Wildfire: Season One

A ratings champ when it premiered on ABC Family, Wildfire combines the appeal of wholesome adolescent drama with the storytelling conventions of adult-oriented soap operas, centering on the preternatural connection between horse-loving teenager Kris Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) and the show's eponymous equine. That magical relationship is noticed by Pablo Betart (Greg Serano), a volunteer at the juvenile-detention center where Kris has served time for grand theft auto, and he's instrumental in landing her a job at the once formidable Raintree Ranch, which divorcee Jean Ritter (Nana Visitor) and patriarch Grandpa Henry (the late Dennis Weaver) struggle to maintain. Romance and conflict are provided by Kris' interaction with other teens, including Jean's son Matt (Micah Alberti), his best friend Junior Davis (Ryan Sypek), and Junior's sister Dani (Nicole Tubiola). The first season revolves around the efforts of Kris to fit in at the ranch and help out with its regeneration—a tall order given prevailing financial woes—while a secondary theme is the reappearances of long-absent parents and spouses (in a couple of the year's best episodes, Stacy Haiduk guest stars as Kris' mom in “Mothers,” while Joe Lando is Jean's ex-husband Peter, who returns to the ranch in “Lost and Found”). The youthful cast members are energetic, and while the subplots don't always coalesce convincingly, these first 12 episodes from the 2005 debut season will generally live up to the expectations of the target ‘tween audience. DVD extras include six audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. (E. Hulse)