Having been dropped by NBC, Medium finds a new home for its sixth season at CBS. The story of a psychic working for a Phoenix (I could have played off their location’s name and used it as a metaphor for this show rising from the ashes onto a new network…but I’m a much classier and restrained writer than that) district attorney’s office. Meanwhile, her husband struggles with a new job and when it comes to her daughters, there is evidence that there might be more than one psychic in her household.
I did not follow this show before, but had watched a few episodes previous to reviewing this season. Something I had always admired about this program was the dynamic the family has with each other. Driving the plot of each episode is a crime mystery, but instead of new evidence arriving as it might in a CSI or Law and Order, our hero would dream the truth, making for a supernatural side to things. Despite this, the writing would blend said supernatural elements into their daily bickering and family matters until it seemed utterly domestic. Now with a daughter showing powers the family is becoming significant in different ways but all the while never ignoring facts of life that occur and change over the six years that this show existed, such as the girls growing up, job changes, sickness etc. Perhaps what I admire about this is not only how the show does not hinge on the psychic aspect of things, but also creates an all the more believable family unit while doing so. Much credit for this goes to the more than capable leads Patricia Arquette and Jake Weber (who plays her husband) as well as the writing staff.
The story lines are plenty interesting. This show does use some standard issue plot devices for cliffhangers, most notably here are a coma and the old “it was just a dream” tactic, which is a shame as this season sets up, what could have been, a whopper of a finale, only to be spoiled with a slightly lame twist and rushed ending.
Video
16:9 aspect ratio. Not the clearest TV DVD picture I have seen. Some night time scenes, despite being interior shots, get fuzzier as the lights get dimmer. Beyond that, it looks good enough.
Audio
Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo are available. I find that TV DVDs don’t get much use or even bother with Surround. This series does, and its not very necessary. The score comes through fine but is not very striking. There are few crowd scenes or anything else where background sounds can create a more immersion experience. The stereo is just fine by itself, but I suppose using Surround can’t hurt. What little it has sounds good at least.
Special Features
On Disc 2:
The 100th Episode of Medium: A tiny feature of self-congratulation for this show reaching a rare milestone for prime time drama. Extra kudos are deserved after surviving the aforementioned dismissal by a previous network.
Zombies on the Loose: The Making of Bite Me: This A fun and interesting look at the most ambitious episode of the season (perhaps series, visually at least) where they spliced in characters from the show into Night of the Living Dead, and visa versa. The attention to detail is amazing, right to the aged voices on the film’s recording, and great care went into making this as seamless as possible, which it was.
On Disc 4:
The Mind Behind Medium: Patricia Arquette interviews series creator Glenn Gordon Caron: Delivers just what it promises. The interview is fine. It is more about Caron himself and his own history and not so much about the creation of the show. Parts are decently interesting I suppose.
The Music of Medium: A look at the score composer as he bounces ideas off Glenn Gordon Caron. Really, this becomes another praise-fest for Caron as he is credited again and again for the many ways he touches and guides this show.
Non-Fat Double Medium: A flighty and fun feature on twins Madison and Miranda Carabello who collectively play the youngest daughter. Nothing Earth shattering, but innocent enough to watch.
Final Thoughts
A fine enough show that seems to still have some stories to tell as it moves towards its Seventh season, second on the new network that believes in it. Not hard to get into even if you didn’t start at season one either.
