Between year-end deadlines and holiday shopping, it's been hard coming up for air as of late. However, that doesn't change the fact that the past few weeks have seen a number of great TV season sets land on Blu-ray and DVD.
You don't need me to tell you that TV sets make great gift ideas, so take a look below and see if you can't cross a few friends and family members off your holiday shopping list.
Now then, let's get to it:
Afro Samurai: The Complete Murder Sessions
FUNimation | DVD
If you're going to have an animated samurai running around with a big, bushy afro, would you want it be anyone other than Sam Jackson? Of course not. Add Ron Perlman to the mix and it quickly becomes a case of "Where do I sign?" Funimation's Sessions includes the complete series plus Resurrection in elegant Limited Edition packaging.
Andy Barker, P.I.: The Complete Series
Shout! Factory | DVD
If you enjoyed "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," you're guaranteed to love "Andy Barker." This tragically short-lived series has Andy working as a full-time CPA and part-time gumshoe. Shout's 2-disc set features a surprisingly healthy mix of extras for a series that only last six episodes.
Black Adder: Ultimate Edition Remastered
BBC/Warner | DVD
Rowan Atkinson is an acquired taste. The British goofball is best known for his work as Mr. Bean, but "Black Adder" is easily his best - and most diverse - comedy. BBC Video's exceptional Ultimate Edition features remastered video that looks better than ever and a slew of new interviews and commentaries.
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Universal | Blu-ray
Written by the great Jane Espenson ("Buffy", "Firefly"), The Plan is a feature-length "BSG" film giving us a unique look at things from the Cylon perspective. Unversal's Blu-ray rocks thanks to a kickass DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack and solid 1080p video.
Discovery Atlas: Complete Series
Image Entertainment | DVD
A seven hour Discovery Channel travelogue narrated by the likes of Russell Crowe and James Spader? Yes, please!
Farscape: The Complete Series
A&E | DVD
When my wife and I convinced friends of ours to watch the new "Battlestar Galactica," they answered back by insisting we check out "Farscape" - a favorite of theirs. Having watched a bit of it, the "Farscape" universe definitely has a more lighthearted tone than the grittier "BSG," but it does have a charm all its own. A&E's robust new box set is a major space saver compared to the "Sunburst Editions" from a few years back, but video quality seems to have taken a slight hit in order to fit more data on each disc. Still, with its attractive street price (under $60 last I checked), this is definitely the way to go for those new to the series. For more on this elaborate set, check out this in-depth review from my pal Bill Hunt over at The Digital Bits.
