When it comes to throwback WB dramas, there are a few that were so generationally great, they broke out of their teen-show confines and permeated the larger pop-culture consciousness: "Dawson's Creek," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Gilmore Girls" and what have you. But back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the so-called "Frog Network" was churning out so many series, particularly for the YA demographic, that some of those titles have seemingly been lost to time. And "Roswell" is one of them."
Airing on The WB for its first two seasons from 1999 to 2001 before it moved to UPN for its third and final installment, "Roswell" is a Jason Katims-created adaptation of the "Roswell" High book series by Melinda Metz, centered on a "Romeo & Juliet"-esque tale between normal New Mexico teen Liz Parker (played by Shiri Appleby) and the mysterious Max Evans (Jason Behr), who just happens to be an extraterrestrial who survived the 1947 UFO crash in the titular town.
If you like your teen dramas with a heavy dose of sci-fi elements and forbidden romance, "Roswell" is just the show for you. And, helpfully, it's streaming for totally free right now on Tubi — here's why you should
What is 'Roswell' about?
Liz Parker (Shiri Appleby) is your average New Mexico teen living in the kitschy town of Roswell with her parents — who run the local Crashdown Cafe, where Liz works as a waitress after school — and hanging out with her bestie Maria DeLuca (Majandra Delfino). That normal small-town existence is upended in the pilot episode, however, when Liz is fatally shot one day at the cafe and Max Evans (Jason Behr), a mysterious classmate who has always harbored a crush on Liz, seemingly uses healing powers to magically save the girl's life.
Soon enough, Liz learns the world-shaking secret that not only is Max a human/alien hybrid whose otherworldly origins are tied to the 1947 UFO crash, but so are his sister Isabel (a pre-"Grey's Anatomy" Katherine Heigl) and his best friend Michael Guerin (Brendan Fehr). Maintaining the everyday anonymity of that extraterrestrial trio is dangerous enough, but it all gets far more complicated when Liz and Max start exploring their burgeoning feelings for each other.
Why 'Roswell' should be your next binge-watch
If you're a fan of star-crossed sci-fi or supernatural pairings à la Buffy and Angel or Edward and Bella, you'll find plenty to swoon over with Liz and Max's forbidden dynamic, which, despite the overall interplanetary vibes, is rendered utterly believable thanks to Appleby and Behr's palpable chemistry. (Ditto the eventual spicy-and-sweet coupling of their respective BBFs Maria and Michael.)
"Roswell," especially in its first season, excelled at merging those quintessential adolescent experiences of first loves, school dances, parental dramas and the like with its more high-tension, action-packed genre elements, from violent shapeshifters to suspicious sheriffs (William Sadler). It's a surprisingly grounded, character-driven watch for all of the galactic histrionics swirling around the young characters.
The CW, which replaced The WB in 2006, later tried to reboot "Roswell" as a more mature drama with modern socio-political themes, but what the cancelled "Roswell, New Mexico" lacked was the youthful earnestness, relatable characters and compelling romance of the original. Thankfully, you can visit the original "Roswell" whenever you want via Tubi, a free, ad-supported streaming service that has all three seasons of the WB series.
Stream "Roswell" on Tubi now for free
