DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003

Cast: Jessica Alba, John Savage, Michael Weatherly, Richard Gunn, Valarie Rae Miller

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By Daniel Robert Epstein

I have this to say. I am an unbashed fan of the show Dark Angel. It’s not because that Jessica Alba is so easy on the eyes (that certainly doesn't hurt), but that the show is one of the best modern shows made in the “chasing” genre. The chasing genre consists of one hour dramas where the protagonist is either accused of something or has a special ability and is being chased. Usually the antagonist is one obsessed person from a powerful organization or that antagonist is obsessed with the person because their powerful secret organization created that person. Prime examples of this genre are The Fugitive, The Incredible Hulk, The A-Team and the ever classic The Immortal. Just like Dark Angel, these shows explained their premises in their credits every week.

Dark Angel was different in its genre because it not only did it have very classy production and cinematography but it was also co-created by the cinematic visionary behind the original Terminator and Titanic, James Cameron. You can see Cameron’s unique fingerprints all over the show. From the high shine bluish cinematography, to the excellent costumes and kickass soundtrack. One of the things that makes Dark Angel stand out is its own is the use of real music, not orchestral music or whatever is usually used to score television shows. On one random episode of Dark Angel there was music from Snoop Dog, Eminem and Gorillaz. Of course I wouldn’t expect any less from a show that boasts a theme song created by Chuck D of Public Enemy.

Unlike many “chasing” shows Dark Angel had a very wide premise that encompassed the entire planet. After an electromagnetic pulse blankets the entire knocking out of all of the planets electronics and powers now Earth has to rebuild society from the ground up. Adding to the insanity a rogue government agency called Manticore has been splicing animal genes with humans to create the perfect weapons. These young men and women have increased strength, speed and agility. One of Manticore’s experiments, an X5-452 [played by Jessica Alba] escapes and starts a new life for herself as Max Guevera bike messenger. She has a new life and a new friend, a lesbian named Original Cindy [played by Valarie Rae Miller]. But because Max has a very guilty conscience because of her escape from the evil Manticore she does good deeds under the cover of night. This eventually causes her to meet with up Logan Cale [played by Michael Weatherly] who is a crippled millionaire who broadcasts messages telling the truth about their government under the pseudonym Eyes Only. Together they are trying to battle the evil Colonel Donald Michael Lydecker [played by John Savage] who is obsessed with recapturing Max.

In the second season, Max has been recaptured by Manticore and they try to use her to breed more warriors. Eventually Max is able to escape from Manticore and destroy the building which is holding all the genetic anomalies. It is these escaped genetic anomalies which added new flavor to the second season by becoming a part of Max’s supporting cast. Joshua the dog with human genes who is unable to lave his hiding place because he looks more dog than human, Alec or X5-494 is another escapee who ends up living in Seattle near Max and finally Original Cindy discovers the truth about Max.

Like many hour long dramas the episodes are hit and miss. There is a great Halloween episode with a twist ending I didn’t catch. A great episode called "Gill Girl" which showcases some of the show’s amazing makeup effects by giving the series’ first fish/human hybrid. But what makes buying the second season DVD all worth it is the feature length season finale directed by James Cameron. Cameron wanted to show the world that he doesn’t need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to create an epic. But I think he flunked that test when he spent $15 million when it was originally budgeted at $5 million. But it doesn’t matter one iota because this series went out with a bang. All of Manticore’s experimentees team up to fight the army and it’s very intense. Since Cameron hasn’t come out with an action film since 1994’s True Lies many of us may have forgotten what an amazing vision he has. If every episode of Dark Angel could have been this action packed and this intense it would be kicking C.S.I.’s butt inside out.

Of the extras the real treat is the bloopers surprisingly enough. As we all know usually TV show bloopers stink. Anything hosted by Ed McMahon and Dick Clark can’t be good unless it was each other’s funerals. But Dark Angel usually has such a somber tone that just to see the major players crack up when they look at each other’s makeup is priceless. The three featurettes aren’t anything too special in fact it doesn’t seem like any of them were made especially for the DVDs but instead taken from Access Hollywood’s vaults. As for audio commentary it of course would have been a real treat to hear commentary from James Cameron but it won’t ever happen.

As I said this entire set is worth just see James Cameron in ass kicking mode. Like many genre shows Dark Angel will have a large following for a very long time. This final DVD set is where the show finally hits its stride. But at the same time it’s a bit depressing because Mutant X was on the air twice as long as a quality show like Dark Angel.

Click here for the "Dark Angel: The Complete Second Season" DVD page