Gargoyles Season 1 DVD Review

As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, Gargoyles was one of the best damn shows ever. And this is were it all began. This DVD contains all 13 episodes from the first season. The first five episodes comprise a five-part story, "Awakening", which pretty much sets up the entire premise of the show. The next eight are one shots, usually focusing on one specific character. These are a bit more episodic than what we'd get in Season 2, so you can watch them out of order, if absolutely necessary. Of course, this is the DVD, so there's no reason not to watch them out of order, so I don't know why I even mentioned it.

The main thrust of the story is that gargoyles are real. One thousand years ago in Scotland, a clan of these gargoyles was wiped out. Six survived only to be turned to stone for a millenia. They awaken in New York City, befriend a policewoman, and begin to fight crime. Much kicking of butt ensues.

One of the selling points on the back of the DVD is that the show features cast members from Star Trek, which is kinda true. As far as recurring characters go, there are only two cast members from The Next Generation, Jonathan Frakes as David Xanatos, and Marina Sirtis as Demona. They're both villains, and they're awesome in the roles. Two other Star Trek alums have guest appearances. Of course, in Season 2, there a LOT more   Star Trek cast members showing up, but that's for a later review.

As far as special features go, there's a documentary focusing on one of the Gathering conventions, where Gargoyles fans get together with the stars and creators of the show. Neat stuff. There's also a video of the original show pitch, which is cool. Finally, There's commentary on the first five episodes from a few of the folks who worked on the show, including co-creator Greg Weisman and Keith David, who voiced the show's main protagonist Goliath. It's AWESOME.

Overal, if you want an action-packed cartoon that doesn't skimp on story, drama or characterization, buy this DVD. If you own it already, remember, it makes a great gift for birthdays, graduations, and Father's Day. It's one of my favorite shows of all time, definitely in the top five, so trust me when I say it's worth owning.