The Program

I was never a regular watcher of Party of Five when it first aired on FOX television from 1994 to 2000. I may have followed it for a season or two, at most, and gradually became a sporadic viewer at best. Not that it was a bad show, mind you. It was one of those situations in which you miss a few episodes here, a few episodes there, and suddenly you're miles behind each and every one of the show's subplots.

A shame, really, because Party of Five was a pretty good show. The series dealt with the trials and tribulations of the Salinger siblings: Charlie (Matthew Fox), at 24, the eldest of the clan, Bailey (Scott Wolf), the jock, Julia (Neve Campbell), the beautiful if unsure of herself highscooler, Claudia (Lacey Chabert), the adorably precocious and artistically gifted youngster, and the baby Owen (various infants), who generally burps and poops a lot. As the series started, the five had just begun coming to grips with the autombile-accident deaths of their parents, who had been thevictims of a drunk driver. The group not only had to deal with the loss of their parents, but with the reality of life on their own. Charlie was thrust into the role of de facto parent and guardian, responsible for the livelihood of four minors. He develops a relationship with Owen's nanny (Paula Devicq), an event that is ripe with joy and frustration, a theme that runs rampant throughout the series.

It's really interesting to remember that when Party of Five first hit the airwaves, it was not an immediate success. At the time, FOX was flying high with such cheesy, smarmy, skin-laden and lightweight primetime soap-operas as Beverly Hills: 90210 and Melrose Place, and the relatively straight-laced Party of Five was definitely not cut from the same cloth. Series creators Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman, who had both worked as producers on the NBC drama Sisters, developed a show with more dramatic weight, portraying the existence of five siblings suddenly forced to live on their own with equal parts laughter and heartache. Although the cast is impeccably attractive, the characters felt like people (albeit rather pithy ones) rather than caricatures. Party of Five featured teens and young adults, but never felt like a "teens and young adults" show. The show won critical raves but not immediate popular success. Its cult status was elevated after it won a Golden Globe award for Best Television Drama, and the series at long last became a ratings success. It certainly raised the awareness factor of Neve Campbell, who would go on to find success in the Scream films and the camp classic Wild Things.

The following twenty-two episodes are included in this 5-DVD set:

Disc One

1. Pilot - Five children orphaned by their parents' fatal auto accident seek to make their way in San Francisco.
2. Homework - Bailey develops a crush on Kirsten; Julia strives to be popular; Claudia searchers for the Salingers' long-lost grandfather.
3. Good Sports - Bailey's loyalty to his football teammates places him in jeopardy; Julia's generosity to some popular new friends causes problems for her siblings.
4. Worth Waiting For - Julia is tempted by sex; Kirsten gives Charlie another chance; Bailey falls in love.
5. All's Fair - An old girlfriend tempts Charlie; Claudia and Julia both lie to get what they want.

Disc Two

1. Fathers and Sons - Bailey tries to impress Kate's father; Charlie balks at the constant comparisons with his own Dad.
2. Much Ado About Nothing - Charlie's infidelity jeopardizes his relationship with Kirsten; Bailey's preoccupation with Kate angers Claudia.
3. Kiss Me, Kate - Bailey and Kate disagree over sex, Charlie sets out to impress a potential employer, Claudia's success goes to her head, and Julia struggles in school.
4. Something Out of Nothing - The arrival of an old family friend disrupts the Salinger household.
5. Thanksgiving - The release of the drunk driver who killed their parents divides the family.

Disc Three

1. Private Lives - Keeping too many secrets from each other threatens the Salingers' future together.
2. Games People Play - Bailey learns a secret about Kate; Julia and Claudia each try keeping secrets from prospective boyfriends; a personal crisis prompts Kirsten to turn to Charlie.
3. Grown-Ups - As Claudia and Julia each face the challenges of growing up, Charlie proposes to Kirsten, while Bailey finds himself in a relationship based solely on sex.
4. Not Fade Away - Sparks fly when Charlie moves Kirsten in without consulting his siblings; Julia uncovers evidence that their mother may have had an affair.
5. It's Not Easy Being Green - The Salingers each face problems with their friends and lovers.

Disc Four

1. Aftershocks - As aftershocks rock their home, Bailey discovers Jill is using drugs, Charlie regrets accepting a loan from Kirsten, and Julia comes between Libby and her boyfriend.
2. In Loco Parentis - Bailey and Claudia each struggle to help friends in need, while Julia falls in love with an old friend.
3. Who Cares? - On the eve of Claudia's birthday, Bailey heads to Los Angeles to find Jill.
4. Brother's Keeper - The family is thrown into turmoil when Charlie is offered a job in Seattle.
5. The Trouble With Charlie - As Charlie tries getting some time for himself, the pressures of being the head of the household mount.

Disc Five

1. All-Nighters - Just as Charlie finds a new apartment, he's needed more than ever at home.
2. The Ides of March - Bailey is shocked by SPOILER: highlight Jill's death; Ross's homosexuality threatens his adoption of a little girl.

The DVD

Video:

Party of Five: The Complete First Season is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The transfer is pretty problematic. The overall image suffers from excessive compression noise and shimmering, the result of cramming upwards of five episodes per disc. There is some softness and lack of image detail, noticeable edge-enhancement, and a stable if rather muted color scheme. Contrast levels are adequate are deep blacks are moderately impressive. Overall, the image is mostly acceptable but disappointing.

Audio: