Rural setting? Family values? A girl and a horse? I am all in!
'Wildfire' ran for four seasons on the ABC Family network. Ostentatiously geared towards the teen angst audience, 'Wildfire' nonetheless has much more to offer. Insights into the world of competitive horse racing, and those who inhabit that world. There is more than enough here to hurdle viewers through the entire series. Gorgeous scenery. Magnificent horses. Strong values. And a competent cast.
Genevieve Cortese is the series lead. A tough city girl from the wrong side of the tracks, imprisoned for fairly minor crimes working toward her release as a prison laborer training horses for the city police force. It is there that she makes a connection with 'Wildfire', a horse in training for police civic duties. These first few episodes set a strong tone for the series, as the convict girl and the horse make a transcendent connection that will propel them both into a world far beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Cast wise, Nana Visitor provides a familiar face (she of Star Trek DS9 fame). But the acting accolades belong to Greg Serano as the horse trainer who sees something in Kris Furillo (the convict girl) and sponsors her into the world of horse racing. Nicole Tubiola is the the rich girl who was reared in that competitive world. Both of their performances throughout the series provide the foundation for all of the drama that ensues.
'Wildfire' is well worth the watch, assuming you can overlook the perpetually silly teenage drama employed by show runners seeking to ensnare those young demographics that network execs demand. Somehow, the show manages to exceed those network expectations, and delivers a satisfying family drama that will hold your interest throughout the run of the series.
