Second Sight: Series One and Two Box Set

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Program: B+

 

 

My curiosity meter was going off the chart when I heard about Second Sight, a TV British murder/mystery series starring Clive Owen.  Mostly because everything I have seen Owen in up until now had been great.  This is the man who has been making a bigger name for himself more recently in the U.S. with films like Mike Nichols’ Closer and of course Sin City (see that review elsewhere on this site).  Here he plays DCI Ross Tanner and his performance rivals even some of his best throughout this series, in fact it reminds me of his performance in I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (also reviewed on the site). 

 

I must confess that the British murder/mystery series have always been more appealing to me than just about anything here in the U.S.  Not only do they seem to get that right, but they also get far with their actors and actresses without making them huge celebrities, but keeping them more real, until Hollywood ruins it all.  However, Second Sight is a fascinating series worth checking out from it’s run back in 2000.  The show involves Owen’s character of Tanner who happens to be losing his sight while tracking down a murderer.  Probably the best aspect of the show is the solid writing from Antonia Hallem.

 

Included in this set is Hide and Seek, Kingdom of the Blind, and Parasomnia, which remind me of a few other possible influences.  The first being Insomnia (1997 version, not the U.S. remake version) and another great British TV series reviewed on this site entitled Touching Evil.  That show is available in a terrific box set including all three series, both from WGBH.  The pace of the show and the fantastic direction and ability to hold suspense regardless of the situations is fascinating, plus our main characters disposition makes for an interesting watch.  Also, keep in mind that the writers here are possibly implying that our sight or our ‘judgment’ being impaired is not necessarily always a handicap or is it just a metaphor for justice being blind?  I suppose you will have to find out yourself!

 

The DVD contains Series 1 and 2, which are broken down onto four DVD’s. Series one is in full-frame aspect ratio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, while Series 2 goes for the 1.85 X 1 widescreen ratio and still 2.0 stereo.  Therefore it looks a bit better and seems more natural in this setting.  Quality is fairly standard, although better than expected.  The show was shot to intentionally look a bit gritty, similar to perhaps Traffic (the movie or the show, either one).  There are some articles included on the DVD’s, but aside from that the series is valuable enough to check out and conveniently both series are in one box set making it a sweet buy.

 

 

-   Nate Goss