Wildfire – Season One

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: C

 

 

In yet another shockingly lightweight, lame series that would have been cancelled immediately in the face of the likes of Family in the 1970s, Wildfire focuses a young lady with personal problems who might find a better life if she is involved with horses and a connection to nature.  Genevieve Cortese is that young lady, Kris Furillo, who works on the family ranch of the Ritters, who have enough problems of their own.

 

Dennis Weaver is actually the patriarch, but because this is so youth oriented to the point of the younger cast looking like animated mannequins, he can only spout wisdom and has no real power.  Considering how dysfunctional the rest of the family is, that lack of influence is about 90% of their problem, but then just about everyone the age of Kris or older things they know it all and the show is so melodramatic as to put one to sleep.  This seems aimed at very young ladies (or maybe gay males), which explains Weaver’s further second-banana status.  The entire Season One is contained on four discs and except for that extremely narrow demographic, you are better off watching McCloud or Duel.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 x 1 image is soft and has muted colors typical of most current digital High Definition productions, including boring camera work and a look that tries to have it both ways, be naturalistic and yet have a plastic look that makes it look groomed for mall-safe presentation.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo surprisingly has no real surrounds, which is odd considering it is a brand new production, but is typical of how this show constantly settles for second best and is just slumming throughout.  Extras include some deleted scenes that do not add to much, a few audio commentary tracks on select shows and two featurettes.  One is on the ranch, the other on the horses who often upstage the actors because they do not have to speak the dialogue.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo