Jonathan Creek – Season Four + Waking
The Dead – The Complete Season Four (BBC DVD Sets)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C-/D Episodes: C-
One of
the worst things anyone who liked good TV can do is hope that a show they did
not like might improve in later seasons or expect that if they look at it again
later looking so well to begin with, that maybe it will be better later. Usually, the opposite happens, which is why I
decided to look at two recent BBC shows again, but in a single review this time. Those shows are Jonathan Creek
and Waking The Dead. Here is what I thought of the first seasons I
covered:
Jonathan Creek – Season Two
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6166/Jonathan+Creek+%E2%80%93+Seaso
Waking The Dead – Season Three
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8271/Waking+The+Dead+%E2%80%93+The
I was not
happy with either of them and looking back by watching the latest seasons, I
can see why. I also still cannot believe
they found audiences, but they did. Creek has Julia Sawalha replacing
Caroline Quentin at this point and the show going to an HD 1.78 X 1 frame
(anamorphically enhanced here). As a
result, it looks worse than ever and the teleplays are weaker and even less
energetic than the earlier shows in six hour-longish mysteries that are more
like flat police procedurals.
Dead was already that flat and worse,
also with six hour-longish dramas for the cold case team whose show gives cold
a new meaning. I found this even more
routine and formulaic as they added two more shows than last time. It is as forgettable as the other show and
both are far from the best examples of their genres. Yet, they march on and are only for those who
might be interested starting with their long-on-DVD first seasons.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 on both is softer than their predecessor
releases with more motion blur, weaker detail and lighter color. Some of the attempts to stylize the shows are
so bad that you would think it was bad U.S. or Canadian product. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo in both cases have
weak surrounds, with some sound being a little harsh or limited. The only extras are on Creek in the form of Deleted Scenes, Video Profiles of the leads
& creator and (the telling nadir of the set) a Music Video.
- Nicholas Sheffo
