Ocean Girl

I only watched the first 4-5 episodes of season one, I just couldn't get into it and I found the main female character to be a bit of a hypocrite, the script writers try to show us she cares about sea creatures, she says they're her friends, she rescues whales from fishing nets, removes probes scientists have put on them etc but apparently she only cares about the big fish because she puts her spear through the smaller fish and eats them for dinner!

While it's been too long since I've seen this show (I was a mere 7th grader when it was on the Disney channel), I remember this show being very intellectual for a children's primetime series. Neri was a mysterious girl who lived in the ocean (and a nearby island) could communicate with the whale. Meanwhile there was a group of scientists, complete with an underwater city that boasted a school for the teenage children. Neri befriended two of the teenage boys of the ocean city, and together they tried to help save "Charlie" - the whale that Neri was friends with. The show had it's villains - a group of scientists that were competing against the Ocean city for whale research. This is pretty much all I remember about the series - aside from the fact that i was completely in love with the complicated stories - but it was canceled shortly before it's mysteries and loose ends were finished (Neri's island was a spaceship of sorts, suggesting she was an alien; and she had a sister - and a brother if I'm not mistaken). If you get a chance to see this show in syndication sometime, trust me, it's worth your time. Then again, maybe I just remember it being my only alternative to the looooong half-hour before Melrose Place on Monday nights.

Ocean Girl is the most enjoyable and certainly one of the most intelligent children's series that it has been my good fortune to experience. Made in the time before now, when the producer's of children's TV believed in quality rather than budget, it carries well on all levels.

Far more than just an "alien on earth" program. Ocean Girl deals with friendship and bullies, the environment, family and life. There is little call for special effects in the story lines, but those there are have neither pretensions nor inadequacies. The plots are in interesting, inventive and attention catching with a strong emphasis on the necessity of protecting our oceans.

One of the most important aspects is the high quality of the acting from the main and supporting cast members. A strong attachment to the characters is easily developed and one genuinely cares about what happens to them.

The strong performances and excellent visual effects lend a strong sense of realism to the tales and unlike modern programs adults can enjoy it nearly as much as their children. It is truly targeted as family entertainment, not just for children. While there are enemies to be overcome and some rather scary moments, the stories are not dark and a happy ending is always around the corner. The beautifully shot scenes of The Great Barrier Reef, the ocean and the islands also lends a sense of loveliness to the happy scenes.

Ocean Girl is a science fiction program, but the language and ideas are no different from today's and the technology is mostly current, although with elements such as AI computers which are perhaps a few short decades beyond us.

I was very young back then when I watched this show, but I remember that it was one of my first TV addictions. After that followed Dark Angel, Alias, Lost and most recently Prison Break. Ocean girl was into that category somehow. It was intriguing and the audience didn't know the deal most of the times. Back then I was totally into that show. It was actually pretty interesting for being a kid's show. The plot lines were twisted and the characters were compelling. I also remember the cast changing a lot, but that kept it interesting. Also the actress that played the lead was great on that role, I wonder whatever happened to her. I would watch it any time again if I have the chance and I highly recommend it.

Gosh, this show takes me back! I have fond memories of this show from childhood. In the summer holidays this always used to be on, under the title of 'Ocean Odyssey' if I recall correctly.

It was an interesting and entertaining show, with a good central performance from the Ocean girl herself.

It's a shame that this isn't repeated on TV now, because it's far better than half of the dross that kids are brought up watching today.

You can pick up the DVD's online, and even now it's well worth a watch.