Source: Rockdale Citizen
Article By: Jackie K. Cooper
Date: June 2005

The ABC Family channel has decided to offer viewers a scripted TV series. In the past, they have had reality series, but nothing that required actors and a script. “Wildfire” has both. This series is basically a soap opera with the main focus being on a girl and a horse. That has been a great plot line since the days of “National Velvet.”

Newcomer Genevieve Cortese plays Kris Furillo. When the two-hour premiere episode opens, she is a prisoner at the state correctional camp. It seems she stole a car and then resisted arrest when the police caught her. It is obvious from the start she is a good girl who just made an error in judgment.

One of the bright spots of Kris’ day is helping take care of the horses at the stalls where they are being trained to become police animals. Her favorite is a horse named Wildfire. Pablo (Greg Serano), a trainer from a nearby farm, notices her devotion to the horse and offers her a job at Raintree Farms where he works.

When Kris is released from the camp, she heads to Raintree. The owner, Jean Ritter (Nana Visitor), isn’t thrilled about having a troubled girl on her staff, but she trusts Pablo and lets him have his way.

Her oldest son, Matt (Micah Alberti), as well as his younger brother, Todd (Andrew Hoett), both fall under Kris’ spell quickly. She even impresses the family patriarch, Henry (Dennis Weaver).

You can tell from the start there are going to be problems at the ranch. Matt gets a crush on Kris almost as soon as she arrives. His best friend, Junior Davis (Ryan Sypek), also has eyes for her. Matt’s ex-girlfriend, Danielle Davis (Nicole Tubiola), doesn’t like the competition one bit.

Much more pressing is the news Wildfire is not cut out to be a mounted police horse. The horse is better suited as a racehorse, but no one except Kris seems to notice that fact. When Kris goes to see Wildfire one day, she learns the horse is going to be auctioned off.

Cortese is a pretty and sexy young woman who also can act. She is the focus of the show and she manages to keep the viewers’ interest all the way through the premiere episode. With all the men falling for her, and her falling for the horse, it looks like the show will keep the romance factor center stage.

The series is above average thanks to the actors and this storyline about a girl and her love for the wild horse. It has winner written all over it.

If ABC Family can get viewers to tune in for the premiere episode that airs at 8 p.m. Monday, they will be hooked for the 11 episodes that follow.