[.ca] Harsh Realm: The Complete Series

From Amazon.com:
The dark and fantastic Harsh Realm, a science fiction series about a war fought by flesh-and-blood humans trapped inside virtual reality, was launched by The X-Files creator Chris Carter in 1999 and died a regrettable, premature death on the Fox channel after three episodes. The remaining six shows found sanctuary on the FX network, and then Harsh Realm slipped into history, its wild story, based on a comic book, far from resolved. Perhaps Harsh Realm's ratings failure had something to do with its broad similarities to the hugely popular The Matrix, released only a few months before, or, for that matter, David Cronenberg's 1999 eXistenZ, in which characters fight for their lives inside a video game. Whatever the reason, enough time has passed to take an objective look at Harsh Realm, and there is a lot to be admired in its high level of imagination, complex plotting, and cutting-edge production values. Scott Bairstow stars as U.S. Army Lieutenant Tom Hobbes, a decorated hero who risked his life rescuing a buddy, Major Mel Waters (Max Martini), during a peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia. Set to return to civilian life and marry his fiancée, Sophie (Samantha Mathis), Hobbes is summoned by a mysterious superior (Lance Henriksen) and asked to test-run Harsh Realm, a virtual reality war game devised by the Pentagon. Once he begins, however, Hobbes is mentally imprisoned in the dangerous game (his body, along with those of hundreds of other "volunteers," is cared for in a secret military hospital), where he is identified by other, desperate captives as the savior they've been awaiting. D.B. Sweeney is very good as another soldier, Mike Pinocchio, whose sense of mission is re-awakened by Hobbes and who becomes a partner in an endless effort to defeat a madman named Santiago (Terry O'Quinn), who rules Harsh Realm from within. As with The X-Files, the nine episodes in this boxed set are each very striking on their own terms, with post-apocalyptic sets, constant surprises, and that special Chris Carter touch (fans of his Millennium will like Harsh Realm, too) that makes every story look and feel like a collision of a nightmare and a crisis of faith. --Tom Keogh

One of the Best Shows on TV--EVER!:
The two other reviewers are right--this series was excellent, and it never got a fair shake from FOX. The quality of the first three episodes should have indicated that this show would go on to garner a loyal and significant fan base; unfortunately, the series ended up as a victim of knee-jerk network assumptions about series potential. If FOX had made the same decision about THE X-FILES during that show's first season, we (and they) would have missed out on another of this medium's great programs. Anyway, FX did, indeed, air the other six epiodes in this series the year after the series was canceled. I saw them all, and all of them were fantastic. Scott Bairstow, the star of the series, is an actor with incredible range and presence--he should be a major star. The credit sequence and music for the series were also noteworthy. If you like virtual-reality-based science fiction mixed with atmosperic production values and genuine, moving drama, HARSH REALM is for you. Buy it and prove to FOX that they made a big mistake 4 years ago. Maybe success with this DVD will convince them to release THE LONE GUNMEN series on DVD and help launch the second X-FILES film, as well. Good luck, HARSH REALM!

DB Fans unite!!:
I think I speak for many DB Sweeney fans when I say, THANK YOU for releasing this show to DVD. I thought this show had great promise, and an interesting premise, and I am disappointed that I will not get to see where it goes. I hope this DVD set might include some insights about where the story would've gone. Can't wait to see what's on this set, I know I'll be ready and waiting on August 24th.

Go Harsh Realm.....Buy this Series:
Good show but short lived. Chris Carter fans will love it. If this DVD sells The Lone Gunmen will come out!!! Buy...Buy...Buy!! Long live the Lone Gunmen!!!!! Check out Millenium Too. WoooHooo!!!

From the creator of X-files:
Chris Carter's works focus on the seen/unseen elements of faith, with additional religious themes such as Messianism (the chosen one who will save the world), struggle in a controlled world full of conspiracy, unexplicable elements that have to be experienced to be believed, order and balance in the universe and so on. Harsh Realm uses the virtual reality concept as a metaphor for being part of a delusional world, which is a false representation of what our existence should have been. In the few episodes that were produced, the characters learn to renew their hope in a world controlled by an autocratic despot who believes that the world can function at its best under his guidance. Overall, it's an excellent batch of episodes, each having movie-like quality, and as good as the X-files series.

Complete Series? Ha ha ha ha!:
I had to laugh when I saw that "Harsh Realm" was coming to DVD. The show only lasted 3 episodes before being cancelled. And with good reason - a half-baked concept, poor writing, and a complete waste of talent (mainly DB Sweeney and Terry O'Quinn). Chris Carter let the excellent "Millennium" fall apart in the third season, and as "X Files" was starting to slide downhill, he came up with the lame "Harsh Realm", thus assuring his reputation as a has-been as a producer and creative force.