Alien Nation - The Complete Series

SUBTITLE: W H Y....N O T...B R I N G....I T....B A C K ?????As I feel so strongly about how good this series is/was, I hesitated to write this review before -- I have SO much to say about it, it seemed hard to condense all that I felt in the length of a typical Amazon review. However, I have just had a "y/zilas/Cha" (the Tenctonese word for "epiphany")....so I think I can condense my ideas enough here for a standard-size reviw....and include my not-so-standard-size admiration for this wonderful TV series. (Or is it not-so-standard-size? Everyone else who has had the privilege of seeing it during it's all-too-short (first?) season, must feel the same enormous admiration for the series as I have.....)Why was/it it so good? The premise is incrediblly personal to just about anyone on this planet! I mean -- were you ever put down by anyone as a child -- or an adult? Did you ever find the childhood "duty" of living with demanding parents, and/or visiting relatives, (and being nice to them!), somewhat more of a chore than should have been expected? Did you ever meet with a class bully? A dictatorial teacher....or doctor? Or maybe just loving parents who never took you seriously as a kid? Later on, did you ever meet with "the boss from hell", and or co-workers that you hated? Do you have immigrants who tried to make it in a new country, somewhere in your ancestry? Well, if you've ever had any of these experiences...or others, more horrendous than my sometimes too- vivid imagination can state here....you will be more than entranced and feel a kinship with, the Tenctonese ex-slaves who are 1/2 of the protaganist characters of this series. As the story goes, their slave-ship, (including Overseers), crash-landed in the Mojave Desert in California, in 1988. As th4e story opens it is 1989 -- and all the aliens, (whether former slave or former Overseer), must now find ways to live and survive in modern-day LA.George Francisco, (ERIC PIERPOINT), has risen in the police ranks to become the first Tenctonese police detective. He is a proud man, but gives due, (and sometimes -- especially at the series' beginning --undue) deference to his Human partner, Matt Sikes, (GARY GRAHAM), who obviously has been on Earth, and on the police force longer than he, George, has been on it. Howevever, even undue deference has its limits....and as the series progresses, Matt is sometimes proved wrong, where George's instincts are proved right, and Matt, sometimes grudgingly, does acknowledge this. However, though Matt & George sometimes look at a crime from different angles -- they are both on the side of justice and equality....even though it sometimes SEEMS they are 180 degrees apart.....It would be easy to go into a long character description of all the wonderful characters on this program....but suffice it to say that each part is written, acted, and directed in a three-dimensional fashion. One BELIEVES the reality of the fictionalized situation as it happens -- the stories are exciting, fast-moving, poignant, hilarious, touching.....and always, (after much realistic danger), have happy endings!The aim of the series is/was, obviously, understanding between fictionalized Humans and Tenctonese -- and, in the real world, to get us to try to be more understanding of our fellow "different" Human Beings -- of whatever race, creed, or color. No -- this series did NOT want us all to start eating the strange alien foods...such as grasshopper mole, sour milk, newspaper, and pigs knuckles. But it wanted us to RESPECT the customs of others -- just as we would hope they would respect ours.I have known "evangelical" vegetarians, people who would not drink, (even coffee), for religious reasons, those who disapprove of inter-racial or inter-religious dating, some who think driving in any car is a sign of laziness, people who's favourite TV is WorldWide Wrestling, some who like opera, some who think that a 975 square-foot apartment is too big for two people. Etc. A.N.'s premise, however, is that, though everyone is enttitled to her/his opinion, they should allow others to live their own lives as THEY see fit, and not criticize. What is most important in life is to RESPECT other's ways of living, even if you wouldn't ever do those things yourself. Or -- as was said years ago on Professor JAMES SHENTON's TV series on American history: "My right to swing my arm ends where your nose begins." Live and let live. Respect others ways. Give everyone a chance to make it! I mean -- isn't that what the American Dream is supposed to be all about?The music on this show is excellent. The sets are just right. The pace of the series, the writing and the actors' delivery of it, perfect. The stories are memorable.....and in many cases, unforgettable.EVERYTHING was right with this series. (If you're still not sure, get it from the library first....THEN buy it on Amazon!)Why did the show that reflected everyone's problems, and strove so mightily to solve them, end? Your guess is as good as mine....but I really do think the powers that be should give this show another chance. The world has changed a great deal since 1989. But we still need ALIEN NATION....maybe now more than ever. Bringing it back would make so many people happy....and, perhaps, help to make people understand each other, more, as well.I know I'm not the only one waiting for this wonderful show's return! Buy a set of this series -- and see why!

Present for grandma are a big fan of the show even though it was short lived

Great quality authentic DVDS, Came in good condition works great in BD/DVD player. Recommended for any fan of the show to enjoy.

This DVD set contains the complete only season of the TV series, Alien Nation. The video and audio quality is good - certainly equal to watching the series on TV. The "extras" are quite brief - nothing to rave about - but were OK.The plot is that five years before the time during which the episodes are set - the late 90's - an alien slave ship had a forced landing near Los Angeles. The ship contained around 250,000 aliens - slaves who were bred to be very adaptable. They look very much human with the exception of all being bald with patterns of large spots on their head where hair would be on a human as well as patterns of spots down their center back to the small of the back. They are about 30% stronger than normal humans and more intelligent. They learn very quickly. Humans and aliens are sexually compatible recreationally, but it is unclear if a human and alien could produce a viable offspring. After a period of quarantine, the aliens were assimilated into the culture of Los Angles. The series starts after the 5-year assimilation period and the plot primarily follows the life of one of the aliens who became a LA detective and his human partner, as well as the family of the alien detective. There are, however, other sub-main-character aliens, most of whom have regular interaction with the two detectives, including a female alien for whom the human detective starts to have romantic feelings. The aliens seem to be in approximately the same cultural situation as African Americans in the late 50's and early 60's - fighting prejudice and discrimination.I found the series to be fun. It is well acted and the situations are quite believable for the most part. It moves right along and doesn't get bogged down with philosophizing but there is plenty of character development. Most of the aliens are quite likeable and I was empathetic to them and their situation. The interaction between the alien and human detective is fun. The growing romantic feelings between the human detective and the alien woman are well done. The series ended with a bit of a cliffhanger and I, for one, wish there were more than just that first season.I do recommend the series.

I watched this series as a kid. Some things only get better over time. It was good then and even better now that I comprehend the storylines a little better. It's a show that has charm, drama, comedy, and teaches tolerance to aliens. It was disappointing when it just ended all of a sudden, and especially at a gut twister. Kenneth Johnson always had good hearted television shows. I had forgotten about it all these years and then suddenly I checked Amazon to see if they might have it and sure enough, it was on Amazon, so I gave myself a treat and purchased it