Offspring-Complete Third Series (2012)

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General		Extras
Category	TV Series	Menu Audio Bonus Episode-8 webisodes Featurette-Behind The Scenes Music Video
Rating
Year Of Production	2012
Running Time	688
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (5)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Kate Dennis Darren Ashton Shirley Barrett Sian Davies
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	None Given
Case	Slip Case
RPI	$59.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Offspring is one of the few recent success stories for the Ten Network along with Masterchef. This comedy/drama/soapie with added whimsy has now been running for three seasons and has been renewed by Ten for two more seasons, which start production later this year. The success of this show is built around its bright and amusing style, quality writing and a fun and high quality cast including the excellent actress Asher Keddie (who is also really attractive!). Keddie has now won the Silver Logie two years in a row for most popular actress, for a combination of this show and Paper Giants.

     The show is based around the character played by Keddie, Nina Proudman. She is an obstetrician in Melbourne and struggles with her love life, her family and her work, often all at the same time. Her family include her father real estate agent Darcy Proudman (John Waters), her mother, Geraldine (Linda Cropper), her sister, Billie (Kat Stewart), her irresponsible younger brother Jimmy (Richard Davies) and Billie's husband, Mick (Eddie Perfect). Other important characters are the nurses in her unit, who are also friends and sometimes family, Cherie (Deborah Mailman), Kim (Alicia Gardener) & Zara (Jane Harber). There is also Nina's on again, off again love of her life, Patrick Reid (Matthew Le Nevez), a paediatrician in the same hospital.

     This series (of thirteen 45 Minute episodes) includes babies, revelations about the family, affairs and much more, all leading up to Nina's 35th birthday party in Episode 13. It certainly keeps up the quality of the first two series, with good measures of comedy, whimsy, drama and romance to keep the core audience happy. This is high quality Australian television, which looks set to continue for a few years to come.

    Recommended.

Video

     The video quality is very good.

     The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture is very clear and sharp for television on DVD. Shadow detail is good.

     The colour is very good, looking bright and vivid throughout.

     There is little to complain about in artefact terms with just a little very light grain on occasion

     There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which are clear and easy to read (in yellow text).

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is good.

    These discs contain an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. The sound is obviously quite front focused.

     Dialogue was mostly easy to understand and clear although the subtitles came in handy occasionally.

     The theme music and songs used are a significant portion of the shows atmosphere.

     The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     A decent selection of extras.

Menu

     The menu is pretty straight forward, still with music but perfectly functional.

The Nurses - Webisodes

     Eight short episodes (3-4 minutes each) of the offshoot web series which focuses more on the nurses at the hospital. It is quite silly but fun for fans of the main show.

The Making of Australian Story (3:18)

     I don't really get the title of this extra but it is basically some behind the scenes footage which is all a bit silly but fun.

You Make Me Happy (2:51)

     Full version of the song from the show.

Ep 9 - Some Quality Time with Asher Keddie (6:06)

     There may be a stuff up in the menuing in this area because this link takes you to a general goof reel, whereas choosing the other link (next) takes you to something entitled 'Some Quality Time with Asher Keddie'. Regardless, they are both available. The one accessible from this menu item is a reel of behind the scenes footage, jokes and stuff-ups.

Ep 12 Goof Reel (7:53)

     This menu item accesses a joke behind the scenes featurette, showing how Asher Keddie really annoys everyone on set and they all hate her. Funny.

    This show is only available locally at this stage.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall