PICKS OF THE WEEK
Sons of Anarchy: Season 2 [Blu-ray and DVD]
Who does it star? Charlie Hunnam (as Jax Teller), Katey Sagal (as Gemma Teller Morrow), Maggie Siff (as Tara Knowles), Ron Perlman (as Clay Morrow), Mark Boone Jr. (as Bobby Munson), Kim Coates (as Tig Trager), Tommy Flanagan (as Chibs Telford), William Lucking (as Piney Winston), Ryan Hurst (as Opie Winston), Theo Rossi (as Juice Ortiz), Kurt Sutter (as Otto Delaney), Winter Ave Zoli (as Lyla), Dayton Callie (as Wayne Unser), Taylor Sheridan (as David Hale), Ally Walker (as June Stahl), David Labrava (as Happy).
What’s the premise? Drama depicts the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club, SAMCRO, operating in the fictional town of Charming, N.C.
When can I see it? Season 3 debuts Sept. 7 — only in the U.S., though.
Where does it air? FX in the States and Super Channel in Canada (we air post).
Why is it worth my time? There are a lot of shows I love to watch on TV right now — True Blood, Dexter and The Good Wife, to name a few — but without a doubt, Sons of Anarchy is my favourite. Created by Kurt Sutter (The Shield), who also holds a recurring role, the hour-long serial has received huge praise from both critics and viewers alike for its solid writing, gripping storylines and credible performances.
Actually, it’s a real shame that Sons of Anarchy wasn’t nominated for any Primetime Emmy Awards, the ceremony of which took place on Sunday. Katey Sagal most definitely deserved to be up for Outstanding Lead Actress and the whole series should’ve been considered for Outstanding Drama. Not that this gritty cable drama, which is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, requires any type of clichéd validation; I just wish those in charge would recognize the talent behind this true TV masterpiece.
Keep in mind, however, that Sons of Anarchy boasts extreme violence and language, and it’s not for the faint of heart. But while it’s sometimes hard to stomach the bikers’ brutality, it’s hardly over-the-top; rather, Sons is simply trying to parlay the real-life bloodshed that often takes place amongst gangs, past and present. It relates to the storylines, it fits with the characters and if it makes you uncomfortable, good — it’s supposed to.
All the while, Sons weaves in humour, romance and surprisingly heartfelt moments that will have you truly caring about SAMCRO, wishing Gemma was your best friend and wanting to date Jax. I could ramble on endlessly about this fantastic series, but rather than bore you, pick up the DVD set (Season 1 is also in stores) and judge for yourself — I’d be shocked if it didn’t turn you into a raving fan, too.
As an aside, I’ve had the chance to check out the upcoming Season 3 premiere (which, unfortunately, will debut in Canada behind the U.S.) and while I refuse to give anything away, let’s just say it proves that Sons only gets better with age. As TVGuide.ca’s editor, Amber, commented, it plays like a finale — in other words, it’s action-packed, cliffhanger goodness.
In Season 2 … Jax and Clay butt heads over how SAMCRO should be run; Gemma is viciously attacked by Charming’s latest newcomers; and the whole crew is affected by the actions of the ATF and the IRA.
Guest stars: Henry Rollins, Adam Arkin, Jamie McShane, Callard Harris, Sarah Jones, Julie Ariola, Patrick St. Esprit, Titus Welliver (though they all fall more under recurring status than guest).
Bonus features: Episode commentary and two featurettes titled “The Moral Code of Sons of Anarchy” and “Sons of Anarchy roundtable.”
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Number of discs: 4
Number of episodes: 13
Running time: 583 minutes |
NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 1
Who does it star? Chris O’Donnell (as G. Callen), Peter Cambor (as Nate Getz), Daniela Ruah (as Kensi Blye), LL Cool J (as Sam Hanna), Linda Hunt (as Hetty Lange), Barrett Foa (as Eric Beal), Eric Christian Olsen (as Marty Deeks).
What’s the premise? An elite unit of the NCIS goes undercover to infiltrate and apprehend criminal organizations that threaten U.S. national security.
When can I see it? Season 2 debuts Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. ET.
Where does it air? Global and CBS.
Why is it worth my time? Last week, the seventh season of NCIS was released, and today spinoff series NCIS: Los Angeles ventures into stores. Much like the original series, this crime drama follows a group of special agents working to fight big crime in the U.S.
Helped by a lead-in from NCIS and a followup from newbie legal drama The Good Wife, L.A. scored a hefty audience during its premiere (over 18 million Americans tuned in) and continued to pull in solid numbers during its inaugural 24-episode run. Critics have praised the hour-long serial for its multi-faceted characters, its pleasing cinematography and its entertainment value, with The Hollywood Reporter even going so far as to compare the series to popular 1980s cop drama The A-Team.
The star power of film vet Chris O’Donnell and music guru LL Cool J doesn’t hurt either — and the same goes for their handsome good looks. Add in a couple of pretty female leads, a little mystery and a few crossovers with the original NCIS characters (Vance and Abby, in particular), and CBS can proudly say it’s churned out yet another successful police procedural.
In Season 1 … the team investigates cases of murder, espionage and stolen weapons, as well as the man who ordered a hit on Callen’s life.
Guest stars: Rocky Carroll, Isaiah Mustafa, Pauley Perrette, Carlo Rota.
Bonus features: CBS promos; the LL Cool J music video for “No Crew is Superior”; the making of “No Crew is Superior”; spinoff episodes from NCIS: Season 6; commentary by Shane Brennan on “Identity”; and featurettes titled “Inspired Television: NCIS: L.A.,” “The L.A. Team: Meet the Cast and Crew,” “Inside the Inner Sanctum: The Set Tour,” “Do You Have a Visual? Inside the OPS Center” and “Lights, Camera … ACTION! The Stunts of NCIS: L.A.”
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Number of discs: 6
Number of episodes: 24
Running time: 1045 minutes |
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To escape from the daily chaos of life, Diana enjoys curling up on the couch to watch a good movie, and is guilty of partaking in the current TV-on-DVD trend. From documentaries and dramas to comedies and animated flicks, no genre is off-limits.
Before her current editorial gig, Diana worked in TVGuide.ca’s listings department, so she’s a pro at getting the most up-to-date info to keep fellow movie buffs in the know with the latest TV and film releases. Now a content specialist, Diana graduated from the Broadcast Journalism program at Seneca College in Toronto. |
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