"Everything is a mess!" says Kris Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) late in the 3rd season of "Wildfire". Kris is expressing her frustration over yet another low point in the roller-coaster ride that is life in the world of "Raintree Farm"; a horse ranch somewhere in California (but filmed in New Mexico). Everything is always a mess for the two families who inhabit this world of soapy overwrought melodrama, occasionally interrupted by a welcome horse race or rodeo. Like "Weeds" and "Breaking Bad", the world of "Wildfire" is one step forward and two steps back; as the writers desperately try to pump life into the series but subjecting the characters to a new adversity each episode. I'm sure everyone's life would be better if the producers had come up with the cash to use the Michael Murphy song with the title sequence.
"Wildfire" ran for 51 hour-long episodes (2005-08) on the ABC Family Channel, and these seasons are now available on DVD. Dennis Weaver fans know of the series because it was his last television work. He appeared as a regular during the first season. Coincidentally his last appearance on this show was broadcast 50 years after the broadcast of his first appearance on "Gunsmoke".
"Wildfire" is a demographically specific series; an attempt to blend "The Saddle Club" and "The O.C."; with the addition of a J.R. Ewing character as the only thing that might pass for deliberate comic relief. So if you liked any of these shows you should probably check out it out. However, if you liked "Saddle Club" mostly for its friendship and character growth themes, you would be wise to give "Wildfire" a wide berth. The characters in "Wildfire" don't grow, they are too busy being in competition with each other and they become shallower and more tedious with each passing season.
The series centers around four teenagers (played by actors old enough for their 10th high school reunions) and their two families, the financially insecure Ritter family and the rich Davis family. Kris is ostensibly a Ritter, at least she lives on their ranch and is constantly being told that she is a member of the family. Cortese is a rather limited actress but she has a natural likability and she looks cute in her jockey outfits (which thankfully hide her assorted tats), so you don't really mind that she is rarely able to sell her conflicted indecisive character.
Nicole Tubiola and Ryan Sypek play Danielle and Junior Davis; the children of the J.R. based character (Ken Davis -nicely overplayed by James Read). They are both legitimate actors and are the strength of the series.
Unintentional comic relief comes from the fourth teen, Matt Ritter. Matt is played by the talented-challenged Micah Alberti. One doesn't quite know whether to laugh or cringe as this poor guy struggles to get through each segment in which he appears. His scenes with Cortese are simply tedious, since both are so wooden these scenes have a sort of amateurish unity. Alberti is a truly creepy guy. A 20-something serial-killer creepy which he might be able to parlay into something useful in the horror genre (insert Ted Bundy here). But in "Wildfire" he is being asked to play wholesome and he falls so short of selling his character that it begins to have considerable amusement value.
It is in Alberti's scenes with the legit actors that the talent disparity becomes painful and at times you actually feel embarrassed for him. Charlotte Salt and Amy Jo Johnson are probably the strongest actors in the entire ensemble. Their characters are semi-regulars who the writers inexplicably pair up with Alberti for a lot of great mockfest moments at his expense.
The racing and rodeo scenes are nicely edited, cutting close-ups of the cast into actual races and grandstand master shots. It is not hard to suspend disbelief and just go with this stuff. Unfortunately these are only featured in a handful of episodes each season.
The Lion's Gate DVD sets are nicely done, with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, some special features, and some commentary options. Season One is enjoyable. Season Two is by far the strongest. Season Three is only for the most dedicated fans, even with Charlotte Salt appearing in most of the episodes. And Season Four has thankfully never been released.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.