Here are some customer reviews of
Nowhere Man - The Complete Series
: Unlike anything seen before or even to follow, this show represents pure genius! In 1995 a masterpiece is unveiled to the
public on the up-and-coming UPN. Little did anyone know this show would become the standard by which future shows of its kind would be measured against!
Take a brilliant photographer who, in one split second (of about two minutes) is completely and utterly rendered an enigma. Add to that, the relentless quest towards regaining your identity because you KNOW who you are. Yet, all the while, forces beyond your control conspire to manipulate you and the world around you in the hopes of denying you your identity. All the while, you're uncovering piece-by-piece why your identity was so totally vanquished.
With all this in place, you have the makings of one spectacular work of art!
MyOMyOMy. 19 hours of Bruce Greenwood as Nowhere Man! I had never heard of this year-long series, nor the cable network it played on. However, 10 years later, I'm glad to run across this DVD set while searching for movies by Bruce Greenwood, a favorite actor of mine. I shelled out the money based only on the star, and a brief intriguing description of the show. The kind of series I like; concept based, exploration of a particular theme or interconnected series of themes. It was a prize, a total breathtaking experience. Obviously a show way ahead of its time.
As for Bruce Greenwood, all I can say is Phenomenal! He carries the entire show, being in practically every scene, on his gorgeous muscular shoulders and you do get to see them bared alot. At first I was doubtful as he was kind of quirky, hands gesturing and arms flailing, eyes rolling with incredulousness. But, he soon calms down and finds his character and takes you with him on this amazing journey. Along the way you experience his flaws and his heroism. Scenes of joy and contentment and of anger, paranoia, fear or despair. He commands the screen. You can't take your eyes off of him. Every once in a while he flashes you The Smile. But I digress...
Filmed probably entirely in Portland but posing as different parts of the country very successfully, the filming of this show is beautiful. Each show has a different flavor. They represent parts of a continuous story, but can be viewed alone for a complete experience. The episodes move fast, are laced with great theme music, and lots of good guest actors. I highly recommend this DVD set. Shell out the money! You won't be disappointed.
Nowhere Man was so far ahead of its time, it makes me wonder how today's mystery thriller shows would have turned out without it. It struck to the heart of our fears of identity theft, paranoia about government conspiracy and mystery in a way that no other show could have, and long before anyone had even thought about it. It catapulted Bruce Greenwood to the top of my favourite actor list, at the very least!!! I am so thrilled it's coming out on DVD at last, a worthwhile one to own and show everyone who hasn't seen it yet.
 In many ways "Nowhere Man" might be seen as "The Fugitive" on acid. But as has been mentioned, Hertzog also planned it as a reworking and echo of our UK gem, "The Prisoner". This goes beyond just refences and throwaway lines.
For those already familiar with "The Prisoner", there are several stories in both series where the plot matches up - i.e it is intentionally mirrored. Here is a list of 'doppelganger' episodes in Nowhere Man / The Prisoner respectively. The main four pairs are:
Turnabout / Chimes of Big Ben - (the second story in both.)
Something about Her / ABC
Paradise on your Doorstep/ the whole series - (there's no need to name an episode here, this is just "the Prisoner", period)
It's not such a Wonderful Life / Many Happy Returns - (Xmas and Birthday, my favourite pair; in both cases the story came in the middle of the series and restored Veil and No.6 to something like normality. The fact that "Its not such a wonderful life" was a Xmax special and was billed as the final episode meant that the plot took many viewers for a ride.)
Other episodes in the second half of Nowhere Man also have their Prisoner counterparts and references, though more discreetly.
Stay Tuned / The General
Hidden Agenda / the Girl who was Death & Living in Harmony - (a nice double pairing; without giving anything away the connections are: Veil and No.6 are recounting a story from their past; Veil and No.6 get to revisit the scene of a recent experience.)
Doppelganger / the Schitzoid Man - (naturally they'd come up with this one.)
Through a Glass Darkly / Once upon a time - (in my view, "Through a Glass" is the better of the two.)
In time, I beleive Hertzog was going to have a show featuring the Beatles soundtrack (Nowhere Man). This would have made the pairing complete with the last Prisoner episode, "Fall Out".
If you've seen both shows, perhaps you'll have already spotted some of these ingenious overlaps. Tell us what you think!
I don't make it a point to watch many TV shows as most shows are terrible. I caught the very beginning of the Nowhere Man pilot completely by accident back in 1995 and before the intro was finished......I WAS HOOKED! I was completely devastated when it didn't return and the fact that the show has NEVER been in reruns in the United States, completely evades all logic as it runs in other countries.
I've read rumors about the show possibly being available on DVD for some time, but it seemed to only be a CONSPIRACY to get people like me excited. Now it appears to really be the TRUTH. This is the best news I've heard all year! I'M THRILLED! I'm looking forward to having Nowhere Man on DVD and I'm also hoping that a release of this fine show will cause many people to get as hooked on it as I have been since that fateful Monday night back in 1995. (The above was written before news of a definite release.)
***************** NOWHERE MAN UPDATE
FINALLY!!!! MY FAVORITE TV SHOW OF ALL TIME! "Nowhere Man" is slated to be released on December 27, 2005 on DVD. This will be a first time release for this program in ANY format.
It ran the 25 episodes in 1995/1996 ONE (1) time and has NEVER been seen again (in the USA that is, it ran in reruns overseas). There is a cult following of this show and we've followed news (very scant news since most people haven't heard of this show) for years since it went off the air. We just knew it was a real conspiracy trying to keep our beloved "Nowhere Man" from us.
This show will knock the wind out of you! The absolute best I've ever seen! This is a very CEREBRAL and smart show......we think that's why UPN pulled the plug after only 25 episodes. UPN was a brand new network in 1995 and "Nowhere Man" came on TV on Monday nights at 9 p.m. The combination of brand new network and the unique intelligence of the show spelled D O O M.....the general public for the most part didn't see it....(who watched UPN then?) and a lot of the ones that watched it.......well, let's just say it went directly over their heads. But there are a few of us that fell in love with the show, and tried real hard to keep its memory alive on the internet. When I first got my computer and got on the internet the first time, guess what I looked up? You are correct! "Nowhere Man" was my first search.
You MUST check out "Nowhere Man". You will be as hooked as I have been since 1995. Finally! It's going to be available. HOORAY!!!!
Signed, A Very Happy Fan
p/s: Now if some guy from Image Entertainment pulls out a cigar and pricks it with a pencil................... ;)
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