SeaQuest DSV / My Favorite SCI-FI Shows / Overview: SCI-FI TV Shows in Alphabetical Order

Seaquest DSV, star trek, star wars, sci-fi, alternative universe, space, spaceships, time-travel, stargate

Last Rewatch: 2023/09/24 - 2024/08/09

Plot (IMDb): By the mid-21st Century, humankind has colonized the oceans and formed the UEO--the United Earth Oceans--as a military organization to police it. Formerly a high-ranking member of the UEO, Nathan Bridger retired after the death of his wife, and retreated to an isolated island to study dolphins. An attempt is made to hijack the Seaquest DSV, the UEO's most powerful undersea vessel, and Nathan--its original designer--is convinced to return to active service, to assume command of it. His second in command is Cmdr. Jonathan Ford. In second season, the DSV added Dagwood, a prototype GELF (Genetically Engineered Life Form), Tony Piccolo, a man with surgically implanted gills, and Dr. Wendy Smith, a telepath/empath, to its crew of specialists. The series has New Age leanings, often presenting stories that deal with environmental issues or mix myth and mysticism--from ghosts to "gods"--into its science fiction.

SeaQuest DSV, which for season 3 was renamed to SeaQuest 2032, premiered in 1993 on September 12, 1993 and the last episode aired on June 9th, 1996. Steven Spielberg served as one of the show's executive producers during the first two seasons. In my opinion, SeaQuest was answer to Star Trek: The Next Generation, not exploration in space but in the vast oceans of our own planet. Although this TV show is among my favorites, I of course also realize that this was not always the best show. But the "best" and being "your favorite" are not always the same thing.

SeaQuest struck a positive nerve in me, I cannot explain it but for some reason I was very fond of this show. Especially the first season, which I believe is its best. In my country in the mid 90's the first season aired, but if I remember correctly, the following seasons never aired in the 90s. I was able to watch the following seasons no earlier than 2008! I purchased SeaQuest on DVD, the region 1 release, and watched the second season for the first time in 2008. Season 2 did not impress me as much as the first season did. The third season was not released at that time, that took a long while longer! I watched the 3rd season for the first time in 2013! I kid you not! I thought the 3rd season was better than the second. I believe at that time season 3 only was released on DVD in Australia in 2011. Unfortunately it was without English subs.

At first SeaQuest had decent ratings but it was marked with disputes between the cast, NBC and the producers. This continued througout the second season. Also in its second season SeaQuest was often preempted by sports events and other TV specials. Several of the show's producers, including Carleton Eastlake, believe these preemptions led to the show's cancellation.

Few years back SeaQuest DSV was released on Blu-ray in Germany and also in Australia! This to me was quite a surprise, a show with 3 seasons, which is not really popular with mainstream audience. Of course I purchased the Blu-ray sets and they look great! The underwater scenes are upscaled, but the live scenes are HD and look great! The Germans sets also have English subs on seasons 1 and 2, unfortunately not on season 3.

So for me, season 1 clearly is the best season, the third season with Michael Ironside as the new captain, I also find very entertaining, more so than the second season.