Writer: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Dick Cangey
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Release Date: November 20, 2007

Before the inception of the television show, The Wild Wild West, there had never been another show like it. Sure, there had been plenty of westerns. There had also been more than one show that focused on secret agents. Never before had the two concepts been meshed together and this show proves just how well these two unlike concepts could fit. A surprise to everyone at how good a show The Wild Wild West could be, fans of the show know the magic of it and the appeal of its star, Robert Conrad.

Conrad was the consummate hero. He was the man every woman wanted and the man every man wanted to be. Little girls found him to be adorably handsome and little boys dreamed of growing up to be just like James T. West. The Wild Wild West was a show that transcended generations. It was a show the family could watch together. There were elements of comedy, drama, science fiction, and a thriller all in one supercharged television show. It’s no wonder the show was so successful considering it managed to transcend through all of these genres in a realistic, believable, and ultimately entertaining way.

Release Information:
The Wild Wild West first premiered on September 17, 1965. Though I’m a fan of westerns and secret agent thrillers, I was not yet a thought. My parents were still somewhat young themselves when this show first aired. I never got to see the show when it was new, since I had yet to be born.

While I had seen the sporadic The Wild Wild West rerun here and there, I never really truly was able to enjoy the show until the first season was released on DVD in June of 2006. After watching all of the episodes in quick consumption I was hooked. When season two of The Wild Wild West was released on March 20, 2007, I knew I had to get this box set, as well.

When I found out Paramount Home Video was releasing The Wild Wild West – Third Season and I would have the chance to review this box set, I jumped at the chance. The Wild, Wild West – Third Season was released on November 20, 2007. The season is available in a six disc set and can be purchased at local and online retailers for $36-$40. The Wild Wild West lasted for four seasons. The third season had 24 episodes. Spread across six discs, this means there are four episodes per disc.

The Wild Wild West – Third Season Plot
The plot for The Wild Wild West is a bit outlandish. This comedy, western, drama, spy television series follows the story of James T. West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin). The two are secret agents for the U.S. Government. Under the government of President Grant, West and Gordon must work in the Old West. What is cool about the show is the fact that these two have access to gizmos that James Bond might have been jealous of, had he existed in the 1870s. These gizmos aren’t necessarily realistic for the time period, but they sure make the show fun!

In season three of The Wild Wild West, the show was revamped to include more grit and realism. This means that there is less gadgetry and more realistic storytelling for the audience to enjoy. The Wild Wild West in its third season gave many veteran actors the chance to show off their skills, in their younger days. Two that come to mind are Robert Duvall and Harry Dean Stanton (currently of Big Love fame). The great team of Conrad and Martin (who had amazing chemistry), an exceptional line of guest stars, and some very intense storytelling make the third season a favorite amongst fans of the show.

There are 24 episodes included in this six disc box set. The episodes are listed in the order in which they aired on television. Episodes in this set include “The Night of the Bubbling Death”, “The Night of the Firebrand”, “The Night of the Assassin”, “The Night Dr. Loveless Died”, “The Night of the Jack O’Diamonds”, “The Night of the Samurai”, “The Night of the Hangman”, “The Night of Motezuma’s Hordes”, “The Night of the Circus Death”, “The Night of the Falcon”, “The Night of the Cut-Throats”, “The Night of the Legion of Death”, “The Night of the Turncoat”, “The Night of the Iron Fist”, “The Night of the Running Death”, “The Night of the Arrow”, “The Night of the Headless Woman”, “The Night of the Vipers”, “The Night of the Underground Terror”, “The Night of the Death Masks”, “The Night of the Undead”, “The Night of the Amnesic”, “The Night of the Simian Terror”, and “The Night of the Death Maker”.

Out of all of these episodes, my favorites are “The Night of the Falcon”, where Robert Duvall portrays Dr. Horace Humphries, a simple country doctor with a rather evil obsession (does blowing up towns with the Old West’s version of terrorist weapons count?!), “The Night of the Turncoat”, where a thief turned Benedict Arnold, Elisha Calamander (John McGiver) finds a way to discredit West, who is released from the special forces, only to be pulled into a plot by Calamander that could end in West’s demise, “The Night of the Assassin”, which takes place in Mexico and has the gruesome twosome stopping an assassination plot aimed at killing the Mexican President, and “The Night of the Hangman”, where Lucius Brand (Harry Dean Stanton) is an innocent man who is framed for a murder he didn’t commit.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
I was surprised by how well The Wild Wild West – Third Season transferred into a cleaner, crisper, 2007 format on DVD. Considering the third season aired between September 1967 and February 1968 the visual quality of The Wild Wild West – Third Season is absolutely stunning. The colors are more vibrant. The picture is crisp. The transfer, at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 in full frames, is free of any visible artifacts or other compression problems.

The sound is equally as good on this disc. The sound is available in Dolby Digital English mono. The audio transfer has improved enough to make the show more enjoyable. Sound effects, dialogue, and music all co-exist without running each other over and the music score for the show (one of the best themes of all time) is absolutely amazing to hear in the Dolby format.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
Unfortunately, there are no special features included on The Wild, Wild West – Third Season DVD. While some minor bonuses were included in previous season releases, this one has nothing and it is disappointing to say the least. Nevertheless, this DVD Box Set is worth the purchase for the episodes, if nothing else.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
The Wild Wild West – Third Season is a must have DVD for nearly anyone who likes classic television, comedies, campy humor, spy shows, westerns, and a blend of genres all rolled into one. With so many elements, it is easy to see why so many different fans loved this show. As someone who is addicted to The Wild Wild West, getting the third season DVD was the icing on the cake for me this Christmas. This one is highly recommended.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: The Wild Wild West, Third Season, TV Show, Western, Secret Agent, spy, Robert Conrad, James T. West, Artemus Gordon, Ross Martin

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!