Odyssey 5 (2002–2004) User Reviews

Not bad at all.

[pdavis68-1 · 8/10 · 14 May 2006]

I enjoyed Odyssey 5 a lot. It's not great sci-fi, but it's good. And while the premise isn't absolutely original, it has a lot of original aspects. The acting is pretty good and the stories were generally pretty well thought out (though there are a few that aren't excellent).

Showtime really needs to replace whoever keeps getting rid of their good sci-fi shows. They had Stargate and they dumped it. What were they thinking? In its 10th season, it will be the second longest running sci-fi series in history (after Dr. Who, which ran for 26 straight seasons).

I suspect that Odyssey 5 would have found it's groove by the second season, maybe the 3rd. The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation wasn't so good because the actors hadn't really found their groove yet. The Odyssey 5 actors had a much better head start in that aspect.

I'm really disappointed with Showtime for killing this and now that it's been 4 years, I suspect it won't come back at all, which is a shame. It would have been nice if the Sci-Fi Channel had picked it up and taken it over. They clearly know how to make good sci-fi and I think they could have done a lot with this one.

More Odyssey 5

[Leigh1566 · 9/10 · 15 September 2009]

I've only just watched this series after being told by my "elder" "less science fiction" fan friends not to, and I really think this series so deserves at least another season. Why start with the fantastic episode of seeing the earth explode and the idea of going back to prevent it from devastation, and end without answering it? OK I agree that there may have been moments during the season when you thought the story was off the point, and that the Odyssey 5's personal stories got in the way of what we wanted to see. And I agree that they certainly made a few continuity/paradoxical errors along the way, but as a whole I think it kept people wanting to know more. And certainly in the 20th episode (fossil), the revelation that the Cardrai are actually trying to use the "Bright Sky" project to beat the Centrients surely redeems the show. If only to see Tamara Craig Thomas again!! Come on Peter Weller and Manny Coto, you have a large following that wants more :) If I had the money I'd produce and direct it myself!! (Sorry if I spelt Cardrai and Centrients wrong, but they looked right to me) :)

Great show, fresh approach to the old sci-fi-drama series

[Barefooteagle · 9/10 · 23 August 2007]

This has become one of my favorite shows since its broadcast in Mexico City through open TV a few months from now.

I like this show because it has good science fiction stories, without being pretentious about it, like some other cult series that people took too seriously. This was just plain fun to watch.

It was so absorbing and entertaining, that I didn't know what the whole series was about until after 5 or 6 episodes (I always arrived home once the intro had passed), but I was hooked nonetheless by the interactions between the characters, the cool plots and the sense that I was missing something very interesting about the whole story.

When I found out, my interest just increased. It's a cool idea with interesting twists, intelligent content and a great cast.

I enjoy every episode as it has become a habit to get home around 9 pm to see what new adventures are these guys up to. So far, they had never disappointed me.

This show pull you in

[dianos · 24 January 2005]

Great acting, nice storyline the feel of Nowhereman... Whoever cancels these shows should be shot.

Instead lets keep the mainstream brainless shows with childish dialog and story lines that can amaze 7 year old (or those who have stopped developing at that age) Better yet lets only do "reality shows"...

Maybe at least now that the Reality Show craze is fading and people are craving something with substance to watch, maybe at least they will release a DVD.

If you're one of the people who want more then just cheap entertainment give this show a try even though it's already dead, it has something to say.

The smartest show on cable!

[hodges_ss · 10/10 · 12 September 2002]

Odyssey 5 is simply the smartest show on cable! In one commercial, the announcer says that it is the obvious heir to the X-Files. Well, in my opinion as a longtime X-Fan, Odyssey 5 is much better. Five times better, in fact! If I were not already a Showtime subscriber, I would be after catching a glimpse of this show. I can not stress enough what an awesome, entertaining, thought-provoking show this is. The setup: a shuttle crew of five orbiting the earth watch on as the planet is destroyed. They are then met by an alien who sends their minds back in time 5 years so that they can hopefully stop what is about to happen. During their research and efforts, they uncover a new life-form and somehow, somewhere, they have accidentally sped up the earth-destroying process! Catch the crew of Odyssey 5 as they struggle to save the earth and battle their own personal problems.

one of the best

[cinnabana · 10/10 · 7 May 2006]

one of the best sci-fi shows that got canceled by the idiots at Showtime. BRING IT BACK. it is now on DVD go out and buy it. It is great. I really don't understand why it was pulled off the air. This season alone there are worse shows on the air..Odyssey 5 was so good!! I loved each and every one of those episodes. What a shame! I just want the show to come back! I have only recently started re-watching the show now that it is on DVD. I was a fan 3 years ago when it was on Showtime. After it was first released I was very very surprised I couldn't stop watching. I like a lot of sci-fi shows but this one was different the story plot was fresh and original. A fantastic show. PLEASE BRING IT BACK.

One of the best shows I've seen

[xerow89 · 10/10 · 10 July 2020]

This review is from the year 2020. amazing show......just incredible, unfiltered and raw in the best way tv hasn't shown in a long time. way ahead of its time.

The Executives At Showtime Should Be Fired For Cowardice!

[liberalgems · 10/10 · 27 February 2007]

This is absolutely one of the best series I have ever seen in my 40+ years of watching television! It's obvious why the executives at Showtime panicked: The series was way too subversive for a politically conservative medium like cable t.v.! The political and philosophical statements Odyssey 5 were literally making in each episode were just too much for the spineless creatures that rule the cable airwaves!

My favorite genre is science fiction & fantasy. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly over the years. Nothing, except for Star Trek, Farscape and Babylon 5 comes close to the genius and passion of Odyssey 5! I can think of few television series where I cared so much for each main character, or the extensive range of emotions felt. The series was like theater! There's no other way to describe it!

Had those responsible at Showtime kept Corporate at bay, instead of canceling the series literally in mid-sentence, the eventual controversy Odyssey 5 might have generated would've been good for business!

The only drawback the series had was the importance of watching each episode in sequence. But with all the recording technology now available, this minor obstacle would not have been very difficult to overcome!

The loss to science fiction was incalculable by the obnoxious cancellation of this unique series. Perhaps, someone soon will have the courage to pick up the pieces and write a book, or make a movie, and finish the series with the same amount of passion and subversiveness as the creators of Odyssey 5 did! One can only hope!

Seemed interesting at first but it didn't hold me

[cherold · 6/10 · 20 June 2012]

I thought the pilot episode of this show was quite promising, and I there were some interesting ideas in the first episodes. But after that pilot, the show didn't spend much time on the story arc, going instead for self-contained stories with maybe a brief hint here and there that the story arc was happening.

The problem was I wasn't really that interested in those individual stories, and I found some of the characters annoying, especially the reporter who was pretty much of an idiot. I realized that while the main story arc was being ignored, I was instead being served a whole bunch of rather soap-operish character arcs, and I felt restless to get to the whole saving the earth thing.

Around episode 8 I was feeling very bored with the whole thing and decided to give up on the show, but when I looked at the episode guide on TV.com it appeared that the story arc came into play with episode 9. So I thought I'd go a little further

So I watched the next couple of episodes, and even kind of liked episode 9, but after feeling bored again with episode 10, I realized that it just wasn't going to happen. I wasn't connecting with the characters, the stories were middling, and there was too much bland soap opera.

I never hated Odyssey 5, or even disliked it, but ultimately it just didn't feel like it was worth my time.

Why do all the good shows get cancelled?

[siggyatstage · 10/10 · 3 December 2007]

This show had it all, a good cast connecting from the very first minute, a good unique storyline and good ratings. And it was cancelled. Just as Space above & beyond and Earth 2 to mention just 2. Shows that have been cancelled for the most weird reasons.

Odyssey 5 is simply the best mix of scifi you can get. It's funny as stargate but more serious. The actors do stuff you would expect you would do as well.

It's just a shame that it won't comeback and a pity that no other network had picked it up when it was cancelled. Now we will never know how the story will unfold.

Great premise, bogged down with side story

[ribbonoflight · 6/10 · 27 November 2012]

I rented this from the library and had never heard of it going into it. So I wasn't expecting it to be as explicit as it was. Other reviews have mentioned the swearing. The swearing is nothing compared to the sex. Warning to any parents out there - you'll be hit with a graphic sex scene thrown into the middle of the pilot without any warning. With not one but two naked women. But the explicit sex and gratuitous chest shots (which thankfully lessen as the series goes on) aren't the main problem here.

The main problem with this series is the badly written, awful subplot of the news anchor with the kid who died in the original reality. Rather than just sitting her husband down with the rest of the "5" to explain the issue, she goes behind his back and acts like a crazy person. This is painful TV you just want to shut off.

When they finally move on from that terrible subplot, they bring her back into focus with her romance with her boss. Why they waste so much time focusing on her personal drama in the series is beyond me - I really don't care!

On the plus side, I thought Peter Weller was amazing in this. And there are some really neat sci-fi concepts brought up, many before their time.

Definitely worth watching, even if the series ended on a cliffhanger that never got resolved.

Bring it back :)

[nrotic · 10/10 · 14 January 2007]

What happened to this series? Why did it die, great characters , great stories, I recently watched the 5 disc series with a friend of mine and I agree with the other comments. I liked the cast they all had their substories and their interactions, demons, etc.. I thought the casting agent did a great job joining these people that jelled so well on screen. Manny Coto is a name I will be looking for in future projects as the same for the writers on this series. Like it was coming together and the characters we were seeing more of them, I know with a show that gets these great reviews they should Bring it Back !!!! The fans are demanding it :) Even though I have seen the actors on several other shows looks like they were enjoying it as well.

Unfinished.

[melwyn · 5/10 · 12 July 2007]

I'm astounded at the number of people who describe this as the best scifi they've ever seen - if that's the case, then god help the whole genre.

I just finished watching the "complete" series on DVD. First the good points: the characters are well written, the dialogue is thankfully excellent (because it's a real let down in many shows), the cast are great, and a special mention to the incidental music. It's one of the best scores I've heard and I think Laura Karpman is a genius.

The bad points: it is not, as others might have you believe, highly original. In very general terms, the "aliens among us" type of story is one of the oldest of scifi themes, and has been around since the early 20th century. More specifically, the show takes a great deal from "The X Files": they've just changed the shadowy secret organisation within the Government to the shadowy secret organisation within NASA, changed "aliens" to "sentients" and Mulder and Scully to the Odyssey 5 crew.

But to describe it as a "complete" series is unfortunate. The DVD release may comprise all the episodes that were filmed, but it is far from the whole story. I watched it with an increasing sense of foreboding as it seemed there was an unhealthy emphasis on character development and "set piece" events that comprised entire episodes, at the expense of the main plot. Of course character development is a vital part, but it should never take first place ahead of the plot. Watching it, I felt as if the plot was moving at a snail's pace.

Had I known that it is basically not finished, I would not have bothered investing 15 hours of my life into watching it. There's no such thing as a "great story" that's only half written, and the really frustrating thing is that they could have wrapped it up in 18 episodes with sharper writing and editing.

If you like stories to have an actual ending, don't bother with this. It will only make you angry and disappointed.

Great show, wish we got more of it.

[shodanjon · 6 January 2003]

Showtime really hit a homerun with this show. It's smart, sexy and does insightful, thought provoking sci-fi that favorably compares with the first couple of X-Files season. There are supposed to be 20 episodes but only 14 have seen air time (to 1/03) and is appears that a second season won't be done. A real pity because this one is a gem. With this one going away, and Farscape no longer around, there is a shortage of intelligent science fiction on television. Watch what you can of this and just dream about what it could have been.

The best Sci Fi series ever made

[sqeaston9 · 10/10 · 4 February 2008]

How I despaired when when I learnt this had been cancelled. Not just a stupid decision, but criminal in my opinion.

The one and only season had more good Sci Fi concepts than many shows have over their entire run. The characters were excellent and didn't just shrug off personally devastating events, there'd be consequences for episodes to come. There were long running story arcs, like Heroes and the new Battlestar Galactica. This was the first of the recent run of 'adult orientated' Sci Fi. There was intrigue, tertiary characters weren't always what they appeared to be.

Some have been put off by the amount of swearing, but this just added to the realistic feel for me. Come on, which is worse, cuss words or deplorable violence? Interesting and original plots, or a bunch of military types running around 'alien' woods shooting posturing bad guys with automatic weapons? Since this is mostly set on contemporary Earth there's an X-Files feel, but Odyssey 5 is way better. X-Files is fantasy, Odyssey 5 true Science Fiction.

I doubt there'll ever be anything better within the genre in my lifetime. I can't recommend this highly enough to the intelligent viewer. Get the series on DVD, but be prepared for frustration and anger over the way it ends.

Manny Coto, I salute and thank you.

10/10

This was GREAT!!!

[MrCynister · 10/10 · 12 July 2007]

I had show-time, and I could not believe they canceled this show, this was the best Sci-fi show of it's time. and not many got to see it. I was so PO'ed that from all my looking into, they canceled this show because show-time wanted to go in a different direction, the show had good ratings. I was/am PO'ed till this day.....watch all the Episodes if you can, each and everyone is at worst very good. Such a waste, such a freaking waste. This probably should have been on HBO or Scifi, because it would have had a lot more viewers. I remember writing show-time some nasty letters, but they fell on deaf ears, they came up with shows like Weeds, which is a hit but I cannot stand...go figure. this show was easily a Battlestar Galactica equal...no if ands or buts.

"All of the good ones are taken"...

[knutt · 10/10 · 10 August 2007]

... to quote an old Ian Hunter tune. When I saw this one on sale at my favorite DVD shop, I did some research and found it to be a) canceled and b) rated to be a top of the tops show, so I found out I'd take a chance and added it to my collection.

The series hit me like a ton of bricks. For one, they actually had RUDE comments to each other and they dared using f-words! This made the dialog fresh, real and very funny. Dialog, generally, in the show is (well, was) intelligent.

The actors is a chapter by itself. All of them do a marvelous job, but I'd like to emphasize that Peter Weller is PERFECT as Chuck Taggart.

One other thing about the show that I like is the fact that the episodes are interconnected in such a way that they tell a story, and not like, say, Star Trek Enterprise, where every episode is yet another travel in any arbitrary direction and you can see the episode totally as a standalone. O5 is more like the later seasons of Stargate SG-1: You'd better pay attention or you will miss something.

Some guy or committee at Showtime found out that "No, we don't want this", so it got canceled after season 1 finished. Too bad and actually for GOOD sci-fi, a disaster. Odyssey 5 was probably THE best series in this category, and they canceled it. I can only suggest that people reading this that love the show, go over to Manny Coto's fan site (address on his IMDb profile) and register their opinions in the forum, so that Mr. Coto HOPEFULLY does what he say he want to do: Continue or start over.

Don't bother to start watching

[alientechy · 10/10 · 21 July 2010]

Although elements have been used in other shows, this has a lot of unique elements to make it stand out. Some of the acting is pretty intense as well. They could have cut off the nudity without any loss as well and made it for general audience. It does take a while to get into the show since it starts off fast and then slows down drastically due to character development and then starts moving faster and then there is no more and leaves you hanging hence don't bother start watching. It would be like watching 2001 space odysey and then having to wait 20 years to figure out what it meant but here that wont happen.

I think the character development put off too many people and the rating drop off. But this show would be a lot more interesting than some others like voyager or earth final conflict etc.. IF only there were a few seasons and some completion like farscape.

What is going on?

[mjarvis0 · 9/10 · 27 December 2006]

I am nearing the end of watching Odyssey 5 on DVD and I am getting angrier and angrier!!Why? because as I approach the end of the DVD's I am aghast that this is yet another excellent sci-fi series that had been cancelled prematurely. Okay the idea is not new, you could call Odyssey 5 the thinking mans back to the future. And the beings that look like humans are not new either but the stories are original and we are faced with the human dilemma of knowing that something is going to happen and whether you should go along with it or change it thus altering the time line. And there are lots of human reasons why the time line is altered. Odyssey 5 is heavy while another excellent show cancelled before its time (Firefly) is light. Having said this both of these shows could exist together and both were worth and least three series at the very least. I can only assume that because Star Trek had finished the powers at be decided that the public had run out of love with the sci-fi genre. Absolute rubbish, the latest Star Trek failed because they went back in time when they should have gone forward. Please how can you have the first Enterprise looking more technological than the Captain Kirk Enterprise? Anyway back to Odyssey 5, this is a good thinking man sci-fi that does not rely on funky looking aliens that just happen to speak perfect English. Odyssey 5 has good story lines a good acting cast and should have run and run and run. I managed to get the whole series on DVD at a price that equates to 76 pence per episode and after watching 17 of the 21 episodes, this is a mega bargain!!!!. Furthermore I will be writing to Sony television expressing my disgust that such an excellent show was cancelled. I have one last thing to add, BRING ODYSSEY 5 BACK!!!!!!

The movie is great, producers are a little stupid.

[XaviorSwan · 10/10 · 8 February 2007]

This series had so many things going good for the show. I don't know why they just shut down like this with no explanation at the end. Then they have the audacity to release it on DVD to make money. Finnish the first series at least. I mean come on! I guess money is all they want. Whats funny is when a show like this comes on and it actually...could have the slightest hint of truth to it, some holy man has a cow and they pull this off the air. Guys. Pray to God, Allah , Budda and the 4 winds that this comes back. This is just a movie guys. I am sure we can put down our religious defiances right? I really hope this was not a break down in money problems or any thing of the sorts. I even found this movie to be allot better then House MD.

Average

[gingeriffic · 5/10 · 5 June 2007]

Not bad, but I don't understand the love from the other commenters. It was an interesting story, and I enjoyed Sebastian Roche. Peter Weller's performance really grated on me. I have actually known a few astronauts and believe me, they don't act like that! That cowboy nonsense is long gone.

Worst for me was that the writers resorted to liberal use of vulgar words as a substitute for, oh, I don't know, actual dialog. I don't mind an occasional curse word, being an occasional user myself, but when whole conversations consist of:

"S**t" "F**k, f**k"

You know something is missing!

GROUNDBREAKING Sci-Fi !

[s8-10 · 24 September 2002]

This show has everything! Aliens, time travel, sentient computers, altered timelines, brainwashed masses, etc! They cram so much suspense and conspiracy into each action packed episode that it makes X-files look like a slow moving soap opera. The way they name the sentients after other TV show characters like Jimbo Jones and Harry Mudd is so cool! This show keeps me on the edge of my seat with my mouth hanging open every week and I cannot say enough good things about it. If you like anything that has to do with sci-fi and you need an excuse to get showtime this is it!

Leaves you wanting more

[xxxxxx68 · 8/10 · 14 April 2016]

Saw this on the CRACKLE app. Fun show. Addictive. Main characters were captivating. I Wasn't a Peter Weller fan until now. Robocop didn't do it for me at all. His role can be just a hair over the line at times with the cigar but overall the entire cast was getting it done very well. Loved the intro. It was a bit heavy on the repetition of certain musical overlays. A few episodes had heavy nudity and mind blowing adult situations (not complaining). The storyline could be viewed as one-sided and shallow. Weller's on screen son had a weird relationship with his girlfriend. Some of the characters were underutilized and one was killed off with an awkward transition. There was lots of potential for gadgets considering but not created. A made for TV movie would have been nice. Other series to consider: Last Resort, Powers and Chosen:the box

2021........a great show!

[obenhuberr · 10/10 · 6 August 2021]

Ok gonna be brief cause i am on the last ep...SO Peter Weller and a great cast! Made for adults THANK GOD!!! A many layered cake. A delicious amount of character building as well as world building. I wish TV as well as Film these days had this quality. (one of the other reviewers mentioned "too many side stories" and my thought was "what an idiot!!". Which is why it is hard to find quality Film or TV...the audience does not notice or care.) OK gotta go watch the last ep.

Oh well...bob's yer uncle.

Pretty good show. How do you save your world?

[CreeCart · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

I think this show was about the judgement day. I think the Odyssey 5 exploded, not the earth. And now the 5 are told that they are being sent back 5 years into the past in order to save their world. If we, knowing the future, were given the chance to go back in time in order to make changes . . . would we still make the same or similar choices? If we have learned anything from our(own personal)past, our choices would probably be very different. From the moment we are conceived every smallest moment builds on the next moment and the next through childhood, through puberty. What we experience in these moments make up our personalities and our beliefs(what is right, what is wrong, what is truth, what is false). What we learn from what we are taught and from what we see and hear can easily influence what we love or hate and whether we show hate or show love for our fellow human being.