Gangland is a documentary television series from the History Channel. The series details different aspects of the criminal world -- specifically gangs. It provides insight to this dark underworld by including interviews with former gang members, police investigators, judges, lawyers, and other experts on the subject matter. The experts discuss the gangs, which may include history, modus operandi, notable crimes, brutal killings/murders, gang loyalty, influences on local communities, and so on. If you have ever wanted to know more about the dark world of gangs, then Gangland will give you just that. It is an informative, insightful, and interesting documentary series.

In Gangland's second season, there is no change to the show's presentation. The first season format worked well and season two builds upon it by offering more solid episodes about gang life. Season two is made up of twelve TV-hour long episodes (versus season one's thirteen episodes). This season covers a variety of different gangs from the past to the present: Maniac Latin Disciples, Joe Boys, Wo Hop To, Wah Ching, Outlaws, Texas Syndicate, Crips, Vice Lords, 18th Street Gang, Mongols MC, Gangster Disciples, Bloods, street gangs in Las Vegas, female Bloods and Crips, and La Gran Familia. Like season one, most episodes offer information about the gang's history, rise to power, culture, and different criminal activities involved with and select episodes focus on specific individuals or themes.

As for the season content, all of the episodes are entertaining. However, I really enjoyed "Deadly Triangle". It covers three different Asian gangs. They include Joe Boys, Wo Hop To, and Wah Ching. The Joe Boys were formed in San Francisco's Chinatown, during the 1960s. This gang of young Chinese males is best known for the 1977 event Golden Dragon Massacre, where the Joe Boys and rival gang Wah Ching (also addressed in this episode) got into a shootout at the Golden Dragon Restaurant. The other gang covered is the Wo Hop To, which is an Asian gang with roots going to China. In the 1990s, they came to San Francisco to take over all of the Asian gangs. Their "rise" to power in the bay area included the other two gangs mentioned. It is an interesting piece of history.

Overall, Gangland is a solid documentary series. Its second season continues to offer insightful and informative detail about various gangs. What makes the series strong is its presentation. The information provided is never boring or dull. The discussions with former gang members, law enforcement officials, and other related experts make for interesting dialogue as they provide personal accounts and experiences. Another good aspect is the show's ability to include specific stories (e.g., crimes, personal experiences, etc.) and how they relate to the gang's culture. In short, Gangland is a worthwhile experience and will be appreciated by viewers who are interested in the subject matter.

Episode Guide

1. Maniacal: Chicago gang Maniac Latin Disciples was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez, who was killed by the rival Latin Kings. MLD often includes a backward swastika in its graffiti--a tribute to Hernandez and a way to distinguish it from Aryan groups.
2. Deadly Triangle: Asian gangs have been in America since the Gold Rush days, but in 1977, when the Joe Boys gang killed five innocent patrons in the Golden Dragon restaurant in San Francisco, they became front-page news.
3. Biker Wars: In the 1990s, shootings and car bombings by the motorcycle gang Outlaws Nation led to the arrest of two of its presidents. Nevertheless, the gang continues to expand its influence through blood and violence.
4. Texas Terror: Texas Syndicate, a vicious and highly organized gang, was responsible for at least a dozen murders and a decade of drug trafficking. To bring them down, prosecutors resorted to an unusual weapon: the anti-racketeering RICO Act.
5.Crip or Die: It was a blood-chilling case of mistaken identity. LA Crips gang memers, seeking revenge on a cocaine dealer, walked into the wrong house and killed four innocent family members--all relatives of NFL star Kermit Alexander.
6. Murder by Numbers: Named for a street in East LA, the 18th Street Gang's criminal activities include auto theft, drive-by shootings, extortion, rape and murder. Some of their prime recruits: elementary and middle school kids.
7. Lords of the Holy City: The second largest street gang in Chicago, the Vice Lords have moved far beyond the confines of the city in both numbers and criminal influence. Its membership, confirmed in 28 states, has mushroomed to nearly 35,000.
8. Mongol Nation: What was once a raucous partying group is now a thousand-member gang and a major criminal player in the drug and gun trade, prostitution, and theft.
9. Gangster, Inc: Chicago-based Gangster Disciples have branched out to Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis and Des Moines. The gang has sent the murder rate skyrocketing in at least one city, and its gruesome MO includes torture and dismemberment.
10. One Blood: The Los Angeles Bloods is a smaller but far more dangerous group than the rival Crips. The gang is unified, disciplined--and deadly. Innocent victims have been killed by its decades-long battle for the streets.
11. Sin City: The soaring rate of gang activity and accompanying violence in Las Vegas are rapidly becoming disturbing new symbols of the Wild West.
12. From Girl to Gangster: Gangs are mostly for guys, but gals have also played a role, often as decoys and accessories to larger crimes. This episode focuses on Rambo--a woman who was an original member of the LA Bloods.

The DVD

Video:
The video is presented in 1.78 ratio widescreen letterbox format. The picture quality is good. It has a slight grain, which is more noticeable on large television sets, but detail is still pretty sharp and clear.

Audio:
The audio is given in English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo sound. The audio track is very simple and plain sounding. Dialogue is easily heard throughout the episodes. There is no support for subtitles or closed captioning.

Extras:
There are no extras included with this DVD set.

Final Thoughts:
Gangland is a documentary television series from the History Channel that details the inner-workings, history, and personal accounts with gang life. The series provides an insightful and informative perspective of this aspect of the criminal underworld. For those who are interested in learning more about gangs, this second season DVD set will serve you well. It comes recommended.