A science-fiction drama starring Peter Weller, of Robocop fame, Odyssey 5 incorporated elements from aliens-among-us show First Wave, and conspiracy-theory series The X-Files, yet still managed to come across as an original production.
The series followed the plight of NASA commander Chuck Taggart and his companions on board the space shuttle Odyssey who, while on a routine mission, witnessed the end of the world - literally. With the Earth completely obliterated, these last survivors - Chuck; Neil, Chuck’s twenty-two year-old astronaut son; pilot Angela Perry; scientist Dr Kurt Mendel; and TV reporter Sarah Forbes faced up to their own impending deaths as oxygen began to run out on board Odyssey 5. But, at the last moment, the crew were rescued by an alien being named The Seeker, whose own home planet was destroyed in the same manner as Earth. But Earth had a second chance, as The Seeker sent the Odyssey crew back in time five years, on a mission to discover what - or who - had caused Earth’s destruction and to stop the terrible event from occurring.
However, despite this underlying science-fiction theme, one of Odyssey 5’s greatest strengths lay in simple human drama because, while trying to stop the end of the world, each character had to grapple with their own personal problems in an attempt to improve the future for themselves.
With strong performances from the five lead actors, backed up by intelligent writing and plotting, Odyssey 5 seemed destined to be a huge success. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled at the end of its first-season run - the show ending on a clifhanger destined to haunt its fans for a long time to come....
The Cast
Chuck Taggart....................................................Peter Weller
Dr Kurt Mendel............................................Sebastian Roché
Neil Taggart.............................................Christopher Gorham
Sarah Forbes........................................................Leslie Silva
Angela Perry.........................................Tamara Craig Thomas
