Synopsis
Shannen Doherty, Holy Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano are three sisters who also happen to be witches. Very much in the vein of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, our heroines must battle supernatural monsters and evil cults, all the while dealing with love, heartbreak and other issues more connected with mere mortals. The season begins with Combs out of the picture, having eloped with Brian Krause. Their marriage is frowned upon by The Powers That Be, and this is one of the ongoing threads of t…e season.
Shannen Doherty. As a witch. Tee hee! Anyway, the series owes perhaps too much to Buffy. Like its inspiration, it has a very complex storyline that is problematic for new viewers. I confess that these are the first episodes I’ve seen, and I was completely baffled, despite reams of rather ungainly expository dialogue. The effects are perilously close to the bargain basement, and the whole thing has an ersatz feel to it. That said, I know that the show does have a sizeable following, and it does have a very ambitious season-long story arc, not to mention some pretty varied concepts. So I’m willing to grant that, were one to come in on the ground floor, there would be much to enjoy here.
Audio
As is pretty much par for the course with TV releases, the sound is in 2.0. The track is energetic, blasting out at a high volume, and the music is big and atmospheric. The surround elements are fine (again, by TV standards), though one will here far more score than sound effects coming from the rear speakers. I am not, however, entirely enthused about the dialogue. Though it is never drowned out by music or effects, there is a certain harshness to it, and a slight tendency to distort. Overall, the track is not disagreeable, but it is definitely not in the top rung.
Video
The picture is like the sound. It’s okay, but one can’t help but feel a bit disappointed by it. The colours, flesh tones, and blacks are good, though the contrasts aren’t perfect: some of the darker shots are a bit on the murky side. There is no grain or visible edge enhancement, but there is some pixelation (again, mostly in the darker sequences), and the image isn’t always perfectly sharp.
Special Features
None. Preview for other products don’t count, sorry. The menu is basic.
Closing Thoughts
Very much a release for those who were already fans. Its derivative nature is all too painfully apparent. As for those fans, will they be disappointed by the complete lack of extras?
Special Features List
- Previews
