Posted by Frosty

Review by Nicholas Brandt

An odd number of gunslingers ride into town to save the day.  It’s a familiar story and I know what you’re thinking, “I’ve seen this before… in that movie… The Three Amigos...” 

I walked into The Magnificent Seven Season One with more than a hint of trepidation because of my respect for the original work.  After viewing, I believe that initial feeling was completely well-founded.

Seven strangers ride into town and all of them have a past, but their leader,  Chris Larrabee as portrayed by Michael Biehn,  has the darkest.  Biehn is no stranger to action or adventure, having posted lead roles in The Terminator and Aliens early in his career.  Rounding out the seven are:  the trusted right hand man (Eric Close), the ladies man (Dale Midkiff), the raw kid chock full of excitement at the prospect of his first kill (Andrew Kavovit), the weary gunman ready to die (Ron Pearlman), the conman (Anthony Starke) and the doctor who can use a knife to kill or heal (Rick Worthy).  Finishing the cast of regulars is the widow who has taken over her husband’s newspaper business (Laurie Holden).  The Magnificent Seven were the original A-Team, bringing law to those who can’t find it elsewhere.  Though I have a soft spot for the original cast, the production of this series assembled a team of quality talent and they suit their roles nicely.

Though the DVDs lack extras, one worthy extra comes in the performance of Kurtwood Smith as Colonel Anderson, the adversary in the Pilot episode.  Having watched him play the ornery but likeable father on That 70s Show for so long, it was nice to be reminded of how well this man can play bad, like his turn in RoboCop.

The problem with The Magnificent Seven Season One is that it comes in the wake of a memorable film.   It’s hard to think about this show without comparing it to the far superior cinematic relative.  The only holdover from the original work is the superb theme music.  Not only that, it’s arrived in a world with access to the gritty realism of a show like HBO’s Deadwood.

I think the most disappointing element of this series is the cinematography.  Usually I’m quickly swept up in the suspension of disbelief, but here the lack of visual flair was too tangible to overlook.  This is a western, after all, and shouldn’t have the standard hour-long drama look.  If there is only one thing to take away from the film, aside from the song, it would have to be the feel.  Ultimately, I think most anything would pale in comparison to the work of the film’s Director of Photography Charles Lang Jr.

Video/Audio/Extras

The video and audio on these two DVDs is broadcast quality.  Nine episodes, including a double-length pilot, are split between the two DVDs.   Otherwise, this DVD is sparse with neither hide nor hair of an extra to be found.

Final Words

If you were a fan during its initial airing in the 1997-1998 season, then you’re probably interested in picking up this set.  In its televised incarnation, I think a more appropriate M-word would be “milquetoast”.  I’ll never forget watching the movie The Magnificent Seven as a child.  It’s only been hours and I’ve already forgotten watching season one of the series.