debney, who wrote the original theme for SeaQuest. He wrote the Kaylon theme and battle music among some of the more haunting and disturbing pieces.
seaQuest was my favorite show as a kid. I wanted to be Dr. Westphalen so badly. When she didn’t come back in season two, I was devastated. I still rewatch the first season (the only good season really).
Its a shame that two great Spielberg TV endeavors have largely been forgotten. This show is one of them and had a far less complete run. The second REALLY deserves a follow up: Steven Spielberg's "Taken". Not THAT Taken, the one that ran as a multi generational epic miniseries about Alien abductions and two families on somewhat opposing sides. It was the very young Dakota Fanning's first major role. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that she is the perfect age now for the dearly desired follow up.
Really liked this show, feel like I want to rewatch it now! A show that you can do if you havent done it already is: space: above and beyond! Cool premise yet another show that kind of cancelled without a resolution, but still worth the watch :)
I think a reboot is possible, simply because its so obscure and mostly forgotten about now. With climate change and ocean degradation in the public consciousness, and with documentary shows like 'Blue Planet' phenomenally popular, now is the time! Also, the popularity of games like Subnautica would help. It could take beats from that, from games like the now-defunct but unrelated 'Blue Planet' RPG, from classics like The Abyss... My feeling would be to include some more out-there sci-fi elements, but in a grittier, low-key fashion, a slow burn mystery. And of course, a big focus on the enivronmental and political themes of seasons 1 & 3.
I didn’t know Seaquest DSV until a few years ago, because there have been no TV reruns, but was surprised to learn that this was where John D’Aquino, who I’d known from Cory in the House, came from. Even when I was a teen, he looked like someone who had probably been a series regular somewhere, maybe not a long runner, but somewhere between two and four seasons with him there for all of it. SeaQuest apparently had him just in season 1 and a later guest appearance, but it’s the vibe that matters
Yep, Unfortunately he disagreed with the way the show and his character was going, so got phased out. :( I knew John for a while during Quantum Leap days, and he was my guest at the 10th con which I organised in UK.
Nice encapsulation of the show's history. I would love to read a tell-all of behind the scenes on this show (come on, Franklin or Raimi!) or an oral history with as many interviews with the surviving cast and crew as possible. To this day, I wonder if Ortiz really died on Hyperion or if they would've brought back the actor as a guest star in a one-off to give him closure. I need help.
I love this show. Season 1 was uneven, but Season 2 was an epic implosion that's spectacular to watch. You just can't believe the absolute nonsense they're putting on the screen. Surreal levels of corniness. So much talent among the cast and crew and it's just stunning to watch them being paid to make this. This doesn't sound like an endorsement, but I'm telling you, you gotta watch every episode of this thing start to finish. Season 2 had episodes that melted my brain with their badness. Must watch.
The thing about this show is that, well, it shows that Spielberg _needed_ minders much like how Lucas needed minders. Someone to keep him _grounded_ and it really shows in the 2nd season. Season 3 was working its way into being good but, well, too little, too late.
I need to see the show as a whole but I remember actually making an effort to tune into Season 2 so it obviously did something right for me. I did like the characters that season. Ted Raimi was always my favourite.
We need more like this. Asimov's foundation is coming to apple tv and James S. A. Corey's amazing novel got picked up by amazon prime after syfy foolishly cancelled yet another amazing show. I hope one day soon seaquest can be picked up again. Shows like this create dreamers and help use advance as a society
You asked for suggestions for obscure shows from the past. How about "Otherworld" it only lasted for 8 episodes, but I would love to have your take on it if you are familiar with it. I loved the episodes. I always wondered if it was cancelled due to the time slot. It was on Saturday night at a time when VCRs were too expensive for most people to own. I can imagine that on a Saturday night many people were not home to watch it.
Have you ever done a video on Threshold? it had an interesting story, amazing cast and seemed to get bounced around the time slot that me and my friends only ever found it by accident. The early cancel and rushed ending was a bit weak but the show had potential.
We used to call these problems 'Irwin Allen Syndrom', a series that started out as good, well thought out sci-fi with an emphasis on science..then ends up with rubber-suited monsters and singing space valkyries as seasons and time goes on..it just happened a lot faster with Seaquest..
I remember this show still. All I can remember is that it was a series that started out on the right foot but then quickly lost its way. Some of the villain's and plots in the later seasons brought out laughs from me rather then intrigue.
SeaQuest to me, though I loved the show when it first came out, was an updated version of the the Irwin Allen Sci-fi classic and my all time favorite show, "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", starring Richard Basehart (Admiral Nelson) and David Hedison (Captain Crane). This was truly the first underwater adventure show that was like the Star Trek of underwater.The men of the Seaview encountered aliens, werewolves, the Abominable Snowman, the Mummy, killer robots, mad scientists, crazy immortals, killer Amphibians, Mermaids, time travelers, fought off all kinds of monsters and saved the word from alien and monstrous invasions numerous times, as well as from threats from enemy countries. Corny as all out doors now, the show was hugely popular back in the 60's (show ran from 64 - 68). What made the show click back then? Irwin Allens obsession with having each episode going at breakneck speed, with non-stop action and the sci fi culture back then was really into it. It is a shame that SeaQuest could not survive even as long as Voyage did.My hopes were high when SeaQuest came out, but the character changes from season to season was a killer to me for the show. I am hoping someone in Hollywood gets a vision for an underwater show like SeaQuest or Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea again. I say, try a revamped and updated Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Not sure if that will happen though.
@ Ken West ... When the show came out I too immediately said to myself "Oh, an attempt to remake Voyage." I decided to give it a chance and I did like season one. Much like Voyage, the seriousness of the first season devolved with the silliness that was introduced later. Overall, Voyage did it better because I watched all of it, both as a child and now the late night reruns, and own the DVD box sets. SeaQuest however, lost me as a viewer in season two.
@@pauld6967 ...I agree Paul D. The first season of SeaQuest was excellent, but then it changed. It just wasn't as good as I believe it could have been. Believe it or not, even the bizarre stuff on Voyage, I enjoyed (monsters, sea creatures, mummy's, mermaids, werewolves...what have you) SeaQuest just kind of lost it after the first season. I'm not sure there will ever really be a really good undersea adventure show like we would like to see along the lines of Voyage and SeaQuest, though I am hoping in the near future, someone gives it a try again....
When the O.J. Simpson trial was being aired NBC several times completely cut in with breaking news about it over the schedule times for the episodes, which created further gaps in the continuity of the show. I'm sure that angered a lot of people, and caused a drop in viewership. I can say that I don't remember the networks cutting in with breaking news over shows so much before that trial.
"Future, Earth is run down, sci-fi submarines, etc." The only series that comes to mind that has made something out of this setup that is worth watching, interesting, exciting and consistent from beginning to end is "Blue Submarine No. 6". This miniseries, however, is not from Western culture, but anime.
I discovered both these shows on the same night -- I never watched TV at home but was away on a job. I found them both fascinating -- and, yes, the talking dolphin -- but they both went belly up.
I wish this show could be continued somewhen, because I strongly refuse to watch incomplete things. What if I finish this series and all it gave me are cliffhangers and questions?
Yeah the introduction of aliens was hoaky. I liked the killer plants episode, That freaked me out. The third season finally found its feet, then they canceled it. Also, it’s Sunday night timeslot was often preempted for other less worthy shows, I remember trying to watch it, but football or some other program was on.
They could've done it more like The Abyss, with either hither-to undiscovered sentient life, or else formerly extra-terrestrial life that has been dwelling undetected in the deep ocean for millennia. There's a way to introduce 'alien' life without it being too jarring, but it should be a slow-burn build up over time. My take would be the classic panspermia idea. Maybe these aliens gave life a 'helping hand' in Earths oceans, or revitalised it after one of our Extinction Level events?
I loved the first season, it had such a COSMOS vibe in something believable. Especially with the credits oceanography segments. I mostly gave S2 a pass at he time where I lumped it in with Unsolved Mysteries-type sci-fi. I was really in on the S2 cliffhanger, but the season 3 premiere pissed me off so much. I don't think I ever got over finding seaQuest in a corn field. I have yet to even finish S3 for more than a couple episodes. Also, Roy Scheider also was livid about the production move to Florida, as it was not the same show he signed up for. So he completed his contract and left the lead role in S3.
Good video. I used to watch SeaQuest re-runs on a channel here in the UK, can't remember which channel. It was a really interesting concept, such a shame they mishandled the series so badly as it could have been great.
Yes!!!! Syfy channel pissed me off with so many launches in subsequent cancellations of shows I got really invested into. Amen! But also with sci-fi shows in general ...they just kept getting canceled after the first, maybe second season. And it always sucked to have them end on a cliffhanger.
I think a reboot could work but it would have to have a good startup story line, something like the plans for Sea Quest were found and some kids of the 1 season case had nothing to do with the military and some how figure out how to build a new a sub or just something along those lines but it would take a good amount of money that I am sure the studio would not put up. But everyone that would like it to come back can still dream!!
This a show that needs rebooted or a movie. Season two of dsv was like season 3 of enterprise. Its what killed the show. But never the less best episode of season 2 was the crocodile one. Too bad it was left with the possibility of a sequel but never got it. Just like the end of season 3. So many unanswered questions and plots. Season 1 is and always will be the best
They've done it before. With *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* instead of space being the mysterious frontier, the oceans become the mysterious frontier. In our universe, both space and seas are still mysterious frontiers.
I'd love to hear what you have to say about the Orville (a great show with a wave of seasons as well with it's wonky shooting schedules). The music reminds me very much of seaquest with a splash of TNG, which makes sense as John Debney worked on both.
SeaQuest DSV was amazing. But the numbers wasn't good enough and that's what caused the horribleness, that is season 2. Season 3 picked up things but, it just never got as good as Season 1. Season 2 had such an legendarily bad episode, that forced me to write my only IMDB review. You could even see on every actor, that NO ONE liked that episode. On a side note, in Subnautica, I named my Cyclops the SeaTigur DST, a pun on SeaQuest. DST being Deep Submersible Tigur. I think that, the best way to do a SeaQuest reboot, is to ignore Season 2 completely, start it up from after the events of Season 1 and just go from there, set it some 50 years later, make some of the events from Season 3 canon, and that they've finally finished building a new SeaQuest model, let's look at fan circle, let's for example look at the Atlantis DSV, pay for royalties or whatever it is for that, have regular SeaQuest ships also floating around but with different names like the UEO Barracuda or something. Have peace be tenius. Don't have aliens. Have oceanographers and actual scientists come and talk at the end of each episode again with real science facts. That's my few cents on it.
I heard the actor who played Bridger was displeased with the way the show went in season 2 and the whole aliens and space thing when the show was suppose to be centered on ocean oriented things or whatever you want to call it
@@rangerreview1780 Roy Schinder apparently didn't want the show to go into a STAR TREK style of show (he was more interested in the ocean science and making it more an adventure series; he also took the role to work with Spielberg again), so when Season 2 went even further into "Aliens" territory, he was pissed beyond belief and wanted off the show (but had to finishing Season 2 for contract purposes). Schinder unfortunately was known for getting overall agitated at producers and directors. He apparently HATED doing JAWS 2, so he intentially took a role in a "terrible cop movie" just so he wouldn't be available for a JAWS 3.
As a kid seaquest was huge. They did treat it like jurassic Park hmm didn't know it was a Spielberg show but that makes sense...all the genetic engineering... one world ocean government etc...
Basically a reworking of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. It's amazing how difficult it is to do good sci-fi and to do it consistently. Between fighting with the network and having a committee of writers, a series is pulled and stretched in so many different directions with usually no time to pull off execution effectively.
The first season was real solid but it went up against Lois and Clark the new adventures of Superman and at that point a comic book being on tv was just awesome The talking dolphin and the underwater version of Wesley crusher didn’t help but I liked the first season I think by season 3 they had aliens or some such
i remember during marathons of the animated series and other series they showed clips for sea quest dsv. But i never remembered it actually airing. thought it was canceled without airing at all. i am shocked it was actually shown on tv!
I loved seaQuest DSV but for me the show ended after the first season. I agree with about all the changes that went on. To me each season felt like a completely different show. If I remember correctly its why Roy Scheider wanted to leave the show. I did buy the first season when it came out and still own my original model of seaQuest. Loved the design of the ship.
At the time, it felt to me like they were trying to climb on the X-Files bandwagon.
@@t_k_blitz4837 that is actually a really good point especially for the later seasons and the X Files would have been very popular at the time.
Me too. I never watched the second season. Just wasn't the same...
"Nobody remembers the show"
*boots up Subnautica and looks at my cyclops named SeaQuest*
I loved this show. I was heartbroken when Johnathan Brandis died irl.
Thank you for telling me that is really sad that he has died.I found out what killed this amazing tv series and I don't know if you know our not but the jest of it is that the ones in charge wear extremely nasty to the cast and they just didn't know how to do a cohesive story the reason why he quit the series was he was tired of being abused a nd there was nothing he could do to stop the rest of the actors from being treated like dirt but as far as I am concerned the second capitan of the seaquest was the heart and soul of seaquest and from the moment on in which he was no longer in command of the sequest the series was dead it's like having the original captain of the Enterprise gets fired after season bomber two ended and despite that trying to continue with out james t Kirk.
I read that when it happened November 2003. I still can't believe it.
As I have heard ... Brandis was really trying to get a foot hold in other main stream movies .... He had a small part in the Bruce Willis WW2 Movie called "Hearts War" ... that ended up getting cut out ... I read someplace that he was really ticked off about it ....... its was kind of a "Comedy Relief" type scene .... you can find it on you tube ... its kinda funny
Great video, great job! I remember really liking the first season and the show that came on after it, Earth 2. I remember Earth 2 got cancelled and if I recall Seaquest was up against Lois & Clark, which was a hit out of the gate, and Space: Above and Beyond on Fox during season two. So it was yet another case of too much genre programming on the same night and ultimately none of those shows lasted very long, even Lois & Clark. I’ve rewatched them all and I’ve been surprised how well they all hold up, in their own ways. Except for season two of Seaquest, you’re right on the money about how week that was!😉👍📺🐕
I've been toying around with the idea of series like this since quarantine began, unaware someone had already done it and you've done it BETTER than I could have!
You've got a new sub, and I hope you do NBC's 'The Pretender' soon.
Great video , sea quest was one of my favorite shows growing up , 100% agree biggest issue was the writing and development of characters., well lack of
This has been my favorite show since I was a lil kid. I finally got it on Bluray, thanks for this amazing retrospective!
Thank you for not sticking in a bunch of ads. I got totally sucked into this review too 👍
I never abuse ads like other channels.
This is a great commentary on the show; I usually don't subscribe from 1 video but I like your style and am genuinely considering it
RIP seaQuest, Space Above and Beyond and Crusade. Scifi channel lost their minds when they went syfy.
Seaquest was the bomb, I loved it so much.
I was 9 years old and mesmerized by the concept & all those unique characters.
It would take me years to understand certain historical references or concepts like discrimination.
The casting was very well done, all those fleshed out personalities were enjoyable and I still feel a connection to them even though I haven't watched any of the episodes in decades.
One of my all time favorite 90’s shows.
SEAQUEST is probably why I love ocean-related movies and TV all the time. Beautifully done series that unfortunately had communication issues throughout its history.
Wow! It’s like you’re in my head! This was my baby growing up - I taped every single episode... it was my own personal show y’know? Great video! AND you said nearly everything I’ve thought for years, right down to if they blended seasons 1 and 3 they’d probably have had a hit. I hope they revisit it someday. Still a strong concept.
I do like how refreshing it was during the first season that we didn't see "red shirts" die every episode. And then the second season happened where we couldn't get through an episode without one of the crew dying.
Enjoyed this review. As a non Seaquest DSV viewer, I got a clear picture of the stories and behind the scenes drama from what rangereview had to say.
I was just a kid when this aired and I remember loving the first season, tuning into the second season anticipating more of the same, being utterly perplexed and just giving up. Now I know why. This is the first video I've watched from your channel and it won't be the last, great work. Another show I remember from my youth that definitely falls into the category of forgotten television is Renegade with Lorenzo Lamas. Motorcycles and bounty hunters, what more could you want?!
7 days! That was a good show for it's time.
Back when I was excited of the new UPN network.
Ever since peacock started few weeks back. I saw all 3 seasons of seaquest and relived my childhood and started to binge.
Me too ❤
Loved seeing this! seaQuest was inspired by voyage to the bottom of the sea and I spent 18 months creating it with James Lima and Richard Lewis! There are many reasons why DSV should have worked but it was plagued by politics and bad timing!
Loved seaQuest DSV however what really cost the show was a lack of direction and the fact its competitor (Trek) was stronger.
I distinctly remember watching the premiere as a 13 year old. The hype was insane. It could never live up to it.
Still kinda miss your pr stuff (although I understand) but I'm enjoying your new stuff.
Request: the mostly forgotten but excellent Space Above and Beyond
If SeaQuest ever gets a reboot, I’d say have it set where man is exploring the Galaxy, but the story is focused on an ocean planet with small islands and continents and have colonies being established on land and under the sea and have SeaQuest assigned to said planet. Start the series on Earth with the prototype SeaQuest being launched and doing trial runs with its state of the are tech as well as having the crew doing training only to have it all cut short because of a crisis on the planet that SeaQuest is assigned to.
I got to visit the set in Orlando in the 90s. It really was a complex set and the water/tanks/tubes were very real.
In person with no acting or framing, some of the sets looked cartoonish and fake up close, but the show really sells the parts that aren't CG.
Those tubes that allowed dolphins 🐬 to explore the ship/set had to be real for dolphin scenes I guess....that set must have been fantastic to explore...should be s seaQuest ride at seaWorld
Another show I really liked! Your comments are right on the money!, look forward to seeing more of your reviews. And Kent McCord, ...LOL...oh boy, I could never again see him as anything after that Galactica 1980 disaster.
I remember this show. I really liked it. It was interesting.
Request: Bruce Campbell - Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Jack of all Trades.
Thanks for reminding me. Totally forgot about Jack of all trades.
I full on believe, the reason why Roy Scheider did not stay on, was because in an interview, before "seaQuest DSV" began airing, Mister Scheider said, he would not want to be a part of the show, if it became a fantasy. And it did.
edward james olmos said essentially the same thing about battlestar galactica reboot….if they introduced aliens and other typical sci fi tropes he would leave
Some great episodes of seaquest and loved it as a kid. does not age as well as some other scifi from that era though. Favorite episodes like Lucas getting dropped off with the teenage hackers, terrorist takeover, and the search for the space capsule episodes stick in my head
The aliens and paranormal aspects ruined SeaQuest. Even as far back as “Knight of Shadows”, where they introduce ghosts and the afterlife, that took the show in the wrong direction.
They had a good a character, Lieutenant Shan, that was introduced in “The Good Death”, and you see in the Season 1 finale they try and get as much out of him as they can, but he’s gone by the start of Season 2.
What they frankly should’ve done that even Star Trek never figured out, was taking Lucas, and making a proper character arc about getting the kid ready for adulthood. “Photon Bullet” hints at some of this, but never pursues it.
I wanted some of the senior officers and scientific crew to mentor Lucas, give him some direction about getting emancipated by his 17th birthday, helping him set up an apartment so he had a home while on leave, testing for his Top Secret clearances, and pursuing a future as a civilian.
Then, when he chooses to go Navy, it causes real tension between the characters, and gives each of the underutilized actors a chance to play up their reactions to things changing around them.
Seaquest was an "event" show, but it rarely felt like one. It felt for the most part like PG-Rated "The Abyss" meets "Star Trek TNG"
I kinda like the paranormal, actually, because SeaQuest is more like into the Unknown, also there a lot of stories about the Ocean from Seamen, the cruise and of three Navy itself, sometimes it's bit fun to do some paranormal stories gives people on their feet. 😂
great show - wish they rebooted it in to a gritty series like bsg.
with todays climate change fear, setting it 50 - 100 years from now and its very believable
You’re review is so spot on, great video!
So much to say about this show! Seasons 1 and 3 were good, and 2 had SOME redeeming moments, but there was soooooo many things left unanswered that I would love to see even "made for TV" movies to answer. Like, where is Bridger's son who he thought was dead but obviously isn't?
Fortunately there was a MASSIVE online community that had created tons of fan-fic carrying on these story lines. etc.
Heck, SeaQuest was so influential to me that I have created a company and we are working on building underwater habitats.
I regularly go back and watch episodes from this show, (the pilot, the Stinger, etc.).
The CGI has not aged well, but this is still one of my favorite TV series to have ever existed.
after Jonathan brandis died everyone started talking about this show again, makes me sad :(
I always say to people who complain about The Never Ending Story II the film is a masterpiece compared to the third movie.
17:01 - 17:10: "I'M LOOKING AT YOU, NETFLIX."
"Northern Exposure"....and there was talk about bringing it back. In short, it was my kind of quirky.
I think I read that Roy Scheider wasn’t involved for more of season 3 because he didn’t like how the show went from Science to Sci-Fi. He attempted to leave early but his contract required at least the two seasons and a part of the third.
I'll never forget gathering around tthe tv with the fam to watch this show.
It seems more than just Beecham didn't approve of the move to Orlando. Stacey Haiduk was invited back as Hitchcock, but she declined for the same reason. As for the reasoning for the retooling in season 2, you nailed it. NBC was fools for trying to attract kids to the show, then burying it at 9pm on Sundays in most markets toward the end. In the San Diego market, they had the nerve to put it on Wednesday nights against Deep Space Nine's 4th season when "sh*t was getting real" with the Klingons. The only time I switched over to SQ2032 was during "Dr. Bashir, I Presume", which was a... I believe the proper expression is "dogwater episode". I taped the rest to watch later. Additional mistakes were using the show "Earth 2" as a lead-in when they buried it on Sunday nights during Season 2. I think at that point it was Sunday at 10 in San Diego lol
Amusing fact: a lot of people involved in SeaQuest who are still around got pulled into "The Orville". It wasn't just a "Star Trek love-in". One of the most notable people is composer John Debney, who wrote the original theme for SeaQuest. He wrote the Kaylon theme and battle music among some of the more haunting and disturbing pieces.
Executive Meddling..... where Television Networks have no confidence in your show.
seaQuest was my favorite show as a kid. I wanted to be Dr. Westphalen so badly. When she didn’t come back in season two, I was devastated. I still rewatch the first season (the only good season really).
Its a shame that two great Spielberg TV endeavors have largely been forgotten. This show is one of them and had a far less complete run. The second REALLY deserves a follow up: Steven Spielberg's "Taken". Not THAT Taken, the one that ran as a multi generational epic miniseries about Alien abductions and two families on somewhat opposing sides. It was the very young Dakota Fanning's first major role. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that she is the perfect age now for the dearly desired follow up.
RIP Jonathan Brandis
Seaquest can be watched for free on peacock
My hero
WHAT
I miss Seaquest.
I loved this series.
Really liked this show, feel like I want to rewatch it now! A show that you can do if you havent done it already is: space: above and beyond! Cool premise yet another show that kind of cancelled without a resolution, but still worth the watch :)
Can be watched for free on peacock if you have comcast
I think a reboot is possible, simply because its so obscure and mostly forgotten about now. With climate change and ocean degradation in the public consciousness, and with documentary shows like 'Blue Planet' phenomenally popular, now is the time! Also, the popularity of games like Subnautica would help. It could take beats from that, from games like the now-defunct but unrelated 'Blue Planet' RPG, from classics like The Abyss... My feeling would be to include some more out-there sci-fi elements, but in a grittier, low-key fashion, a slow burn mystery. And of course, a big focus on the enivronmental and political themes of seasons 1 & 3.
As a kid, I liked season 2. For me, it was the most memorable season. I feel like season 2 was kinda like Stargate though.
It was a good show. But when it brought aliens to the show, it got stupid.
i agree the aliens were too far
Yep. That was the moment it jumped the shark. Which is saying something for a show with a shark in it's logo
The final season was really great. C'mon, Michael Ironside in SeaWar DSV. Ain't nothing like that!
I didn’t know Seaquest DSV until a few years ago, because there have been no TV reruns, but was surprised to learn that this was where John D’Aquino, who I’d known from Cory in the House, came from. Even when I was a teen, he looked like someone who had probably been a series regular somewhere, maybe not a long runner, but somewhere between two and four seasons with him there for all of it. SeaQuest apparently had him just in season 1 and a later guest appearance, but it’s the vibe that matters
I'll always know him as the guy who accidentally killed the kid in Pumpkinhead..
@@davidsavage5630LOL! I knew John for a long time and he was a guest at my 10th Quantum Leap con in UK. He actually hated me seeing that film! LOL!
Yep, Unfortunately he disagreed with the way the show and his character was going, so got phased out. :( I knew John for a while during Quantum Leap days, and he was my guest at the 10th con which I organised in UK.
Nice encapsulation of the show's history. I would love to read a tell-all of behind the scenes on this show (come on, Franklin or Raimi!) or an oral history with as many interviews with the surviving cast and crew as possible. To this day, I wonder if Ortiz really died on Hyperion or if they would've brought back the actor as a guest star in a one-off to give him closure. I need help.
I love this show. Season 1 was uneven, but Season 2 was an epic implosion that's spectacular to watch. You just can't believe the absolute nonsense they're putting on the screen. Surreal levels of corniness. So much talent among the cast and crew and it's just stunning to watch them being paid to make this. This doesn't sound like an endorsement, but I'm telling you, you gotta watch every episode of this thing start to finish. Season 2 had episodes that melted my brain with their badness. Must watch.
The thing about this show is that, well, it shows that Spielberg _needed_ minders much like how Lucas needed minders. Someone to keep him _grounded_ and it really shows in the 2nd season. Season 3 was working its way into being good but, well, too little, too late.
I need to see the show as a whole but I remember actually making an effort to tune into Season 2 so it obviously did something right for me. I did like the characters that season. Ted Raimi was always my favourite.
I only saw a few episodes back then but I still remember the theme music :)
We need more like this. Asimov's foundation is coming to apple tv and James S. A. Corey's amazing novel got picked up by amazon prime after syfy foolishly cancelled yet another amazing show. I hope one day soon seaquest can be picked up again. Shows like this create dreamers and help use advance as a society
You asked for suggestions for obscure shows from the past. How about "Otherworld" it only lasted for 8 episodes, but I would love to have your take on it if you are familiar with it. I loved the episodes. I always wondered if it was cancelled due to the time slot. It was on Saturday night at a time when VCRs were too expensive for most people to own. I can imagine that on a Saturday night many people were not home to watch it.
Have you ever done a video on Threshold? it had an interesting story, amazing cast and seemed to get bounced around the time slot that me and my friends only ever found it by accident. The early cancel and rushed ending was a bit weak but the show had potential.
Good shout. That was a criminally under rated show.
We used to call these problems 'Irwin Allen Syndrom', a series that started out as good, well thought out sci-fi with an emphasis on science..then ends up with rubber-suited monsters and singing space valkyries as seasons and time goes on..it just happened a lot faster with Seaquest..
I remember this show still. All I can remember is that it was a series that started out on the right foot but then quickly lost its way. Some of the villain's and plots in the later seasons brought out laughs from me rather then intrigue.
Hugh Jackman has apparently agreed to play Captain Nathan Bridger in the tv series reboot. That's really cool casting imo.
SeaQuest to me, though I loved the show when it first came out, was an updated version of the the Irwin Allen Sci-fi classic and my all time favorite show, "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", starring Richard Basehart (Admiral Nelson) and David Hedison (Captain Crane). This was truly the first underwater adventure show that was like the Star Trek of underwater.The men of the Seaview encountered aliens, werewolves, the Abominable Snowman, the Mummy, killer robots, mad scientists, crazy immortals, killer Amphibians, Mermaids, time travelers, fought off all kinds of monsters and saved the word from alien and monstrous invasions numerous times, as well as from threats from enemy countries. Corny as all out doors now, the show was hugely popular back in the 60's (show ran from 64 - 68). What made the show click back then? Irwin Allens obsession with having each episode going at breakneck speed, with non-stop action and the sci fi culture back then was really into it. It is a shame that SeaQuest could not survive even as long as Voyage did.My hopes were high when SeaQuest came out, but the character changes from season to season was a killer to me for the show. I am hoping someone in Hollywood gets a vision for an underwater show like SeaQuest or Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea again. I say, try a revamped and updated Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Not sure if that will happen though.
@ Ken West ... When the show came out I too immediately said to myself "Oh, an attempt to remake Voyage."
I decided to give it a chance and I did like season one. Much like Voyage, the seriousness of the first season devolved with the silliness that was introduced later. Overall, Voyage did it better because I watched all of it, both as a child and now the late night reruns, and own the DVD box sets. SeaQuest however, lost me as a viewer in season two.
@@pauld6967 ...I agree Paul D. The first season of SeaQuest was excellent, but then it changed. It just wasn't as good as I believe it could have been. Believe it or not, even the bizarre stuff on Voyage, I enjoyed (monsters, sea creatures, mummy's, mermaids, werewolves...what have you) SeaQuest just kind of lost it after the first season. I'm not sure there will ever really be a really good undersea adventure show like we would like to see along the lines of Voyage and SeaQuest, though I am hoping in the near future, someone gives it a try again....
When the O.J. Simpson trial was being aired NBC several times completely cut in with breaking news about it over the schedule times for the episodes, which created further gaps in the continuity of the show. I'm sure that angered a lot of people, and caused a drop in viewership. I can say that I don't remember the networks cutting in with breaking news over shows so much before that trial.
Loved this show when I was a kid. Cool idea, great cast, would love to see something like this but modern. Underwater adventure I mean.
Paul G I was born in the wrong generation wasn’t I 😂😂
It depends. The 90's had a lot stupid stuff.
@@rangerreview1780 The 90s were WAY better than today. So I don't appreciate you calling them stupid
No one was removed. Most of the ones removed didn't want to move to Florida.
"Future, Earth is run down, sci-fi submarines, etc." The only series that comes to mind that has made something out of this setup that is worth watching, interesting, exciting and consistent from beginning to end is "Blue Submarine No. 6". This miniseries, however, is not from Western culture, but anime.
I discovered both these shows on the same night -- I never watched TV at home but was away on a job. I found them both fascinating -- and, yes, the talking dolphin -- but they both went belly up.
Loved Seaquest DSV back in the day although when Roy left and they got a new captain for Season 3 it wasn’t as good anymore,
I wish this show could be continued somewhen, because I strongly refuse to watch incomplete things. What if I finish this series and all it gave me are cliffhangers and questions?
Yeah the introduction of aliens was hoaky. I liked the killer plants episode, That freaked me out. The third season finally found its feet, then they canceled it. Also, it’s Sunday night timeslot was often preempted for other less worthy shows, I remember trying to watch it, but football or some other program was on.
They could've done it more like The Abyss, with either hither-to undiscovered sentient life, or else formerly extra-terrestrial life that has been dwelling undetected in the deep ocean for millennia. There's a way to introduce 'alien' life without it being too jarring, but it should be a slow-burn build up over time. My take would be the classic panspermia idea. Maybe these aliens gave life a 'helping hand' in Earths oceans, or revitalised it after one of our Extinction Level events?
I'd like to request an episode on Surface, a really interesting sci-fi series that got canceled on a cliffhanger at the end of only one season.
I loved the first season, it had such a COSMOS vibe in something believable. Especially with the credits oceanography segments. I mostly gave S2 a pass at he time where I lumped it in with Unsolved Mysteries-type sci-fi. I was really in on the S2 cliffhanger, but the season 3 premiere pissed me off so much. I don't think I ever got over finding seaQuest in a corn field. I have yet to even finish S3 for more than a couple episodes.
Also, Roy Scheider also was livid about the production move to Florida, as it was not the same show he signed up for. So he completed his contract and left the lead role in S3.
Good video. I used to watch SeaQuest re-runs on a channel here in the UK, can't remember which channel. It was a really interesting concept, such a shame they mishandled the series so badly as it could have been great.
"The more I learn, the less I know." - Bruce Campbell - The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. episode: Ned Zed
I can see this show taking place in the Star Trek universe. This would obviously be before World War 3 but leading up to it.
Yes!!!! Syfy channel pissed me off with so many launches in subsequent cancellations of shows I got really invested into. Amen! But also with sci-fi shows in general ...they just kept getting canceled after the first, maybe second season. And it always sucked to have them end on a cliffhanger.
Nice Stargate Atlantis Bluray
Same thing happened to "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
Would like Seaquest DSV The Motion Picture.
Lucas....Wesley Crusher done right
Any show from The NBC Thrillogy block that aired on Saturdays:
The Pretender
Profiler
Dark Skies
Sleepwalkers
The Others
Dark Skies!
Would like to see you do a video on Mantis and Early Edition.
Mark Hamill AND William Shatner. If Star Wars can break bread with Star Trek, anything is possible.
I think a reboot could work but it would have to have a good startup story line, something like the plans for Sea Quest were found and some kids of the 1 season case had nothing to do with the military and some how figure out how to build a new a sub or just something along those lines but it would take a good amount of money that I am sure the studio would not put up. But everyone that would like it to come back can still dream!!
This a show that needs rebooted or a movie. Season two of dsv was like season 3 of enterprise. Its what killed the show. But never the less best episode of season 2 was the crocodile one. Too bad it was left with the possibility of a sequel but never got it. Just like the end of season 3. So many unanswered questions and plots.
Season 1 is and always will be the best
They've done it before. With *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* instead of space being the mysterious frontier, the oceans become the mysterious frontier. In our universe, both space and seas are still mysterious frontiers.
I think the poor monster effects detracted from Voyage to the bottom of the sea.
I'd love to hear what you have to say about the Orville (a great show with a wave of seasons as well with it's wonky shooting schedules). The music reminds me very much of seaquest with a splash of TNG, which makes sense as John Debney worked on both.
SeaQuest DSV was amazing. But the numbers wasn't good enough and that's what caused the horribleness, that is season 2.
Season 3 picked up things but, it just never got as good as Season 1.
Season 2 had such an legendarily bad episode, that forced me to write my only IMDB review.
You could even see on every actor, that NO ONE liked that episode.
On a side note, in Subnautica, I named my Cyclops the SeaTigur DST, a pun on SeaQuest.
DST being Deep Submersible Tigur.
I think that, the best way to do a SeaQuest reboot, is to ignore Season 2 completely, start it up from after the events of Season 1 and just go from there, set it some 50 years later, make some of the events from Season 3 canon, and that they've finally finished building a new SeaQuest model, let's look at fan circle, let's for example look at the Atlantis DSV, pay for royalties or whatever it is for that, have regular SeaQuest ships also floating around but with different names like the UEO Barracuda or something. Have peace be tenius. Don't have aliens. Have oceanographers and actual scientists come and talk at the end of each episode again with real science facts. That's my few cents on it.
I used to love seaquest as a kid
I'm still upset because they cancelled _Dark Matter_ after three seasons.
Samaa mieltä!
I’m so mad at that
I heard the actor who played Bridger was displeased with the way the show went in season 2 and the whole aliens and space thing when the show was suppose to be centered on ocean oriented things or whatever you want to call it
Everyone was all over the place with that. Things from all the seasons worked. But they couldn't get that proper mix into one.
@@rangerreview1780 Roy Schinder apparently didn't want the show to go into a STAR TREK style of show (he was more interested in the ocean science and making it more an adventure series; he also took the role to work with Spielberg again), so when Season 2 went even further into "Aliens" territory, he was pissed beyond belief and wanted off the show (but had to finishing Season 2 for contract purposes). Schinder unfortunately was known for getting overall agitated at producers and directors. He apparently HATED doing JAWS 2, so he intentially took a role in a "terrible cop movie" just so he wouldn't be available for a JAWS 3.
As a kid seaquest was huge. They did treat it like jurassic Park hmm didn't know it was a Spielberg show but that makes sense...all the genetic engineering... one world ocean government etc...
Basically a reworking of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
It's amazing how difficult it is to do good sci-fi and to do it consistently.
Between fighting with the network and having a committee of writers, a series is pulled and stretched in so many different directions with usually no time to pull off execution effectively.
The first season was real solid but it went up against Lois and Clark the new adventures of Superman and at that point a comic book being on tv was just awesome
The talking dolphin and the underwater version of Wesley crusher didn’t help but I liked the first season I think by season 3 they had aliens or some such
In Australia we always got series, while not always the best, were fun but seemed like they were cancelled before we got them.
Remember Viper
i remember during marathons of the animated series and other series they showed clips for sea quest dsv. But i never remembered it actually airing. thought it was canceled without airing at all. i am shocked it was actually shown on tv!
Loved this show,specially the 1st and 3rd seasons!
If you think like that, just because a show got cancelled, you missed some good one season wonders.
one word: Firefly
I had the hugest crush on Jonathan Brandis 🥰🥰🥰 and my inner pre-teen died a little when I found out he had killed himself. 😔😔😔