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Profiler - Season 2
A&E Video // Unrated // November 25, 2003
List Price: $99.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
THE EPISODES
Having never seen the series when it originally aired on NBC, I thought the first season set of Profiler was an often interesting, yet often uneven affair. However, Season One did end on quite the high note – with criminal profiler Samantha Waters (Ally Walker) being framed for murder by "Jack of All Trades" (a serial killer who killed Sam's husband), and Sam's boss Bailey (Robert Davi) being rushed to the hospital after being shot by his estranged daughter.
The first episode of Season Two wraps up all these loose ends by the end of the episode, but doesn't cheat the viewer by providing simple resolutions. Yes, Sam does manage to prove that she is innocent of murder, and yes, Bailey is going to be just fine…but Jack is still terrorizing and taunting Sam, and Bailey still has plenty to work out with his daughter…who is now on the run from the cops.
But this series isn't satisfied with just resting on its laurels and giving us more of the same. Jack has decided to take a protégé under his wing to train in the ways of murder…and it's none other than former porn star Traci Lords, who brings both a sense of evil and (let's be honest) downright sexiness to her role in Season Two. She is, quite simply, the ultimate "bad girl" – and Lords, to her credit, does a great job with her character.
Not afraid to take chances…even at the risk of alienating some of its audience…the series gives viewers a complete shock in the fourth episode, "Second Best", by having Sam deal with a tragedy unlike any other she has faced up to this point in the series. Later episodes in Season Two have Sam facing the threat of her young daughter being taken away from her, and coming to terms with her own father.
It's obvious that Profiler was the forerunner of shows like C.S.I. and in reviewing the first box set, I stated that I thought C.S.I., while it came later, was a more well-rounded show. Season Two of Profiler proves me wrong. With great character development, solid acting and well-written stories, the second season of Profiler improves on the concept and makes this boxed set even more worth picking up than the first one.
THE DVD
Packaged exactly like the first set, Season Two comes in six individual plastic cases, all fitting nicely into a cardboard slipcase. With the exception of Disc Two, there are four episodes per disc, for a total of 19 shows…although the season-ender is actually a double episode, so viewers are really getting 20 episodes-worth in this set. And unlike Season One, which didn't have an episode because of rights to a Sting song ("Every Breath You Take") that was featured predominately in that show, Season Two isn't missing any episodes.
Video:
The episodes are featured in full-frame and are almost exactly the same in quality as Season One…in other words, quite good for a TV show released on DVD. The second season maintains the "dark" look of the show – with a lot of blues, blacks, and a washed-out look…much like FOX's The X-Files.
Audio:
Once again, this season comes with a 2.0 Dolby track…but it sounds crisp and clear, and those who were happy with the audio from Season One won't be disappointed with this set – since the quality is virtually the same.
Extras:
The Season One box set provided us with two separate commentaries for the pilot from Ally Walker and Robert Davi. Season Two doesn't do quite as good, offering us only one Commentary Track for the episode "Victim of Victims", and not from a cast member. The commentary is provided by real-life criminal profiler Pat Brown, who provides some insight on the case featured in the episode (which is based on a real case from the 1950's). It's an interesting listen, but I would have preferred more cast participation in this set.
The only other bonuses offered on the DVDs are a Text Summary of each episode, some Cast Biographies on Disc 6, plus a scene selection for each of the shows.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although one can't help but be a little disappointed by the lack of bonus material on this disc compared to the first season, the actual quality of the episodes is much better for Season Two than Season One (meaning a much higher "replayability" value), and for that reason, I'm recommending this set.
Having never seen the series when it originally aired on NBC, I thought the first season set of Profiler was an often interesting, yet often uneven affair. However, Season One did end on quite the high note – with criminal profiler Samantha Waters (Ally Walker) being framed for murder by "Jack of All Trades" (a serial killer who killed Sam's husband), and Sam's boss Bailey (Robert Davi) being rushed to the hospital after being shot by his estranged daughter.
The first episode of Season Two wraps up all these loose ends by the end of the episode, but doesn't cheat the viewer by providing simple resolutions. Yes, Sam does manage to prove that she is innocent of murder, and yes, Bailey is going to be just fine…but Jack is still terrorizing and taunting Sam, and Bailey still has plenty to work out with his daughter…who is now on the run from the cops.
But this series isn't satisfied with just resting on its laurels and giving us more of the same. Jack has decided to take a protégé under his wing to train in the ways of murder…and it's none other than former porn star Traci Lords, who brings both a sense of evil and (let's be honest) downright sexiness to her role in Season Two. She is, quite simply, the ultimate "bad girl" – and Lords, to her credit, does a great job with her character.
Not afraid to take chances…even at the risk of alienating some of its audience…the series gives viewers a complete shock in the fourth episode, "Second Best", by having Sam deal with a tragedy unlike any other she has faced up to this point in the series. Later episodes in Season Two have Sam facing the threat of her young daughter being taken away from her, and coming to terms with her own father.
It's obvious that Profiler was the forerunner of shows like C.S.I. and in reviewing the first box set, I stated that I thought C.S.I., while it came later, was a more well-rounded show. Season Two of Profiler proves me wrong. With great character development, solid acting and well-written stories, the second season of Profiler improves on the concept and makes this boxed set even more worth picking up than the first one.
THE DVD
Packaged exactly like the first set, Season Two comes in six individual plastic cases, all fitting nicely into a cardboard slipcase. With the exception of Disc Two, there are four episodes per disc, for a total of 19 shows…although the season-ender is actually a double episode, so viewers are really getting 20 episodes-worth in this set. And unlike Season One, which didn't have an episode because of rights to a Sting song ("Every Breath You Take") that was featured predominately in that show, Season Two isn't missing any episodes.
Video:
The episodes are featured in full-frame and are almost exactly the same in quality as Season One…in other words, quite good for a TV show released on DVD. The second season maintains the "dark" look of the show – with a lot of blues, blacks, and a washed-out look…much like FOX's The X-Files.
Audio:
Once again, this season comes with a 2.0 Dolby track…but it sounds crisp and clear, and those who were happy with the audio from Season One won't be disappointed with this set – since the quality is virtually the same.
Extras:
The Season One box set provided us with two separate commentaries for the pilot from Ally Walker and Robert Davi. Season Two doesn't do quite as good, offering us only one Commentary Track for the episode "Victim of Victims", and not from a cast member. The commentary is provided by real-life criminal profiler Pat Brown, who provides some insight on the case featured in the episode (which is based on a real case from the 1950's). It's an interesting listen, but I would have preferred more cast participation in this set.
The only other bonuses offered on the DVDs are a Text Summary of each episode, some Cast Biographies on Disc 6, plus a scene selection for each of the shows.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although one can't help but be a little disappointed by the lack of bonus material on this disc compared to the first season, the actual quality of the episodes is much better for Season Two than Season One (meaning a much higher "replayability" value), and for that reason, I'm recommending this set.
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