Search - Commander In Chief - The Inaugural Edition, Part 1 (Episodes 1-10) on DVD

All hail the chief

Robin Orlowski | United States | 05/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When President Teddy Bridges (Will Lyman) has a stroke, independent Vice President Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) finds herself being politely asked to turn in a resignation letter. After all, she was only picked to increase Bridges's support with women voters. Bridges administration personnel did not actually expect her to assume the presidency.



Instead, Allen decides that she will take the oath of office and become America's first woman president. For creator Rod Lurie, having a woman president was not enough; he wanted to examine how the chief executive of America balanced her work and family obligations.



Because this change in American women's political status also affects men, 'Commander' also examined how husband Rod Calloway (Kyle Secor) adapts to being the 'first' First Gentleman. Claiming to be comfortable, Rod subsequently expresses obvious discomfort with some aspects of his own new public image ("First...Do No Harm"). A major strength of this series was that it also gives serious airtime to the challenges a First Gentleman could face.



Rod briefly considers becoming commissioner of baseball before deciding that it would pose a conflict of interest ("First Disaster"). Later on, the Allen-Calloway marriage gets challenged when he is discovered with an intern ("The State of the Unions").



"Rubie Dubidoux and the Brown Bound Express" makes another inevitable comparison with the Clinton administration. Since he is unofficially her closest advisor, Mackenzie subsequently decides that appointing Rod to an official position only makes sense. However gender politics in 21st Century America doesn't have that decision being perceived as smoothly as this first couple would like. Is Mackenzie a strong leader or is Rod ultimately controlling her? Is this nepotisim or is he really the most qualified person for the job?



"Commander" is also special because Polly Bergen guest stars as Mackenzie's mom, Kate Allen. Bergen had ironically stared in "Kisses for my President" (1964) Hollywood's earlier take on what having a female Chief Executive would be like. That president had to resign when she got pregnant!



"The Mom Who Came to Dinner" also marks the addition of Mark-Paul Gosselaar to the cast as Richard "Dickie" McDonald, a young but very sharp media advisor



Of course having a good drama would have been remotely impossible without a good arch nemesis on hand to keep things heated up. He's still a 'Hollywood liberal' but Donald Sutherland plays conservative Republican Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton with gleeful abandon. Templeton is continually a thorn in Allen's side--he does not like her on either a political or a personal level.



10 episodes are included in this release. Extras include unaired scenes (mmm...!), an exclusive interview with Geena Davis, and insights into the show itself from the creator--replete with commentary. I am upset "Commander" has been cancelled, but am happy that it got scheduled for DVD release so soon afterward. I'll always have my memories"

Commander In Chief

OCHollySmith | Baltimore, Maryland, USA | 06/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First you have ABC doing everything in it's power to sink the show, which came out with very strong ratings the first weeks it aired. From changing nights, unannounced, to skipping weeks, to caving into crybabies about Maryland crime, (where I happen to live) to showing it on-line for free. Now they delay the release date until September. I'm going to buy the series. I thought it was great and should have had a better network running it then ABC. I just sorry they didn't have more episodes filmed. I'd buy them also. Now I know why I never watch network TV anymore."

Beautiful show

tammy | chicago, il United States | 06/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a nice family drama. it has geena davis starring as the first female president. it details her troubles as those around her are opposed to her being president, the problems her husband has as being the first gentleman, and her role also as a mother who is often not around with the 3 kids as much as she would like. i can think of no one more suitable to play the antagonist than donald sutherland(okay maybe ricardo montablan). he does a superb job as the chief of staff(who would be next in line if she had resigned in the beginning. it is a shame that this show will not be on for any more seasons. maybe abc will change it's mind. i think they need a fresh writer(some of the later episodes got to be stale) but if they can keep the west wing on for so many years, this should have been on for at least 7"

Geena Davis is Superb

Jesse Perales | USA | 10/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Commander in Chief is absolutely one of the best television shows recently released, even if it was short-lived. Geena Davis is a superb actresses who brings a great passion and elan to the series. The rest of the cast is also impressive, all operating together with an efficiency and smoothness present in every scene, every frame. This disc set is worth every dime, and I certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the conflict between morality and politics. Mackenzie Allen is a character who is determined to stand up for what she believes in, and that makes her rare and courageous. This show is truly delicious--relish every moment!"