Flight 29 Down
Title card
Format	Television series
Created by	Stan Rogow D. J. MacHale
Starring	Allen Alvarado Corbin Bleu Hallee Hirsh Jeremy James Kissner Johnny Pacar Lauren Storm Kristy Wu
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	26 + 1 TV film (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Stan Rogow D. J. MacHale Shauna Shapiro Jackson Gina Watumull Rann Watumull
Running time	24 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Discovery Kids
Original run	October 1, 2005 (2005-10-01) – August 25, 2007 (2007-08-25)
External links
Official website

Flight 29 Down is a television series about a group of teenagers who are stranded on an island. It was produced by Discovery Kids.

The show was created by Stan Rogow (Lizzie McGuire, Darcy's Wild Life) and D. J. MacHale (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Pendragon Book series).

The executive producers are Rogow, MacHale, Shauna Shapiro Jackson, and Gina & Rann Watumull. The first two seasons aired on Discovery Kids.

The "third season" of the series, which started filming February 5, 2007,^[1] was produced as a four part film, instead of the episodic format of the first two seasons.^[2] A promo debuted for Flight 29 Down: The Movie during the second season's finale.

The show is filmed in O'ahu, Hawaii.

[edit] Premise

The show follows a group of teens stranded on a South Pacific island in the Federated States of Micronesia after they ditch their plane (a De Havilland Heron) in a tropical storm while flying to an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau^[3]. A plot device of a video diary powered by a solar battery charger allows the kids to talk about themselves and to the camera about their everyday struggles, the island, and each other. It plays out as a "Lost" show for teens. It also has many similarities with Gordon Korman's trilogy Island.

[edit] Cast

The main cast of Flight 29 Down (from left to right): Johnny Pacar, Kristy Wu, Hallee Hirsh, Allen Alvarado, Corbin Bleu, Jeremy Kissner, and Lauren Storm.

[edit] Main cast

• Allen Alvarado as Lex Marin
• Corbin Bleu as Nathan McHugh
• Hallee Hirsh as Daley Marin
• Johnny Pacar as Jackson
• Kristy Wu as Melissa Wu
• Lauren Storm as Taylor Hagan
• Jeremy Kissner as Eric McGorrill

[edit] The "lost" cast

• Tani Lynn Fujimoto as Abby Fujimoto
• B.K. Cannon as Jory Twist
• Blade Rogers as Ian Milbauer
• John Kapelos as Captain Bob Russell

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main characters

[edit] Nathan McHugh

In the first season, Nathan brags about how he was in Boy Scouts, therefore thinking that he should be the leader of the group. He starts to develop a crush on Daley, who becomes the leader, and tells nobody, except for his best friend, Melissa, who accidentally tells every one. In the second season, he finds out that Daley does like him. Nathan makes quick decisions -- though they're not always the greatest ones. In one episode, Nathan climbs a tree to attempt to get coconuts for the group when there is actually a big bunch of fruit near the base of the tree. He always tries to fix anything wrong with the group.

[edit] Taylor Hagan

Taylor comes onto the island thinking that their being stranded was only temporary. Her life of being pampered and spoiled has made her literally useless to the others, however, she shows some of her hidden talents. For example, she helps Jackson improve his fishing skill through small notes and on one particular trek through the island, she discovers a trove of fruit. She believes everyone has a function in the group that they are good at which makes her come to the realization that she is good at parties and having fun. She creates the holiday, Chilloween, which was featured in one of the episodes. In the first season, she proves that she hates being messed with and will go at lengths for revenge (revealing Melissa's video diary). A recurring problem in the second season is the relationship she and Jackson develop much to the dismay of Melissa. By the end of the series, people recognize her as a more competent and a genuine person. Through the series she becomes more hard working and more aware of the others' feelings.

[edit] Eric McGorrill

Eric is a bit of a flirt with the girls. He is more of a slacker and a comedian than anything else. He also tends to manipulate people to get out of various responsibilities and chores. Eric looks at other people's video diaries and announces their secrets to either one person or every one. He hates lugging water, and caused the lighter to break leaving the group with no source of fire. However, he later fixed it. Eric helps Nathan when he becomes trapped under the plane, so he has a good side too. He wants to get off the island so he sneaks around taking stuff, though his actions are eventually discovered by Lex who tells Melissa. Due to allergies, Eric becomes ill if he eats shellfish.

[edit] Melissa Wu

Melissa has been the best friend of Nathan since kindergarten, and is one of the only level-headed ones on the island. She has an occasional habit of being overly hard on herself. She also has a crush on Jackson, which he becomes aware of when Taylor reveals it to everyone after Melissa accidentally ruins one of her shirts. She often tries to be everyone's friend, which causes her to lie in one episode. Melissa had a secret crush on Jackson when she wanted to be with him on the way back to school to talk to her friend, Meg that she likes Jackson. At first Melissa doesn't like Abby, but in time she overcomes that and becomes friends with Abby.

In Season Two she becomes distraught when Jackson and a matured Taylor grow closer. This problem is temporarily resolved as Taylor does not go west with Abby though Melissa and Jackson go (as well as Eric). Melissa, Jackson, Eric, and Abby are on the same groups since 1st season of Flight 29 Down.

[edit] Cody Jackson

Cody goes by his last name, Jackson. He is a quiet, reserved, 16-year old male who generally keeps to himself (as he was the new kid at Hartwell High). He was befriended by Melissa at school, who extended him the trip invitation. On the island, Jackson brings order to the group when it is needed. He in the first episode befriends Lex and unlike everyone else he listens to him. As a result, he is elected the leader of the stranded kids and continues to keep the peace. In the second season he passed the responsibilities of leadership to Daley because of all the drama. A love triangle between him, Melissa, and Taylor emerges in Season Two when he begins to grow closer to a matured Taylor. However, in the final moments of the film, it becomes apparent that he likes Melissa more. Only going by the name Jackson until the Flight 29 Down film, before they get saved Melissa asks Jackson if Jackson was his first or last name. Jackson replies,"It's Cody, Cody Jackson".

[edit] Daley Marin

The recently elected class president of Hartwell High School, who beat Nathan by 10 votes. She is a hard worker and a bit of a perfectionist. Daley is Lex's stepsister (her father married Lex's mother about a year ago after her mother died), though this is never elaborated upon. Daley has developed a crush on Nathan, who likes her as well. She, however, is much more secretive about this, confiding about it only to Melissa. Daley even kisses Nathan on the cheek once because he saves her from drowning. Daley tells Nathan that she doesn't like him, because she doesn't want to start a relationship on the island. They do, however, agree to become a couple once everyone is off the island and back home again. Daley is the leader of the group and wants to handle situations in a civilized manner. She is fond of democracy and resolving matters through voting. This ultimately causes a divide in the group. Eric, Jackson and Melissa go to explore the west side of the island with Abby while Nathan, Taylor, Lex and democratic Daley stay at the camp.

[edit] Lex Marin

The youngest of the group and Daley's younger 10-year old (turns 11) stepbrother who is intelligent, charismatic, and very observant, although the group constantly ignores him or put his ideas down, stating that "he's not old enough". Lex seems to get along well with Jackson. He always comes up with the best ideas on how to adapt to the island and make use of its resources. He seems to be the motivation of the group. Whenever everyone else feels like quitting or giving up, Lex comes up with a brilliant idea to help everyone feel better. In the episode "Mazeathon", he creates an obstacle course. For Chilloween, he makes a shower that has warm water to make the island more like home. He has even made a shelter that lasted through many violent storms. As shown in several episodes, he misses the others from the plane and wants Abby to find them. In Hotel Tango, Lex surprises everyone by saying it was Daley's fault the group separated and does not want to listen to her anymore.

[edit] The "lost" characters

[edit] Abby Fujimoto

Abby left with Jory, Ian, and Captain Bob Russell to explore the island and look for help. She is never seen again until Episode 10 "Eight is Enough". The others found her dehydrated, sunburned, and unconscious by a tree. The survivors take her in gives her water with crushed aspirin (Lex's idea). In episode 11 "Abby Normal", she and Lex prepare a surprise party for the others. While the others are dancing, Abby sneaks away and leaves a letter saying that she is going to look for the others. She is seen many days later in Episode 24 "Good Luck Abby", she goes through the island taking injuries. In the end, she goes back to camp angry and tells the others they haven't been through anything hard. She stays with the gang until Episode 26 "See Ya", where she goes back to look with the others along with Eric, Jackson, and Melissa. Eric left because he had it with the others, Jackson left because he was restless, and Melissa left because she wanted to be with Jackson and find the others. Abby reunites with Jory and Ian in Episode 29, part three of the Flight 29 Down film, "The Hotel Tango".

[edit] Jory Twist

Jory left with Abby, Ian, and Captain Bob Russell to look for help in the island. She is never seen again until part three of the Flight 29 Down film, "The Hotel Tango". As Abby, Eric, Jackson, and Melissa are exploring the ruins of a building, they find Jory at the end of the ruins. She tells Abby that she was okay, but Ian and Captain Russell were not. She also says Russell had gone insane during the flood when he suffered a head injury and Ian broke his leg when he fell through the floor of a building. Out of the four, she is the only lost character not injured. She later helps distract Captain Russell while the others try to steal the boat the Captain had been obsessing over.

[edit] Ian Milbauer

Ian left with Abby, Jory, and Captain Bob Russell to find help on the island. He is never seen again until part three of the Flight 29 Down film, "The Hotel Tango". He broke his leg when he crashed through the rotting floor of a building. In addition, he also has a fever. While the others attempt to steal the boat, he and Jory distract Captain Russell. He constantly mentioned that "They should just leave me here" and "Go back without me" to which Jory and Melissa both strongly admonish him. On the trip back to the plane, his fever grows steadily worse to the point where he can't ignore the pain.

[edit] Captain Bob Russell

Captain Bob Russell led Abby, Jory, and Ian with him into the island to look for help. He is never seen until part three of the Flight 29 Down film, "The Hotel Tango". He bashed his head during a flood and is mentally unstable. He tries to burn down the camp to avenge his destroyed boat and airplane, but the others manage to stop him. After the rescuers arrived, he tells Jory he is sorry and helps carry wounded Ian.

[edit] Episodes

[edit] First season

A flight with ten kids and one pilot crashes on a tropical island after a storm results in an engine explosion. All survive. Three of the kids and pilot leave to explore the island. The rest elect a leader and try to survive on their own. Later, one of the three is found but soon leaves again. A huge monsoon ruins the camp and their communication equipment. However, brief contact with another plane had been established before the destruction.

[edit] Second season

The children continue to survive but a storm left their camp in ruins, as well as their plane washed out to sea. Daley is elected the new leader and she begins a democracy. The plane washes back on shore with a huge hole on its side. The survivors begin to learn that the island was involved in World War 2 when they find a time capsule from a general who once was on the island. They soon figure out there must be some life on the island.

[edit] Film

The castaways split into two groups. One stays on the beach, and one travels to find life on the island. Just when they think the place is deserted, they find an old concrete hotel used in WWII, along with other old buildings rotting away. They find the pilot, and the two other survivors in the hotel. The pilot has a bad sickness that makes him go crazy. In the end the castaways are saved by the Navy just before Typhoon Melissa hits the island and destroys everything it touches.

[edit] DVD releases

All seasons have been released on DVD. The first season was released individually in 3 volumes, but later released on a first season package. Season 2 was released in one package and the series finale was released separate from the other DVDs. With hidden episode "Island Bathroom".

In 2008, all the seasons have been released on DVD in Sweden by Pan Vision.

[edit] Book releases

[edit] Sequential releases

[edit] Special releases

[edit] Differences between the books and the series

• In the episode, "Groundbreaking", when the castaways individually approach the box and imagine what would be in it, but in the book, Scratch, the survivors have a meeting and explain what they thought the box was filled with.
• In the book, Ten Rules, Lex's parents had a divorce, but in the film, he mentions that his dad died.
• The episode "Survival Of The Fittest" is before the episode "Mazeathon", but in the books, it's the other way around.
• The books have parts added to them that are not in the series.
• In the book, Static, Melissa had the idea to have an election, but in the series, the kids all contributed to the idea.
• In the book, Scratch, "Groundbreaking" is supposed to be first, but "He Said, She Said, He Said" is before that episode.
• In the books, the episodes "The Tide" and "Home Sweet Home" had been cut out in the storyline due to the fact that they finished building Lex's shelter.
• In the book Static, Daley and Nathan go to the back of the plane to get the life raft; in the episode "Arrival", they do not.
• In the book Scratch, Melissa tells only Daley that Nathan likes her, not everybody at once.
• In the episode "Chilloween" Jackson plays "I Won't Stand Alone" but in the books he doesn't.

[edit] Music

Sam Winans composed most of the music of Flight 29 Down. Corbin Bleu, Nathan McHugh, sang "Circles" in the background in "He Said, She Said, He Said." Also, Johnny Pacar, Cody Jackson, sang and played with a guitar "I Won't Stand Alone" in "Chilloween."

[edit] Broadcasting

Flight 29 Down debuted on NBC as part of Discovery Kids on NBC on October 1, 2005 and was also broadcast on the Discovery Kids cable television channel the following Monday. It now airs every evening as part of the @DK block on on Discovery Kids, and at various times on weekends.

The first season was aired on SVT (Sweden) during Summer 2006, as a part of the breakfast show Hej Hej sommar (Hello, Hello Summer). The second season aired in the same program during summer 2007, and started August 7. The show aired in Finland (season 1 and season 2) during Summer 2006 as a part of the breakfast show Summeri. It is also aired on the Belgium channel Ketnet.

The show premiered in Latin America, March 10, 2007, at 21:00 on Boomerang (Latin American TV channel) Latin America

The show's first season also aired on TV3 Slovenia during the Summer of 2007. It is not known if TV3 Slovenia will air the second season or the film, The Hotel Tango.

The show premiered in Canada on Family on June 2, 2007. The show also was aired in Saudi Arabia by MBC3

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Flight 29 Down

• Flight 29 Down at the Internet Movie Database
• Flight 29 Down at TV.com
• Flight 29 Down: The Movie at the Internet Movie Database