My dad always says, “If it looks like a chick flick and sounds like a chick flick…”, actually maybe it was that analogy with a duck. Either way you cut it, when I was offered the <em>October Road: The Complete First Season</em> box set I looked to the cover and I felt a chick flick that was drawn out into a series coming on. Now before anyone starts complaining I will state that was not completely what I received, though there were some issues I had with this show that may prevent me from running to the television when season two begins.

October Road is the classically standard case of the successful guy who makes it back to his small town to deal with all of the things he left behind. Something I found cliché, which is also a basic storyline of the show is that the lead character, who left and returns to the small town, is a successful author that (you may have already guessed it) suffers from writer’s block.

This is a storyline we have seen a million times over, so it really needs to be done in a way it hasn’t previously or it needs to at least stimulate from a new angle, which it does not. As with most shows, October Road has good and bad qualities. It will suit the needs for some, but never all, and it’s likely that the path to the Emmys will be one that is not traveled too often for this show because it’s watchable and decent, but it’s never truly great.

Release Info:
October Road: The Complete First Season is available through Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Released on October 30, 2007 this set includes the entire first season and a few bonus features in a two disc set. The October Road box set retails at Amazon for $19.99 and should be going for around the same at any local retailer.

The <em>October Road: The Complete First Season</em> Plot:
Nick Garrett (Bryan Greenberg) graduates high school and plans a six week vacation to Europe. On his way out of his small town he informs his four best friends and his girl that he will be back. He has a business planned with his best friend Eddie (Geoff Stults). Before leaving, Nick’s girlfriend, Hannah (Laura Prepon) makes him promise he will come back, but it’s a promise he doesn’t keep until much later.

Ten years later, Nick is living in New York and is a successful author. He writes a book that links the feelings of 9/11 to the ones in his adolescent childhood years and it’s a hit though not as fictional as he keeps proclaiming it is. The problem is creating something that will be a worthy follow up. Nick comes down with a horrid case of writer’s block (wouldn’t you know) and he considers an offer to head back to Knights Bridge to teach a seminar at a University on October Road.

If he goes back he risks having to explain himself to everyone. The famous novel seems to be so reminiscent of these people in his life, even though he swears its fiction. He goes back in hopes that maybe he can get rid of his writers block and get back to work. Let’s be honest though, if he didn’t go back the show would have been called “Nick with Writers Block in the City”, not October Road. He had to go back and go back he does.

October Road makes you think about how things never really change. Nick meets up with Hannah and realizes that he is in love with her. Add in her ten year old son (are you doing the math here, people?), Sam, and you have a ready made family if all goes well. Of course, not all goes well because Nick also has college co-ed Aubrey (Odette Yustman) that is interested in him. The basis of the show is an evening soap opera. It’s almost sad how nothing changes. Nick’s friends are exactly the same with exception for one overly neurotic friend, Phil (Jay Paulson) who will not leave his home due to 9/11. He just likes staying at home better.

The amusing thing is that homebound Phil has a budding love for a pizza delivery girl (Lindy Booth). There are many soap opera-ish elements at work here. Owen (Brad William Henke) is the strong and steady member of the gang and an all around good guy. He is married and his wife shows her loyalty to him by having an affair with Ikey (Evan Jones.) You even have the perpetual bully that never seemed to grow out of his high school idiocy. In this case that would be Ray “Big Cat” Cataldo (Warren Christie.) Then we have Big Cat’s opposite in the harmless Eddie who also forgot that life involves moving on. Despite the fact that Eddie is chasing younger girls and being a womanizer in an attempt to keep his youth, he falls in love with Janet the Barmaid (Rebecca Field). Once this happens, he works hard to show that he is a good guy and that perception isn’t always all there is to a man.

While things improve as the season goes on, there are only six episodes. I am guessing by this ABC wasn’t expecting any huge windfall with this series either. However, the viewers felt differently and there were enough viewers to warrant a second season. From the Aubrey, Nick, and Hannah love triangle to the affairs and underlying familiarity of the need to go back home, October Road hits some notes that are higher than others.

Unfortunately, for me, it never manages to become the must see television show that I like to sink my teeth into, but at the same time it is comfortably watchable. It will never be a guilty pleasure, an obsession, or a necessity. Chances are, I will not seek it out when it’s on television, but the DVDs were not a waste to watch. I just wouldn’t offer one of my primetime hours for this versus something else that might be on a different channel.

Audio/Video:
The October Road box sethas audio and video that is decent. I don’t have the specific specs though the video appears to be in widescreen format and it is clear for the most part. Colors are decent and everything comes through without grain or hard to see spots. Audio sounds about like Dolby Digital 2.0 though I could be wrong. The audio is easy to hear and there are not too many volume issues so it’s safe to say it’s 2.0.

Special Features:
October Road: The Complete First Season includes multiple trailers for some home video releases that are out or will be out soon. The trailer for the sequel to National Treasure is also included. Other special features found in this box set are deleted scenes, a blooper reel, and a “Making of” featurette that lasts about ten minutes.

Bottom Line:
October Road: The Complete First Season is hardly life changing television. Things start out slow, offer a lot of silly and unnecessary storylines, and show a lot that could have easily never been filmed. That being said, October Road has one or two redeeming qualities, as well. People that find soap operas appealing will like October Road. This small town story is not the worst thing on television. I recommend renting it or catching it on television before buying this two disc set.

Rating:

Technorati Tags: October Road, Complete First Season, Laura Prepon, Soap Opera, Primetime, DVD Box Set, Television Show Review, Buena Vista Home Entertainment

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