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BEST SEASON: Both — there are only 13 episodes total.
EXTRAS: Director commentary, "How I Made The Office" documentary, deleted scenes and outtakes, a Golden Globes featurette, David Brent music videos.
- Timothy c. Davis
BLACK ADDER
WHO AND WHEN: Starring Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry. Originally broadcast on BBC 1983-1989.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: A 5-disc, complete series collection.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Follow the razor-tongued Lord Edmund Blackadder as he verbally slices and dices across the ages — through Medieval, Renaissance and Elizabethan England, and up to WWI — anyone foolish enough to cross his path in this classic BBC comedy. And for Blackadder, there's no shortage of foolish people, from his insipid manservant Baldrick to the quite mad Queen of England, they're all targets for his rapier-like wit. If you only know Atkinson as the rubber-faced idiot Mr. Bean, you're in for a surprise; the British comedian is dashing, witty. . .and incredibly unlucky to be surrounded by so many so inferior to him.
BEST SEASON: Blackadder II: Atkinson hit his stride in the second season, finding the inner bastard in Blackadder — and with Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett and Miranda Richardson as Queenie, these episodes are the cream of a very good crop.
- John Schacht
SCI-FI
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
WHO AND WHEN: Starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brenden, Charisma Carpenter, Seth Green, David Boreanaz. Originally broadcast on ABC 1997-2003.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: All seven seasons.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: Buffy's a girl who can beat the crap out of vampires, demons and the occasional swim team member who tries to get fresh. Combine that with good dialogue and solid storylines while presenting memorable characters and you've got a show that confounded its critics and drew legions of fans. Creator Joss Whedon's vision of an empowered young woman and the ordinary people who rise to challenges to become extraordinary is also hip, wise and funny.
BEST SEASON: Season Three contains some prime episodes including my favorite, "The Prom," plus "Beauty & The Beasts" and "Band Candy." The story arcs of Angel's return from Hell, the mayor's ascension and Faith's appearance add layers of complexity.
EXTRAS: First few seasons don't have much more than interviews with creator Whedon. Later releases have tons of interviews and stuff about each episode. A fan can just wallow in Buffiness.
FUN FACT: Snappy dialogue: "We saved the world. I say we party" — Buffy to the others in "Prophecy Girl" (first season).
- Ann Wicker
STAR TREK
WHO AND WHEN: Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and James Doohan. Originally broadcast on NBC 1966-69 (79 episodes).
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD: All three seasons.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: ST was groundbreaking in its multi-racial, multi-gender, multi-alien casting, despite working with a low budget and the limitations of 60s technology. Producer Gene Roddenberry created a believable world, imbued with humor, bravado, and the central character's disdain for authority, which is cool even in the 23rd century.
BEST SEASON: The final season, because the characters were now fully developed and the stories/episodes were rootin' tootin' escapades.
EXTRAS: DVD sets contain the usual interviews and such, but the outtakes, some unintentionally hilarious, are worth a visit.
FUN FACT: A 1973 animated series featured most of the original cast providing voices. The entire original cast set off on filmdom adventures beginning in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Since then, there have been four other Trek series (with a slew of new characters) and nine feature-length films (five with the original crew).
- Samir Shukla
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (mini-series)
WHO AND WHEN: Starring Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Bernie Casey, Roddy McDowell and others. Broadcast in 1980.
WHAT'S SO GREAT?: There's not a lot of great special effects and the whole thing can seem a bit dated, but it was Ray Bradbury's excellent story and solid work by the actors that make it a sci-fi curiosity worth viewing, not just for fans of the genre but for the casual observer as well.
BEST SEASON: This was a 3-part mini-series lasting about five hours.
