Medium: The Complete Fifth Season Review

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(More customer reviews)This show has a likable, great cast. I honestly keep forgetting that Patricia Arquette is acting. She is so convincing that it's hard not to take the character of Allison seriously, instead of "what a loon." I'm a mom and it's WONDERFUL to see someone who looks like a mom instead of glamourous star with tons of makeup. Joe and Allison have real fights. Joe isn't perfect. Allison isn't perfect. Their marriage deals with faith and trust in each other, broken cars, losing jobs, taking kids to the doctor, etc. I love the family relationships. The kids act like, well, normal kids. Is anyone else tired of "super-brainy," mouthy brats being promoted on TV?
The DA, lead detective, and deputy mayor make up the other side of Allison's life. Another great ensemble! All three are down to earth and none fit into the usual niches of their roles. The DA doesn't act like a law book. The lead detective doesn't act like Starsky or Hutch. The deputy mayor is both logical and calming. They're intriguing characters and I would like to hear more of their stories, too.
I was SO glad that CBS picked up "Medium!" I am hoping that CBS will do a better job in promoting this little gem filled with a new mystery every week. With NBC and its crazy scheduling, I missed the first couple of episodes before I knew that it was back on the air. Never got to see reruns during the summer--I hope that changes.
I've purchased the first four seasons and am looking forward to this release!

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Allison Dubois (Arquette) is a strong-willed, devoted young wife and mother of three girls, who has gradually come to grips with her extraordinary ability to talk to dead people, see the future in her dreams and read people's thoughts. This season, Allison and her family's world is turned upside down after her abilities are publicly exposed, resulting in sweeping changes both professionally and personally.

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Medium - The Complete Second Season (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is "Medium" --- The Complete Second Season, featuring 22 episodes of this amazing NBC series with performances by Emmy-award winning Patricia Arquette.This DVD includes some excellent bonus features. The bonus features are as follows:Commentaries --- For several episodes, featuring both crew and cast. These commentaries are insightful and entertaining and will definitely help you to understand certain aspects of the show better. It's too bad they couldn't do commentary for "Death Takes a Holiday" and "Twice Upon a Time," but I suspect they were still wrapping work on those eps while this DVD set was being created.
The Story of "Medium" Season 2 - Highlights of the season from beginning to end. Discusses how things changed between season one and two, some of the highest-quality episodes, and more.
"Medium" in Another Dimension --- Discusses the 3-D episode of the show, "Still Life." This is pretty interesting and has some insightful thoughts, but a lot of it is already covered in the commentary for that episode.
A Day in the Life of the Dubois Daughters --- Discusses the actresses that play the daughters of the show, as well as the characters themselves. Includes their school studies, how they prepare for the show and anecdotes and praise from other cast and crew.
The Museum of Television and Radio - Q&A with Cast and Creative Team --- Discusses the writing process for the show.
Gag Reel --- A fun gag reel, including mess-ups as well as joke scenes.If you're a fan of "Medium," or any good drama or science-fiction series, you can't afford to pass this up.

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From Emmy Award-winning executive producer, creator and director Glenn Gordon Caron ("Moonlighting") comes "Medium," a chilling drama series inspired by the real-life story of research medium Allison DuBois. Emmy winner Patricia Arquette ("Stigmata," "Flirting with Disaster") stars as a young wife and mother who, since childhood, has been struggling to make sense of her dreams and visions of dead people. Arquette received the Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category after the telecast of the initial 16 episodes of the critically acclaimed series. Allison DuBois (Arquette) is a strong-willed young mother of three, a devoted wife and law student who begins to suspect that she can talk to dead people, see the future in her dreams and read people's thoughts. Fearing for her mental health, she turns for support to her husband Joe (Jake Weber, "U-571"), an aerospace engineer, who slowly comes to believe that what his wife is telling him just might be true. The real challenge is convincing her boss, D.A. Devalos (Miguel Sandoval) -- and the other doubters in the criminal justice system -- that her psychic abilities can give them the upper hand when it comes to solving violent and horrifying crimes whose mysteries often reside with those who live beyond the grave.

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Psych: The Complete Second Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Without a doubt, Shawn Spencer is the public's favorite fake fictional psychic detective. Of course as far as I know, he's also the only one.
But that doesn't stop the second season of "Psych" from being a rollicking good time, full of crazy schemes and baffling murder mysteries. James Roday and Dulé Hill actually become even more entertaining, with less slapstick and more of a reliance on eccentric plot twists, pop culture references, and crimes that get ever weirder.
Shawn (Roday) and Gus (Hill) get swamped by reality pop culture when American Duos comes to Santa Barbara. The cruel British judge Nigel St. Nigel (Tim Curry) hires them to protect him, because he thinks that someone is trying to kill him.
A live wire and a poisoned sandwich later, Shawn agrees -- especially when a drugged-out female judge almost dies. But out of all the people who loathe Nigel, which one tried to kill him? Then the police suspect that Shawn has lost his touch when he announces that someone was killed by a dinosaur, and is confronted by a sexy FTD psychic.
But that isn't the last or least of Sean and Gus's problems -- a chop shop with secrets, bounty hunters, Gus's parents accused of Yuletide murder, jockey deaths and fixed races, nanny-related robberies, electrocutions on the catwalk, and going undercover at a telenovela, a school for the gifted, and a retirement community. They even have a run-in with a wealthy, crazy woman that Gus drunkenly married on spring break years ago... and it turns out her new fiancee is a bit shady.
Finally, Shawn and Gus are pursuing one of their weirdest cases ever. First a security guard is suspected of stealing a 3000-year-old mummy -- but then it appears that the mummy actually murdered the guard. Can Shawn figure out what is going on -- with the mummy murder, the police chief, and his oddly-behaving father?
Although it didn't break much new ground, the first season of "Psych" was very fresh and entertaining TV. Fortunately creator Steve Franks is sticking to the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and the second season doesn't deviate from what works -- there's still lots of comedy, spoofery, silly dialogue ("It's spontaneous psychic krav maga!") and enjoyable mysteries.
The first episode kicks things off a bit weakly, since the "American Idol" joke gets stretched out too far. Fortunately the mysteries after that get much more solid, deftly juggling even the funny-sounding plot twists (strangulation by mummy bandage? Refrigeration trucks?). You even get an endless parade of pop culture references, from Michael Jackson to "Shaun of the Dead," James Bond to wikipedia.com. Gotta love that.
But the best aspect of "Psych" continues to be its kooky dialogue. Usually Shawn provides it ("I hunger for the meatballs the way a jackal salivates for an injured possum"), but other characters get to as well ("Hola. Me llamo Inspector Carlton Lassiter. Me gusta queso").
Shawn and Gus remain an entertaining pair of twentysomething everymen, with Roday continuing to be eccentric, lovably charming and kooky -- although Shawn gets quite a shock in the cliffhanger ending. And Hill gets more attention, with Gus pursuing models and faking psychic powers. We even discover a secret past involving sweater vests, spring break, and a drunken wedding -- lots of fun.
And the supporting cast remains solid -- Corbin Bernsen gets to participate in a couple of the cases as Shawn's hard-nosed dad, sometimes in loud tropical shirts. Timothy Omundson continues to be entertaining as harder-nosed cop Lassiter. And Maggie Lawson rounds off the cast as the "enigma wrapped in a little blonde riddle" who is Shawn's love interest, as well as a counterpoint to Lassiter.
The second season of "Psych" continues the eccentric crimes and equally odd crimesolvers, mingling comedy and mystery with only a couple weak spots. Sweet black licorice!

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Get ready for more quirky adventures with TV’s freshest and most eccentric sleuth as all 16 Season Two episodes of the hit series Psych arrive on DVD!Phony police psychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his skeptical best friend Gus (Dulé Hill) are back on the case in this 4-disc set.Joining them is a supernaturally talented roster of guest stars, including Primetime Emmy® Award nominee Tim Curry, Golden Globe® nominee Gina Gershon and Kevin Sorbo.Featuring two episodes directed by the legendary John Landis (National Lampoon’s® Animal House, The Blues Brothers) and over 45 minutes of can’t-miss bonus materials, Season Two of Psych is a must for every DVD library! Critics exclaim, “It’s not only laugh-out-loud-until-soda-squirts-out-of-your-nose funny, but it’s also perfectly cast” (New York Post).We predict you’ll love every quick-witted moment!

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The Mentalist: The Complete First Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This TV show, in its first season, is, like "Life," a police procedural with lots of flavor--in this case, a former phony psychic who, years ago, talking insultingly about a serial killer on his psychic TV show.
The killer was watching the show, apparently, took offense, and proceeded to murder the guy's entire family.
After much soul searching, our hero quit his pseudoprofession and now works with a police agency doing for crimes what Gregory House does for his hospital--solving the cases no one else can solve. He uses his ability to read people and situations that stood him in good stead during his stint as a phony psychic.
Of course, like the cop in "Life" his merry, mischievous exterior conceals an iron core of permanent, near-psychotic rage. The Mentalist works with the police agency he works for in order to find the serial killer to killed his family, and he has told his boss there, in merry seriousness, that if/when he finds the guy, he will take him apart in a way Dexter (as in the HBO series) would admire.
All this is backstory. No spoilers, as I promised. There's considerable interaction with his boss, her boss, and the three person team that also works with the boss, and they're all competently played, seemingly pretty much credible as detectives.
So both this and "Life" have:
1. fine actor in the lead role--with "The Mentalist," Aussie heartthrob Simon Baker, who every woman appears to find irresistable (according to my wife).
2. multilayered plot, with an ongoing story arc on top of the case du jour, and evolving relationships among the team members.
3. light and shadow--lots of comic moments alongside very dark stuff indeed. In painting this would be called chiaroscuro (think Rembrandt paintings of interiors illuminated by candles).
If you like "Life" I'm certain you'll like "The Mentalist" even if the more run of the mill procedurals (all the CSIs for example) don't appeal to you. I'd also put "Bones" in this category FWIW.
And this is about as good as we can expect until Joss Whedon's next show shows up (presumably "Dollhouse" with Eliza Dushku, herself a master of chiaroscuro).

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"A mentalist is a master manipulator of thought and behavior." The mentalist is Patrick Jane (Simon Baker in an acclaimed performance), a celebrity psychic whose wife and child are viciously murdered by an elusive serial killer called Red John. Devastated, Patrick admits his paranormal act is fake, renounces his earlier life and uses his astonishing skills of observation and analysis – talents that made him appear psychically gifted – to bring killers to justice. At crime scenes across California, Patrick now helps an elite team of detectives break their toughest cases. But no matter how many criminals he catches, Patrick never forgets his central goal: Find Red John. And bring him down.

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Psych: The Complete Third Season Review

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(More customer reviews)"Psych" is one of those lucky shows that -- like a fine wine -- seems to get better as it ages. Not that you should stick it in a cellar and forget about it for fifty years, though. The third season of this quirky comedy/mystery show is definitely worth seeing at least a few times -- James Roday and Dule Hill continue to be absolutely hilarious as the faux psychic and his frazzled friend, and their cases continue to get even weirder.
"Psych" may be breaking up when Gus is given a choice by his boss -- his pharmaceutical job, or the agency. To prove their worth, Shawn offers to investigate the company VP's haunted house... and Gus soon finds that there's more than meets the eye to this haunting. Meanwhile Shawn's mother (Cybill Shepherd) drops in for work, stirring up some old skeletons for our favorite faux psychic.
Among the cases Gus and Shawn take on: a vanishing body at the high school reunion, a treasure map, the implosion of Henry's greatest case, roller derby robberies, Coast Guard clashes, a murdered sea lion, a body hidden in a Nativity scene, a firebug with a murderous secret, a murdered footballer, an old summer camp haunted by an axe murderer, and an attempt to clear the name of a pathological liar.
Their cases become personal when Lassiter (Timothy Ormundson) is accused of killing a drug lord, and Shawn is determined to prove that the disgraced cop didn't do it. And the Yin Yang serial returns to Santa Barbara, wanting Shawn as the newest "challenger." So he/she leads Shawn through a ghastly series of riddles... and if Shawn doesn't outwit him/her, those close to him may die.
Clearly Steve Franks is sticking to the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." "Psych" ain't broke, so the third season of coasts along smoothly in a flurry of pop culture references, bizarre dialogue ("Señor pantalones del fuego?") and crimes that befuddle the SBPD.
It does end and begin unusually -- the season premiere is a twistaround of the usual mystery, and finale quickly becomes a serious, deadly game of cat-and-mouse. But the mysteries in the middle of the season are perfect examples of "Psych": the writers deftly juggle funny-sounding plot twists (roller derbies, stowing away on a murderer's boat) with some twisty-turny police work.
There's even an endless parade of pop culture references -- "Speed," Hamlet, the Peanuts dance, "Gone With The Wind," and of course "Friday the 13th." However, "Psych's" biggest charm point has always been the insanely kooky dialogue. Mostly Shawn provides it ("Just once, can you grab life by the little Lassiters and follow your instincts?") but the other characters get some good lines here and there ("All I can remember after that are hundreds of those tiny razor sharp claws and teeth." "Lower primate my ass. I recognize a military formation when I see one!").
Roday is eccentric, charming and eternally kooky, as if Shawn is deliberately living out his life like a TV show. But he gets to show a very serious, intense side in the finale. Hill continues to be the normal one with a mild goofy side ("I'm King Kong!"), and gets to do a daring rescue by leaping through a wall of flames. And Ormundson gets to explore some of Lassiter's other facets (his crumbling marriage and his brief removal from the force).
The third season of "Psych" is all about the weird and the wacky, but also injects some very serious, very creepy moments as well. All around a wonderful success, and it bodes well for what comes up this summer.

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Fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Gus (Dulé Hill) are cracking the case – and cracking up audiences everywhere – in all 16 Season Three episodes from the quick-witted detective series Psych. After earning a reputation for taking on the unusual cases that leave most sleuths scratching their heads, Shawn and Gus are in for more mayhem this season as they tackle mysteries that range from the decidedly abnormal to the hauntingly paranormal. Join guest stars Cybill Shepherd (The L Word), Gary Cole (Pineapple Express), Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun) and many more in this fresh and funny show that Maureen Ryan of Chicago Tribune declares, “Roday and Hill have the kind of chemistry you just can't manufacture."

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Push (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Nick (Evans) is a "mover" - someone who can move things with his mind. He meets up with Cassie (Fanning), a "watcher" - someone who can predict the future. She is trying to rescue her mother from the government, but as they try to piece things together, Kira (Belle) enters their lives. Kira is a "pusher" - someone who can influence others thoughts. She also had a relationship with Nick, and is the only person to survive a power "enhancement" drug that was administered to her by the sinister Company. Now, the Company is after her, and Nick and Kira must help her if they want to survive.
"Push" is a gritty looking superhero movie that is not based on any existing comic book (for a change). It is fast paced and rich in mythology. Evans, who has some experience in these types of movies, is credible as Nick. Fanning, who is great in any movie she appears in, can add action star to her resume. The story is full of backstory, but that does not slow down the almost nonstop action. The gritty look adds to the feel of the film, and works well. "Push" is a surprisingly good film, and I recommend checking it out.

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Lucky Number Slevin director Paul McGuigan takes the helm for this action thriller concerning a group of telekinetic American ex-patriots who band together in an attempt to take down the clandestine government agency that's genetically transforming normal citizens into powerful psychic warriors. The Division is a shadowy government operation devoted to making humankind the ultimate weapon. Those who accept this transformation have the power to move objects with the mind, see the future before it happens, create new realities, and dispense of their enemies without so much as a single touch; those who are unwilling to participate are immediately terminated. Nick Gant (Chris Evans) is a mover , a second-generation telekinetic who went into hiding after the Division killed his father more than a decade earlier. He lives a life of anonymity in Hong Kong, a densely populated place where fugitive psychics such as himself are safe as long as they can keep their unique gift secret. Suddenly into Nick's life comes 13-year-old watcher Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), a clairvoyant who needs his help in tracking down escaped pusher Kira, who may hold the key to bringing down the Division once and for all. A pusher is the most powerful kind of psychic due to their ability to influence the actions of others by planting thoughts in their minds. Now, as Nick emerges from hiding in order to help Cassie find Kira, the Division's human bloodhounds are hot on their trail. In order to elude the authorities, they'll need to disappear into the seedy underbelly of the city while relying on a team of rogue psychics to help cover their tracks. But Division Agent Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) is a powerful pusher who has made it his mission to stop them at all costs, regardless of the collateral damages that may occur in the process.

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Psych: The Complete Fourth Season (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)What can I say about such a series, I could call it funny, witty, and wonderful. But using these words almost underminds how great a show Psych is. It has such interesting, funny plotlines that may keep you on the edge of your seat while laughing. The show follows fake-psychic detective Shawn Spencer has he solves cases for the police department as well as others. But he can't do this alone. He gets help from his reluctant partner Gus, Junior Detective Juliet O'Hara, his dad Henry, extremely doubting detective Carlton Lassiter, and police chief Karen Vick. Season 4, itself, starts out with a great opener (Episode 4.1 Expedition British Columbia) in which Gus and Shawn take a trip to Canada for some fun, but Shawn can't help but to solve another crime using his fake psychic and real detective skills. And then there are more great episodes. But one of my personal favorites is episode 4.7 High Top Fade Out, where we learn a little more about Gus. We learn that he was in a college acapella band. And things get a little crazy when one of his ex-band mates is murdered. And then the fall finale episode 4.9 Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark. Maybe the most exciting episodes in the series, the fall finale shows Shawn being kidnapped by- well I won't ruin the surprise for you- and everyone of his friends and co-workers pool together to find him and solve the case.
But this isn't just a review of the season, but a review of the DVD. Well, that is kind of hard when the DVD hasn't even been released. But there are some things that we do know. The first thing is that the box set will be 16 episodes on 4 discs (4 episodes on each disc). If Universal is consistent with the last three box sets, there will be commentaries on select episodes. And podcast commentaries on other select episodes. Then gag reels and psych-outs.

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Smart. Scientific. Psychic? The decidedly distinctive team of Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and Burton Guster (Dulé Hill) from Psych P.I. are back for more laughs, more mystery, and more highly unusual cases in every wildly entertaining episode of Season Four. They might disagree, but they can always depend on each other. In this captivating season of whimsical and wonderful whodunits, their friendship and their business will be put to the test by a slew of potential culprits that include werewolves, ghosts, a shark, and those they trust the most. Guest-starring Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes), James Brolin (Catch Me If You Can), Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That) and Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club), Psych continues to captivate viewers with the quirkiest detective duo to ever take on a case.

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The Mentalist: The Complete Second Season (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Mentalist is back and better than ever with 22 new episodes of innovative and manipulative crime-solving techniques. Season two starts off with a bang and keeps on delivering. There are lots twist and turns as Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) manipulates everyone and everything around him to uncover the truth behind the murders.
The story lines are better than ever and manage to develop the background, personalities, and lives of the main characters. We get insight into the childhood issues that drive both Jane and Cho. We get pulled in deeper as we watch the relationships between the characters grow and develop. The chemistry between Jane and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) continues to grow and the energy between them is electric.
This is the one show on TV where there is so much misdirection and redirection that guessing the ending isn't probable, even when all the info is sitting right in front of you.
If you're looking for excellent performances, spectacular writing, and a show where you can't predict what's coming next then this is definitely a show you want to watch.

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California Bureau of Investigation consultant Patrick Jane (Simon Baker in his Emmy®-nominated role) has a blatant lack of protocol but is self-assured and driven. The former “psychic" uses his talent for seeing the clues everyone else misses to solve the most baffling crimes. But there’s more than crime that makes this season a must-see: Lisbon and Cho reveal hints about their troubled pasts. Violence fells one CBI boss, and the new boss seems more interested in authority than teamwork. And as the Van Pelt-Rigsby relationship heats up, it threatens to cool down their careers. Match wits with the hit series that balances nimble humor with dark thrills.

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