THE NEW SEASON ROSWELL
Science fiction combines with teen angst in the WB's eagerly anticipated Roswell. by
Grant Kempster.
DAWSON'S CREEK, takes off it's hat and extends a friendly
hand as it meets The X-Files in the WB's newest teen genre series originally entitled
Roswell High. It's a curious mixture that executive producer Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek:
The Next Generation) and director David Nutter (The X-Files) have concocted, because not
only does it manage to relay a story about three orphaned alien teenagers sensibly but at
the same time it creates a compelling teen drama with a twist of humor that doesn't cross
the tongue-in-cheek line. In modern day Roswell, Liz (Shiri Appleby) works as a waitress
with her best girlfriend Maria in one of these cheesy cash-in diners - you know, her apron
is in the shape of a grey alien head etc - when all of a sudden a fight breaks out and she
is shot. Enter Max (Jason Behr from, well, Dawson's Creek) who sprints over and saves her
life by laying on hands, in turn risking the chance of not just his secret being
discovered, but also that of his co-alien pals Isabelle and Michael. The first season,
which airs after, erm Dawson's Creek on Wednesdays, will begin in the Fall and is sure to
prosper in the wake of the latest popular trend of teen angst shows. There are many
different directions that the series can follow too, such as the ongoing but impossible
relationship between its two leads Liz and Max.
Then there is the fantasy element to explore as the town
Sheriff (William Sadler) is on their case and determined to reveal their real identities
while also linking them to the death of a man in the 1950s. Which adds yet another thread,
that it is possible that there was another survivor from the crash, but that he may well
be a killer. The show's cast also boasts young actor Colin Hanks, yes I said Hanks - who
I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn is the top box office draw Tom Hanks' son. At
present Colin's role as Alex, the rather soppy friend of both Liz and Maria, is a
background role but there will no doubt be some development for the budding thesp. All in
all, Roswell is set for greatness, combining the soft-rock music laden teen drama elements
of - just one last time - Dawson's Creek, with the wise-ass quipping genre element of
Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Surely it can't lose!
