The Vice: Season Two (MPI Home Video DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: D     Episodes: B

 

 

Although I have not seen the first season of this show, it seems to pick up pretty quickly in the second season (which ran in 2000) and new visitors to the show should not be dismayed if they are unfamiliar with the first season.  We are introduced to the Ken Stott character and quickly see how he is one of the more popular actors in Britain right now, you can read our review for Rebus here:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3842/Rebus

 

 

The Vice on the other hand is a tough drama set in the Metropolis of London’s West End where the Vice Unit is up against hard criminals, prostitution, gangs, murder, etc and the turmoil that ensues to showcase some of the capitals ugly under belly.  I suppose it’s fair to say that this show is Britain’s answer to NYPD: Blue.  

 

Episode List: (each episode is in 2 parts)

 

Home is the Place

Walking on Water

Betrayed

Lovesick

 

 

The presentation for this DVD release is quite average overall as the episodes are presented in full-frame with a 2.0 Dolby Digital audio track.  The show is very gritty and that plays a big part of the DVD’s lackluster appearance, but also a bit of compression is evident and darker scenes look faded, while color fidelity is almost non-existent in the rather muted color palette used for the show.  The 2.0 mix is sufficient, but against some of the more modern shows using a full 5.1 mix, there seems to be something missing. 

 

A good show that should have garnered more world-wide viewing, maybe with BBC becoming more popular in America (thanks in part to their excellent programming and running things in syndication) fans in the U.S. are catching on.

 

 

-   Nate Goss