TV DVD Roundup 2!

Welcome to the second TV on DVD round up. Special thanks to whatever TV station that logo belongs to.

Anyway, this time we have technically four titles but five actual releases to cover for you. It's a nice variety with the start of one show, the end of another, and some that are in the middle. We have some drama, some animation, some comedy/drama and one with a star who can possibly be described the most charming man on television.

Join me after the Rawr for our looks at X-Men Volume 3 and Volume 4, Greek: Chapter Three, Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete Second and Final Season, and Castle: The Complete First Season.





Castle: The Complete First Season
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Molly C. Quinn, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever and Tamala Jones

Let's start things off with new new show on the block; ABC's recent hit Castle. Nathan Fillion stars as Rick Castle, a world-famous crime novelist who teams up with a less than pleased police detective to track down a killer using his books as a template for his crimes.

First of all, I'd watch Nathan Fillion in pretty much anything. The guy owns the screen and his work here is stellar as usual. He has a pretty good supporting cast here but honestly, it's all Fillion for me.

The show itself is pretty entertaining. It's nothing groundbreaking but it's a fun watch with clever stories and intriguing characters.

This set contains all ten episodes of the show's first season (Season Two begins on September 21) and is supported with some pretty good extras including bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries and featurettes including one with Nathan Fillion on a "write-along" with a real life mystery writer.

All in all, Castle is a fun show I'm more than happy to add to my DVD collection. I'm more than happier to show my support for Nathan Fillion and more so that the show is a fun watch.

Castle is hitting DVD on September 22.

Let's take a look at some animation!

X-Men: The Animated Series: Volume Three and Volume Four

We covered the first two X-Men cartoon releases a few months ago and to be honest not much has changed. Volume Three and Four feature another 29 episodes (15 and 14 respectively) that include the much loved Dark Phoenix Saga as well as characters like Apocalypse, Juggernaut, Nightcrawler, and more.

The discs are devoid of any special features but the show stands on its own merits. I loved this show as a kid and I still love it today. I really don't think there has been a better representation of these characters before or since.

There is a reason why it was the ninth most requested television show, and second most requested animated show (after Daria) for release on DVD.

Volume Three and Volume Four almost complete the series leaving room for at least one more release (although I wouldn't be surprised if it was stretched into two). There are fourteen episodes left which hopefully we'll see by the end of the year.

It's really a shame they don't make cartoons like this anymore. The X-Men Animated Series was an exemplary example of great writing, exciting stories, and wonderful characters that is rare nowadays.

This should definitely be at the top of your list especially for fans of these characters and animation in general.


Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete Second and Final Season
Starring: Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin, Natalie Zea, Glenn Fitzgerald, Seth Gabel, Zoe McLellan, Jill Clayburgh, Blair Underwood, Will Shadley, Lucy Liu, Shawn Michael Patrick, Sheryl Lee, Laura Margolis and Samaire Armstrong

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The trials and tribulations of the Darling's continue with this second and final season of the formally great Dirty Sexy Money. I really liked the first season of this show and was excited to catch up with the last season. I don't know what changed or what happened behind the scenes but this season for me was just no good. I won't spoil anything for those of you wanting to experience the ending (if you can call it that) for yourselves so don't worry. Suffice it to say, I was disappointed.

Even Lucy Liu who I normally love couldn't save this show. Maybe its the fact that I've seen so many great shows lately that this one can't measure up? I don't know for sure, just that I was not impressed with this one.

The set features all thirteen episodes of the last season including the ridiculous final episode plus special features that by the time I finished watching the show, I could not care less about watching. If you're curious you get featurettes, bloopers and deleted scenes.

Honestly, the only reason to get this is if you want to see how either the show ends or how it goes down in flames, depending on your outlook.

I'm not sure I can remember the last time I was let down by a show so much to be honest.

That brings us to the last, and by far the best, release.

Greek: Chapter Three
Starring: Clark Duke, Scott Michael Foster, Spencer Grammer, Paul James, Jake McDorman, Jacob Zachar, Aaron Hill, Dilshad Vadsaria, Amber Stevens, and Tiffany Dupont

Oh Greek, how I love thee, let me count the ways. Okay, I won't actually count them but seriously, the show is fantastic.

Right now, it sits comfortably in my top five shows on TV right now. Greek is full of great characters, funny and touching stories, great writing, and a brilliant cast. Chapter Three (which is actually the beginning of Season 2) continues the tradition well. This show shows no signs of slowing down creatively. It's just as endearing and entertaining as the first episodes.

I can spend pages raving about it which would go against the whole point of this feature so I'll say that Greek is a must see show for anyone. The cast alone is worth it. They have such perfect chemistry and realism. Greek has quickly become a favorite with some of the best writing on TV (I'd kill to land a staff-writing job with this show!).

This set features ten fantastic episodes and a few features. We get bloopers, audio commentaries, and the "20 Questions with the Cast of Greek" featurette. Not exactly feature intense but the show doesn't need to be supplemented because it's stands perfectly on its own.

Out of the releases covered today? Greek is the best choice but it's Chapter Three so you'll need to pick up Chapter One and Chapter Two so you can catch up on what's going on.

Believe me, you won't regret it.

Well that's that for the second round up of TV Shows on DVD!

You can pick up these titles and many more at our Amazon store.

Greek: Chapter Three, Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete Second and Final Season and X-Men: Volume Three and Volume Four are available now.

Castle: The Complete First Season hits stores on Tuesday, September 22.

RAWR(for more)

ABC Unleashes the reaper on three shows!

ABC has given the axe, albeit unofficially, to three of their shows: Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, and the cult favorite Pushing Daisies. Each show will not exceed 13 episodes. Both Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone have completed production while Pushing Daisies finishes up next week.

Ouch.

RAWR(for more)

Dirty Sexy Money and Grey's Anatomy Videos!

Grey's Anatomy returns with a 2-hour season premiere on September 25 but to refresh your memory we have an official Starter Kit that will tell you everything you need to know about the show AND a sneak preview of a potentially MAJOR spoiler for Season 5.






Dirty Sexy Money returns on October 1st at 10pm. Check out this video, Everything Darlings, and some tidbits you may have missed in season one. You'll also get a look at Lucy Liu who joins the cast for season two. The second video is the cast discussing their thoughts on the show as well as some more info on season one so, in case you can't catch up in time, you'll be reasonably caught up for the show's premiere. Wednesday. October 1st. 10pm.

RAWR(for more)

Dirty Sexy Money Season One Review

Dirty. Sexy. Money. These three words are really all you need to know to prepare yourself for this show. Each word exists in harmony with the others throughout the first season's ten episodes. Dirty secrets, sexy situations (not to mention cast members), and money. Lots and lots of it. The family at the center of the show, the Darlings, are said to be worth 35 billion and that can bring with it a lot of dirt.

The show is packed with secrets and lies, betrayals (both real and imagined), lust, greed... well, all the deadly sins now that I think of it.

Dirty Sexy Money is a show about many things. At its core it is about a family, not your run of the mill family, but an extremely rich family with a multitude of secrets. It is a trashy nighttime soap of course, but you can't help but find yourself involved with the characters' lives. At times you want to hate them — the spoiled rotten twins, the seemingly mean-spirited reverend, the drunk divorcee. At other times, you can't help but empathize with them. You like them against your better judgment. That's pretty much how I felt about the show. Against my better judgment, I found myself liking it. A lot.

While the Darlings are the focal point, the show really revolves around Nick George, the new attorney for the family. He has known the Darlings all his life. His father previously held his job but died under suspicious circumstances. It's now Nick who apprehensively takes the job, not only because of the opportunities (money for himself and for charity) but also so that he can find out what really happened to his father. It falls upon Nick's shoulders to carry the burdens of the Darlings, while trying to remain unchanged by them.

Let's get something straight. It's probably not going to be winning any Emmys any time soon but Dirty Sexy Money is a flat out enjoyable show to watch. It's addicting and even touching at times. I always enjoy when a show takes characters you should loathe and makes you feel exactly the opposite towards them.

The entire cast is perfect. Donald Sutherland plays patriarch Tripp Darling superbly. He has a complicated role here and each nuance of his character is displayed perfectly. If anyone on the show does get recognized by the Emmy folks, it will probably be him. Another cast member that stands out is transgendered actress Candis Cayne. I hesitate to give details on her character for fear of spoiling it. I will say that her plotline is handled with realism and care that makes the storyline extremely believable and important.

The show was hard hit when the writes' strike happened. They had a tough chore with only ten episodes with which to hook an audience. Thankfully, the story of the Darlings will continue this fall on ABC.

Let's talk about the DVDs. Each episode is presented with crystal clarity and sound. It's a three disc set featuring all ten season one episodes and some cool extras including a blooper reel, deleted scenes, and a well deserved short bio on Candis Cayne. It's pretty heavy with features considering most TV box sets recently are pretty skimpy on extras.

Is it worth your money? Absolutely. I'd grab it fast so you can catch up in time for the season premiere on October 1.

RAWR(for more)