NUMB3RS – The Complete Second Season
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Episodes: C+
If I had
a dollar for every time I heard the word algorithm throughout this television
series, I would be one rich man. Numb3rs is crime drama that resembles
many of its popular predecessors such as CSI,
Law and Order: SVU, and NCIS.
Like this reviewer has stated before crime series such as these need a
niche in order to have staying power, and Numb3rs
definitely has a new concept. Yes, you
guessed the innovation of this series is to entwine numbers with crime solving.
Overall, it sums up to a good series.
Don Eppes (Rob Morrow of Northern Exposure) is a tough, strong minded,
FBI agent who spends his days and nights solving some of the United States most
perplexing cases, from drug raids to murders Don Eppes is on the case. Though Don is a strong agent, his brother
Charlie (David Krumholtz of 10 Things I Hate
About You) makes up the second half of the crime solving squad, bringing
the brains to Don’s skills.
Charlie
is a world renowned Mathematician who went to Princeton at the age of 13 and
has been stunning the world ever since working on everything from Algorithms to
Space Shuttles. Together Don and Charlie
use pure detective work and math to bring down the crime which plagues the
world. Ok, I know it sounds nerdy to me
too, the scary part, however, is that for the most part it works. No episode on its own is ever boring or too
contrived; though at times it does feel odd that Charlie can develop math equations
to find how likely a person is to steal a candy bar. The main area which wears thin within this
number driven series is the constant ability of Charlie to use numbers episode
after episode with not much hesitation, but maybe that is the essence of the
series, so be it. This reviewer finds
the series enjoyable and enlightening.
Time and
again, this reviewer will say that a show needs a device to stay alive, and
where some series’ gimmicks are on life support at this point Numb3rs remains fresh. Another interesting aspect is the developing
relationships the series displays between the two brothers, the brothers and
their father (Judd Hirsch of Taxi),
and the budding love interests that come and go. If Numb3rs
manages to maintain this level of crime/number drama intermixed with in-depth
relationships, it just may have a long life on CBS.
The
technical aspects of this 6 disc DVD set are not highly impressive but
nice. The picture being present in 16:9
Widescreen is solid, though it has its dark moments it overall is balanced,
clear, and presentable. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 surround is also solid and fluid but does at times sound
distant. The extras are not impressive
but adequate. The set offers up such
features as “Crunching NUMB3RS: Season Two” explaining much of the behind
the scenes equation developing process, there are also cast and crew
commentaries, a Blooper Reel, and two Behind the Scenes features. Overall, the extras are good quite good
comparatively to other crime, TV, DVD sets but still there is room for
improvement.
In the
end if you loved Season One of Numb3rs then Season Two will capture your attention just as much if not
more. New comers, if you enjoy mind
bending concepts (beyond mostly anyone’s comprehension) and crime dramas then Numb3rs may be the series for you. I calculate that Numb3rs adds up to a great series.
- Michael P Dougherty II
