An enormously ambitious television series from executive producer Steven Spielberg and series creator Rockne S. O'Bannon (Farscape, Alien Nation), seaQuest DSV made a valiant attempt to present a thoughtful and socially conscious science-fiction series on par with Star Trek to a '90s audience (which had already latched onto Star Trek: The Next Generation), but struggled with mediocre scripts and special effects for most of its three seasons (1993-96). The first season, however, embodies much of the ambition and scope its producers envisioned, starting with the two-hour television movie to introduces retired officer Cmdr. Nathan Bridger (a grim-faced Roy Scheider) to the crew of the underwater vessel seaQuest DSV. The pilot feature is well helmed by Scheider, and offers an agreeable mix of fiction and fact (oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard served as technical advisor for the series), as well as considerable action and excitement for an expensive network series. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the cast (which included Stephanie Beacham as the ship's fetching doctor and the late Jonathan Brandis as a teen science whiz), the show's momentum faltered under the weight of corny embellishments such as its talking dolphin, Darwin (a genetically engineered human with gills would join the fray in the show's second season) and episodes like "Knight of Shadows," which offered a hoary possession storyline, or "Photon Bullet," which hinges on underwater computer hackers. The series would alternate between intriguing stories (like the suspenseful "Games") and ill-advised ones for much of its remaining seasons, which also saw cast changes (most notably, the departure of Scheider) in an attempt to revive audiences' flagging interest. All 23 episodes of the first season are included on this four-disc set, as well as a decent selection of deleted scenes from nine episodes, including the pilot. --Paul Gaita

This series and it's star the 1000 foot long semi organic Super submarine Seaquest was way ahead of it's time during the mid 1990's. The sub was commanded by Captain Nathan Bridger played by Roy Schneider better know for big action movies. The series was set far into the near future of 2018 where mankind had set up whole colonies under the sea. And the UEO Seaquest was set to patrol and help the undersea world from pirates and other nasties. Bridger with his crew set about trying to stop eco disasters with the sub, so much so that Bridger uses Seaquest to stop an undersea volcano at the end of the series thus destroying it. There was also the curious use of a talking Dolphin named 'Darwin' which for me was ridiculous and spoilt the series. I realise that the real Dolphins are inteligent but to have a voiced over one speaking like a dalek is just too much !. All in all this was still a good series but by the end of the second series was looking tired. It's nice to see this on Dvd at last with series 2 coming soon this year , i hope the re-vamped series 3 sees Dvd as well.

Seaquest DSV is a fantastic science fiction adventure series based in the near future. Each episode follows a state of the art submarine (Seaquest) and her crew on various exciting adventures ranging from stopping pirate subs, preventing ecological disasters and maintaining peace in the world's oceans. The cast which among others comprise of Roy Scheider, and Don Franklin keep you entertained with sound realistic acting (not to forget my personal favourite cast member Darwin the talking dolphin.) This first season is more than likely the best out of the three produced and we've had to wait a long time for Seaquest to be released on DVD (hopefully we would have to wait quite as long for the remaining seasons.) I think that the best episodes in Season one were `To Be Or Not To Be,' and `Better Than Martians,' but to tell you the truth there's not much between them as all 21 episodes are just great and were a joy to watch. Every now and again an event happens in your life, an event that changes it for the better, Sea Quest DSV is such an event. When I was a child, I instantly fell in love with Seaquest. As did my father (who had been suffering from a long term illness.) The Saturday afternoon program became the highlight of his week and some for him to look forward to (I would even go as far to say that it aided his recovery.) Some deleted scenes are included as special features which were worth a worth, and considering the price we are getting a bargain.

I remember when i was young watching this show on saturday tea time as you know this was describe at the time as star trek underwater similar in some ways it has a great cast of characters some who would not return when season 2 started headed by Roy (Jaws) Scheider as Captain Nathan Bridger. The adventures would get better & better as time went on we would see storys based on stuff like the legend of atlantis & progressing military technology also Stephanie Beachem played the character of the doctor & Don Franklin who would go on to be in the time travel series seven days played executive officer Jonathan ford

All in all a great show & a must have for anyone who wants to remember those saturday tea time in the early 90's

SeaQuest was great, taking up the challenge of painting a picture of life in the near future and taking us into the oceans instead of the easy-to-write-for far reaches of space.

The future-technology they had was on the borders of being believable, and with the teenage genius, the talking dolphin, comical supplies officer to add some laughs, and Roy Scheider as captain... fantastic! Plotlines range from preventing ecological disasters, hunting renegade subs, unraveling mysteries of ghost-ships, discovering treasures from the deep (from the Great Library of Alexandria to an alien craft buried in bedrock strata millions of years ago). This first series was the best of the three, second series started getting a bit far fetched (and they lost Stephanie Beecham who is great), the third was effectively taking a fresh start.

It's taken too long for Universal to release this series on DVD, but at least you can get the whole series at a great price. Buy it!

It could have been good. It should have been good. All the elements were in place, the production values were decent, the cast were capable. But ultimately, with it's admirable commitment to faux-science (rather than science-fiction, if there is even a distinction), it suffered from a lack of commitment to decent drama. For all the things it should have been, in the end it was just a bit dull and disappointing.