To celebrate the big 20, a repackaging of all eight fantastic seasons will be available in a collectible red toolbox, on May 10!

Season 6 Bloopers (Bonus)

According to the Press release:

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of ABC TV’s highest rated family comedy series of the 1990’s, Walt Disney Studios unveils the complete DVD collection of Home Improvement on May 10th, 2011. Just in time for Father’s Day, this incredible limited edition collection is packaged as a stunning red toolbox that includes all eight seasons on 25 discs, an exclusive Binford ‘all-in-one’ tool as well as hours of entertaining bonus features for viewers of all ages to enjoy at the suggested retail price of $129.99 in the U.S./$149.99 in Canada.

Home Improvement, a top-rated and beloved TV series that aired from 1991-1999, stars Tim Allen (Toy Story 1, 2 & 3, Wild Hogs) as Tim Taylor the accident-prone TV host of a do-it-yourself home projects program called “Tool Time,” Richard Karn (The Pooch and the Pauper, Air Bud) as Al Borland the trusty, flannel-wearing sidekick and co-host of “Tool Time”, Patricia Richardson (TV’s “The West Wing,” “Strong Medicine”) as the wonderfully supportive wife Jill, who is always by her husband’s side as they undertake the challenge of raising three mischievous sons – Zachery Ty Bryan (First Kid, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) as Brad, Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Tom and Huck, Man of the House) as Randy and Taran Noah Smith (Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home) as Mark. And whenever Tim Taylor finds himself at a loss, next-door neighbor Wilson, played by Earl Hindman (TV’s “Ryan’s Hope”), never fully seen, but always heard, can be counted on to dole out home-spun advice from behind his fence.

Co-creators and executive producers Carmen Finestra (TV’s “The Cosby Show,” “Punky Brewster”) and David McFadzean (What Women Want, Where the Heart Is) provide the final word on the series in their insightful audio commentary. Besides the live reunion special, additional bonus content includes a collection of funniest moments presented by “Tool Time” girl Debbe Dunning, a two-part featurette entitled “Loose Screws” highlighting a compilation of some of the biggest laughs in the show’s history, and of course, the legacy of fantastic bloopers that occurred over the years.

Call of the Wild (Film)

More from the release:

Tim Allen’s character Tim Taylor has been ranked #20 in TV Guide’s “50 Greatest TV Dads Of All Time” list, and Tim Allen won a Golden Globe award for Best Actor In A TV Series, 1995. The show won seven Emmy® Awards for lighting and photography direction (1992-1996, 1998-1999) and was nominated for eight Emmy® Awards (for outstanding comedy series 1992-1994; Patricia Richardson Outstanding Lead Actress 1994, 1996-1998; Tim Allen Outstanding Lead Actor 1993).

Technorati Tags: Home Improvement, 20th Anniversary, Eight Seasons, Sitcom, Comedy, ABC, Tim the Toolman Taylor, Tim Allen, DVD Box Set

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date:
DVD Release Date: January 18, 2011
Online Availability: Amazon for $34.99

Ash and I love Merlin. I discovered the first season on Netflix last summer. Ever since then, we’ve been racing to catch up with the series, which is in its third season on SyFy, currently. We had a chance to check out Season Two on Hulu, before owning this Complete Second Season. Of course, Merlin is a series worth owning. It is a travesty we in the U.S. do not get BBC One, so we can watch Merlin and other great shows when they originally air in Britain. However, luckily, we have the chance to at least watch it when it airs on SyFy, after the initial run on BBC One is completed.

There are so many reasons to like Merlin. The acting is great. Veteran actors Anthony Head and Richard Wilson are central figures in the cast. They complement the acting of the younger, less experienced counterparts. Leads Colin Morgan (Merlin) and Bradley James (Arthur) have great chemistry and excellent comedic timing. Colin Morgan’s popularity has been soaring recently and that is largely due to his exceptional talent as a actor. Even Katie McGrath and Angel Coulby put in fantastic performances. The addition of Emilia Fox near the end of season two just adds to the caliber of actors who pass through the episodes of Merlin. Fox is a rare acting jewel who sparkles as brightly as she did in The Pianist. It’s nice to see her back in Season Three, even if she is there to wreak havoc on Camelot.

You can’t come into this series and expect it to be like the legend. Otherwise, you are going to be highly disappointed. Merlin is a new, unique adaptation. Fans of the legend are going to have to suspend their disbelief. Merlin and Arthur were not around the same age in the Legend. Guinevere was not a servant. It can be argued until we’re all blue in the face about the lack of black people in England during the time in which the legend is set, and how the creators have chosen to ignore these race issues, but this does not make the show any less entertaining. It is a Sci Fi series, so you should already be suspending your disbelief.

In a twist, magic has been outlawed by Arthur Pendragon’s father, Uther (Head), who has his own secrets concerning the practice of magic, which come to light during Season Two. This means that Merlin, who has been told by the Great Dragon (voiced by John Hurt) that he and Arthur’s futures are intertwined, must hide his ability as the greatest of wizards from Arthur and everyone else, save for his trusty guardian, court Physician, Gaius (Wilson). While it is sometimes frustrating to see how selfless Merlin is and how little credit he receives when helping Arthur, the dynamic between the two actors is excellent enough to carry viewers through until the day Merlin can reveal his secret.

Merlin: The Complete Second Season Episode Synopsis’

#2.1 – “The Curse of Cornelius Sigan”
Original Air Date: 19 September 2009

Uther’s men make a startling discovery, when they come upon a secret chamber filled with treasure, and a tomb covered with a massive, blue stone. The only person who holds the key to the new, guarded area, is Arthur. When a new servant, Cedric, shows up and makes Merlin look like a fool, Arthur hires him to take over for Merlin. What Merlin soon discovers is Cedric has ulterior motives, involving the blue stone. When Gaius discovers the tomb is that of Cornelius Sigan, the most powerful sorcerer in history, it is already too late, as Sigan has taken over Cedric’s body. In order to save Camelot from Sigan, Merlin must make a terrible promise to the Great Dragon, so he may receive instruction on how to take Sigan down.

#2.2 – “The Once and Future Queen”
Original Air Date: 26 September 2009

Arthur and Gwen share their first kiss, when he stays with her for a spell. He is hiding out so he can partake in the Camelot jousting tournament anonymously. Arthur discovers that his jousting partners have been letting him win simply because he is the future prince. Gwen is, at first, put off by Arthur’s arrogance, which she calls him out on, but her house provides a sanctuary for Arthur, in a time of need. The moor assassin, Myror, has been paid by King Odin, of a neighboring kingdom, to kill Arthur, and there is a bounty on his head. When Myror discovers the secret identity of Arthur, Merlin must save Arthur from impending death.

#2.3 – “The Nightmare Begins”
Original Air Date: 3 October 2009

Morgana’s nightmares continue and things start to happen as a result of them. She becomes convinced that she has magic and fears for her life. Gaius lies to her, to try and protect her, but Merlin cannot sit back and let her continue to go down a road where Uther might discover her secret. He attempts to connect Morgana with the Druids, who he believes can help her. Unfortunately, Uther believes that she has kidnapped by the Druids, so he sends Arthur out to rescue her and kill the Druids.

#2.4 – “Lancelot and Guinevere”
Original Air Date: 10 October 2009

When Morgana is kidnapped with Guinevere, she manages to escape. Gwen convinces her to get to safety, when they are being chased, and she is recaptured, in Morgana’s place. Since the person who seeks Morgana does not know what she looks like, they decide to pass Gwen off as Morgana. Lancelot is visiting and recognizes Gwen, so he devises a plan to save her. In the meantime, Arthur goes against his father’s wishes and heads off to rescue the woman for whom he has developed feelings.

#2.5 – “Beauty and the Beast”
Original Air Date: 24 October 2009

Lady Catrina shows up in Camelot, and woos Uther. Unfortunately, she is really a troll who must drink a potion once a day to keep her normal-looking appearance. She is accompanied by her servant, Jonas, who does her bidding and keeps serving her the potions. Gaius has met Catrina before, and he is suspicious at her transformation. After Merlin discovers her true identity, they set out to convince Uther he is falling in love with a troll. Uther, bewitched thanks to the magic pendant “Catrina” gives him, asks her to marry him. Merlin’s magic will not reveal her true identity, so he must find another way to stop this insanity.

#2.6 – “Beauty and the Beast II”
Original Air Date: 31 October 2009

Merlin is accused of theft by Lady Catrina, who has become the new Queen of Camelot. He is able to switch her potion with a fake one Gaius created. He also must hide out since Uther still is bewitched. When Catrina turns into a troll, only Uther remains enchanted by her spell and fails to see her for what she really is. In order to get Uther to realize exactly who he has married, Merlin must make him cry real tears. To do that, he must kill Arthur.

#2.7 – “The Witchfinder”
Original Air Date: 7 November 2009

Uther’s obsessions with finding magic in Camelot hit a peak when he hires Aredian to rid his kingdom of magic once and for all. Aredian is a witch hunter, who is unrelenting in his quest to hunt down witches. Merlin and Morgana, both who have magic and are hiding it, are afraid Aredian will discover their secrets and have them executed by Uther. Gaius worries for himself and Merlin. When Aredian decides to cast blame upon Merlin for being a sorcerer, and gets witnesses to make up stories about the boy wizard, Merlin must find a way to shift blame from him and save his own life.

#2.8 – “The Sins of the Father”
Original Air Date: 14 November 2009

Arthur accepts a challenge to the death. When Morgause, who turns out to be a woman warrior, gets him in a position to die or accept her challenge, he chooses to do as she asks. Little does he know she has sent him on a quest that allow him to discover the truth about his mother. Armed with new information that is devastating to him, Arthur returns to kill the man responsible for all of this, Uther. Only Merlin stands in his way of committing the deed.

#2.9 – “The Lady of the Lake”
Original Air Date: 21 November 2009

Merlin cannot resist saving a Druid girl, who is being kept prisoner due to her magical nature. He keeps her hidden and falls in love with her, putting himself at great risk and in grave danger to keep her safe. Camelot is also being attacked by a mysterious creature and Arthur and his men must hunt the beast down. With the increase in security, protecting the girl takes a lot more out of Merlin, and with her secret, which makes any chance of happiness seem impossible, he must try to find a way to get her to safety before she is the one being hunted down and killed.

#2.10 – “Sweet Dreams”
Original Air Date: 28 November 2009

Uther invites five rulers from the five nearest kingdoms to Camelot for a conference promoting peace and solidarity. Among the guest are King Olaf, who is over protective of his beautiful but spoiled, arrogant daughter, Vivian and King Alined, who is more interested in creating chaos then peace. When Alined’s jester, Trickler, uses sorcerery to make Arthur and Vivian fall in love, something that will drive Olaf crazy and lead to war between his kingdom and Camelot, it is up to Gwen to help Merlin snap Arthur out of his love-sickness.

#2.11 – “The Witch’s Quickening”
Original Air Date: 5 December 2009

Morgana is persuaded to help Alvarr, a wizard, steal a crystal from the vaults of Camelot. Mordred, the Druid boy she helped, is convinced she will help them, especially when she learns the crystal can help people with magic. The real goal by Alvarr is destroy Camelot with it, so Merlin and Arthur must go after the wizard and the crystal. Merlin happens to catch a glance at the future, which terrifies him, and Morgana is disillusioned by her place in Camelot, so she helps Alvarr escape his fate, after being caught.

#2.12 – “The Fires of Idirsholas”
Original Air Date: 12 December 2009

Morgause sends the revived, deadly knights of Medhir to attack Camelot. Only Arthur and Merlin survive the attack of the knights, so they must return to Camelot. Back in the kingdom, Morgana is used as a vessel by Morgause, to bewitch everyone. They fall asleep and cannot defend Camelot from the approaching knights. Merlin is given advice, but he must free the great dragon to get it. Realizing Morgana is the vessel used, he must use her to bargain with Morgause and stop the attack.

#2.13 – “The Last Dragonlord”
Original Air Date: 19 December 2009

Morgause takes a half-dead Morgana, having called off the attack in exchange for saving Morgana’s life. Uther believes she has been kidnapped. The dragon, finally free, begins its assault on Camelot. Arthur and Merlin are sent by Gaius to find the last remaining Dragonlord, Balinor, who Gaius had helped escape when Uther persecuted all of them. The Dragonlord can control the Dragon, and Merlin soon learns he has a special connection to Balinor, but when something happens to the last Dragonlord, it is up to Merlin to set things right in the kingdom or see it destroyed by the creature he let loose.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The visual quality for the episodes contained within Merlin: The Complete Second Season look as good as when the show is airing on television. While presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the anamorphic widescreen picture isn’t perfect. There are instances of aliasing in certain scenes, though these aren’t so noticeable, unless you are looking for them. The colors are rich and deep, while the level of contrast is decent. For television, the transfer is great. This is a Sci Fi show with a great deal of special effects. In this area, things look amazing. However, imagining this with a Blu-Ray level of quality in the transfer leaves me wanting more than what is available. Merlin would look amazing in Blu-Ray, so lets hope BBC and WB consider re-releasing and upgrading this show. It’s worth it!

I was hoping that the audio for this set would feature a 5.1 upgrade, but sadly, it does not. Despite this fact, the original, Dolby Digital stereo track is quite dynamic. Special effects are lively. They come through loudly and clearly. There is no need to volume toggle as the sound of the dialogue is consistent. The soundtrack for this show is amazing. It would be nice to make use of better sound technology to provide an already great track, to make it stand out even more. This kind of show would benefit with a surround sound experience and enhance the experience of watching. However, what is here is free of faults and is not too shabby to listen to, either!

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There were more bonus features than I thought would be included in the Merlin: The Complete Second Season set. The BBC went out of their way to include some pretty cool features for fans of the series. BBC One is always very involved in their productions, so many of the bonuses are things that have aired on the BBC. They are a treat for those of us in the U.S. who never had the chance to see them before.

Here is a list of the bonuses included in the Merlin: The Complete Second Season set, with a short description of each:

Cast And Crew Introduction To Season Two – This is one of those filler pieces. The cast and crew of the series discuss how awesome season two of the series is. There is a lot of back patting going on here.

Cast And Crew Audio Commentaries – A variety of cast members offer audio commentaries on various episodes throughout series two of the show.

Behind The Scenes – This is a 13-episode special of Secrets and Magic. It looks at the filming and provides a behind the scenes look at each episode in series two. Each episode is between 10-15 minutes in length. The cast and crew of the show participate in the special, and give a sneak peek into what it is like to work on the show.

The Making Of Merlin This is an expanded, half-hour feature for Secrets and Magic. It examines the Making of the entire second season of the show! There are plenty of fun tidbits, and it even talks about the origins of Merlin’s spells!

Photo Gallery – Self-explanatory feature.

Wallpapers – You can install them as your wallpaper backgrounds on both Mac and PC.

All in all, this set isn’t too bad. The best parts involve Secrets and Magic. However, the wallpapers are pretty cool, too!

Bonus Features: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I love Merlin, and would own this set for just the episodes. Anything else in this set is gravy. If you like fun, lighthearted Sci Fi shows, that have the ability to dazzle with storyline and depth, you need to check out this series. While I love anything British, I also love when those British things happen to be extremely entertaining. We never miss a night of Merlin, which airs on Fridays on SyFy. However, for the days/nights in between when it isn’t on it’s fun to pop in this series and play the DVD to remind myself how awesome the series really is. This set comes highly recommended and so does the series. I’m glad it’s been renewed for at least another year, and that Merlin and Arthur can have many more, new adventures together.

Overall Rating: 4.29 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Box Set Review, Merlin, Season Two, Series 2, BBC, SyFy, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, British TV Show, Sci Fi, King Arthur, Camelot, Richard Wilson, John Hurt

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: 7 November 2009-22 May 2010
DVD Release Date: September 28, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $32.99

What’s a show to do? When the main purpose of the first season comes to an end, all a series can do is move on with a new story. That is exactly what Legend of the Seeker does. It makes sense because the show is based on Terry Goodkind’s epic fantasy series, The Sword of Truth. The first season seems to go along with the first book in the series, as we are introduced to the Seeker of Truth, Richard Cypher and the world of magic and mystery he lives within. This season, the series’ second is based, primarily, on Stone of Tears, which is the second book of the series. Though I have not read the books, what I have heard is that the series is respectful of the books, but is more loosely based upon it then stringent to following the books exclusively. Goodkind has also been quite supportive of the series.

I became interested in Legend of the Seeker because of the Raimi/Tapert connection. The two produced the show, as they have other fantasy epics. I must confess, I have been a longtime fan of Xena. I enjoy the work Raimi and Tapert do together. As a pair, they compliment one another. So, I had been looking forward to seeing Legend of the Seeker before it came out. Well, I need to tell fans of past Raimi/Tapert series one thing…do not expect this to be like their previous endeavors. When the show first aired, many complained the show was not as fun as Xena or Hercules. If you are looking for a show embedded in camp, with lots of laughs, that does not take itself too seriously, then you will be severely disappointed. Legend of the Seeker is not that lighthearted. It is a Sci Fi drama series, with some pretty dark topics, so this is not the typical Raimi/Tapert comedy. Still it has redeemable qualities unique to itself.

Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season contains all the episodes of the final season of the series. Though this was a short lived endeavor, both seasons are a lot of fun to watch. My biggest complaint is not really that. It is more a word of caution to those who have never seen Legend of the Seeker before. You need to watch this series from the very beginning. The Sci Fi concept is not one that is easy to grasp by walking into it in the middle of it. Starting at Season Two will just be confusing as the characters and their stories have a lot of history from the first season. For instance, it is hard to grasp why certain characters betray others or why Richard’s true heritage is so significant if you have not seen the first season.

Ultimately, Legend of the Seeker is a nifty series. It is fun and complex. The characters of Richard, Kahlan and Zedd are likable. It is always good to want to root for the protagonist. The series progressed and had some deeper plots and storylines than we’ve seen with other Sam Raimi-Robert G. Tapert productions. This is a solid Sci Fi series that ended its run, too soon. Yes, it is no Xena but it was never meant to be. For what it was, this series was pretty great, so fans can enjoy both seasons now on DVD, together.

Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season Episode Synopsis’
There are 22 episodes for the second season of Legend of the Seeker. There is a possibility there will be spoilers for this series, so if you have not seen it and do not want to know what happens, skip the following section.

#2.1 – “Marked”
Original Air Date: November 7, 2009
While they are celebrating the ending of the first season and the death of Darken Rahl, Richard Kahlan and Zedd are attacked by a beast from the underworld, known as a screeling. Richard discovers his true ancestry, a secret involving the Rahl family, thanks to a D’Haran captain who served under Darken’s father. Because of this, he is deemed the heir of the Rahl empire and the soldiers pledge the allegiance to him. Also, Richard discovers that the terrible events ending the first season caused a tear between his world and underworld, which has unleashed evil on his world and everyone in it. Cara is left for dead when she is betrayed by other Sisters of the Agiel. She later accompanies Zedd, Kahlan and Richard on their mission to find the Stone of Tears, which will repair the tear between the two worlds.

#2.2 – “Baneling”
Original Air Date: November 14, 2009
Their quest to find the Stone of Tears takes Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara to a D’Haran death camp. There they discover that the tear between worlds has allowed the dead to return to the world of the living as Banelings. They must kill every day for the Keeper to remain here. They also learn that the key to finding the Stone of Tears rests in the hands of a young man, Flynn. Flynn is killed and brought back to life by Cara, but not before Darken Rahl sees markings on his palms, which identify him as the key. Rahl sends an army of Banelings after him that Richard must fight, before they continue their journey, with Flynn.

#2.3 – “Broken”
Original Air Date: November 21, 2009
Cara faces many hurdles after she tells Richard, Flynn, Zedd and Kahlan that all the Confessors in Valaria have been killed. Cara also confesses she is the one who killed Dennee, Kahlan’s sister. When Kahlan goes into blood rage mode, Cara has no choice but to flee. She returns to her hometown of Stowecroft, where she is reunited with her sister, but it is not long before she is arrested and must face trial for being a Mord’Sith. Her judge just happens to be Kahlan, whom Richard believes will not give her a fair trial. He tries to defend Cara, but she seems to have no remorse and confesses to more killing. When the schoolteacher is revealed to be the Mord’Sith who taught Cara, they are both sentenced to death by confession.

#2.4 – “Touched”
Original Air Date: November 28, 2009
When Kahlan discovers one other Confessor, Annabelle, is alive, she and Richard set out to save her. Annabelle is afraid, and manages to escape with Flynn, though she accidentally confesses. They are being pursued by a wizard, who wishes to capture Annabelle and steal Kahlan’s Confessor powers. In order to protect herself, Annabelle starts confessing men, but goes a little too far when she confesses Richard. To free them, Kahlan and Cara manage to take the wizard’s Quillion, which they use to drain Annabelle’s powers. Flynn leads Richard to a tomb and there he finds an amulet with an orb in it, which will help him on his journey.

#2.5 – “Wizard”
Original Air Date: December 5, 2009
Shota casts a spell on Zedd, which causes him to have trouble remembering things. A confused Zedd leaves the group, as Shota manipulates him by making him young. She convinces youthful Zedd to find a new Seeker to replace Richard and to look for the Stone of Tears, returning his magic to him so he can take away the Sword of Truth and compass Richard has. Zedd ends up in a town, which is in direct threat due to the tear in the veil between worlds. He proclaims he is the new Seeker, and Salindra, a woman he meets, is his Queen. There he is building his kingdom when his Queen is killed. She returns as a Baneling, who lures Zedd into the Underworld, with Richard’s prized possessions. Richard must follow him there and ultimately save him from himself and Rahl, while Cara pursues Shota.

#2.6 – “Fury”
Original Air Date: December 12, 2009
Richard and Cara kill a group of ruthless slave traders who were imprisoning a group of villagers, but the way they helped was unwanted, as the deaths upset the matriarch of the villagers. They are members of a pacifist group, the Minders, who promote peace, not violence. However, not all members are disappointed, as they felt turning the other cheek was no way to deal with their subjugation. These villagers ask Richard to help them learn how to protect themselves for future battles. Unfortunately, they are pacifists for good reason, as Minders in self-defense training face a building rage, that may consume them and kill Richard. Richard’s own rage runs rampant and gets out of control when he threatens an injured Cara and Kahlan. Zedd helps Richard to calm down and control himself, and in turn, the compass changes its direction.

#2.7 – “Resurrection”
Original Air Date: January 9, 2010
Richard, Kahlan, Zedd and Cara follow a general who is making trouble for others. They follow him to a brothel being run by Denna. She has plans for them as she brings back Dennee and attempts to convince Kahlan to kill Cara, so Denna can rule the Midlands. She kills Richard and brings back one of her followers in his body, to use as a pawn. Rahl tells Richard he can return for a baneling and he accepts eternal torture instead. Once the group discovers Richard is not Richard, they attack Denna, kill the fake Richard, bring the real Richard back and send Dennee into hiding. Denna manages to escape with the compass.

#2.8 – “Light”
Original Air Date: January 16, 2010
Denna is pursued and manages to escape with Zedd as her prisoner. Richard is incapacitated by severe headaches. The Sisters of Light reveal to Richard he is a wizard. He must stop his quest to train as such or the headaches will kill him. He goes with the Sisters to the Palace of the Prophets, abandoning his search for Zedd. Kahlan and Cara continue in his place and track Zedd down. He has convinced Denna to give up the compass and fake their deaths, which they do, but the two women are too smart to fall for such tricks. They continue to pursue them until they find Zedd.

#2.9 – “Dark”
Original Air Date: January 23, 2010
The Sisters of Light continue to train Richard in the art of wizardry. He is puzzled when Sister Nicci tells him that they will not let him leave to deliver the Stone of Tears to the Keeper. He ends up allowing her to take his Han into her, so she can help him escape. He discovers that she is, in fact, a Sister of the Dark, who is a servant of the Keeper. The Sisters capture Nicci so he can escape, and a prophecy, which seems to imply that Kahlan must die for the tear to be resolved, appears in the Palace. Shota gives Zedd the option of naming a new Seeker, since Richard is gone. Unaware he is heading back to them, they name Leo, a blacksmith, as the new Seeker.

#2.10 – “Perdition”
Original Air Date: January 30, 2010
Richard must face his worst fears, which almost kill him, in the Valley of Perdition. Sister Nicci, who just happens to be the most powerful Sorceress in the world, sets out to kill Kahlan. Zedd, Cara and Leo search for Richard, and Cara starts to develop feelings for the new Seeker. The group heads to the Palace, where the Prelate lies to them. She does so to protect Kahlan, as she has remembered the prophecy that appeared on the Palace wall. Kahlan senses danger and escapes with the help of a Sister, ending up in the desert. Leo sacrifices himself to save Kahlan, when Nicci arrives to kill her, with Richard arriving just in the nick of time.

#2.11 – “Torn”
Original Air Date: February 13, 2010
Kahlan returns to Aydindril after a Wizard of the Second Order brings a magical amulet to her, which allows the Mother Confessor to return to Aydindril whenever she needs to. They discover that Prince Fyren has taken over rule of Aydindril and that he leads with an unjust hand. Kahlan struggles between wanting to go to Aydindril and staying with Richard, which results in two Kahlan’s splitting apart. The Kahlan who stays behind with Richard and Cara is caring and compassionate, while the strong, rational Kahlan, travels to Aydindril, with Zedd. Zedd soon notices that his Kahlan has no compassion when trying to help the people of Aydindril. Richard must intercede before Kahlan in Aydindril attempts to put Zedd to death.

#2.12 – “Hunger”
Original Air Date: February 20, 2010
Cara is killed in a battle to save villagers. She agrees to return from the Underworld as a Baneling because she wants to help Richard. When they find a merchant selling shadow water, which is said to cure Banelings, they consider giving it to Cara. This is the same stuff Zedd’s father once had, so he soon learns his brother, Thaddicus, has a hand in this. Zedd is able to make a magical map that will take him to the source of the water. Cara has to consider killing a companion or return to the Underworld. Thaddicus realizes what is going on and sacrifices himself for Cara, only to be tormented and tortured by Rahl, who wants to know where the source of the shadow water is. Rahl is able to destroy the source, but Richard still manages to find a way to save Cara. Thaddicus is also given a second chance at life, thanks to Cara and the Breath of Life, but this seems to be done in vain.

#2.13 – “Princess”
Original Air Date: February 27, 2010
Kahlan is kidnapped from their camp by trained Gars. Zedd informs them of the Margrave of Rothenberg, who owns the Gars. The problem is that his kingdom is without magic. It cannot be used to aid them and Kahlan is powerless to help herself escape. Nicci is resurrected by the Sisters of the Dark. Nicci and Margrave do business trading Kahlan for eternal life. Zedd disguises Cara as the Margrave’s future bride. Richard is her brother and Zedd is their aunt, so in these disguises they are able to enter the palace. Cara tries to woo him and gets the key to the dungeon. There, she finds Kahlan and the old Queen Arla. Once they are free, Kahlan and Nicci battle, again.

#2.14 – “Bound”
Original Air Date: March 20, 2010
Nicci is at risk when the Sisters of the Dark
The Sisters of the Dark, disgusted with Nicci’s lack of success in finishing the Mother Confessor, decide to do away with Nicci. Nicci escapes and casts a maternity spell, linking her heart to Kahlan. Richard and others agree to Nicci’s deal: Richard finds the Stone of Tears or Kahlan dies. As Richard goes with Nicci, Zedd reveals that the spell can be broken by reconnecting Kahlan with her dead mother, for which they would have to go to Kahlan’s father in order to reclaim her mother’s most treasured possession. Kahlan, reluctant to face the man who tortured and terrified her for most of her childhood, is forced to order his release from jail. Believing him to be a monster, she is shocked to learn that her father was more afraid of his children than they were of him. Meanwhile, the Sisters of the Dark send a poisonous spider to kill Nicci, who is bitten and tells a horrified Richard that she will die in a few hours. Kahlan and Nicci both drop into unconsciousness and stand at the brink of death. Zedd casts the spell with the necklace Kahlan’s father gave her mother. Nicci and Kahlan awake. Nicci kills the rogue sisters and lets Richard go, swearing allegiance to herself and exiting service of The Keeper.

#2.15 – “Creator”
Original Air Date: March 27, 2010
The Banelings begin to spread an illness, that kills several people. When a girl, Maia, is able to heal them, the four are stunned, because Zedd is incapable of helping the victims of the illness. Maia says she is the Creator, and she is on a mission to kill Richard, because she believes he is an agent of the Keeper. The compass reacts to the girl oddly, so Richard, Kahlan, Cara and Zedd attempt to verify her story. Cara goes looking for Maia’s husband, Jason, while Kahlan attempts to interrogate Maia. When the girl knows things about Kahlan’s life no one else knows, it appears her claim is valid. Richard goes on trial, with Kahlan and Zedd attempting to defend him. Jason reveals Maia is actually a normal woman who was given the Hans of the Sister of the Light. Rahl finds out the Creator is a human, and goes after her, but Maia manages to seal the rift, but almost died. When Richard saves her, she changes her mind on killing the Seeker.

#2.16 – “Desecrated”
Original Air Date: April 10, 2010
On their way to go get supplies, Kahlan and Zedd must turn back, because, as Kahlan says, they are being attacked by Gars. She leads the group to a barn, where a surprise party is being held for Richard’s birthday. The magician at the party tricks Cara and Kahlan and traps them into two boxes, before placing them in a tomb where they have no exit and limited air supply. The magician demands Richard kill five men in town, including the son of the Duke of the province, to avenge the death of the magician’s son. Richard won’t but he also learns the Duke has been deceptive. During his search for his female companions he releases a creature of revenge, the Nygaax, whom the magician orders to kill the five men. Richard kills the Nygaax, but Zedd gets in the way and becomes the Nygaax. Richard must find a way to save all three and punish the Duke who is behaving badly.

#2.17 -”Vengeance”
Original Air Date: April 17, 2010
Darken Rahl is mad his father Panis Rahl is alive. He convinces Thaddicus to go to his father to have him get revenge, since Panis kill his father. Zedd had promised to seek vengence for Thaddicus and he agrees to kill Panis. Flashbacks show Zedd instructing young Darken in the art of magic. Horace claims he knows where the instructions for the Stone of Tears are. Zedd cannot find Panis, but Darken reveals his disguise. He is Horace. Zedd returns to kill Panis, who tries to explain about the curse Carracticus cast on Darken, but this does little to help his case. Darken convinces the Sisters of the Dark to steal the scroll of Valdaire. As a skirmish for the scroll occurs, Panis makes the ultimate sacrifice for Zedd, and he is reunited with Darken. Richard learns about Darken’s true birth story and comforts Zedd who has lost much.

#2.18 -”Walter”
Original Air Date: April 24, 2010

Darken Rahl orders Sister Marianna to deliver the scroll to the Mord-Sith temple in Jandrilyn. Meanwhile, Richard’s group stops at a tavern where a former D’Haran soldier, Malray, spins a lengthy of Walter, a village beggar and Darken Rahl doppelganger who was captured and trained at the People’s Palace at a request from the D’Haran. Malray details all of his and Walter’s exploits following Rahl’s death. In the present time, Richard and the others head towards the Mord’Sith temple where the Marianna has the scroll. Walter is revealed to be trapped in the dungeon of this temple, but escapes with a servant girl, only to be chased by a group of D’Haran soldiers. Walter runs into the Seeker who holds him at sword point as Walter explains his story. The real Rahl appears and makes a deal with Richard to exchange the scroll for Walter’s body. Richard and the group send Walter’s soul into one of the bodies of the dead D’Harans and resurrect Rahl in Walter’s body. Rahl, now back among the living is attacked with a dacra by the confessed Sister of the Dark, Sister Tyra. Richard tells his brother that the dacra will be removed once he retrieves the scroll. Rahl convinces General Egremont and the Mord’Sith that he is real and obtains the scroll and gives it to Richard just as they are attacked by Rahl’s men. As the group fights, Walter and the servant girl escape with Rahl’s gold. Darken Rahl escapes, but knowing that Richard’s group must find a night wisp to reveal the scroll’s secrets.

#2.19 -”Extinction”
Original Air Date: May 1, 2010
The group of four arrive at the Nightwisps home to a surprise. Darken Rahl is there and the forest has been burned to the ground. He has the last of the wisps and wants to play “Let’s Make a Deal!” with Richard. Rahl’s ultimatum is simple. Richard lets him read the scroll and follow its instructions, so he can become the savior of the world or he kills the wisp, which will doom the human race forever. Richard won’t allow the wisp to be killed, so he heads out with Rahl. Cara and Kahlan take the wisp to the Northern Territories, to the rottoes, where it can give birth and save its race. The Keeper sends the Sisters of Dark to kill Rahl. They wound him and then are sent to find a former D’haran general to kill Richard. Rahl reveals he was a baneling when Richard killed him and that the Keeper has been deceptive with him. When the Brute arrives to kill Rahl, Richard pushes him through the rift to the Underworld. Zedd saves Rahl as the wisp gives birth. The Listener Renn finds out what to do with the Stone of Tears, when he reads Rahl’s mind, who escapes. The four must find the stone by the summer solstice.

#2.20 -”Eternity”
Original Air Date: May 8, 2010
The Mord’Sith Dahlia seeks Cara’s help in rescuing Cara and Darken Rahl’s son. He has been kidnapped by the Sisters of the Dark. Zedd and Cara go to find him while Richard and Kahlan search for the Stone. In a hidden valley of magic, the first generation of people give them the stone. They soon discover they are trapped in the valley with no way out. Elodie, a member of the ancient order, gives them a ring to contact the world outside. Dahlia betrays Cara and Zedd, with the latter being thrown in prison. Darken Rahl tortures Cara, trying to lure her back to his side. The Sisters of Dark imbue the agiel with the pain she has caused others during her life. When ordered to kill Zedd she manages to escape with him and find a ring to communicate with Kahlan and Richard in the valley. Zedd calls the Stone to him, but Cara steals it and takes it to Rahl who has broken her. The compass repoints and the two can leave the valley, as they and Zedd attempt to get the stone back.

#2.21 – “Unbroken”
Original Air Date: May 15, 2010
Rahl, Cara, Dahlia and some of the Sisters of the Dark to a rift where he plans to toss the stone. Instead, he tosses the Sisters. He sends Cara and Dahlia after the Seeker. Richard is unable to kill Cara, but Kahlan confesses and kills Dahlia. Cara is distracted and is knocked out, so they can go after Rahl. Zedd casts a spell to remove Cara from the magic holding her. This sends him into a new reality, where Richard and Kahlan marry, at the hand of Darken Rahl. Cara is a mother and school teacher in this reality. As such, she did not use her agiel on Richard when he joined the Boxes of Orden together and Kahlan kept the boxes from controlling him. The boxes allow him to marry Kahlan. She soon is pregnant with his child. The Keeper sends Marianna to kill Jennsen, but she is captured and her blood is drank. Richard and Darken Rahl come to save her, but the Sisters who captured her take control of them and steal the boxes. Richard loses his power, Darken defeats him and takes the Sword of Truth and he puts the Boxes of Orden together himself. Darken takes control of Richard, with Zedd and Kahlan trying to save him. Dahlia kills Cara, after Richard reveals Zedd and Kahlan’s plan and she tells them to serve Lord Rahl.

#2.22 – “Tears”
Original Air Date: May 22, 2010
Zedd casts a spell on Dahlia, which reverses things back and he finds Cara, Richard and Kahlan fighting banelings. Richard has the stone back thans to the spell of Zedd. The Keeper opens a huge rift to the Underworld to try and stop Richard. Richard is separated from his three friends, so he goes to defeat The Keeper alone. A young boy accompanies him on his quest from a baneling ravaged village. The Sisters of the Dark learn the boy, Declan, is the Keeper. He sends them to kill Kahlan because the prophecy says as long as she lives the Keeper will fail. Darken Rahl is attacked by Nicci, but he orders her to go help Richard. Nicci uses Kahlan’s han to confess Kahlan sending her to get the Stone from Richard. Nicci blinds Richard with glass to slow him down. He uses Declan as his eyes and they travel to the Pillars of Creation. A Mord’Sith sent by Darken to help joins forces with Cara and Zedd, and they end up killing Nicci. Kahlan swears to avenge the death because she is still confessed. Cara let’s Kahlan escape. Sister Vera warns Declan is not who he seems and she sends monks to go kill him. Declan gets the Stone and Kahlan attacks Richard, and as he is dying, his vow of love revives her to her normal state. Kahlan’s tears create a new stone, which they take to the Pillar, after Cara revives Richard. They seal the rift, and learn there is no magic more powerful than Kahlan and Richard’s love.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
I expect a really good picture for the episodes of Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season. This show is new and it has great producers, so the budget for this should not be too skimpy. The episodes in this set are displayed at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio in anamorphic widescreen. What is here looks pretty good. I failed to notice any major, glaring visual errors, so it is safe to say they aren’t any. Still, I feel a show like Legend of the Seeker would benefit from an HD release. I hope they put it on Blu-Ray at some point, because the Sci Fi and Fantasy elements are going to look even more awesome than they do on DVD.

The audio quality for Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season and its episodes is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is standard for any DVD release. The sound is dynamic. I did not have to volume toggle at all. I like that about Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season. The sound effects boom through the back channels and speakers and the music is full bodied. I still believe this could have been upgraded for an explosive release on Blu-Ray, though, which is why I cannot give the audio perfect marks. Besides the English track, subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a couple bonuses in this set that sweeten the deal of this release. Here is what is available.

There are a selection of extended and deleted scenes. These include:

The Story Of Panis from episode #2.1 – “Marked”
The Mother Confessor’s Return from episode #2.11 – “Torn”
Who’s Got First Watch? from episode #2.14 – “Bound”
Walter’s Transformation from episode #2.18 – “Walter”
What Could Have Been from episode #2.22 – “Tears”
The Importance Of Death from episode #2.22 – “Tears”

There are also two, very interesting featurettes. Here is information on them.

“Redemption of a Mord’Sith: Meet Cara” – A featurette all about Cara. Cara joins the group for season two. You get to meet Tabrett Bethell, a beautiful young actress who plays the Mord’Sith, Cara. She is a very interesting girl and this featurette explores her transformation into Richard’s right hand warrior. You will get to follow Bethell from read through to screen as she steps into that familiar, leather, Mord’Sith outfit and kicks some booty. This is an awesomely fun featurette, especially since Bethell is so entertaining.

“Under the Underworld” – This explores taking Terry Goodkind’s idea of the afterlife and bringing it into reality on film. This looks at the Underworld in his book series and how it compares to the Underworld created for the show. It also explores how the designers made the Underworld look as cool as it does, as they bring it to life.

While not a lot is here, what is goes above and beyond expectations for most series’.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
This is the final season of Legend of the Seeker. Fans of the series need to get this box set. If you are new to this series, start with season one. I highly recommend both the first season and Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season. Get them both if you want to watch an entertaining, engaging, series that is full of fantasy elements and a semi-corny ending to it. This story could be kind of crazy at times and it was a bit hard to follow for my friends who watched this with me who had not watched the first season. Still, this is a true blue Sam Raimi/Robert G Tapert show. It is done in its run, but immortalized in these two seasons, which are now both on DVD. Pick up Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season and the First Season Box Set. You won’t regret it.

Overall Rating: 3.71 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season, ABC Studios, Craig Horner, DVD Box Set, DVD Review, Television Show, Sam Raimi, Robert G. Tapert

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: October 1, 2009-May 13, 2010
DVD Release Date: September 14, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $32.99

I have never watched Private Practice regularly. Heck, it took me three seasons to start watching Grey’s Anatomy. By the time I started watching, Addison had long left the series and I had no attachment to her or her character. On the other hand, I have friends who’d been watching Grey’s since the beginning and when Private Practice came on, they switched over (some exclusively). I, liking Grey’s had no idea why they would stop watching Grey’s. I think the characters are interesting, and maybe I don’t have biases towards Addison and her ilk because I never got to know Addision in the first place. Still, there is a sect of Grey’s defectors that are Private Practice loyalists, and honestly, my curiosity as to why they converted to the new show exclusively has been piqued since this show started.

What I knew about Private Practice prior to watching this season of episodes included the following things:

1. Addision is the ex-wife of Derek Shepherd aka McDreamy.
2. The show is about doctors in a private practice set in Los Angeles
3. Amy Brenneman and Taye Diggs rock

That’s about all I knew. I am a fan of the latter two actors. I considered watching Private Practice for that reason, but it did clash with another television show I used to watch, that is no longer on the air, so I never really got the chance to watch Private Practice. Now that it is in it’s Third Season, I kind of feel like a stranger walking in on the middle of a show I know nothing about. The good news is that the show is relatively easy to catch up on, even if some stories overlap from episodes and seasons. The show follows a format similar to Grey’s in which many of the specific medical cases encapsulate one episode, but the personal lives of the primary cast members are affected over certain arcs of episodes.

I have to admit, I kind of like Private Practice. The acting is strong and the characters are dynamic and multilayered. The storylines aren’t as similar as I thought they’d be. Frankly, I was expecting a “Grey’s goes to California” type scenario where every episode was similar to one that already aired on Grey’s, but that isn’t what you get here. This is a new address, new locale, if you will, and therefore the show lends credo to this fact that being unique pays off. At least, in the case of this spinoff show, it just gets better and better.

I do have one complaint about this third season box set, and it is the same gripe I have with the sixth season box set for Grey’s Anatomy. There are some crossover episodes where Sam and Addison go to Seattle and Mark and Bailey go to Los Angeles. It would be nice if the episodes from the other series that go with the ones on this disc were also included. The only way to watch these two part episodes in their entirety is to own both box sets. Fans of Private Practice who do not watch Grey’s will have to waste their money on the Grey’s set if they want to own the full, two-part crossover episodes.

Private Practice Third Season Episode Synopsis’
Private Practice: The Complete Third Season features 23 episodes from the show, which airs on Thursdays after Grey’s Anatomy. The episodes are split across five discs. I have included information on what is available on each disc and a short recap of each of the episodes included. Just a note: There may be spoilers included in this recap, so if you do not want this season spoiled for you, then skip this section. Otherwise, read on.

DISC ONE

Episode #3.1 – “A Death in the Family”
Original Air Date: October 1, 2009
Violet has been left to die on the floor of her home, after her patient, Katie, attacks her and cuts out her baby. Pete finds her and takes her to the hospital. Addison and Naomi operate on her to save her life. In the meantime, finding her baby and whether it survived becomes a high priority. Violet’s precarious condition causes Pete to reflect upon his first meeting with Violet preceding the death of his wife.

Episode #3.2 – “The Way We Were”
Original Air Date: October 9, 2009
The members of the practice are worried about Violet, who is recovering physically, but is a mental and emotional wreck. Pete tries to ease the burden she feels, to no avail. Addison and Naomi contime to be at odds. Sam and Cooper try to get to the bottom of an odd case when a patient comes in with a stab wound. The man allegedly attacked his family and his wife stabbed him, but they aren’t sure this is really what happened.

Episode #3.3 – “Right Here, Right Now”
Original Air Date: October 15, 2009
In the first crossover of this season, Dr. Bailey comes from Seattle to Los Angeles with a kidney transplant patient and her donor sister, seeking Addison and the Oceanside Wellness staff’s help. Despite the girl having only 72 hours to get her transplant, Addison is not very happy that Bailey has come to ask for her help, and she is not alone. Sheldon and Pete find out who Violet’s baby daddy is, and Addison must deal with her relationship with Noah.

Episode #3.4 – “Pushing the Limits”
Original Air Date: October 22, 2009
When Addison, Sam and Cooper are volunteering, they meet a homeless teen mom and agree to treat her sick child. Violet struggles to connect with her baby, Lucas, but when she is counseling a rape victim who is pregnant, she has a meltdown, as her own attack resurfaces in a nasty way. Cooper is asked to buy out Naomi’s share of the practice, but he is having financial problems.

DISC TWO

Episode #3.5 – “Strange Bedfellows”
Original Air Date: October 29, 2009
When two of Naomi’s patients, Zoe and Amelia (who had their embryos switched) return to Oceanside Wellness it is Addison who must deal with them. She soon realizes this isn’t going to be easy to deal with, especially when complications arise that affect both women and their babies. Katie goes to trial and Violet is unsure she is ready to face her attacker. especially since she has been asked to testify against her. Charlotte attempts to woo Addison, Sam and Cooper into letting her join the clinic team.

Episode #3.6 – “Slip Slidin’ Away”
Original Air Date: November 5, 2009
The issue of genetically modified (designer) babies arises when there is a new hire at Pacific Wellcare. It is Naomi who must deal with this controversial issue. Addison gets a cat, which surprises her as much as anyone. She is flying solo for now, so a cat makes a great companion. Violet must wrestle with the idea of whether to use electroshock therapy on a patient.

Episode #3.7 – “The Hard Part”
Original Air Date: November 12, 2009
When Addison and Sam head into Malibu on a hiking trip, they must perform care to a couple they stumble upon. The woman is expecting and they have been stuck in their car following an accident. Back at the office, Charlotte, Cooper and Violet team up to treat a newlywed with quite the problem. Anxious about his wedding night he took too much Viagra and must deal with the consequences. When Pete and Sheldon go out to the bar, they end up falling for the same girl.

Episode #3.8 – “Sins of the Father”
Original Air Date: November 19, 2009
When Addison’s father, the Captain, arrives in Los Angeles unexpectedly, she isn’t exactly thrilled. Cooper refuses to cooperate with the authorities when it comes to a longtime patient. As a result, he is arrested. Pete attempts to help a man who is going to die, due to a terminal illness, stay alive just long enough for the man to welcome his new daughter into the world.

Episode #3.9 – “The Parent Trap”
Original Air Date: December 3, 2009
This is the first part of a two-hour episode that aired. The Captain realizes just how talented a surgeon/doctor his daughter is when she performs a very difficult surgery that goes in utero. They are able to relate to one another a little better after the experience. Sam and Naomi must deal with their daughter, Maya, who is attempting to act older than she is. Addison is shocked to learn about Violet’s indiscretion with her father.

DISC THREE

Episode #3.10 – “Blowups”
Original Air Date: December 3, 2009
In part two of this two-hour long episode, Addison initially believes that the Captain is sleeping with Susan, a family friend close in age to her, who runs the family clinic. When Addison’s mother, Bizzy, arrives, the truth about who Susan is with is revealed when she admits to Addison she is a lesbian. When an explosion occurs at Dell’s house, Betsy and Heather are injured and the clinic team must work to treat them.

Episode #3.11 – “Another Second Chance”
Original Air Date: January 14, 2010
In the second Grey’s crossover episode, the second part of a two hour special that had Addison and Sam in Seattle, Mark follows Addison back to Los Angeles in a desperate attempt to get her help in treating a problem with her pregnant daughter. Dell and Naomi struggle to raise their children together. Violet and Cooper have a major disagreement concerning the treatment of a patient.

Episode #3.12 – “Best Laid Plans”
Original Air Date: January 21, 2010
Maya tells Sam and Naomi that she is pregnant. Considering she is a teenager this announcement is rather shocking, and Naomi takes it to mean she has not been a very good mother to Maya. Pete gets up in Fife’s grill over a patient who has a bionic arm. Sam is left to deal with the aftermath of Maya’s announcement because Naomi is irrational about the entire matter.

Episode #3.13 – “Shotgun”
Original Air Date: February 4, 2010
Maya and Dink make plans to marry, which is upsetting to Sam. Naomi refuses to discuss the matter with anyone, especially Sam. Sam also wants to talk to Addison about what is going on between them, but Addison believes things are better left unsaid. Violet offers Charlotte her home, not knowing that Cooper and Charlotte have had a falling out, so Violet unwittingly is placed in the middle of their drama. Parents of twin girls, who are both ill, must decide which one can be saved by their newborn brother’s cord blood.

Episode #3.14 – “Love Bites”
Original Air Date: February 11, 2010
Sam supports Maya and her decision to marry Dink. When Naomi refuses to take part in planning the nuptials, Sam convinces Violet to help. Sam and Addison’s sparks cause tension between them as they attempt to deal with a suicidal patient together. Addison turns to Pete to deal. Cooper and Pete must treat a girl who has a strange bite mark on her neck.

DISC FOUR

Episode #3.15 – “Til Death Do Us Part”
Original Air Date: February 18, 2010
Violet and Sam work together with Maya to help her have the perfect wedding. Naomi continues to refuse to help in the planning process for a wedding she does not believe should happen. Naomi, Pete and Addison must team up to try to save a premature baby, who has been born at 25 weeks and is fighting for life. Charlotte has a new beau and Cooper suspects he has a drug problem.

Episode #3.16 – “Fear of Flying”
Original Air Date: March 4, 2010
Violet has escaped to Costa Rica, for a much needed break from her life, so Sheldon takes over some of her caseload. One of the patients he must help is Natasha, who is deathly afraid of flying. Naomi finds herself the third in a love tryst while Addison, Sam and Pete must work together to take care of their latest patient, a man with TB, whose wife is pregnant.

Episode #3.17 – “Triangles”
Original Air Date: March 11, 2010
Addison and Vanessa, Sam’s new girlfriend, disagree about how Addison should treat a patient who is the surrogate mother of three unborn fetuses inside her. The woman and all three babies are facing impending death if the right course of action is not taken. Cooper and Sheldon have trouble consulting together on a patient, due to their problems that concern Charlotte. Naomi feels torn between William and Fife.

Episode #3.18 – “Pulling the Plug”
Original Air Date: March 25, 2010
When a man decides to pull the plug on his dying, pregnant wife, the surrogate mother, he is forced to keep her alive and on life support after a judge rules he and the hospital must do so until her babies are born. Naomi is furious at Sam and Addison when she learns they have feelings for one another. Since William is out of town dealing with business matters, she turns to Fife. Addison takes a day off work and spends it with Pete and Lucas.

Episode #3.19 – “Eyes Wide Open”
Original Air Date: April 1, 2010
Addison gets a shock when she runs into Amelia Shepherd, the younger sister of her ex-husband Derek (aka McDreamy), who is on the team of top neurosurgeon, Dr. Ginsberg. Amelia is there to help save Kayla’s life, claiming to be able to do so after Ginsberg dismisses the case, saying nothing can be done. This causes tension between Pete, Sam and Addison. Charlotte convinces Cooper to help her with a sex ed seminar for the elderly, but their problems resurface when they attempt to work together.

DISC FIVE

Episode #3.20 – “Second Choices”
Original Air Date: April 22, 2010
Violet makes her return after escapades in Costa Rica. She is ready to reconnect with her son, Lucas, even though Pete and Addison aren’t sure it is a very good idea. Amelia gets up close and personal with Sam when it comes to matters of the heart. Sheldon pushes Charlotte back to Cooper to at least attempt to make up. Cooper must deal with a patient who eats anything and everything.

Episode #3.21 – “War”
Original Air Date: April 29, 2010
Violet files for joint custody of her son, Lucas. Pete, having raised the boy while Violet dealt with the trauma of his birth, fights back, refusing to give her custody. When he hires a tough as nails attorney, their personal lives are dragged into the public and their friends and co-workers are forced to choose sides.

Episode #3.22 – “The End of a Beautiful Friendship”
Original Air Date: May 6, 2010
Naomi puts her two “men” in a precarious situation. Having learned about William’s ALS, she begs Fife to help him by using an experimental treatment. Violet and Amelia work together to treat a woman with a brain tumor who must make a difficult decision concerning her life (can she live life with less quality) or death. Sheldon attempts to woo Charlotte.

Episode #3.23 – “The End of a Beautiful Friendship”
Original Air Date: May 13, 2010
Addison, Amelia and Fife work together to save the lives of Maya and her unborn baby. Sam is stunned when he works on a victim of a crash who comes in to be treated. Cooper attempts to make things right with Charlotte but his efforts are for naught, as the team is shocked by the death of one of their dear friends.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
If you have seen previous ABC television series releases before then you should already have a good idea of what to expect when it comes to the Private Practice: The Complete Third Season box set. The episodes are presented in anamorphic widescreen at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and they look great. You can expect the type of quality you see when the show airs on ABC. I would expect nothing less of a television show that aired in 2009 and 2010. It would be a sad day to see a poor transfer for a show like this one. Because this is a newer show, there are no discernible visual errors that hamper the viewing experience.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track is your standard audio track for a show of this caliber. It’s a newer show so the most standard audio is used. Since this is a dialogue driven show, don’t expect a dynamic surround experience. While the soundtrack makes use of various channels that round out the sound, the dialogue is fairly flat. That’s just the kind of show it is, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If this was an action flick, it’d be disappointing, but for a medical drama, this audio track fits.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Though Grey’s had far more bonuses in their latest box set release, the third season box set for Private Practice has a few goodies fans of the show can sink their teeth into. Like on the Grey’s first disc, the first disc of Private Practice includes an “ABC Starter Kit”. This is almost five minutes of recaps leading up to what has happened prior to the start of this season. If you are new to the series or need a refresher, this is great, but don’t expect to watch it very often after the initial viewing.

Disc Five features the bulk of the bonuses. Here is what is included:

“Kate’s Top 8″ – Over 12 minutes explore Private Practice star, Kate Walsh’s top eight moments from season three. These are the best parts of the season according to Addison herself. A cute bonus, this is worth a watch at least once. The featurette includes interviews with stars Kate Walsh, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, KaDee Strickland, Amy Brenneman, Paul Adelstein, Chris Lowell, Tim Daly, location manager Brian Haynes, creators/writers Shonda Rhimes & Betsy Beers, and costume designer Cynthia Bergstrom.

“Private Practice Deleted Scenes” – There are 13 deleted scenes that have been included minus audio commentary. They are organized by episode title.

“Private Practice Bloopers” – A little less than five minutes of fun gags and screw ups are included in these bloopers.

While there is not much here, the few bonuses are worth the watch…at least once!

Bonus Features: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The third season of Private Practice is actually pretty good. This is a nice set with some fun bonuses and it looks good to boot. If you are a fan of this show, you are definitely going to want to pick up a copy of Private Practice: The Complete Third Season. I am not usually an advocate of starting a series in the middle of its run on television, but I must be honest and say that I did not have much trouble figuring out who these people were and what their stories were. While I always advise people to start watching at the beginning of a series, starting now isn’t bad either. Pick this one up. It’s fun to watch.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Private Practice, TV Box Set, TV Show Review, The Complete Third Season, Season Three, Doctor Drama, ABC, Primetime, Box Set Review

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: September 24, 2009-May 20, 2010
DVD Release Date: September 14, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $38.99

I came into the Grey’s Anatomy game a little later than most. Ash and I started watching in season three. I did it because my girlfriend’s mom kept bugging us both to watch it. Ash and I were both fans of ER, so we like a good doctor drama. It is hard to really compare ER to Grey’s Anatomy, especially considering the cast in the early days of ER. Grey’s is also more central to the life of one character, Meredith Grey, and the events that happen at Seattle Grace, as seen through her eyes, while ER didn’t really have a focus point as far as characters went. Regardless, Ash and I started watching Grey’s. While it is not our favorite show on television by any stretch of the imagination, we continue to watch it because it does have some entertainment value.

The sixth season of Grey’s Anatomy had it’s ups and downs. There were stories that were enjoyable and others that seemed to be a major waste of time. The merger story, for example, was fairly lame. However, the story involving Owen Hunt and his war trauma (PTSD) was interesting, especially since Kevin McKidd is such a talented actor. In fact, as a fan of Rome I have to wonder why he is wasting his time and talent on a show like Grey’s? I am not saying Grey’s is horrible, but when you see a man in awesomeness that was the first season of Rome it almost seems like a step backward. Throughout this seasons of Grey’s there continued to be this sense of mediocrity. Stories we loved were balanced by pointless stories we hated. Derek taking over as Chief and the former Chief’s drinking problem seemed pointless, especially when his drinking problem seemed brushed over and just thrown in for dramatic effect.

The sad part is that the final episode of Grey’s was good (the final two). No, it was OUTSTANDING. It was enough to keep us watching next season, because it has made us hope that season seven will be better than the last. It has made us realize that good writing still exists for the show. If next season does not pick up on the action and interest, then perhaps it is time to retire Grey’s before it becomes too redundant. That is the problem with dramas, who outstay their welcome, and nobody wants this for Grey’s. For now, the show seems to be okay, but that is only if the stories continue to generate the interest they did at the end of the sixth season. The finale was a step far above all of the other episodes in this season, so here’s hoping that momentum continues.

I do have one major beef with the Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Sixth Season set. It involves the crossover episodes with Private Practice. When watching the shows on television, viewers who do not usually watch Private Practice could continue watching the crossover episodes when Private Practice aired. Considering they are technically not Grey’s episodes, they have not been included in this set…not even as bonus episodes. So, to see what happens during the crossover, which began during the Grey’s episodes, you will have to buy the Third Season set for Private Practice and vice versa for PP fans with the Grey’s set. It’s kind of a pain in the rear, especially with these sets as costly as they are, for 2-3 episodes that should have been included in the subsequent shows’ sets. This may be a relatively minor beef, but it made me annoyed, nonetheless.

Grey’s Anatomy Sixth Season Episode Synopsis’
There are 24 episodes split across six discs in the Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Sixth Season set. Here is a list of the episodes, with a brief description of each of them. Fair warning, these synopsis’ do include spoilers, so read at your own risk.

#1.1 – “Good Mourning”
Original Air Date: September 24, 2009
Following the end of the last season, where Izzie was ill due to her cancer and George was in a terrible accident after being a good Samaritan, the Seattle Grace staff try to save them both. At first, they do not realize it is George, and when they do and he dies, they are shocked. Alex tries to keep George’s death from Izzie, who has a miraculous recovery. Despite their sadness, Owen must deal with a patient who is a double amputee, and Arizona must find out why a teen is suffering from immense muscle pain.

#1.2 – “Goodbye”
Original Air Date: September 24, 2009
The Seattle Grace residents attempt to come to terms with the loss of George. Cristina and Owen fight the urge to have sex, because his therapist, Dr. Wyatt, feels it will be best, under the circumstances. Meredith and Derek, who have had their own faux marriage, have no problem in the sex arena. Owen must deal with his amputee patients, depression and Arizona must fight to diagnose her teen patient. Richard announces that Seattle Grace and Mercy West will be merging due to budget cuts.

#1.3 – “I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watchin’ Me”
Original Air Date: October 1, 2009
Bailey and Alex work together to try and convince a woman with a severe aneurysm, to have surgery. However, she is afraid that she will not make it through, leaving her son, who has schizophrenia, on his own. The staff of Seattle Grace compete in an attempt to keep their jobs. This leads to many problems between all of the doctors and interns. Izzie returns to work early in order to keep her job.

#1.4 – “Tainted Obligation”
Original Air Date: October 8, 2009
Meredith and Lexie’s father, Thatcher, ends up at the hospital. His liver is failing and he needs a new one. Lexie is not a match, but Meredith is, so she must decide between letting him die or putting aside her anger at him and saving his life. Izzie interferes with Owen’s patient, in a case that hits close to home, when she tries to help a patient with multiple tumors. Mark must decide to help an 80 year old who wants a better sex life, despite his children’s objections. He ends up tricking Cristina into helping him with this surgery.

#1.5 – “Invasion”
Original Air Date: October 15, 2009
As day one of the merger begins, doctors from Seattle Grace and Mercy West fight over surgeries and further job cuts. Callie’s father brings a priest to attempt to convince her that her relationship with Arizona and her bisexuality are immoral. Izzie is fired. Hurt and angry she leaves Alex a farewell letter and disappears, leaving him hurt and devastated. Dr. Bailey must head over to Private Practice when a potential kidney donation goes wrong.

#1.6 – “I Saw What I Saw”
Original Air Date: October 22, 2009
After an accident that leaves the ER in chaos leads to a burn victim’s death, which should have been prevented, the higher ups at Seattle Grace must interrogate all of the doctors to determine who is responsible for the patient’s death. In the end, they determine it was April, a Mercy West implant, and she is subsequently fired.

#1.7 – “Give Peace A Chance”
Original Air Date: October 29, 2009
Derek goes against Richard’s orders when he decides to perform a risky surgery. A lab tech at Seattle Grace, Isaac, has an inoperable tumor wrapped around his spine. His last chance of survival is a successful surgery with Derek. However, success may come at too high a price.

#1.8 – “Invest In Love”
Original Air Date: November 5, 2009
When the parents of Arizona’s 10 year old patient make a $25 million dollar donation, everything seems peachy-keen. However, when his condition deteriorates she must find a way to save him or face the wrath of the hospital. Owen and Cristina have problems. She kisses Jackson Avery, a Mercy West implant, at a party for Arizona and performs an unauthorized procedure against Owen’s wishes. Alex is charged with Izzie’s hospital bills since she is gone and they were married. He turns his anger into energy spent caring for a newborn. Arizona and Callie move forward in their relationship.

#1.9 – “New History”
Original Air Date: November 12, 2009
Owen’s surprise recruitment of a fellow Iraq War Veteran and doctor, which he does for Cristina, has the potential to backfire in his face. When Cristina sees Dr. Teddy Altman, a cardiothoracic surgeon who can offer Cristina the guidance she’s been dreaming of having, she not only questions Teddy’s skill, but also her relationship with Owen. Izzie returns, not to come back to Alex, but to get help for a high school teacher who was her mentor, who is suffering from severe dementia. Richard turns to the bottle due to all the stress he is facing.

#1.10 – “Holidaze”
Original Air Date: November 19, 2010
As the holidays pass, Cristina begins to realize that her original suspicions, about the attraction between Teddy and Owen, are very real. Mark and Lexie’s relationship hits a snag when Mark’s practically grown daughter, he never knew he had, appears at their door. Bailey’s dad, William, shows up and criticizes every move she has made in her life, much to her chagrin. Thatcher tells Meredith about his suspicions concerning Richard’s drinking habits, though Meredith defends Richard to him.

#1.11 – “Blink”
Original Air Date: January 14, 2010
Addison, from Private Practice, is brought to Seattle Grace by Mark. She is there to help perform a procedure on his daughter, Sloane, who is pregnant. Mark and Lexie further distance themselves and end up breaking up. Teddy pleases Cristina, when she allows her to lead on a complicated surgery, which upsets Owen, as he questions her motives. Derek suspects that Richard is drinking again, especially when he has Meredith help him perform a surgery.

#1.12 – “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”
Original Air Date: January 21, 2010
After an exhilarating surgery experience, Cristina realizes that she wants Teddy to be her mentor. When she tells Teddy that if she stays she will give her Owen, it creates problems between the three. Derek confronts Richard about his drinking problem. Izzie tries to win Alex back, when she returns again, but he realizes he does not need her and tells her to leave. Lexie confesses that she had sex with Alex. Despite having sex with Addision, Mark dismisses any attempt at reconciliation.

#1.13 – “State of Love and Trust”
Original Air Date: February 4, 2010
Derek is given the job of interim chief. He gives Richard an ultimatum. Richard can sign something that will make it so he can no longer practices medicine or he can sign a form that has him going to rehab and sobering up and he will have a job waiting for him. This pisses Richard off. The hospital faces a potential lawsuit when Bailey and Meredith’s patient wakes up mid-surgery. Teddy pages Cristina, which Owen begs her not to answer, creating drama between the two women and Teddy refuses to place Cristina on her service. Mark ignores Lexie who is devastated, and Alex gets his first taste of peds.

#1.14 – “Valentine’s Day Massacre”
Original Air Date: February 11, 2010
Mark and Callie try to convince Sloan to let them raise her baby, but she insists she wants to give the baby up for adoption….to a stranger. Lexie gets a new hairdo and Mark hits on her until he realizes it is her. Bailey goes on a date with Ben. The hospital is swamped with people when the roof of a romantic restaurant collapses. Some of the patients give Meredith a new perspective on being Derek’s wife and her duties as the wife of the Chief of Staff.

#1.15 – “Time Warp”
Original Air Date: February 18, 2010
It’s time for a blast from the past, when all of the residents must go listen to a lecture, as Derek has reinstated the lecture series. Bailey, Richard, and Callie discuss defining moments in their careers that changed them, and also emphasized specific, innovative surgical procedures they used in these situations. Callie’s are the most recent memories, and she looks at a polio case. Bailey remembers being a shy intern who stands up to the mouthy resident who isn’t looking out for her patients. In the most heartbreaking story, Richard explains how he and Ellis Gray treated a patient diagnosed with GRID (later known as AIDS). Next to the finale this is the BEST episode of the season.

#1.16 – “Perfect Little Accident”
Original Air Date: March 4, 2010
When reputable and famous surgeon, Dr. Harper Avery, is brought to Seattle Grace, the residents are abuzz with awe. When they learn that he is Mercy West implant, Jackson Avery’s grandfather, they are surprised to learn he isn’t quite in awe of his grandfather, the way they are. When Dr. Avery requests to have his surgery while awake, and he requests that Richard (who has just returned to the hospital) makes the decision/leads the surgery, it causes tension between Richard and Derek. Callie and Arizona attempt to hook up Teddy and Mark, to try and get them to move on from Lexie and Owen, but when Teddy just wants a fling and Mark wants a relationship, things become tense.

#1.17 – “Push”
Original Air Date: March 11, 2010
Lexie is distraught as Mark appears to be moving on with Teddy. The two (Teddy and Mark) go on a date, when Mark decides to take her out to lunch, after admitting he is ready to settle down and start a family. Ben and Bailey also go on another date, which ends better than both expected. Derek makes Owen and Richard compete for a difficult surgery and when Owen wins it, Richard is bitter about the situation.

#1.18 – “Suicide is Painless”
Original Air Date: March 25, 2010
A woman wants to end her life, due to a debilitating illness. Teddy turns to Owen to help in assessing the situation, but it just makes him have flashbacks about Iraq and some comrades who died there, despite him trying to save them. This also makes his feelings for Teddy resurface. Callie and Arizona have a serious discussion concerning their future.

#1.19 – “Sympathy for the Parents”
Original Air Date: April 1, 2010
Alex receives divorce papers from Izzie. The Seattle Grace crew is surprised to learn that Alex has a brother, when he shows up with a hernia he is hoping Alex can treat. Alex must get permission from Bailey to perform pro bono surgery on his brother, but their relationship is complicated, as it is revealed Alex hasn’t been home in years and his past isn’t as rosy as he’d like to pretend. Teddy and Cristina have a disagreement about how Owen should deal with the problems lingering from his time in the military. Arizona and Callie have a fight concerning parenthood. Sloan arrives at Mark’s in labor.

#1.20 – “Hook, Line and Sinner”
Original Air Date: April 29, 2010
Mark, Teddy, Callie and Arizona help Sloan deliver her baby, a son. Mark must deal with his grandson’s adoption. A boat captain with a shark hook through him comes to the hospital for treatment. When cardiothoracic surgeon Tom Evans arrives at Seattle Grace, Teddy freaks out, believing he will be taking over her chance at getting a permanent contract through the hospital. She turns to Owen for comfort. Arizona and Callie continue to have problems concerning Callie’s desire to have children.

#1.21 – “How Insensitive”
Original Air Date: May 6, 2010
Owen and Derek get in a fight when Meredith reveals to Teddy that Owen put in a good word for her, and she thanks Owen for it. Alex signs his divorce papers. Arizona leaves Callie because she does not want children and can’t keep Callie from that. A cute patient gives Callie her number. The Seattle Grace staff must undergo sensitivity training in order to deal with a patient weighing 700 lbs. Alex and Lexie turn their booty calls into a potential relationship at Meredith’s urging.

#1.22 – “Shiny Happy People”
Original Air Date: May 13, 201
Owen asks Cristina to move in with him, but Meredith has other plans when she tells Owen that he must tell Cristina that he tried to get Teddy fired, and she believes it is because he still has feelings for her. Teddy walks in on Mark with another woman in his bed. Bailey and Ben have a good time together, but he makes it clear he is serious about pursuing her. Callie urges Mark to go back to Lexie, whom he still has feelings for, but Lexie has decided she needs to move on with Alex.

#1.23 – “Sanctuary”
Original Air Date: May 20, 2010
Meredith learns she is pregnant with Derek’s baby. Both Teddy and Cristina don’t want to talk to Owen, and Callie is ignoring Arizona. Arizona must take out a little girl’s appendix. A woman who carries a colostomy bag is about to get her surgery. A man who was in a car accident and was shot while trying to give his insurance information is rushed to the OR. All this chaos is going on, as a disgruntled husband who lost his wife after Lexie, Richard and Derek pulled the plug on her at the hospital, shows up with a gun. Casualties occur as drama ensues.

#1.24 – “Death and All His Friends”
Original Air Date: May 20, 2010
As the shooter wanders around the hospital aimlessly picking who lives and dies, Christina is forced to operate on Derek to save his life. Mark sees Lexie with Alex after they must keep him alive, having been one of the shooter’s first victims. Bailey and her patient fight to keep Percy alive and Arizona and Callie find a common ground when they get stuck together in the Peds Unit.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer looks great. Since this debuted in 2009 and 2010 it should look stellar. It looks as good as it did on television, if not better. This is a new show, so do not expect to see the problems that older shows face visually. There is no visible grain or fuzz. The color palette utilized is vibrant with bright colors. The black levels have depth to them and there is just the right amount of saturation. None of the shows run too dark. Overall, this is as good as it gets for a television show.

The audio is as good as the visual presentation for Grey’s in its sixth season. The English, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound has decent leveling with consistent sounds that ensure no need for volume toggling is necessary. The audio utilizes the back channels, with limited sound effects and a brilliant score that eclipses each episode. Everything from the music to the dialogue is easily heard. Speaking of dialogue, everything the actors say is clear and crisp; just the way audio should be. Subtitles are available for the hearing impaired in English, Spanish, and French, so everyone can enjoy Grey’s.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
This set features plenty of bonus features. ABC usually does not leave its fans high and dry when it comes to its dramas, and this season of Grey’s does not disappoint. I’ve compiled a list of all of the goodies included in this set.

“ABC Starter Kit” – On disc one and coming in at just under five minutes, this is a great refresher that will lead in to the sixth season of the show. Fans can watch this recap to get up to speed on what has happened on Grey’s prior to the start of this set.

“Seattle Grace: On Call” – On disc four, this is a series of six webisodes, which were originally featured on abc.com. These shorts focus on some of the lesser seen, background characters and run, on average, 5-6 minutes in length. The last episode features a special appearance by Owen (Kevin McKidd) with a guitar.

“The Making Of Seattle Grace: On Call” – On disc four, once you watch the webisodes, you can watch the making of featurette, which explores the making of this web series. This featurette offers interviews with stars Mark Saul, Brandon Scott, Nora Zehetner, Steven Bailey, Joseph Williamson, Robert Baker, Gloria Garayua, Molly Kidder, Kevin McKidd, and associate producer Chris VanDusen.

“Chandra Wilson: Anatomy of Talent” – On disc five, this profiles the actress who has directed two episodes of Grey’s this season. Discussed are these episodes, Chandra’s Broadway career, and her win at the NAACP Awards, for directing. It also contains interviews with Chandra Wilson, Sara Ramirez, Patrick Dempsey, Justin Chambers, Chyler Leigh, Jessica Capshaw, Shonda Rhimes, Brian O’Brien, Shawn Emamjomeh, Gabriela Garcia, Leslie Stifelman, Amra-Faye Wright, and Melissa Rae Mahon. It runs almost 15 minutes in length.

“Dissecting Grey’s Anatomy: Unaired Scenes” – On disc five, there are 21 unaired scenes that are shown from this season.

“In Stitches: Season Six Outtakes” – On disc five, this is one of the funnier sets of outtakes we’ve seen.

Finally, there is the option to check out the Extended Finale Episode: “Death and All His Friends” and two extended scenes from “Time Warp”. In all, this is not a bad set of offerings and there is not anything that is too cheesy, either, which can be common in bonus features.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
In being truthful, Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Sixth Season had its ups and downs. Some storylines, like the Arizona-Callie relationship have grown on me (in large part due to the dynamic Jessica Capshaw), while others, such as the Sloane pregnancy, left a bitter taste in my mouth. With a powerful season finale and great episodes like “Time Warp”, the show has redeemed my hope that it can rebound from an overall lackluster sixth season. If you have seen all the episodes when they aired on television, you will already know if you want to pick a copy of this up. However, for those who are new to the series and want to sink their teeth into Grey’s Anatomy this is NOT the season to start watching. Try the first three seasons, which have better stories and more interesting character developments. Here’s hoping next season lives up to season six’s amazing finale.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: TV Box Set, Television, DVD, Box Set Review, Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Sixth Season, ABC, Primetime, DVD Review, Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Doctors, Seattle Grace, Hospital, Drama

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the latest adventures of Ralph Wiggum and all of Springfield’s finest when “The Simpsons” The Complete Thirteenth Season arrives on Blu-ray and DVD August 24. In addition and for the first time ever, fans will be able to purchase the molded head DVD more than a month early at the Fox Booth #4313 at San Diego Comic-Con International between July 22 and July 25. As an added bonus, they will also receive a collectible limited edition lithograph as a gift-with-purchase.

The longest running comedy, animated series and prime-time entertainment in television history,
“The Simpsons” has taken home the Emmy® for Outstanding Animated Program 10 times during its remarkable run. The hilarious thirteenth season features 22 episodes including two noteworthy standouts: the Simpsons’ trip to Brazil in “Blame It On Lisa” and Homer’s foray into medicinal marijuana in “Weekend at Burnsie’s.” Once again, a talented line-up of guest stars lend their voices including Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan, Matthew Perry, R.E.M. and the legendary Paul Newman.

“The Simpsons” immediately struck a chord with viewers across the country as it poked fun of itself and everything in its wake. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture, and the family members have become television icons.

“The Simpsons” The Complete Thirteenth Season is packed with special features including deleted scenes, audio commentaries on every episode, featurettes, storyboards, animatics, easter eggs and much more. The Blu-ray release also includes specially created menus with additional animation that does not appear on the DVD. The set comes in collectible packaging modeled after Springfield’s “special” child, Ralph Wiggum. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $59.99 U.S./$89.99 Canada and $49.98 U.S./$69.98 Canada respectively.

All 22 Episodes:
Treehouse of Horror XII
The Parent Rap
Homer the Moe
A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love
The Blunder Years
She of Little Faith
Brawl in the Family
Sweets and Sour Marge
Jaws Wired Shut
Half-Decent Proposal

The Bart Wants What it Wants
The Latest Gun in the West
The Old Man and the Key
Tales from the Public Domain
Blame It On Lisa
Weekend at Burnsie’s
Gump Roast
I Am Furious Yellow
The Sweetest Apu
Little Girl in the Big Ten
The Frying Game
Poppa’s Got a Brand New Badge

Special Features:
Audio commentaries on every episode featuring executive producers, writers, directors, cast and notable guest stars on select episodes including Stan Lee, Joe Mantegna, Delroy Lindo, Robert Pinsky and others.
Deleted scenes

Special Featurettes:
- A Token from Matt Groening
- Ralphisms
- The People Ball
- The 13th Crewman
- Blame It On The Monkeys
- The Games
- The Sweet Life of Ralph

Animation Showcases for eps. The Parent Rap and Sweet & Sour Marge
- Animatic with episode PIP
- Storyboard with episode PIP
Sketch Galleries
Commercials
Special Language Feature
Easter Eggs

“THE SIMPSONS” THE COMPLETE THIRTEENTH SEASON
Street Date: August 24, 2010
Screen Format: Full Screen
Audio: English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio (BD) / English 5.1 Dolby Surround (DVD)
Subtitles: English / Spanish (BD / DVD)
Total Run Time: 484 minutes

Technorati Tags: The Simpsons, The Complete 13th Season, TV on DVD, Homer Simpson, Bart Simpson, Lisa Simpson, Fox Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: October 14, 2009-March 3, 2010
DVD Release Date: June 8, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $39.99

The last time that I reviewed a season of Nip/Tuck it was for the Season Four box set. That was the first time I had ever seen the show. I loved it back then and since then, I haven’t watched it as much as I should have, but I have managed to catch the occasional episode. Still, I have a fondness for this show. I have admired the gossip from across the room without ever gaining a real attachment because I don’t watch the show enough. Even though I’m only an occasional fan, at this point, it was still a bittersweet moment to hear that the show would be ending. I suppose it’s better to go while the gettin’s good, but I am sure that fans will still miss this.

If you’re like me and you haven’t watched enough episodes to form an attachment you should check the show out. It’s filled with guest stars (everyone from Mario Lopez and Rosie O’Donnell to Vanessa Redgrave and Sharon Gless). The series is about a pair of guys that are plastic surgeons and the practice that they run together. The show dictates their daily lives, relationships, and the clients that they encounter at McNamara/Troy. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) have been friends since medical school and their relationship has had its share of ups and downs, as has their business. Sometimes plastic surgery isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, which is obvious when you see the types of patients they often encounter.

This season is like many of the others, from what I can imagine. You will encounter crazed patients, illegal activity, loads of plastic surgery, suicide, infidelity, marriage, divorce, and as much drama as one show can handle. Nip/Tuck: The Sixth and Final Season might not end up being the best season in the history of the show, but it’s certainly an effective end to a great show.

Nip/Tuck: Sixth and Final Season Episode Synopsis’
Here is a synopsis of the final episodes of Nip/Tuck.

“Don Hoberman” Aired: October 14, 2009 – Even though Sean is enjoying the relationship forming with Teddy (Rose McGowan) he can’t manage to find sleep. When Liz learns that Christian is not dying from terminal cancer the divorce proceedings involve her wanting half of everything. Kimber feels that she should become the on-site esthetician, since she went through those night school electrolysis classes. Due to depleting funds, Sean and Christian turn to the enemy (of sorts) and strike a deal. The deal involves Mike (Mario Lopez) using the surgical suites for a 10% fee and bringing in new business for the practice. Interestingly enough, some of the new business includes women looking for vaginal rejuvenation surgery.

“Enigma” Aired: October 21, 2009 – Teddy decides to end the engagement because she can no longer stand the addiction to sleeping pills, which causes Sean to overdose. In an insomnia-induced stupor, Sean heads out on the town and meets a junkie that loves to see other people get injured. Christian and Kimber get together with the plan of making a sex toy line molded out of Christian’s penis because they both need cash. Two parents come into the practice hoping that the doctors can help them with their son, who has satanic words and images plastered all over his head.

“Briggitte Reinhart” Aired: October 28, 2009 – Sean and Teddy do an about face and announce that they are no longer broken up and instead that they have eloped. Mike goes to Christian asking about the best ways to sexually please Kimber. Meanwhile, Christian’s plans to stop what has already started don’t work out as well as he plans. Briggitte Reinhold, a socialite, visits the practice for her second annual visit and wants to have leeches put on her face because she believes it will speed up the recovery time. A transvestite inquires about having a mask made that he can wear in public that will hide his identity.

“Jenny Juggs” Aired: November 4, 2009 – Christian attempts to help a woman that has enormous breasts (natural ones, at that), but her anger management issues may prove to be a major problem. Sean and Christian hear about “The Mime Bandit” and begin to wonder if Matt has some business going on that he shouldn’t be involved in. Teddy decides that she is going to kill Sean, Conor and Annie when they are on a camping trip.

“Abigail Sullivan” Aired: November 11, 2009 – Matt disappears, in hopes of ditching the cops, after his surgery to repair the gunshot he received. Julia returns from New York. Meanwhile, it is learned that Teddy has been murdered. Sean confronts the killer and in the process he manages to find out what Teddy’s real plans were. A pianist comes in because they need their parasitic twin removed from their shoulder. However, when the pianist has her twin removed, she suffers from a sort of separation anxiety.

“Alexis Stone” Aired: November 18, 2009 – Julia’s mom, Erica (Vanessa Redgrave) comes to town with her new husband, Renaldo. While there, she announces that she intends to take Annie and Conor and to care for them on her own. In order to do this, she convinces Matt to testify against his parents. Mike announces that he is engaged to Kimber. Liz wants to make amends with Christian. Meanwhile, after a night at the bar Christian picks up, and sleeps with a woman that used to be a man and wants to become male again.

“Alexis Stone II” Aired: November 25, 2009 – Erica discovers some shocking things about her new husband, which causes her to cool off on the adoption proceedings. Julia plots to make her mother suffer for all of the things that she did to her while she was growing up. A crazed prison inmate wants his cellmate, Matt to receive breast implants. Christian has to make the decision on whether to operate on his son or not. Alex decides that he wants breast implants when he realizes that he is only attracted to straight men.

“Lola Wlodkowski” Aired: December 2, 2009 – A series of events surrounding Kimber and her self-image and a pleasantly plump nudist cause Christian to reevaluate his thoughts on beauty. Meanwhile, Sean sees a couple, Tracy and Skip, who want to have surgery to remove Tracy’s nipples in hopes of becoming more like Ken and Barbie.

“Benny Nilsson” Aired: December 9, 2009 – Sean is shocked to find that his brother, Brendan is in town. Brendan, a drug addict, criminal has come to Sean seeking facial surgery to remove his meth-scarred look, but Sean isn’t so sure that’s the real reason he’s interested in surgery. Christian sees a man that wants his son to have surgery so that he can look more like him, though there are some shocking truths behind the relationship.

“Wesley Clovis” Aired: December 16, 2009 – Sean is stuck with a huge set of dilemmas when he’s offered a chance to set Matt free from prison, permitting Sean gives an obese death row inmate liposuction. When Christian finds out that Kimber is pregnant he orders her to have an abortion or he will leave. In return for the abortion, he offers to marry her if she will do it.

“Dan Daly” Aired: January 6, 2010 – Sean and Christian are planning to accept an award from their alma mater and as they do Sean realizes that he is sick of covering for Christian and the things that he does. Kimber spends her days as an interior decorator and all her free time worrying about her new husband and how faithful he is to her. A patient that has a disorder which causes them to self-mutilate comes in seeking surgery.

“Willow Banks” Aired: January 13, 2010 – Kimber cannot handle the changes in Christian’s appearance or how he treats her. It becomes so bad that she looks to her new client, Sean, for some affection. Christian will not operate on the supermodel that wants surgery in order to look ordinary.

“Joel Seabrook” Aired: January 20, 2010 – Kimber is lost, and has no clue what to do in either of her relationships. Christian, on the other hand, gets a clear head during a moment of auto-erotic asphyxiation. Sean hooks up with his old friend Dr. Ryerson and makes plans for more pro-bono surgeries.

“Sheila Carlton” Aired: January 27, 2010 – Christian looks to Brandy for comfort over her daughter, Kimber’s suicide. Knowing that Christian is in pain, Sean postpones his trip to Africa. When Sean’s friend Curtis is out of the country, Sean makes his wife feel at home in every way he can think. A woman is operated on after being scarred by a chimpanzee.

“Virginia Hayes” Aired: February 3, 2010 – Christian is played for a sucker when he operates on a small town girl that wants to be a Hollywood beauty, only to discover that the whole thing backfires in more ways than one. Escobar Gallardo’s daughter arrives in town seeking answers about her father from Sean and Christian.

“Dr. Griffin” Aired: February 10, 2010 – Sean and Christian head to therapy in an attempt to fix the problems they have. In the process, both men talk about their true feelings concerning the other one and they let out some deep, long-held secrets. Liz visits a session, as well, so that she can share some thoughts on the relationship. Matt decides what he wants to do with the rest of his life and makes a point to introduce his fiancée to Sean and Christian.

“Christian Troy II” Aired: February 17, 2010 – It looks like the future of the plastic surgery business might be in trouble when injectable procedures begin popping up like wildfire. While Christian is under anesthetic he experiences an alternative, dream-like world where he sees patients that he once worked on, he can come to term with Kimber’s death, and he finally understands Sean’s disappointment.

“Walter & Edith Krieger” Aired: February 24, 2010 – Ava Moore is back and wants to see if she can get surgery on the face of her adopted son. When she finds out about Matt and his upcoming wedding she makes it a point to weasel her way back into his life. When Julia reveals some shocking news, it causes both Sean and Christian to pursue her. When two Holocaust survivors come into the clinic hoping to have their Nazi number tattoos removed, one begins to feel horrible guilt as a result.

“Hiro Yoshimura” Aired: March 3, 2010 – The final episode has Christian bargaining with Ava. As long as she stays away from Matt he will operate on the baby. Both Julia and Liz are overcome by strong emotions concerning Sean; Julia worries about him as she makes plans to leave town and Liz is shocked and thrilled by Sean’s excitement about the baby. Christian takes some time, thanks to Julia and Kimber, to reconsider the relationship that he shares with Sean. An older Japanese porn star hits the clinic in hopes of removing scars before he hits the American porn market.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The quality of these Nip/Tuck DVDs is exactly what you can expect from a current television show. This is pretty similar to the television presentation. You receive the same 1.78:1 aspect ratio. There are not any real issues to make a point of noting here. The quality is near excellent. The colors are rich with especially lavish reds and the detail is crisp. The background images are as strong as the main picture to provide an overall pleasing picture. Fans of the series should not have much, if anything, to complain about in this visual presentation.

The audio for Nip/Tuck is a solid Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound track that sounds excellent. There is a good balance in the sound overall. Surround sound obviously isn’t the main feature of any dialogue driven drama, but this one makes good use of it at every possible opportunity. Volume toggling was never a necessity and things were always easy to hear. There really are no complaints to discuss in this audio presentation. English is the only audio option. Subtitles are included in English, French, and Spanish.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is only one special feature in this set, but honestly that is one more than I was expecting. “Tell Me What You Don’t Like About Yourself: The Psychology Behind Plastic Surgery” lasts for a little over eighteen minutes. The feature includes the input of cast and crew, psychologists and other professionals. The group speaks about their opinions on plastic surgery, what it means to people, and why they go out of their way to jump on the operating table. This is probably the perfect end to the series and it gives people a chance to see that there is more to plastic surgery beyond your classic lipo treatment.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I’ve been an occasional Nip/Tuck watcher over the years. While I didn’t always catch it on television, reviewing these DVDs would always re-spark my interest in the show. So, this is kind of a bittersweet ending. It’s good to see the show end before it becomes a Dallas and everyone is aware that it overstayed its welcome. For Nip/Tuck it appears that 100 episodes was the perfect time for it to end. This DVD set is a must have for fans of the show, especially if you own the other seasons. If you don’t, check this out from season one by either buying that set or checking it out on Netflix.

Overall Rating: 4.29 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Plastic Surgery, Nip/Tuck, The Sixth and Final Season, DVD Review, TV on DVD, Drama, McNamara/Troy, Sean McNamara, Dylan Walsh, Christian Troy, Julian McMahon

SPECS: Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Language: Dubbed: English / Subtitled: English, French & Spanish
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen: 1.33:1

BONUS FEATURES: Disc 1:
**Fox-y Lady
**Not All Dogs Go To Heaven
**420
**Stew-Roids
**We Love You Conrad

Disc 2:
**Three Kings
**Peter’s Progress (season finale)
**Road to the Multiverse (season premiere)
**Family Goy
**Spies Reminiscent of Us
**Brian’s Got A Brand New Bag

Disc 3:
**Hannah Banana
**Quagmire’s Baby
**Jerome Is The New Black
**Dog Gone
**Featurette: Road to the Multiverse
**Deleted scenes

**Family Guy Karaoke
*Gotta Give Up the Toad
*Left Foot, Right Foot
*Road to Rhode Island
*Hic-A-Doo-La
*You’™ve Got A Lot to See
*My Fat Baby Loves to Eat
*You Do!
*You and I Are So Awfully Different

*Buy Me A Rainbow
*You Have AIDS
*The FCC Song
*When We Swing
*Shipoopi
*Noble Indian Chief
*(In God’€™s Eyes) Everybody’s Hot
*This Is One Fine Day to Be Nude
*Evil Monkey Song
*My Black Son
*Drunken Irish Dad

*Prom Night Dumpster Baby
*Sodomy
*Me & Jesus
*I Like Farts
*G-chord
*The Handi-quacks Theme Song
*The Pot Song
*The Friendship Song
*It’€™s A Wonderful Day for Pie

Technorati Tags: Family Guy Version 8, DVD, June 15, Upcoming Release, Screenshot, Adult Cartoon, Stewie Griffin, Peter Griffin

BONUS FEATURES: Disc 1: 188 Minutes
**Friends and Family
**Question and Answer
**End Run
**Fearless Leader

Disc 2: 180 Minutes
**Signals and Codes
**The Hunter
**Shots in the Dark
**Friends Like These

Disc 3: 180 Minutes
**Long Way Back
**A Dark Road
**Friendly Fire
**Noble Causes

Disc 4: 190 Minutes
**Dressed to Kill
**Enemies Closer
**Good Intentions
**Devil You Know

STREET DATE: Jun/01/2010

Technorati Tags: Burn Notice, Season Three, Television Show, Fox Home Entertainment, Action, Upcoming Release

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: March 3, 1997-
DVD Release Date: May 11, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $44.99

We love Daria. No, scratch that. we worship her. That sounds so odd, considering she is a cartoon character, but in a way it’s true. It’s not that we worship her in a weird way or anything. We think it’s more that we relate to her. Ash is the sarcastic one in the group. She stands out in the crowd because she always has a comment and while we know plenty of Quinn’s, we don’t think either of us will ever relate to one of them. Furthermore, on many days we think the world would be a better place without them.

Daria is fun because she captures teenage angst so well. All of the teenage characters are representative of one of the cliques or groups that went to any normal school. There is the “mean girl” fashion club, the dense cheerleaders, the idiotic football players, the artsy kids, the geeks, and the list goes on. The parents and teachers are all dysfunctional and easy to laugh at, especially if you’re looking at them through the eyes of an oppressed teenager.

Like most diehard Daria fans, we have been waiting for a set like this for a long time. We are pretty sure that we have seen nearly every episode in the lineup, but since it is one of our most missed shows we needed to have these on DVD. The fact that this review set actually showed up on Ash’s birthday was just icing on the cake! This is all of Daria that was ever made. We’re talking the pilot, all seasons, two movies, and quite a few special features. You even get the spinoff script for Mystik Spiral.

Fans will need to realize that the set is nearly complete in the fact that everything is exactly the same as when it aired on television. The only difference we noticed is that all of the big name music is gone from the episodes. The facts are that if they had tried to license all of the music that was used, these DVDs would not be here. Sure, we would love to have the complete episodes as they once aired on television, but we’re more than understanding about changing the music if it means we finally get Daria whenever we want her.

The important thing is that this is Daria in all the series’ glory. Fans will be able to enjoy all the episodes and the special features in a quality that is more than watchable and that sounds good. Any worries we had about this series quickly melted away when we heard the comforting “La La La La La” of the opening theme song. Fans NEED this set. If you’re not a fan you need to check this out. It won’t take long for you to become one.

Episode Synopsis’
There are five seasons worth of episodes split up in this 8-Disc set. Here is a list of the episodes included, by season.

SEASON ONE

“Esteemsters”
Original Air Date: March 3, 1997
The Morgendorffer family moves away from Highland (and leave behind Highland High – the school of Beavis and Butthead) to the city of Lawndale. Daria and her younger sister, Quinn, are enrolled at Lawndale High. While Quinn quickly becomes popular, and a member of a clique known as the Fashion Club, Daria remains an outcast, finding solace only in the knowledge that there is another, cynical teen like her in Lawndale. Daria meets Jane Lane, a sarcastic artist when she’s forced to go to Mr. O’Neill’s self-esteem class, and thus begins a beautiful friendship.

“The Invitation”
Original Air Date: March 10, 1997
Brainless cheerleader, Brittany, invites Daria to her party after Daria helps her out in Art class, much to Quinn’s chagrin. Jane decides to go with her, and the two are followed around by Upchuck.

“College Bored”
Original Air Date: March 17, 1997
The students of Lawndale High are expected to visit a college they want to attend. Jake and Helen convince Daria and Quinn to visit their alma mater, Middleton College. While there, Jake realizes he’s old, Daria gets a job writing papers for college students, and Quinn becomes the keg queen.

“Café Disaffecto”
Original Air Date: March 24, 1997
When the Lawndale Cyber Cafe is the victim of a burglary, Mr. O’Neill has his students go door to door selling things to bring the cafe back. Daria gets in trouble for refusing to sell chocolates to a very fat woman and Quinn excels at door to door selling.

“Malled”
Original Air Date: March 31, 1997
Jake and Helen forbid Daria and Quinn from going to the new Mall of the Millennium. Daria must break this rule for a class field trip to the mall, where Daria and her peers learn about economics. There, Daria finds Quinn and the rest of the Fashion Club skipping school.

“This Year’s Model”
Original Air Date: April 7, 1997
Daria is not fooled by a modeling agency that comes to Lawndale High to prey on the young girls who wish to be models. Quinn and Brittany both vie for a chance to be models, but in the end, they pick Kevin Thompson, head QB, and Brittany’s dumb boyfriend.

“The Lab Brat”
Original Air Date: April 14, 1997
Ms. Barch, a feminist science teacher who loves to bash males, pairs Kevin and Daria and Brittany and Upchuck together for their science experiments. Kevin is more interested in watching sports at the Morgendorffers. Jealous by how enthused Kevin is to go to Daria’s house, Brittany becomes suspicious of Kevin’s relationship with Daria.

“Pinch Sitter”
Original Air Date: June 9, 1997
When Quinn double books a babysitting job and a date, she goes to Daria for assistance. Daria accepts cash to babysit two children whose parents shelter them and are so conservative they cannot watch television. This drives Daria crazy until Jane comes over to help her.

“Too Cute”
Original Air Date: June 16, 1997
After another Lawndale student gets a nose job and becomes popular, Quinn decides she needs plastic surgery, too. Ms. Barch has Kevin dress up in ugly makeup and clothing to discover how people react to ugliness.

“The Big House”
Original Air Date: June 30, 1997
Both Daria and Quinn are late coming home and break their curfew. To punish them Helen and Jake decide to have a family court in the living room with Jake as the judge. Judge Jake decides to ground the two at a time when Daria needs to get out to go watch Mr. DeMartino take on Rock N Roll DJs in roller hockey. DeMartino had a heart attack on the court during the last roller hockey game and students are betting on when he’ll have the next one.

“Road Worrier”
Original Air Date: July 7, 1997
The boys of Mystik Spiral, Trent and Jessie, take Jane and Daria in a beat up van to Alternapalooza. Unfortunately, Daria, who has a crush on Trent, is embarrassed when she sits on an old Peanut Butter sandwich, gets stung by a bee, and has to pee in bushes on the side of the road. Quinn and the Fashion Club are going to the festival, too, but they get sidetracked by outlet shopping.

“The Teachings of Don Jake”
Original Air Date: July 14, 1997
Jake is so stressed about everything. He ends up bursting a blood vessel in his eye. The doctor recommends he find a way to relax, so he takes the family out in the woods camping. When Jake, Helen and Quinn eat bad berries, it’s up to Daria to save the day. In the meantime, Jane and Trent head off to a dysfunctional family reunion.

“The Misery Chick”
Original Air Date: July 21, 1997
When former Lawndale High football hero, Tommy Sherman, is being honored with a special breaking goal post, he shows up at school acting like a jerk to everyone. When he dies in a fluke accident after Daria wishes him ill will, Jane stops hanging out with her. Everyone else turns to Daria, “The Misery Chick” for advice, especially Kevin who saw Tommy as a hero.

SEASON TWO

“Arts ‘N’ Crass”
Original Air Date: February 16, 1998
Daria must explain Jane’s poster, which features a beautiful girl with a message discussing her bulimia. Ms. Li and Mr. O’Neill want to enter it in a competition, but they want to change the message on it. When both girls refuse, Ms. Li forces them to change it. Jake is upset he lost a client and searches for a new one fervently.

“The Daria Hunter”
Original Air Date: February 23, 1998
Lawndale High’s latest field trip is to a paintball park. Quinn accidentally breaks the Fashion Club’s rule to not shoot one another. Daria and Jane escape the park and go to see an exhibit on great white sharks. Helen and Jake go as chaperones. Jake gets drunk with Mr DeMartino, Mr. O’Neill finds a love connection with excessively feminist Ms. Barch and Ms. Li has it out with Helen over Daria.

“Quinn the Brain”
Original Air Date: March 2, 1998
When Quinn gets a good grade on an English paper she wrote, it goes to her head. Now deemed a brain, people go to Quinn for advice on how to be smart. With Quinn the new genius, Daria, the truly smart one, gets left in the dust.

“I Don’t”
Original Air Date: March 9, 1998
Disaster strikes when Helen finds out her mom paid for her niece, Erin’s wedding. Daria and Quinn are bridesmaids, but the dress looks odd on Daria. With Helen fighting with her sister, Rita, Daria finds escape with her Aunt Amy, who is much like Daria. Jake is mad he can’t go and play golf, while a groomsman and the minister fight over Quinn. Back in Lawndale, the school is having a bridal show and Jodie and Brittany are modeling. Kevin and Mack show up to support them, but they are mistaken as a couple.

“That Was Then, This Is Dumb”
Original Air Date: March 16, 1998
When Jake and Helen’s friends Willow and Coyote visit, Daria heads to Jane’s for the weekend. The two sell records at a fair, while Quinn gets to know, Ethan, Willow and Coyote’s son. With Jake and Helen growing up, they seem to have a lot less in common with their hippie friends.

“Monster”
Original Air Date: March 23, 1998
When Daria is assigned a school film project, Jane and Daria decide to film Quinn’s life. The film reveals just how shallow Quinn is, but Helen makes Daria feel bad for showing Quinn in such a bad light. When Jake’s childhood film reels are transferred to video, he remembers why he had such a troubled childhood.

“The New Kid”
Original Air Date: March 30, 1998
Ted, a odd kid, who has been homeschooled his whole life, has come to Lawndale High. Daria joins yearbook to have an extra curricular and she and Ted work to make the yearbook better. Unfortunately, this involves cutting school sports and club pictures. Quinn tries to bribe Daria to change her mind. Jake wonders if Ted is making Daria join a cult.

“Gifted”
Original Air Date: June 29, 1998
When Helen and Jake take Daria to a private school that is invitation-only for exceptionally bright students, they make fools of themselves in front of Jodie’s parents. Jodie tries to befriend the kids of the school who are smug jerks with social problems, while Daria takes a cynical look at them and the school. Quinn, unable to stay home alone, can’t put up with the Fashion Club members she stays with, so she ends up staying at Jane’s house.

“Ill”
Original Air Date: July 6, 1998
While at a club with Jane and Trent, Daria must escape when she develops a rash all over her body. After the rash comes back while at school, Daria is put in the hospital for tests. This leads the Lawndale High students to question what happened to Daria.

“Fair Enough”
Original Air Date: July 13, 1998
When the library roof crashes in, the school hosts a Medieval fair. Brittany is jealous when Quinn and Kevin are cast together in the school play, which will debut during the fair. With Brittany trying to keep Kevin away from the school, the Fashion Club plots to ruin Quinn’s performance, a reflection of Jake’s own performance history. In the meantime, Jodie gets stuck in a kissing booth and Daria and Jane get stuck on the Ferris Wheel with an overly-emotional Stacey.

“See Jane Run”
Original Air Date: July 20, 1998
When Jane and Daria refuse to participate in gym/cheerleading practice, the gym teacher labels Jane unmotivated. Jane decides to join the track team, because she likes to run. She’s also very good at it and leads the track team to victory. Daria is jealous, which is further complicated by her anger at Jane taking advantage of special privileges athletes in the school get. Quinn buys a pair of shoes that are too tight, but make her look good.

“Pierce Me”
Original Air Date: July 27, 1998
Trent and Daria go shopping for Jane’s birthday. Daria decides to get a belly button ring at Trent’s urging. Lawndale High hosts a mother-daughter modeling event and Helen and Quinn are selected to be a part of the show.

“Write Where it Hurts”
Original Air Date: August 3, 1998
Daria is asked by Mr. O’Neill to write a moral fiction story since she’s already read all the books on the list he assigns the class. However, Daria is unable to complete the assignment. Eventually, Helen gives her some advice that helps Daria get through her writer’s block.

SEASON THREE

“Daria!”
Original Air Date: February 17, 1999
The Lawndale High crew perform seven different songs (with dance numbers) as the town prepares for some severe weather.

“Through a Lens Darkly”
Original Air Date: February 24, 1999
Daria tries out contact lens when she goes to take her driving test. This makes her look a lot better, but it is painful for Daria to wear the contacts. She must struggle between her change in appearance and going back to glasses that are more comfortable to wear.

“The Old and the Beautiful”
Original Air Date: March 3, 1999
Daria, Kevin and Brittany volunteer at a Senior Citizens facility. The old people love Kevin and Brittany, but find Daria depressing. Daria is sad by this, until she is matched up with someone who doesn’t care how dark she sounds. Quinn and the Fashion Club contribute by collecting clothes for the homeless, but they will only take items that are fashionable.

“Depth Takes a Holiday”
Original Air Date: March 10, 1999
This is a fantasy episode where Daria and Jane must help St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day find Halloween, Christmas and Guy Fawkes Day, who have disappeared from Holiday Island. The two are shocked to discover that the three have formed a band with Trent.

“Daria Dance Party”
Original Air Date: March 17, 1999
Sandi makes Quinn volunteer to organize the upcoming school dance. Unable to do the job, Quinn gets Jane to help. Jane takes over and organizes the most awesome dance; a tribute to Jackson Pollack. When the dance is successful Quinn gets all the credit. Jane and Daria meet two boys at the dance and all seems to be going well until family matters get in the way.

“The Lost Girls”
Original Air Date: March 24, 1999
Daria’s essay is sent to a teen magazine by Mr. O’Neill. Impressed by the essay, the magazine editor, Val, decides to come to Lawndale to hang with Daria. Unfortunately, Val is in her 30s, but she tries hard to look, sound and act like a teen, much to Daria’s chagrin.

“It Happened One Nut”
Original Air Date: July 7, 1999
Daria gets a job working at the mall’s nut stand with Kevin. Kevin can’t do his job and Daria’s boss docks her paycheck for not smiling while working. Quinn is also working at the mall, in the pet shop, but the job is ruined for her when she is expected to work with pets that aren’t cute.

“Lane Miserables”
Original Air Date: July 14, 1999
The Lane siblings and Trent and Jane’s dad move back into the house, which makes it impossible for Jane and Trent to find their artistic mojo. The two move into Daria’s temporarily, where Daria is forced to see Trent, her crush and come to terms with her feelings for him.

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