The Third Season

Melrose Place is a spin-off series from Beverly Hills, 90210 that first aired in 1992 and ran for seven seasons. Melrose Place is a soapy, melodramatic show about the tenants of the apartment complex at 4616 Melrose Place in Los Angeles, California. The show offers viewers a soapy look into several twenty-somethings as they struggle through life: careers, romances, friendships, successes, failures, etc. Overall, it is a solid over-the-top, dramatic television show. And despite being over a decade old, the series' content works well, although the styles from the nineties look a little silly. For more details, refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one and season two.

The first two seasons of Melrose Place pale in comparison to season three. Why? Well, the first season started off to a rocky start getting its cast in order and finding its direction. In season two, the show had a foothold as a soapy melodrama with some pretty intense storylines and racy new characters. Season three builds off of the second season's eye-rolling drama and turns it up a notch. This season is even busier with more sordid love affairs, battles in the workplace, murder attempts, child custody lawsuits, new characters (who spice up every situation), and more. It is an intense season that finishes with a bang (literally!).

The season begins with a great storyline that tie in Michael and his three "wives" Kimberly, Sydney, and Jane. It continues throughout the season and includes several very dramatic developments (and some other Melrose Place characters). In the close of season two, Kimberly tried to kill Michael by running him over with Jane's car. She wanted to get back at him for the drunk driving incident that left her maimed for life. Michael survives the attempt, but suffers amnesia and cannot remember anything before becoming a doctor. Kimberly uses the situation to her advantage to convince Michael that he is the perfect husband. It is a change of pace to see Michael as a kind hearted guy. Of course, when Michael's memory returns, he gets even nastier than before.

As Michael is going through his recovery, the police investigate Jane for attempted murder. A witness fingered her car and a blonde woman as the driver. Naturally, the ex-wife with more reasons to want Michael dead is looked at. However, Jane (with Kimberly's indirect help) convinces the authorities it was Sydney. Sydney is charged with attempted murder and put in a mental institution. After a horrid few days in the facility, she pleads guilty to get released.

The Michael-Kimberly-Sydney-Jane storylines does not stop there, as Michael and Kimberly take over half of Jane's clothing company Mancini Designs. The business has become quite successful, thanks to the help of Chris Marchette (Andrew Williams), who is Jane's new boyfriend. At the surface, Chris is a standup guy. All of Jane's friends love him to death. Sydney, however, sees a different side of Chris. He is really a bad guy and turns out to be gambling addict and sexual deviant. He gets pretty obsessed with Sydney.

The Alison-Billy relationship continues to another important development this season. In the close of season two, Alison jumped ship on their wedding day. A dark remembrance from her past came back in full force. Her father abused her when she was younger. She is determined to confront him. Unfortunately, nobody wants to believe that she and her younger sister were abused. The personal quest ruins Alison and Billy's relationship. Amanda fuels the fire by manipulating Billy into working at D&D. Then there are other women in Billy's life, such as Alison's best friend Susan (Cheryl Pollak) and Brooke Armstrong (Kristin Davis).

There's also a fascinating and diabolic storyline involving Jake and the Woodwards. Alison's father Palmer, who is on the run from the FBI, wants revenge on Jake for mistreating his daughter. He hires a slimy vixen named Brittany Maddocks (Kathy Ireland) to get close to him and kill him. Palmer has additional plans up his sleeves, and so does Brittany.

The season has a lot of other great storylines sprinkled throughout the season. They include Amanda's relationship with the hospital's new chief of staff Peter Burns (Jack Wagner), characters finding out they have fatal illnesses, Jake buying the local bar Shooters and getting involved with Sydney, Jo dealing with custody lawsuit, Amanda and Brooke teaming up to hurt Alison in the workplace, D&D management changeovers, Jake's younger bad boy brother Jess (Dan Cortese) spicing things up, and more.

Overall, Melrose Place's third season is fantastic. It is an intense and drama-packed season that does not stop. The juicy storylines are even soapier than the first two seasons and include some great guest stars like Kristin Davis, Andrew Williams, Kathy Ireland, Dan Cortese, and Jack Wagner. If eye rolling, over-the-top melodrama is on your list of likes, season three of Melrose Place is a must.

Episode Guide

1. I Am Curious, Melrose: The season starts off with a bang as Jane offers evidence against Sydney, Billy discovers Alison's painful past, and Jake breaks up with Amanda.
2. It's a Bad World After All: It's time to face up to past mistakes as Alison confronts her father, Matt finds out Kimberly is shielding an amnesiac Michael from the truth, and Billy is fired for his "inside work" on an account.
3. Inlaws and Outlaws: After Sydney begs Matt to investigate Kimberly, he snoops at the beach house and finally confronts the mentally unbalance doctor-who swears revenge.
4. Grand Delusions: Michael regains his memory but initially keeps it a secret, and Amanda and Jake learn startling information about Palmer.
5. Non-Sexual Healing: Jake is rescued after the explosion but immediately finds himself in hot water with Jo, Billy hurts Alison when he begins dating, and Michael finagles his divorce settlement.
6. No Strings Attached: Jane is suspicious of Sydney, Alison makes some questionable personal decisions, Jake's luck takes a turn for the better, and the hospital's new chief of staff arrives and lays down the law.
7. The Crook, The Creep, His Lover and Her Sister: Shooters is the key to new beginnings for Jake and Sydney, Peter has more than food in mind when he goes to dinner with Amanda, and Billy has romantic feelings for Alison's new roommate.
8. Love Reeks: The stakes are high when Jane, Chris, Michael, and Kimberly all trek to Sin City while Jake, Peter and Billy pursue Cupid back at home.
9. Dr. Jekyll Saves His Hide: The tenants of Melrose Place face their demons--Matt and Joe deal with their pasts, Alison battles the bottle, Amanda and Michael take on each other, and Sydney agrees to work on her relationship with Jake.
10. And Justice For None: Jo and Kimberly learn bad news about their maternal futures, Matt commits to Jeffrey Amanda considers her future with D&D, and Alison lets down a friend--and herself.
11. The Days of Wine and Vodka: Taking a stand proves risky for Matt as he confronts his parents, Billy and Susan attempt to intervene with Alison, and Sydney and Jake face the mob.
12. The Doctor That Rocks the Cradle: Amanda is fired for leaking agency information, Kimberly induces Jo's labor and plans to raise the child as her own, and Chris empties Jane's bank account and kidnaps Sydney.
13. Just Say No: Sydney initially finds life as a hostage agreeable but soon reaches out for help, Amanda takes control of D&D and orders Billy to fire Alison, and Jo tries to prove that her son is alive.
14. Sex Drugs And Rockin' the Cradle: Alison struggles with rehab while, back home, romance is rocky as the couples deal with infidelity, alcoholism and a stolen baby.
15. Holiday on Ice: The holidays bring some honesty to Melrose Place as Amanda is forced to admit her Scrooge-ish behavior, Terry comes clean about his feeling s for Alison, and Peter orders that Jo's child be returned to her.

16. Bye Bye Baby Baby: New hires bring new headaches when Peter brings an efficiency expert into the firm and Jo brings a nanny into her home.
17. The Shoot Mothers, Don't They?: Jake and Jo head out together in search of her baby's kidnappers, Peter and Caitlin set up a plan to bring down Amanda, and Billy discovers Alison's involvement with Terry.
18. Another Perfect Day in Hell: Drastic life decisions are in order when Kimberly's psychological test proves she's too unstable to work at the hospital and Amanda is horrified by her medical results.
19. Boxing Sydney: It's time to lean on friends for support as Amanda struggles with her treatment and Sydney finds temporary salvation with a cult leader.
20. St. Valentine's Day Massacre: Loyalties are tested when Sydney is handed a gun and instructed to shoot her sister and Jo see John's violent side during a drug bust.
21. Breakfast at Tiffany's, Dinner at Eight: Sabotage is the name of the game when Kimberly tries to hurt Amanda's chances of receiving an experimental new treatment and tells her that her condition is terminal.
22. And the Winner Is...: The competition gets ugly when both Alison and Amanda are up for the same Century Award and Jane gives Jake an ultimatum regarding Sydney.
23. Love and Death 101: Alison is the new boss at D&D, but her elevated position changes her relationships with both Billy and Amanda.
24. To Live and Die in Malibu: The women in Michael's life force him to make some life-and-death decisions and Alison becomes a tyrant at work.
25. All About Brooke: Michael is desperate to get rid of Kimberly, and Jake faces a similar dilemma when his brother, Jess, wants in on his fabulous life.
26. Melrose Impossible: It's hot, sweaty and uncomfortable at Melrose Place as Amanda has a hard time shaking Michael, Kimberly visits a sweat lodge, Billy gets intimate with Brooke, and Jo falls for Jess.
27. A Hose By Any Other Name: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned as Kimberly gets an "early graduation pass" from her self-defense camp, and Amanda and Brooke succeed in ousting Alison from D&D.
28. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Brotherly and sisterly love are in short supply when Jake throws Jess out of his apartment, and Sydney discovers that Jane is behind a plot to oust her from the design firm.
29. Framing of the Shrews: Relationships get ugly as Brooke changes a note that Alison meant for Billy, and Kimberly hurts herself in order to make Michael look like a menace.
30. The Big Bang Theory: The Melrose Place residents find their lives at risk as Jake and Jess fall off a construction platform, Matt is framed for murder, and Kimberly decides to get rid of her enemies in a highly explosive manner.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in 1.33:1 ratio full frame color. The picture quality is average for a television series from the 90s. Generally, the episodes look fine, but there are noticeable visual distortions and some problems with color representation. There are also traces of dirt in the film and a couple glitches from damaged film. Overall, the picture is acceptable and should not ruin the viewing experience.

Audio:
The audio track included with this release is English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo sound. The sound quality is decent with dialogue consistently audible. It is an average TV on DVD audio track, dialogue driven and is pretty flat with little use of the stereo sound. Music is also flat and bland.

This release does not come with subtitles, but it is closed caption enabled.

Extras:

• Melrose Place: According to Jake (19:21): is a featurette focused on the character of Jake Hanson. It begins with show creator Darren Star providing insight into the connection of Melrose Place to Beverly Hills, 90210. He makes this reference because the connection is Jake. The featurette continues with a brief discussion about Aaron Spelling, Grant's impressions about the show after getting the part, Jake's personality, Jake and his sexual escapades, key comments in the show, etc.
• Melrose Place: Seven Minutes in Hell (7:09): is a montage of key moments and "inspiring" dialogue from season three.
• Everything You Need To Know About Melrose Place Season 3 (14:58): is all about the show's second season. It stars John Aboud and Michael Colton, who provide a fun commentary about the season. The opening sequence alone, a mock-up of the show's opening sequence with Aboud and Colton in costume, is a great reason to watch it. This featurette is similar to the one included in the Beverly Hills, 90210: The Second Season DVD set.
It is a good laugh and deviation away from Melrose Place's heavy melodrama.

Final Thoughts:
Melrose Place is a soapy drama about an oversexed group of people who get caught up in one dramatic development after the other. The show's third season is soapier than ever, with nonstop drama at every corner. The season has many eye rolling, over-the-top storylines involving sordid love affairs, murder attempts, conflicts in the workplace, and more. In particular, this season has a lot of happenings you won't want to miss out on.