91 reviews
One of the BEST shows ever!
"Higher Ground" was an amazing show. Sadly, it only lasted for one season. I believe this was due to the fact that it wasn't publicized enough and I personally feel that it was on at the wrong time slot. Many teens aren't even at home watching television on Friday nights at 8 PM, and if they are there are too many shows to compete with. The show had excellent storylines and such a great cast. Everyone was wonderful. It was also a great family show- everyone could watch. I used to watch it with my mom. I just really wish that they had tried a different time slot. Although they did have a "marathon" which consisted of two episodes every night for a week (which really isn't even a marathon). It definitely wasn't enough. I heard that NBC was thinking of picking it up at the end of the season, but of course they didn't. That would have just been false hope anyways, NBC always cancels their good shows left and right... I really wish that I could at least see re-runs of this wonderful show again.
- buffbabe23
- Jun 12, 2001
- Permalink
Love
I fell in love with this show soo good I wish they would have made more seasons
- beeniebabyks
- May 16, 2020
- Permalink
Should never have been cancelled
- lilmissangelfromheaven
- Sep 20, 2006
- Permalink
Just Amazing!!!
When I first saw the ads for this tv show, I thought it was going to be another Dawson's Creek or Popular or 7th Heaven. Boy, was I WRONG! Higher Ground touches a subject most of shows nowadays would just grace over. The show just sucks you in and keeps your attention.
- tigerrlily
- Jan 19, 2000
- Permalink
an AMAZING show that is genuine, moving, and that needed to be given a second chance!
this has to be one of the best shows I've ever seen! based on a school up in the mountains of Washington, a bunch of teens are sent to try and cope with their problems. Although, i didn't watch this show when it was on, i wish i would've. I think that if this show was given another shot and advertised more, many people will find this show captivating, real, and very touching. Compared to teen me lo-drama "hit series" on TV right now, such as "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and "The O.C.", higher ground has something that all of these shows lack. Higher Ground has teens that some can relate to and some can just feel their pain and anger. All the emotions between these teens on camera just blaze out to you and you feel everything as if you were right there. You become emotionally attached to the cast and you are taken on this roller-coaster along with them. I've even cried a few episodes, I was that moved. And right now, after watching one of these episodes, i feel the NEED to just to write this review! The cast has great chemistry and the entire show is very believable, not to mention the writing and story plots are very profound and genuine and moving. Higher Ground has teens that look back on their past and their problems and their emotions and it also makes you look back on all those things too! I think this show is very breath-taking and i just wish this show was given another chance to prove its potential.
- sicksadworld288
- Aug 20, 2006
- Permalink
Not bad, but I don't see what makes it great.
After watching Higher Ground from beginning to end, I did enjoy it. But I think giving it a 9/10 or a 10/10 is a bit generous and I don't understand why it gets such high praise. Sure the show deals with a lot of big character moments, sensitive subjects, and mature themes, but I have 2 issues with that. The first is that the entire show focuses on those things, so there isn't any lighter parts or middle ground. At times they try to have the kids act normally, but in the end they always blame whatever issues they had and don't seem to make progress with themselves. Also on this point, the show is too dramatic and too serious, and needed more levity thrown in throughout. When a show takes itself this seriously, the few funny moments that are there don't work as intended and the rest becomes predictable. I guess I'm confused on the point of the show/the school in the show; are they helping students learn to live with their problems, move on from their problems, or just keep the problem kids away from the normal kids? The other issue I had about halfway through was connecting to the characters. I'm not saying you need to have the same issues or be in the same situation as a character to relate to or feel for them, but in this case I did feel that way as the show feels preachy in that regard. Clearly they wanted you to care for the characters, and feel something whenever something happened to them and I can't say that I did. Overall I think it is a decent show, but not one I will be rushing to recommend to people.
Will things ever be this good again?
I was amazed of how good this show was. The depths of the characters and the storylines, + the music. Things really worked in this series. It was a huge change of what I usually looked at on TV When the show ended, I found myself thinking; Will things ever be this good again? Really, I've never seen a show about "troubled teens" (I hate that expression) that could even compete with this one. I really can't say like some other people that, it will truly be missed, cause I taped it! Yes! I taped them all! But still, I can say that the show will be missed, for the fact that they stopped filming after one season -that sucks!
The summary: Nothing can ever be this good again.
The summary: Nothing can ever be this good again.
Best Ever
This TV series, is by far, one of the few and best TV series ever produced. It does not have all the trash and smut other broad cast movies/TV series has. It truly has a crew of talented writers, producers and actors that enhance the story's messages. It is very sad indeed that one of the networks don't pick up this concept again.
My husband and I are 67/77 respectively and looked forward to each episode and no matter what age, each individual's story could relate to someone somewhere or sometime in their life. If another network does not take advantage of a highly rated broad cast and build on it, what a travesty and loss of opportunity to reach out to young people as well as an all over general audience. Please don't make it pay-per-view. This has so much to offer and potential.
My husband and I are 67/77 respectively and looked forward to each episode and no matter what age, each individual's story could relate to someone somewhere or sometime in their life. If another network does not take advantage of a highly rated broad cast and build on it, what a travesty and loss of opportunity to reach out to young people as well as an all over general audience. Please don't make it pay-per-view. This has so much to offer and potential.
- Barnie1201
- Jan 14, 2017
- Permalink
Poignant, realistic, wonderful
If you're looking for 'Dawson's Creek,' this is not it. If you want mushy characters who fall apart when their clothes don't match, this is not it. If you want a show that is realistic, dramatic, thoughtful, and well-acted, look no further. 'Higher Ground' is it.
Located 25 miles from the nearest town, Mount Horizon High School is a school for teens who were struggling with their lives. The show focuses on one group of these teens, the Cliffhangers, the director of the school, and a few counselors. One teen is a vandal, one had an eating disorder, several were on drugs, and a couple were sexually abused. As their individual stories unfold, we can see deeper into their hearts, as well as our own.
Joe Lando (who plays Peter Scarbrow, the director of the school) makes an outstanding return to TV drama, and other standout performances include those of Hayden Christensen (playing Scott Barringer), A.J. Cook (playing Shelby Merrick), and Jewel Staite (playing Daisy Lipenowski).
It is utterly believable, thoughtful, poignant, and wonderful. You will cry with these teens, and you will love and want to understand each of them.
Located 25 miles from the nearest town, Mount Horizon High School is a school for teens who were struggling with their lives. The show focuses on one group of these teens, the Cliffhangers, the director of the school, and a few counselors. One teen is a vandal, one had an eating disorder, several were on drugs, and a couple were sexually abused. As their individual stories unfold, we can see deeper into their hearts, as well as our own.
Joe Lando (who plays Peter Scarbrow, the director of the school) makes an outstanding return to TV drama, and other standout performances include those of Hayden Christensen (playing Scott Barringer), A.J. Cook (playing Shelby Merrick), and Jewel Staite (playing Daisy Lipenowski).
It is utterly believable, thoughtful, poignant, and wonderful. You will cry with these teens, and you will love and want to understand each of them.
The best TV drama I've watched in a long time!
This drama has everything you could want: action, beautiful outdoor scenery, romance, adult and teen interaction, and plenty of realism. The show appeals to all ages, even though the majority of the cast are teenagers. Joe Lando and Anne Marie Loder play the adult counselors in the show, they do tremendous jobs. Hayden Christensen, A.J. Cook, and Jewel Staite really stand out among the teen actors.
I highly recommend this drama!!
I highly recommend this drama!!
Wish they make a reboot / revival
This show was such a good show. The shows focus on a school for abused, neglected, and troubled teens made it a very compelling series. These storylines were hard to watch at time and heartbreaking but very realistic and they are topics that often get shoved methodically in the closet or under the rug when they should be things that teen feel comfortable talking about to someone they can trust. I think we need a show like this to help kids who dont have a great home life or whatever so they know they aren't alone.
- lynns-26979
- Aug 8, 2021
- Permalink
20 years later & it's still a great watch
It's been over 20 years since I first watched and fell in love with this show. I'm 32 now and I still miss these characters and the impact that they had on my adolescence. I come back throughout the years and watch a few episodes here and there for a hit of nostalgia. I'm reminded of the feelings I used to feel while watching and relating to the teenaged angst throughout the different storylines. The acting was superb and the thoughtfulness behind each episode was evident. 10/10.
- laceewuttunee
- Mar 31, 2021
- Permalink
HG is VERY helpful.
I am faced with the horrible disorder called BIPOLAR-also known as MANIC DEPRESSION. The highs and lows can change from minute to minute. HG has helped me realize that I'm not the only one with severe issues related to me. It lets me know that it is okay to feel how I feel and not be afraid of it. It showed me how to deal with my issues...
Taking HG away from teens who can relate to the characters is a bad idea, some teens get excited for the weekly show to come on.... Another episode of HG that the teens can relate to.
Anyone feel the same way?
I think that teens who watch HG can relate to at least one, if not all of the characters that are in this series.
I think that if Seattle had a program like HG, I would have gone to the camp without a second thought.. But since there isn't a program that I have heard like that in Seattle... But they don't- oh well!
The Series Brat Camp sort of resembled HG, but I still would chose HG over Brat Camp any day. HG has more real content if you think about it.
I just want HG to come back for another season- HG reaches a lot of at-risk teens.... Not putting on re-runs or another season can be a big mistake.
PLEASE PUT HG BACK ON TV!
HEATHER
Taking HG away from teens who can relate to the characters is a bad idea, some teens get excited for the weekly show to come on.... Another episode of HG that the teens can relate to.
Anyone feel the same way?
I think that teens who watch HG can relate to at least one, if not all of the characters that are in this series.
I think that if Seattle had a program like HG, I would have gone to the camp without a second thought.. But since there isn't a program that I have heard like that in Seattle... But they don't- oh well!
The Series Brat Camp sort of resembled HG, but I still would chose HG over Brat Camp any day. HG has more real content if you think about it.
I just want HG to come back for another season- HG reaches a lot of at-risk teens.... Not putting on re-runs or another season can be a big mistake.
PLEASE PUT HG BACK ON TV!
HEATHER
New to this wonderful TV program on Slice
I just stumbled across this TV series and I think it is a amazing show that brings up some real world problems with teens today. I kind of feel bad that it is no longer filming, I think this program has huge potential. I guess its because I can definitely relate to a lot of the characters on the show. With divorce and the need for parents to have high powered careers the children are the ones that lose out the most and I think this show portrays this reality in todays society beautifully. I think that A.J. Cook does a wonderful job in this program. Hopefully there will be a reunion episode in the not to distant future, until then I will continue to watch it on Slice :)
higher ground
The show is really good!No it's not good,actually it's great!"Higher ground" is about 7 teenagers trying to deal with their difficult lives full of depression, fears,violence,drugs and many other injurious things.They're all sent to the rehab high school "Horizon" far in the wild nature,witch subsequently becomes their first real home.I love HG because it shows how strong people can be and whatever's happening you can always find a way out of the gutter of life no matter how long it takes!It surely helped me in my dullest moments,so I think HG's really worth seeing!I just can't give the show a lower valuation than 10!I'd give it even more but it's 10 out of 10 so...
Great show that will be missed!
First off, I would like to preface this by saying that I am a male that is probably twice the age of the average person that watched this show. That being said, I absolutely love(d) this show. My niece bought the shows off of e-bay and told me to watch the tapes, being that I am a high school teacher she thought I might like it. She was right. I thought the acting was outstanding and the stories very touching. I often see kids with many of the same attitudes/feelings and I can relate to some of the kids based on feelings that I had and currently have, although not quite to the extent of the characters on the show.
This show helps make me want to be a better teacher to all my kids, especially the ones that seem troubled. I have never seen a show that has made an impact like that on my career, and for that I am thankful. It's really too bad that with all the crap on television now days that a show that is inspirational in a positive way falls through the cracks.
This show helps make me want to be a better teacher to all my kids, especially the ones that seem troubled. I have never seen a show that has made an impact like that on my career, and for that I am thankful. It's really too bad that with all the crap on television now days that a show that is inspirational in a positive way falls through the cracks.
Best TV Series of All Time
It's been 12 years now since I first saw Higher Ground and not a year after then have I NOT reviewed this series. It's pretty sad that it only lasted for one season perhaps many would've wanted to see what happened to the Cliffhangers especially Scott and Shelby. This series speaks clearly to the heart of every adult and teenager, troubled or not. What's so good about this series is that as it talks about everything a raging teenager could go through, it shows parents and guardians how varied relationships are with people especially the troubled ones. But even so there is always hope. That is the clear message in this series. Hope can still be found no matter how many hells one can go through.
There are millions of inspirational quotes I got here. And quite varied personalities which I've learned to love and study over the years. This is particularly the reason why every year I never forget to watch this series from Episode 1 to 22.
I was 10 back then when I first fell in love with Scott and Shelby. Now I'm 22 and still pretty much in love with them both especially now that I see past their great looks and into the deeper more serious dealings they had to go through. :)) Cheers to the Producers for such great Series. Hopefully many people going through the same cases like the Cliffhangers would find this series an opportunity to see that there is always hope for everyone of us.
There are millions of inspirational quotes I got here. And quite varied personalities which I've learned to love and study over the years. This is particularly the reason why every year I never forget to watch this series from Episode 1 to 22.
I was 10 back then when I first fell in love with Scott and Shelby. Now I'm 22 and still pretty much in love with them both especially now that I see past their great looks and into the deeper more serious dealings they had to go through. :)) Cheers to the Producers for such great Series. Hopefully many people going through the same cases like the Cliffhangers would find this series an opportunity to see that there is always hope for everyone of us.
- elfstone_havens
- Sep 25, 2012
- Permalink
higher ground
Higher Ground is a fantastic and heart gripping TV series which takes us to a school in the mountains where teens are forced to face their fears and rebuild their shattered lives. The series has a very talented cast and each story line is gripping and very realistic. With each of the students confronting really terrible background problems which are enough to make the problems of the Dawson's Creek cast seem petty and insignificant. The students also band together in ways that are heartwarming and make it a very emotional and worthwhile tearjerker. It is a real shame that the series was brought to a close after only one outing,leaving many of the students stories incomplete, however, what can be seen is some incredible acting with some amazing soundtracks that will really keep you wishing there was more and that it was available on DVD! enjoy!
- galliwoggles
- Dec 24, 2006
- Permalink
This was a great show
This was an awesome show. I have been trying for years to find this on DVD. I have looked at amazon.com and several other sites. I have tried to send messages to the production company and cannot get an answer.
This show had something for everybody. Someone could identify with at least one of the characters and could learn from the subject matter in each episode. This would be a great show for people to be able to see now. It would still be very topical even almost ten years later.
The actors have gone on to have wonderful careers and have not been in the news as drug addicts and have not been arrested for stupid behavior. I think this may come from some of the subjects they were exposed to in this series. They got to see what happened to kids doing these destructive things and learned from the exposure. It would be great to reconnect to this show now.
This show had something for everybody. Someone could identify with at least one of the characters and could learn from the subject matter in each episode. This would be a great show for people to be able to see now. It would still be very topical even almost ten years later.
The actors have gone on to have wonderful careers and have not been in the news as drug addicts and have not been arrested for stupid behavior. I think this may come from some of the subjects they were exposed to in this series. They got to see what happened to kids doing these destructive things and learned from the exposure. It would be great to reconnect to this show now.
A Breakthrough Show.
I was 15 when the show first aired and for once I saw a show that dealt with the same issues that I was dealing with in the beginning of my teenage years. The directors picked a different "Teenage Issue" every week. I thought this show like Freaks and Geeks was untimely canceled, but now with Hayden Christensen in the Star Wars Movie, there may be hope to rerun the previous episodes. This show was excellently written and directed and had an awesome breakthrough cast. I hope this show is put back on TV. Its a pity that this show was never able to shine.
- superman-1
- May 25, 2002
- Permalink
Wonderful and honest
What a Show!
I adore(d) this show! I remember when it came out around the time I was in high school, and I just fell in love with the storyline and drama. It was such a great idea that didn't come to fruition. That was super disappointing, but I still watch it on WAM!, the channel. I wish they hadn't canceled it, but ratings matter I suppose, even for the Fox Family Channel. Shows like this are so rare, and it's sad to see that it didn't make it. The cast had a great chemistry and the development of the characters could really go places. I guess it would have been tough after awhile, as the kids would have to get better and leave. Then where would it go? But, I still thought they should have gave it a chance. I checked everyone's profile to see what they're up to now, and I can't believe that I didn't catch A.J. Cook in Final Destination 2. She looked the same, yet different enough that I didn't even know it was her. The acting was really top notch. Some of the kids could have used the practice, like Meghan Ory, but I'm sure as the show went on, she would've found her niche. I loved being able to discover what everyone's problems were with each coming episode. It's really a telling tale of life and how it can easily be disrupted with irresponsible parenting. I just had a thought: If the kids eventually had to leave, then they could keep introducing new characters to the scene, but I guess even that would become tiring. The problems would become commonplace and less shocking to the audience. I just can't get over it. I really liked this show. It only had like 21 or 22 episodes, but they really packed a lot of drama and excellent television into those few episodes. I was introduced and reunited with some Canadian talent. I watched "Are You Afriad of the Dark", so I was familiar with many of the actors already, but the few I didn't know, they were really special. I'll stop babbling now, but I would highly recommend anyone to catch this show whenever they possibly could.
- QueenMakeda84
- Dec 26, 2004
- Permalink
Nice Work
Out of all the things that make "Higher Ground" different from all shows, the best is using mostly new actors. The counselor is somewhat familiar. Even though Jewel Staite is a known actress, she brings a certain flair to the show as Daisy Lipenowski. This show is definitely not to be missed.
Troubled "at-risk" teens are sent to kind of a like a boot camp called Horizon.
I really like this TV show. I think the plots are really good. There's one actor, Hayden Christensen (plays Scott), who really shines in this show. He's really talented, he's already given me a great look at his acting capabilities. I think he's really gonna make it... I hope he does! He's got the good looks to pull it off! He makes the show extra good. But the rest are all great also, including the counselor (Joe Lando) who you may know from "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Women". But yes, the show keeps you glued to the set... but it's hard to say what you think about it, because it's so new! I think it has a bright future! I recommend it for all you TV surfers! Of course I'm a teen, so I'll always watch it for that hottie, Hayden! He really is a good actor, though... trust me! (not just drop dead gorgeous)
- txgirl4561
- Jan 28, 2000
- Permalink
Just The best Show made.
Higher ground is just fantastic!. The scence, the acting, just perfect. I don't know why people think dawson's creek or felicity is better (probably they are at a better station.) They both pretty much suck! I love higher ground and the cast. Hayden is just so talented and hot! Higher ground is a truthful, realistic show. I don't know why people want to cancel it for it second season. I recommend this show to everyone because higher ground is just the best. It should really win an award for it.