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