Rating: TV-14
Starring:
Matt Dallas as Kyle
Jaimie Alexander as Jessi XX
Marguerite MacIntyre as Nicole Trager
Bruce Thomas as Stephen Trager
April Matson as Lori Trager
Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Josh Trager
Chris Olivero as Declan McDunaugh
Kirsten Prout as Amanda Bloom
Nicholas Lea as Tom Foss
Special Features:
Alternate Pilot Episode
Extended Final Episode
Kyle Declassified Go Behind the Scenes For Show Secrets And More
Audio Commentary With Creator Eric Bress, Executive Producer David Himelfarb, Actor Matt Dallas And Writer Julie Plec
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.78:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish Language
Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 437 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the official DVD description:
“When a boy emerges from the forest with no recollection of who he is, a kind social worker takes him into her family and everyone wants to know: who is Kyle XY? As the Trager family works to help Kyle discover his world, they must also address the truths in their own lives as they struggle to adjust to the newest member of their family. “XY marks the hot spot” as TV’s most compelling new family drama comes to DVD on ‘Kyle XY: The Complete First Season – Desclassified’. This 3-disc set features each thrilling Season One episode as well as bonus features that reveal more than ever about the remarkable boy named Kyle. Only on DVD can you get declassified show secrets and an exclusive alternate season finale.”
“Kyle XY: The Complete First Season – Desclassified” is not rated.
The Series:
When I saw this series was from ABC Family, I thought this would make a fun sci-fi show for my kids and I to check out. Luckily I screened it before showing it to them. The pilot starts out showing Kyle lying naked in the forest. Since it was part of the plot, it was forgivable. However, in the next scene, the first people Kyle encounters in the woods is a couple engaging in noisy sex in a tent. This is quickly followed by a scene of the Trager’s teenage daughter lying in bed with her boyfriend after having sex. When the mom comes to the room, she quickly hides the boy. This is all in the first 5 minutes or so of the pilot. Later we’re treated to the Trager’s son starting the process of masturbating in the family bathroom with a Playboy type of magazine.
How does this qualify as family fare?
Unfortunately, this stuff isn’t confined just to the pilot. Later in the series, Kyle attends church with a neighbor girl. Not only does every member of the Trager family say how boring and awful church is, but the mother of the girl, prominently portrayed as a Christian, is the meanest person in the series to Kyle (short of the people trying to kill him). The creators definitely seem to have an agenda going on here that not all parents will be OK with.
Morals aside, “Kyle XY” is still a weak sci-fi series. There are huge plot holes that make no sense whatsoever. Many of the gags with Kyle have also been done before and better elsewhere. And over the course of the series, nothing is revealed about Kyle’s origins that you can’t piece together halfway through the pilot.
The Extras:
The bonus features included with this DVD are pretty standard. You’ll find an Alternate Pilot Episode and an Extended Final Episode. There’s also Audio Commentary included with a couple of episodes. Rounding things out is “Kyle Declassified”. This is nothing more than a recap of the entire series showing clips from various episodes.
The Bottom Line:
The only people I think “Kyle XY” would appeal to are tweens who haven’t seen enough good sci-fi to recognize the difference. I recommend everyone else pass on it, especially if you’re sensitive to what your kids may be viewing.
