Customer Reviews
Great tv show 
2007-08-05
This show is great! It is different than any other show on tv today. Great writing.
Phenomenal 2007-08-03
As a pilot, I do have down time often and in that time I can sometimes read a book or take in a show. What I started doing was watching TV series on DVD, since my schedule hinders me from watching regularly scheduled programming. I just finished this first series of the show "The Dead Zone" and have some compliments to shower it with.
The Dead Zone is based on the original novel by Stephen King, with many of the original characters from that book. Some might remember the original movie that had Christopher Walken in it. Instead of that particular outcome, this series takes on a life of a different nature after Johnny Smith wakes up from his coma. Smith is soon back in his quaint Maine town and whether he likes it or not, is using his powers to help people.
The Johnny Smith character always intrigued me, and reminded me somewhat of the character created by Stan Lee so long ago called Bruce Banner, who turned into the Incredible Hulk. Instead of an alternative form and personality, Smith has to balance his ability to see things in the past or future with the people that surround him in the present. The risks are high and the reward is sometimes meaningless, but in the end Johnny Smith is a class act that I enjoy. This series has mystery, action, drama, and just a fantastic element of filming that I have not experienced for quite some time. I look forward to watching season 2 and strongly suggest that if you are tired of what is on your regularly scheduled programming, check out The Dead Zone!
A hugely entertaining series! 2007-08-02
I came pretty late to this series. My wife and I were looking for something to watch in the evenings of summer, when regular TV REALLY stinks. Not having cable, we've often resorted to picking up box sets, and have thoroughly enjoyed binging on shows as varied as SIX FEET UNDER and THE 4400.
So we gave THE DEAD ZONE a try, and have really loved it. We're both huge fans of the original book and the terrific movie with Christopher Walken. But this Dead Zone is not really THAT Dead Zone...and that's okay. Many of the events (particularly in the Pilot) are from King's version...but they are not building to the tragic ending of the book...they are used to setup the ONGOING story of Johnny Smith the "Reluctant Psychic."
In many ways, the show reminds me of X-FILES. It deals with supernatural (or at least unusual) happenings, with most episodes pretty much serving as stand-alone stories. Yet we also see the main characters evolve, and there is also an underlying "Mythology" of sorts that comes back from time to time. The ongoing story is hardly as complex as X-FILES...but it does give the series an underlying feeling of dread. I'm speaking the story line involving Smith and his relationship with an ultra-conservative church run by a minister who may or may not have Johnny's best interests in mind and a candidate for congress (Greg Stillson, also a character in King's book, but more fleshed out here). Season 1 just begins to touch on the Stillson story, but Johnny and the minister (David Ogden Stiers) have a lot of business.
Anyway, there are lots of interpersonal dynamics that get played out during the course of the psychic visions Johnny has and feels compelled to act upon. What I really like is that the show never got predicatable. I would say EVERY episode had us saying..."Wow, that was a different spin" or "that was creative." The show never seems to coast or rest on any laurels. (This continues at least through the end of Season 2 as well...that's as far as we've watched so far.) The creativity is boundless.
Anthony Michael Hall plays Johnny, and while he is not an obvious choice for the role, he makes it his own. His Johnny is quiet and just a touch unfriendly at times. But he never shirks his responsibility, and he has a sly sense of humor which lightens his dark demeanor just enough. Hall doesn't exactly give an Emmy-caliber performance...but he's solid and likeable and BELIEVABLE. That's so important.
Everyone else in the cast is adequate. The actor who plays Smith's therapist and friend Bruce is the best...with good energy and a light touch. Johnny's former girlfriend (and mother of his child) Sarah tends to be a slightly annoying character and the actress playing her doesn't dig deep enough to show us the pain we should be seeing. The actor playing Sarah's husband, Sheriff Walt Bannerman is sometimes not quite up to the emotional work he's asked to do...but he is very likeable and comes across convincingly as a solid, upright, trustworthy guy. It makes me realize how we often don't see folks like this in TV shows. He's also torn by jealousy over what Sarah and Johnny once had...but also realizes that Johnny deserves a part in the lives of his family and that Johnny has also helped make his job a lot easier. He's Johnny's #1 advocate whenever the inevitable doubter comes in...first to stick up for the guy who is causing him a lot of emotional anguish.
Anyway, I hope you get the idea that this is a rich show. Good, inventive stories and solid characters. It's made for cable, so the special effects aren't flashy (and the show almost never pushes for more than it can do convincingly...that makes me so happy!). For the most part, this is a family friendly show...except for one episode where Johnny has a particularly funny but mildly graphic one-night stand. If you're letting younger kids watch...just read the episode descriptions beforehand, and you'll easily spot the one I'm talking about.
It's a good show, and quite simply, I highly recommend it.
the dead zone 2007-08-01
i love the dead zone i bought all 4 seaons and love them all i even got my mom into watching the show if you want to watch a good show then buy the dead zone you get to see how he saves lives and stops destruction it is a really amazing show buy it and see for yourself.
FLAWLESS TELEVISION YOU SHOULD NOT PASS UP.... 2007-07-07
FLAWLESS, INTELLIGENT, SUPERB, AND THE LIST GOES ON..... THIS SHOW IS A MUST AND WILL BLOW AWAY OVER HALF THE MOVIES MADE THESE DAYS EVEN THOUGH ITS A TELEVISION SHOW.
TV SHOWS HAVE COME ALONG WAY....IF YOU WANT ENTERTAINMENT THAT IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY AND WANT TO BE LEFT WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, THE DEAD ZONE IS IT!!!
Don't buy the pilot 
2008-06-19
I've just bought season 1 and the pilot episode as the previously reviews helpfully said that season 1 didn't include the pilot. What they didn't say is that episode 1 and 2 of the first season ARE the same as the pilot episode. So if you are buying the box set of season 1 you don't need to buy the pilot, it's the same as the first 2 episodes.
Good entertainment 
2008-05-12
The storyline of this series stays fairly well constant. It is a story of good against evil and good seems to win. I enjoy almost everyone of the stories.
great show for a reasonable price 2008-03-17
This is an amazing show that will live up to all of your expectations. The interviews and special features are entertaining too. It is also a resonable price.
An amazing series:)) 2008-02-20
I absolutely loved this show. Every episode was outstandinly impressive... I wish I could say the same for the book by Stephen King, but for those of you who havent seen it I stronly reccomend the show... stay the hell away from the novel.
Review of The Dead Zone Season 1 2007-08-31
I loved all of the episodes and watched the entire Season 1 over a weekend. I would recommend this even if you have not watched this series in the past.
