Mistresses – Volume One (2009/BBC DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: C
Some
cycles get played out quickly and the one with all-female friends facing wacky
lives that was launched by the success of Desperate
Housewives has faded faster than many expected, even though that show is
still on. The latest entry into that
particular sweepstakes is the British series Mistress, now out on DVD from BBC.
Instead of a bunch of friends who might or might not sleep around, these
gals are stealing men left and right and you know that from the word go.
Unfortunately,
for such a seemingly bold premise, this is a very unexciting, boring, lame,
dull, predictable show to the point that even the sex is unsexy and each
episode seems too self-impressed, if not being smug about it. 12 hour-long shows are here across four DVDs
and as much as I hoped the show would pick up, it just does not. Too bad, because had this had some humor,
ironic distance and even attitude, this could have worked. Maybe next set.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has some good color here and some
somewhat drained color there, but the lack of detail and even some motion blur
are the problems that hold this back from being better than it is. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is also good but
not great with limited surrounds, though it is a new recording, the digital
side can show too often. Extras include cast
interviews and a making of featurette.
- Nicholas Sheffo
