Episodes-Series 3 (2014)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Outtakes-Blooper Reel
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	210:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jim Field Smith James Griffiths
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Matt Le Blanc Chris Diamantopoulos
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Dual
RPI	?	Music	Mark Thomas

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Series 2 of the British/American comedy Episodes ended with a riotous awards night scene featuring studio head Merc Lapidus being awarded Man of the Year whilst a good number of people in the audience knew that he was a Dead Man Walking, about to be fired by the big boys from New York. Along with that he got into a round of fisticuffs with Matt Le Blanc after learning, naturally, that Le Blanc had been sleeping with his wife. Meanwhile, as a tiny ray of hope, it seems that Sean and Beverley may have reconciled.

     Series 3 begins in the rueful aftermath of the big night. Studio bridesmaid Carol is a conflicted woman. She cannot help but feel sorry for Merc and yet at the same time is excited at the promise of becoming the new Los Angeles studio head. Unfortunately for her there has been a change of plans and in comes the new head in the form of Castor Sotto (Chris Diamantopoulos). Carol is inspired by the balls-out confidence of Sotto. Only we and his therapist know that Sotto is a tiny anxiety-ridden man hiding in a buff and decisive body.

     Meanwhile Sean and Beverley are trying to keep their reconciliation going but are struggling with the fact that both of them had affairs, albeit brief. Le Blanc can't put his life together and veers from one bad decision to another fully aware of the consequences of his peccadilloes but simply unable to stop himself. Against all this is the sliding popularity (was it ever popular?) of Pucks! with cast and crew members, studio bosses, actually pretty much everyone associated with the turkey, looking for an exit!

     Those who enjoyed the first two series of the show will enjoy the third just as much. Sean and Beverley provide many of the comedic set-ups but it is Le Blanc who carries the load. He is continually unafraid to lampoon himself and his career. The scenes where he argues with Jay Leno about being pushed from first guest to second-guest slot are priceless as is the moment where Le Blanc meets with his stalker and realises that she has finally "got over him". What could be worse than a young female stalker passionately devoted to you to the point where you had to obtain a restraining order? Perhaps the fact that he is no longer her obsession.

Video

     As with Series 1 and 2 Episodes Series 3 was shot on high-definition digital video.

     It comes to DVD in a 1.78:1 transfer consistent with the original television aspect ratio. It is 16×9 enhanced.

     This remains a good looking series with production values remaining similar to the earlier shows.

     The image quality is crisp and clear throughout.

     The colours are clear and vibrant.

     The flesh tones are accurate and the level of detail is pleasing throughout.

     There are no technical defects with the transfer.

     There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

     Episodes Series 3 features an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack running at 448 Kb/s.

     I had previously complained that the last two series were in 2.0 only but, to be truthful, the added channels and a bit of depth don't really add a whole lot to the show.

     The dialogue is clear and easy to understand throughout.

     Music is by experienced television composer Mark Thomas who scored an Emmy nomination for his jaunty main theme.

    There are no technical defects with the sound transfer.

Audio Ratings Summary

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

Blooper Reel (8.53)

     The sole extra is a lengthy series of bloopers mainly consisting of line flubs and giggles.

    The show is still for download in Region 1 from Showtime. The UK DVD release is identical to ours. Buy local.

     For fans of Episodes this series is an automatic purchase. It is still funny and satirical and yet the characters have enough heart to give some dramatic interest to the serious moments.

    The DVD is of fine quality in sound and vision terms.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall