Party of Five - The Complete First Season Review
I didn't watch this show from the beginning when it was in its first run, so I'm glad it's on DVD now. This is the best portrait I've seen yet of a group of suddenly orphaned siblings who must take care of themselves and each other when their parents are killed by a drunk driver. Charlie is the one I feel for the most; he's the oldest and juggles working at the family restaurant with his dream of being a furniture designer, while trying to care for the younger siblings, who often chafe at his being the guardian, disciplinarian, and decision-maker. Bailey suffers from knight-in-shining-armor syndrome, always trying to rescue or salvage damaged goods, like the self-destructive Jill; while Julia takes everything too seriously and tries to do the right things but more often than not just makes things worse. Meanwhile, young Claudia is too precocious for her own good, though she is a fine musical prodigy; and all of them must look after the youngest boy, Owen, and the lovable yet useless dog, Thurber.
The Salingers weather many emotional storms in this first season, with more sure to come. After the tragic loss of their parents, the Salinger siblings must take on new roles to keep their family together.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 8-SEP-2006
Media Type: DVD
