Search - Starhunter 2300: The Complete Series on DVD

An Excellent And Overlooked Series

Patrick Taylor | Canada | 09/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This box set, Starhunter 2300, The Complete Series, is actually the second season of Starhunter. The original series, just called "Starhunter", starred Michael Pare, Claudette Roche, Tanya Allen, Stephen Marcus, and Murray Melvin. The series was cancelled and then returned 2 years later in this newer installment. Tanya Allen and Stephen Marcus were the only cast members to return for this second installment. This show, along with it's first season, is easily my favorite sci-fi series ever. The first season came out a couple of years before Joss Whedon's much acclaimed "Firefly", to which it is often compared. I get the impression that Mr. Whedon actually might have got some of his ideas from Stahunter's first season .This second season, "Starhunter 2300" however, is my favorite season of this show. Imagine a sci-fi series set in space where all the main characters are desperate and poor! There is no politically-correct 'prime directive'. There is no magical warp-drive or transporters or any quick and easy way to get to the stars. Humanity is still mostly confined to the Solar System. Hyperspace is still the stuff of theoretical physics, unreliable pseudoscience, and the obsession of a Mensa-like organization of elitists called "The Orchard". Earth is too polluted to live on, so most people live in dingey space colonies scattered throughout the solar system (the lucky ones live on Mars) The Solar System is impossible to police. The last thing resembling a police force rebelled and became the Raiders, scattered 'clans' who raid colonies, steal children (many of the original Raiders became sterile due to something like a futuristic Gulf War Syndrome) and run much of the prostitution and drug business in the solar system. The only solution to maintain any semblance of order? Bring violent criminals to justice by paying bounty-hunters to bring them in! There is so much poverty and desperation in the solar system that somebody is bound to be willing to do it. That is the role of our main characters and the basis of the concept for Starhunter. The cast is excellent all around. I could go on at length about each of the castmembers, but then this would turn into a 6-page review. Some of them may be familiar to you from other shows and feature films. Many interesting guest stars pop in through the season as well. This second season, "Starhunter 2300" features much-upgraded special effects, compared to the original Starhunter. Even the trip-hop theme music and the moody ambiente incidental music are a huge improvement. The series begins where the first season's cliffhanger ending left off, but don't worry if you didn't see the first season, the disorientation of not knowing what's going on put's you in a position to easily relate to the main characters and their situation. You have to find your way around, much as the characters themselves do.The year is 2300, 15 years after the time of the first season. Percy (Tanya Allen) finds herself alone on the Tulip, a delapidated old space-cruiseship that has been her home for most of her life. However, she finds that she has just come out of hyperspace and has somehow missed 15 years of time. She is now all alone on the ship she and her uncle Dante used to lease for the purpose of bounty-hunting. She has no relatives, no friends, and no income. She does, however have the Tulip and must now decide how she is going to survive. She is docked at Clarke Staion (in Jupiter-Fed) where she sets about trying to find a new crew. Things don't go too smoothly, though. In fact, they never go smoothly through the entire season. Debts, jealousy, untrustworthy friends, corrupt officials, mental instability, and ghosts from the past plague the entire crew. Controversial subjects are tackled in interesting ways in the seedy settings of a mostly lawless and often amoral society. It's a shame that the series itself was plagued by a severe lack of promotion and lack of interest on the part of some of it's powerful network investors. Sadly, on the verge of commencing a new season of shooting, the production was abruptly shut down, without any warning. If you like this series as much as I did, then you'll be wishing that it had been allowed to continue. I find myself watching this box-set end-to-end, again and again and I still can't find another series that I have enjoyed this much."

STARHUNTER nice package, dull series

S. Phillips | Las Vegas, NV United States | 10/18/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, don't bother complaining about Image releasing the second season, the first season shows were licensed by a different company (Platinum) and are already on the market on DVD. Amazon and many other outlets carry the first season DVD releases; do a search. Take note: the Platinum DVD volumes contain the uncut versions of the shows not aired on US TV, which contain some nudity and run a bit longer.

The second season is a lot more expensive, but it is a higher quality presentation. The real trouble here is that both seasons are pretty dull and cheaply produced.

Fans will likley buy them, others won't find anything worth more than a rental when everything else is checked out."

The StiffUpperLips make good sci-fi. Thanks blokes*

doppelganger | Chicago | 12/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I thought the only sci-fi that would ever come out of the British Empire would be a spoof-show riddled with toilet humor.

But I did enjoy this whole series. Especially towards the end, however as the other reviewer stated, production does lack a little, but the stories make up for it in spades (along with the SCRUMPTIOUS Tanya Allen, she is so friggin cute).

Basically it's like watching a slightly less interesting Firefly with British accents. If you like Crusade, Firefly, B5 etc. this is a good addition to that genre drawer (fellow DVD compulsives). Any sci-fi fan would appreciate these stories on some level.

"

Maybe not compelling, but pretty engaging atmospheric sci-fi

Andrew Kuzel | Rochester, NY United States | 04/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having caught a few episodes of both the original Starhunter and Starhunter 2300 on grainy low power UHF, I kind of knew what to expect; still, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this Starhunter 2300 set. The original season of Starhunter was strictly "B" level material; Starhunter 2300 is, just as others have pointed out, much much better. Its not top level, this is definitely not Farscape or B5, but it is a really solid production that has a flavor all its own.

I thought there were a few things that made this series work well. Its universe is interesting; its dark, gritty, and atmospheric, but not hopeless. The interplay if the various planetary federations and factions provides enough scope that the setting of the solar system (well, mostly the solar system) doesn't feel confining. The cast is quite likeable. The performances may be on the low key side, but I thought they fit the milieu pretty well, for the most part. Strangely enough, Percy Montana who may have been the best character in the original series, didn't come across too well for me - a little too catatonic and with a weird attraction to risky behavior. The rest of the crew is great: Caravaggio the dry acerbic AI, the lively optimistic Marcus, the somewhat questionable Rudolpho, and the controlled uber competent Travis. My favorite character, though, is Callie - tough as nails with a lot of depth and breadth. Not to mention that Dawn Stern is a flat out goddess. Finally, there's the ongoing subtext of hyperspace and the "Divinity Cluster". You really get the impression of impending breakthrough; that the human universe is on the verge of major changes - good and bad - and that the breakthrough has as much to do with genetic and emotional factors as with technology.

The episodes are consistently good for the most part. I thought there was one real clunker, one borderline clunker, and two or three mediocre efforts. These are more than balanced out by good or excellent episodes. I'd say 75% of the episodes fall into the latter category; at least half a dozen, as well as the finale, are taut and gripping - close to the level of the best TV sci-fi. I didn't think there were any glaring weaknesses with Starhunter 2300. Sure the dialogue is not up to Firefly standards, there are better FX, and maybe there could have been more "whoa" factor and less repetitiveness in the storylines. With a little improvement in these areas this show could have been special. I really got the impression that this was a first year type of series; one in which the universe was being defined, the characters were being established, and the foundations for the future were being set.

The DVD set is nicely put together; six DVDs in a streamlined book style box. The package contains the episodes only; absolutely no extras. The price is definitely right. Since the series was cancelled, you will be left hanging; I'd love to at least see a resolution to the two part finale, but I guess that's the lot of the sci-fi fan - you're left hanging as often as not. Its too bad that this show didn't get more traction, but at least this set is available. I actually had some withdrawal symptoms when I finished watching this; I think most sci-fi fans, casual to rabid, would enjoy this."