Customer Reviews

Party of Five: The Intervention [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Simply put, this episode is the hallmark of everything that endeared viewers to this amazing drama that ran on the Fox network from 1994-2000. In the series' beginning, Bailey Salinger was the responsible sibling who put others and their needs before his own, especially when it came to younger siblings Julia, Claudia & Owen. Then Bailey goes off to college, where he has to care for no one except himself. And that's where his downfall begins. Bailey begins to drink--uncontrollably. He cuts himself off from his family, goes out partying and getting drunk every night, and buys liquor with money that was supposed to be used to pay for Owen's birthday celebration. When Bailey shows up at Owen's party stone drunk, the siblings begin to realize just how bad the problem is. So, they stage an intervention. The episode is powerfully written and acted as it walks you through the various stages mof the intervention: the tension beforehand, deciding how to get Bailey to come to the intervention, the emotions that the siblings have in seeing their brother's life in such a mess, Bailey's denial of his drinking problem. In one particularly stunning scene, Bailey feels as if he's being picked on, so he begins fighting back by throwing his siblings' past mistakes right back in their faces: Julia's unplanned pregnancy, Charlie's wedding-that-wasn't, and so on. Then, in the middle of all this mess, Joe, a longtime friend of the family, drops a bomb that catches the whole family off guard: their father was a recovering alcoholic whose drinking nearly wrecked the family. Claudia finds out what made her father to stop drinking, and at the end of the episode, she gives Bailey an ultimatum that leaves the family at a turning point, leaving the viewer on the edge. The writing is exceptionally realistic, as is the acting (especially on the parts of Scott Wolf as Bailey and Lacey Chabert as Claudia). A must-see for any true "Party"-goer.

This single episode defines everything that the entire series stood for in its six years of succession. I can't believe it took me so long to get into it, but after buying the Season 1 DVD set, I was absolutely hooked and determined to get a hand on some more episodes (unfortunately, it is currently not airing in reruns on TV).

$20 is a bit much for just one episode, but after hearing such wonderful things about "The Intervention," I had to check it out, and I'd have to say that it is, hands down, the most powerful Party of Five episode I've seen so far. Long-time fans of this series know how heavily dramatic the episodes were, even way back in the beginning, but this 3rd-season episode probably represents the most turmoil for the Salinger family, since second oldest child Bailey was always the strong, mature and levelheaded one who took responsibility and helped care for the family when the oldest brother fell short. When Bailey spirals downward, the whole family falls apart, and as horrifying as it is to watch it also makes for some great television when you see the reality of how one family member's descent impacts everyone else.

I was particularly impressed by the performance of Lacey Chabert as 13-year-old Claudia. She does some beautiful work in this episode, and although she was the youngest daughter, she was arguably one of the most moving forces in the Salinger family. This is exactly the kind of episode that allows Chabert to shine because of Claudia's crystal-clear relationship with older brother Bailey, whose downward spiral and alcoholism sends his siblings through the mill at this particular point in the series. These two characters had a wonderful bond--probably the strongest and most evident out of all the Salinger kids--and it's my favorite thing about the whole series. Claudia really goes all the way here, and everything about her illustrates the pain and emotions of a girl her age and in her situation--her acting, her horrified reaction to Bailey smashing his hand through the window, and her physically exhausted appearance. From her heartbreaking phone call to Bailey to her devastating speech at the episode's cliffhanging conclusion, you can really see what this little 8th grader is going through, watching her beloved brother risk ruining his entire life. She loves him more than anything, and I have never seen anything on television capture that so realistically and beautifully. Just look at the way the storm in Bailey's eyes instantly subsides every time he looks at Claudia--even when he's melting down and saying every hurtful word possible to Charlie, Julia and Sarah, he can't say a thing to Claudia. And when she says those final words to him at the end, the expression on his face as he listens to his wise-beyond-her-years little sister is priceless. I understand that the issue presented here focuses primarily on Bailey, but in my opinion it is young Claudia who makes the whole episode. BRAVO to Lacey Chabert for such an intense performance. She has only done a few movies since "Party of Five" ended, but she has always remained a fresh face and a truly vibrant young talent.

Bottom line--if you are a Party of Five fan, this is the episode to see. It ties together the show's entire purpose, driving home that message of love and family loyalty that you just don't see much from kids this young and facing these kinds of trials. This is extremely touching--a story with characters and themes that you will not soon forget.

It's a shame this series struggled for life every season it was on. Party of Five brought some of the most original writing and acting the Fox Televison Network has ever seen. Next to X-Files, this is the single best series they ever produced. I adored every episode of the five years it was on and still miss this show dearly. I felt orphaned when it went off!

My only qualm about the videos is that most of them are pricey and yet contain only one episode-not a good deal at all! Especially "The Intervention" which was a two episode arc and they only delivered the first half to video-who does that? This show never got the respect it deserved while on the air and still is being snubbed by the studio's refusal to release it on DVD. But all is well because we have things like "The Simple Life" to keep us occupied...GET A GRIP FOX!!! PUT PO5 ON DVD THIS MINUTE!!!!!

The attraction with this series as with so many was the chemistry between the characters. The sweetness of these kids in contrast with the harshness of their lives takes you away from reality and as we all need an esape of some sort, this is mine. I am a customer from the UK and doubt that we have had all of the series on our screens and we also don't have these videos released in the UK. I am very jealous of you guys as I would love to have this in my video cupboard to have a weep on a rainy Sunday..... Ahhhhhhh! those were the days..

This episode was, by far, one of the best episodes that they have ever done! Starting out with a family dinner was a good way to lure Bailey, but not the best. The best way to lure Bailey to their house was to get him there by using who he loves most: Owen. I thought the scenes with Lacey were absolutely wonderful. You could really feel her pain as she's talking to him on the phone. Then when he got there, they wanted him to go to rehab. Good acting on Scott's part. But I would have to say my all-time favorite scene in that episode was when Scott lost it with everyone and started attacking them, revealing information about their past. I had only started watching "Party of Five" during the third season, but I have been a faithful viewer...from then to when it was cancelled, and I am sorry it was. Loyal "Party of Five" fans will miss it.

In a time when television drama is routinly wrung out of emergency rooms and police stations with haphazard results, it is a rarity to find a well developed, impeccably written show that takes place where we live: the living room.

Never before have problems - in this case alcoholism - hit home with such clarity and believable results. The dialog is expertly crafted, and when delivered by the actors, has a quality and resonance of a best friend seeking your guidance and confidence.

This is the pinnacle episode from a series whose standards hover above emergency rooms and police stations.

I think PO5 the intervention was a great movie.I watch PO5 every week on every channel.I love PO5 and wish the show would last forever but I know that after this season most the actors are leaving.

Ok..."The Intervention", to me, is the BEST episode! I am it's biggest fan! But listen...the tape was recorded in extensive play, I could have done better with my VCR. The words weren't with their mouths on some parts, if you want it, don't pay attention to their lips to avoid getting confused. AND, ok, I understand that they have little slots for the commercial when it airs, BUT on the tape they could have at least edited them out! The little commercials slots were right there, like 3 1/2 seconds it would fade out, and not at the most impressive times either. That's it. I should have bought the DVD as I planned, anything would have been better than that!

I watched the show for years and loved it. I wish it would re-run somewhere but unfortunately the dvd of the first season is all I have. I was always an avid wednesday night fox channel watcher, which featured Party Of Five and 90210. If you're looking for a show to get hooked on, this totally it. At least for the loyal fans the dvd is a great blast from the plast

This is no doubt one of the best PO5 episodes of all time! When it's rare to find a television show which deals with family drama, you can look no further than "Party of Five!" When I first got hooked onto the show in the spring of 99, I thought it had great potential, and great characters! It started after I saw Lacey Chabert(Claudia) in "Lost in Space," and since then I wanted to see more of her in other things! She truly does shine in PO5 with this episode! As does Scott Wolf who gives his character Bailey more drama with his alcohol problem! What makes this episode stand out from the other episodes in my opinion is because it's all the characters in a closed surrounding when they try to make Bailey come to terms with his drinking problem! With the other episodes, you jump from one character to the next, and it's often to soap opera at times, and hard to keep up! This is one episode where the siblings all come together to save their brother! My compliments to Scott Wolf, Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, Lacey Chabert, and Jennifer Love Hewitt for making this episode truly work! It's too bad you couldn't see this movie become like a motion picture event(giggle)! That would have been neat!