GRΣΣK – Chapter One (Disney/ABC DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Episodes: C+

 

 

It’s all Greek to me!  Or maybe I just didn’t get the point of this series; who knows?  Recently released on DVD is the ABC Family series GRΣΣK: Chapter One.  The series takes place at a fictional University (Cyprus-Rhodes University) where a fictional freshman (Rusty) joins a fictional fraternity.  Why do I keep mentioning fictional?  GRΣΣK is a fun series but the light, teen targeted comedy feels more like a bad straight to DVD ‘American Pie’ sequel than a solid television series.  The fact that the series is so drab and forgettable is no surprise because ABC Family is known for pumping out unremarkable television.

 

As already stated, the series starts with our main character Rusty going off to college in hopes of ridding himself of his high school geek image.  Once on campus Rusty immediately starts making a name for himself and begins the process of joining Greek life by pledging a fraternity.  Also at Cyprus-Rhodes University is Rusty’s sister Casey, who just hopes her brother can keep a low enough profile to not embarrass her.  Initially Rusty is given a chance to pledge at Casey’s boyfriend’s frat, but Rusty quickly dismisses the offer once he discovers the boyfriend is cheating on his sister.  Rusty instead decides to pledge the less than stellar Kappa Tau Gamma that is headed by Casey’s ex-boyfriend Cappie.  The series quickly morphs into a teen comedic drama of ‘who is sleeping with who?’ and every other ridiculous situation in between.  The First Season is a mere 10 episodes and there is nothing presented in that short time that stands out as memorable or worthwhile.  The main focus will be if Rusty can go from geek to Greek.

 

Whereas the episodes leave much to be desired the technical features of GRΣΣK: Chapter One are nice.  The picture is presented as a bright and crisp 1.78 X 1 Widescreen that is enhanced for 16 X 9 televisions.  The colors on this first season are bright and fluid, making the obvious HD filming transfer to DVD quite well.  The sound is also nice in its Dolby Digital 5.1 Surrounds.  There is no ‘booming’ action sequences in the series that would require high quality surrounds (besides the occasional kegger), but the series does use a good deal of current hit music to highlight the atmosphere of certain scenes and the surrounds project these poppy hits nicely.  The extras are minimal and forgettable only offering a few deleted scenes, a Second Season sneak peek, a ‘GRΣΣK: Initiation’ featurette that is mildly entertaining at best, and an extended music sequence that this reviewer could take or leave without regrets.  Overall, the technical features were actually better than the feature.

 

As an end note, just to show how bad the series is from the very beginning, the title ‘GRΣΣK’ doesn’t even work!  The Greek letter ‘Σ’ or Sigma is not translated as an ‘e’ but rather an ‘s;’ so if we truly analyze the series title it makes no sense being translated to ‘GRSSK.’  Sure, this reviewer may be over analyzing a teen comedy series, but there is enough on television today that no one should submit themselves to this bland dribble.  I put this series on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION indefinitely!

 

 

-   Michael P Dougherty II