Murder One was a short-lived television series from the late nineties about the defense attorney's perspective in the courtroom. The show came from Stephen Bochco, creator of Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue. In the series' first season the show did something that most series do not dare try. The entire season (twenty-three episodes) was spent unraveling one story arc with several sidebars for character development and subplots. Most television series stay away from this model because it can be hard to keep the viewer's attention for so long. Of course, there are exceptions and Murder One was one. The series wasn't a huge success when the first season aired on television, but it was liked enough to keep around for a second season. Unfortunately the second season, while good in my opinion, didn't grab the ratings hoped for.

In the first season Daniel Benzali played the leading man as high-powered defense attorney Ted Hoffman. In season two, he is hand waved into sunset with a few lines and replaced with Anthony LaPaglia. The leading role was not the only change, as with season two a new format was adopted. Instead of following a single story arc for the entire season, there were three smaller stories dispersed over eighteen episodes. With this change the series lost the same detail the first season had, but still quite a lot more than other show of a similar nature. Overall, I thought the second season was engaging, exciting, and the stories were thoroughly developed. The characters were also handled well. This series offers an interesting perspective for those who enjoy crime related dramas. For more details about this series please refer to DVD Talk's review of season one.

In the opening of the second season, the loose ends from season one are wrapped up. With Benzali no longer starring in the featured role as Ted Hoffman, the law firm Hoffman & Associates is missing its person. If you watched season one, then you know part of the Hoffman's character development was him dealing with his ruined marriage. He was so dedicated to his job that he neglected his wife and kid. In season two, he is somewhere in Europe repairing his relationship with his family. The associates at Hoffman & Associates have been without work since he left. They lack Hoffman's reputation and are unable to get any high profile cases.

Meanwhile, the Deputy District Attorney Jimmy Wyler (Anthony LaPaglia) was passed up for a well deserved promotion when his boss at the D.A.'s office gets back at him for not inviting him to a press conference. On the same day Jimmy finds out he is being passed over for the promotion, a new case is brought into the D.A.'s office. The Governor of California Tom Van Allan and his mistress were murdered. A suspect, Sharon Rooney, is in custody and the D.A.'s office is prosecuting the case. On a whim, Jimmy decides to quit his job as a prosecutor and step over to the other side. He approaches Sharon and convinces her to let him handle her trial. After Jimmy takes on Sharon's case, word gets out that he is working as a defense attorney. A lawyer from Hoffman & Associates approaches him and asks him to take over the firm towards providing work and paychecks. Jimmy is hesitant at first, but accepts the offer and renames the firm Wyler & Associates.

From here, the first story really starts to unfold. The first case is about Sharon Rooney. She was one of many girls Governor Van Allan had affairs with. At a quick glance, the people's case looks like a surefire win. Miriam Grasso (Barbara Bosson), the prosecutor from season one, has a very tight case against Sharon. Jimmy brings his expertise (12 years in the D.A.'s office, 43 murder cases tried and convicted) and is able to bring an edge to Sharon's case. There are several details he and his team are able to punch out to turn Sharon's case around. What made this first case so interesting were the details uncovered and the plot twists. I won't go into any solid details here, because you really need to watch it full hand to enjoy it. However there are some great side stories that tie into the main plot and plenty of suspense and drama to keep you glued to your seat.

The character development during the Rooney case also added intrigue. There was a lot of detail about Jimmy to unveil since he was a new character. This was covered very well in the first case. Also since this was his first case as defense attorney, he had to learn the ropes as he went while trying to maintain his ethical composure. He also damaged a lot of his friendships in the course of the trial. Friends from both the D.A.'s office and the police department look at Jimmy with completely new eyes as he went over to the other side.

Another new character was brought on this season, Aaron Mosely (DB Woodside). Mosely was the public defender assigned to Sharon and not very happy with Jimmy when he found out he stole the case from him. To fix everyone's problem, Jimmy hired him to work at Wyler & Associates. He adds another person the existing cast members have to get to know and interact with. At first there is a lot of mistrust and dislike because everyone else feels like they are not getting what they deserve. But slowly, they all learn to get along.

While the first case is underway, Wyler & Associates is put on retainer for another case. Rickey Latrell, a professional basketball player becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when a gun registered in his name was used to kill the owner of the basketball team he plays for. Coincidentally, Rickey was the last person to be seen with his boss before he died. Jimmy takes a step back for this case and lets Chris Docknivich (Michael Hayden) and Mosely step up to take control of the case. This case proves to be interesting, but lacks the same captivation as the first.

The final case this season handles gets pretty intense. A man named Clifford Banks (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is arrested for seventeen counts of murder one. He is proclaimed by the media as the "Street Sweeper". Banks is a vigilante and views himself as judge, jury and executioner. The men he has killed are all rapists and/or murders who were given punishments not suited for their crime. Vince gives a dazzling performance (he won an Emmy for it) as Banks. Getting to know his character and the motivation for his actions make his case the most intriguing and compelling this season has to offer.

Overall the second season of Murder One delivers some highly dramatic, tantalizing stories. While this season does not have the same fine detail the first season had, it still works out well. The first case dealing with Sharon Rooney was a great way to start the season and mix the new characters into the existing cast. The second case with Rickey Latrell was interesting enough, but not nearly as intricate as the first or the last. At times it felt like it droned on a little too long. The final case about Clifford Banks offered the most compelling case of all. This story was handled very well and the performances were top notch. In the end, Murder One season two is great for fans of crime-related dramas. This show offers a different perspective than what we're all too commonly exposed to in shows like Law & Order and NYPD Blue. Also, the story arcs that span several episodes add extensive detail in terms of plotlines and character development that work in the show's favor.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame color. The picture quality is generally good. The image is a bit soft at times and there are traces of edge enhancement.

Audio:
The audio in this release is in English/Spanish/French Dolby digital stereo surround. The quality is quite good. The audio is fairly flat, which is due the show being dialogue driven. This release also supports closed captioning and has subtitles in English and Spanish.

Extras:
For extras, this DVD release comes with a single featurette. Final Verdict: Season 2 is twenty-two minutes of cast members Barbara Bosson, J.C. MacKenzie, DB Woodside, Mary McCormack, director Randy Zisk, and producer/director Marc Buckland. The content of the featurette is fairly general. It covers the transition from season one to season two, touching upon why changing the format, the cast change, etc. There is also discussion about characters and the actors/actresses who play them, and general thoughts about the show. Overall it was an interesting featurette, and something fans should definitely sit through.

Final Thoughts:
While the second season of Murder One covers three cases and lacks the same level of detail the first season had, as it only focused on a single case, there is still quite enough detail and drama to keep you entertained. The second season offers some compelling stories that leave you wanting to know what happens next. The characters are also handled well in both their performances and development. In the end, the second season may not be as strong as season one in its story, but it still delivers enough to keep you glued to your seat.