Agony – The Complete Third Series (1981/Network U.K./Region Two/2/PAL DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Episodes: C+
PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be
operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Two/2/PAL
format software and can be ordered from our friends at Network U.K. at the
website address provided at the end of the review or at finer retailers.
Maureen
Lipman is talk show host Jane Lucas in the moderate BritCom hit Agony, which wrapped up by this Complete Third Series whether the cast
realized it or not. It is not a show you
necessarily have to have seen the earlier episodes of, but that might help on
some level. She is expecting a baby; a sure
way to kill any show about an independent woman, which is what happened here.
The other
reason people might be interested in the show is because famed character actor
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in the Star
Wars franchise, also in Roger Moore James Bond films like For Your Eyes Only) plays Rob, half of
an openly gay couple who is best friends with Jane and her family. He is good here, as well as Bill Nighy, guest star Miranda
Richardson and other unknowns who hold their own. Not a great show, but smart and watchable
enough.
The 1.33
X 1 PAL image is softer than we would have liked, while the Dolby Digital 2.0
Mono is lower and flatter than expected, but playback is passable just the
same. There are no extras.
As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import
exclusively from Network U.K. at:
http://www.networkdvd.net/
or
www.networkdvd.co.uk
- Nicholas Sheffo
