Highly underrated sci-fi show out on DVD, cheap

[pkl]

STARHUNTER (2001) was about a bounty hunter cruising the colonized solar system in a converted luxury liner snagging bad guys for profit, searching for his lost son, and uncovering a conspiracy involving hyperspace and the next phase of human evolution. The stories are good, effects decent, acting ok, but the niece, Percy, a pretty young genius who suffers from poor social skills bordering on the sociopathic, makes the whole series worthwhile on her own. It was made before Firefly, and does the same formula much better IMO (I found Firefly mediocre in every department except effects). Starhunter was syndicated, and most US stations buried it in shifting time slots in the small hours.

At $15 (currently, at Amazon) for 22 eps, you don't have much to lose by checking it out. Be sure to find an episode guide online and watch the eps in order, as the DVD release has them mixed up.

It was followed up by Starhunter 2300, which was an inferior show with an almost completely new cast.

INTERIM: '...reminiscent of sagas like Dune and Foundation...' --Cinescape.

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[Bill Ward]

I followed your recommendation and bought and watched the first season and I'm glad I did. It's good, it grows on you, and I think it only really hits its stride sometime midway through the season (ie. around the time they started bringing in more studio lighting!).

I wouldn't be surprised either if Joss Whedon had seen this and drew a little inspiration from it, though I disagree with your comparison as I think Firefly is the superior series in all respects. And you're right that Percy makes the whole thing worth while, she steals every scene and is the highlight of the show. Much of the acting was nowhere near the bar she set though, especially some of the guests and extras, who often spoiled the mood for me by being so lousy. Overall I think it was an uneven series that did the best with what it had and maintained its charm even through the weakest episodes, and despite the occasional crap set or inept performance. Hope that doesn't sound like I didn't like it, because I really did.

So, 2300 isn't as good? As I understand it its sort of a 'reboot' of the show with a completely different group (other than Percy and Rudolpho) and sets, plot, etc?