The Wild World

The Wild World is a science fantasy drama television series for the HSV television channel. The show was created by Dominick Hawkins and produced by Angelina Villanueva for The Hawkins-Gonzalez-Villanueva Company and The Jon Company. The series combines science fiction with twists of fantasy, drama, and action-adventure. The series follows a group of teenagers following a dark lord destroying all the schools and sending creatures to invade the land of Blue Wish, and later everywhere. The teenagers have to do everything to save the whole planet from where the dark lord is going through. The series was set apparently between June to November 2006. The series aired from September 8, 2006, to September 13, 2013. However, the last two seasons didn't air in the fall but aired later (season six aired in the winter, and season seven aired in the summer).

The series first began production in July 1998, shortly after Hawkins finished his high school career, and he created his first drift in 2002 and his second drift in 2004 (when its current title was issued in May of that same year). The show had several unsuccessful pickups until it was successful in 2003 when HGV's prime time channel, HSV, picked it up for two seasons. Filming for season one began in January 2006 and lasted until March 2007, while the first episode of the series aired in September 2006, and season one concluded in April 2007.

Filming for season two began in May 2007 and ended in April 2008. The second season was shortened due to the WGA strike in November 2007, before returning to producing episodes in February 2008 and airing episodes in March 2008. The second season was going to have 22 episodes though the order shortened six episodes to a total of 16 total episodes after the strike was over.

The season was renewed for a third season in March 2008. Filming for season three began in June 2008 and ended in April 2009. The season was to begin on September 26, 2008 (when episode one began airing), but for unknown reasons, the second episode was delayed for two months and premiered on December 5, 2008. The series was renewed for a fourth season in May 2009 and a fifth in May 2010. Seasons four and five had the longest seasons with 26 episodes each, compared to other seasons. Season four started production in June 2009 and ended in April 2010. Season five started production in June 2010 and ended in April 2011.

The series was renewed for seasons six and seven in January 2011, and in April 2011, the developers announced that it would be split into two parts, making those two seasons a combined season for production code. Seasons six was filmed from June 2011 until January 2012, while season seven was filmed from June 2012 until March 2013. In May 2012, the developers announced that season seven would be the series' final season and there would be a three-hour series finale called "The Finale Battle." The seventh season, which was the finale season, was delayed until June 21, 2013, in June 2012, so it can finish production for the series finale, which aired in September 2013. The series aired in a production order with extended episodes adding 1 hour for every episode produced.

The series received critical acclaim. Many reviewers appreciated the concept, graphics, story, and acting, and some called the television show one of the finest of all time. The viewers' ratings for all seasons became one of the most popular shows on a Friday, especially the series finale, where it had over 30 million viewers on its premiere. The series finale received critical acclaim and became one of the best series finales of all time. Many critics gave the series finale praise, especially its ending.

Plot
The series, set in June 2006, focuses on four 16-year-old students after a dark lord kills all the schools, including the school they go to, and sends a lot of creatures to steal all of their faces except for the four main characters.

Every season sets in a different place and/or destiny. Season 1 takes place in Blue Wish, a big city where the students go to school at. After the dark lord goes overseas after the season's finale battle, season 2 takes place in The Fume Domain, a volcano they go to. After that, they go to Grass Sloth Wood for season 3, a forest that also has a lake called Macaroy Waters midway through season 3. They then, in season four, go to Dread Seafront, a beach with a lot of water. In season 5, they go to Charmed Wasteland. In season 6 and 7, they go to Deter, they, in season 6, go to Trivia Colony, and then they go to Alpha Terminal for season 7.

Main roles

 * Spencer Gardner as Joey Dale (born December 5, 1989). In June 2006, when all the schools were destroyed, he gets to be a warrior, brings a sword for him to fight with, and becomes a group's leader and guardian. His powers are enhanced hearing, healing, mind control, and x-ray vision.
 * Colleen Delgado as Isabella Devine (born February 13, 1990). In June 2006, when all the schools were destroyed, she gets to be a mage. Her powers are magic, aquatic breathing, energy manipulation, and empathy.
 * Donnie Newman as Paul Hopkins (born January 21, 1990). In June 2006, when all the schools were destroyed, he gets to be a scientist. His powers are manipulation, transportation, and experiments.
 * Sheryl Kellogg as Miranda Jacobs (born April 8, 1990). In June 2006, when all the schools were destroyed, she gets to be an archer. Her powers are telepathy, enhanced senses, wallcrawling, and enhanced intelligence.

Recurring

 * George Acevedo as Professor Derek Andrade (born May 13, 1970). The assistant for destroying enemies.
 * Orlando Conway as Alex McFarland (born December 15, 1968). A person who has the power to manipulate technology.
 * Benjamin McCarthy as Eddie Ray/The Dark Load (born September 27, 1977). The main antagonist of the series.

Development
In July 1998, shortly after graduating high school, Dominick Hawkins had an idea to combine fantasy, supernatural, and superhero shows into one big show. He created a company, along with Cecil Gonzalez, Douglas Villanueva, and Angelina Villanueva, and started using that company to produce it. Dominick Hawkins created his first drift in January 2002. Many networks, such as The WB and UPN, were interested in picking it up. However, when the HGV company created a TV channel, HSV, the company announced it would be moved there.

In January 2004, Kevin Tate was hired, under a 10-year contract with the HGV company, to write the episodes. Also in January 2004, Josh Sawyer was hired, under the same contract as Kevin, to direct the episodes. The series then would then be titled The Wild World in May 2004. The second drift was seen in June 2004, with its title.

Casting
Casting started in November 2004, with four students who are interested in here. Gardner, Delago, Newman, and Kellogg were then cast as the four main characters of the show. Later in December, they confirmed the names of the protagonists, namely Ben, Katie, Paul, and Miranda.

For recurring roles (in January 2005), George Acevedo, Orlando Conway, and Benjamin McCarthy wanted to participate in some episodes of the series.

Geroge Acevedo voiced professor Derek Andrade, a professor who guides the teens on how to use their powers and their weapons. Orlando Conway voiced Alex McFarland, a person who can control technology. Benjamin McCarthy voiced Eddie Ray, aka the Dark Lord, the show's main antagonist for the whole series. Geroge voiced Derek for 50 episodes, Orlando voiced Alex for 55 episodes, and Benjamin voiced the Dark Lord for 70 episodes.

Production and writing
Cecil Gonzalez and Dominick Hawkins became the positions of being executive producers of the show for the whole series. From season 1 to season 5 of the show, Oscar Lopez joined the executive producer crew before leaving the crew in season 6 due to schedule conflicts for a lot of films. In season 6, 2 new executive producers were added to the show; Donny James and Perry Stark.

Kevin Tate wrote the series' episodes, with 36 of these episodes being co-written. Other writers in the series include Jimmy Cole (all 26 episodes in season 4), Isabella Curtis (all 26 episodes in season 5), Zack Rollins (16 episodes in late season 6 to season 7), and Mark Chan (The Final Battle). Josh Sawyer directed the series' episodes, except when is subbed by Vincenzo Murray.

Filming
The show was filmed in HSV Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles for the whole series.

Opening credits
The opening credits have remained unchanged except for modifications. The cutscene goes through the main characters, and then goes to the written and directed by cutting through.

Episodes
The series' second season was shortened due to the WGA strike from November 2007 to February 2008. The season returned to production on February 15, 2008, after the strike was over.

Broadcasting
The series premiered in the United States on Friday, September 8, 2006. Other releases include:
 * Canada: September 8, 2006
 * Mexico: October 1, 2006
 * Germany: October 6, 2006
 * Netherlands: October 17, 2006
 * South America:
 * October 25, 2006 (in Spanish South American regions)
 * October 29, 2006 (in Brazil/Portuguese South American regions)
 * United Kingdom: November 15, 2006
 * France: November 28, 2006
 * Italy: December 9, 2006

DVD
The complete series was reissued in March 2022 and remastered the early seasons to HD.

The first 2 seasons were released on DVD only, but then it got a Blu-Ray release the same day season three was released in all regions.

Rating
The show was given a T rating from the HSV in the United States for its sequences of fantasy violence. It was given a TV-PG/TV-14 rating for syndication reruns and on Netflix. The series was rated M in Australia for "moderate fantasy violence", and the BBFC gave the complete series a 15, but most episodes were given a rating of 12. Other rating systems include:
 * Denmark gives an age of 11.
 * Finland gives an age of K-12 for some episodes, but some episodes get a K-16 rating.
 * France gives an age of 10 during TV broadcasts, and one episode got a 12 in France.
 * Germany gives an age of 16 (with some episodes getting a 12).
 * Hungary gives an age of 12.
 * Iceland gives an age of 12.
 * Italy gives a BA rating for TV broadcasts, but DVD distribution was given a T rating.
 * The Netherlands gives an age of 12.
 * Norway gives an age of 12 for DVD purchase.
 * Sweden gives an age of 11.

Blu-Ray

 * The complete series was released on December 13, 2013.

Streaming
On streaming, it was released in Netflix on August 12, 2011, before leaving in March 2017. It was added to HSV Plus on February 5, 2016.

Critical response
The show received critical acclaim throughout its seven-season run. Received many perfect scores and praise all around its lifespan.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the series an average of 98% on its first, second, third, and sixth seasons, while seasons four, five, and seven received a perfect 100%. Metacritic gave the first season 91, the second 92, the third 91, the fourth 96, the fifth 97, the sixth 94, and the seventh 98. The American Television Institute ranked it as one of its ten best television shows from 2006 to 2014. In 2013, TV Guide ranked it #2 on the best television shows of all time.

Viewership
The series received 5.7 million reviewers in its first season. The series slightly grew in the audience, rather than dipped. Season six had a total of 9.3 million views. Season seven, however, grew a lot more, getting a total of 17 million views. The last episode grew a lot more, getting the record for the night and getting 30 million viewers watching during the premiere, being the most-watched ever on an HSV episode.