Today is the day a lot of fan(g)s have been waiting for – the Season Two Blu-Ray and DVD is available!
For those techies out there, the audio and video both received near-perfect ratings, with even the regular ol’ dvd (not hi-def) scoring well.
As far as the goodies go, once again, there are cast and crew commentaries on some of the episodes. 2.2 features Nelsan Ellis and director Michael Lehmann. 2.7 has writer Raelle Tucker and director Michael Ruscio. 2.8 includes both Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård (and director John Dahl, but really, who’s going to be listening to him?). 2.10 features Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell. 2.11 has Rutina Wesley, director Daniel Minahan, and (to the sound of trumpets) Alan Ball. 2.12 has Anna Paquin, Michelle Forbes, writer Alexander Woo, and director Michael Cuesta. (Warning: apparently, the commentaries include endless praise and laurels for anyone who has ever had anything to do with the show.)
In the commentaries, Mr. Ball threatens to send vampires to the homes of people who leak spoilers… “But they’d probably like that.” And apparently, although Anna Paquin and Michelle Forbes are “giggly,” their commentary is one of the most enjoyable to listen to.
In addition to the commentaries, the set includes two of the fake-news spoofs about vampire life and promotional spots for the Fellowship of the Sun.
The 122-minute “Character Perspective” is being touted as the best feature, only available on the Blu-Ray version. It features four of the side-characters sharing their take on what’s happening on-screen: Hoyt, Pam, Maryann’s servant Karl, and Steve Newlin. It’s accessible by watching each episode with “Enhanced Viewing,” and it entails hints about the show’s mysteries, the ability to flash back and forth to related scenes from other episodes, political messages from the Fellowship or the American Vampire League, and video segments that pop in at certain points (making this mode better for a second viewing, since these tend to drown out the main dialogue).
The Perspectives are very well-done here—they pick fun characters who offer insight on several different groups that are important in the season. These can be quite funny, too, especially videos from the deadpan Pam. Pam comments on Bill and Sookie’s relationship by recalling a human lover she had once: “Let’s just say the thrill of meaningful sex didn’t last long—and neither did he.” Later, she scoffs at the scene of Bill shopping for Jessica’s wardrobe, saying he’ll make her look “like she’s about to guest star on Little House on the Prairie.”
Another great feature of the Blu-Ray is the ability to social network: automatic updates to Facebook and Twitter accounts while you watch (provided your Blu-Ray player is connected to the internet). Each of the episodes has at least eight scenes that can be posted to Facebook directly from the discs, and the fans can choose factions to belong to (vampire, FotS, or maenad). Watching earns the viewers virtual gifts, as well.
For those fan(g)s who rushed out this morning to get their dvds and Blu-Rays, please let us know what you think.
I already got it last week…? what was the release date in the US?
Today is the release in the US.
SQUEE! Mine arrives from Amazon today.
I bought season 1 but im not buying season 2. Reruns on hbo are enough for me…especially when I want to fast forward through a good amount of it….hopefully season 3 is better and worth buying!
Thanks Lat. I have had my Blu Ray for a week and have watched it all. I was going to write a commentary on them but you beat me to it! I loved all the commentaries and thought why did they put John Dahl in the on ewith Stephen and Alex as he only got a few words in! Stephen and Alex stole the whole episode and joked and laughed all the way through it! Alex often said to ff through a scene because he was not in it! Also, Alex said how come Stephen looked so much younger in real life! Stephen joked and said he did not have make up on etc and I wonder if they have both had read the horrid comments on sites on how some fans thought Bill looked old. Alex also joked that he was accidentally standing near Sookie when the bomb went off and more or less implied that he protected her from the bullets accidentally!
Yes, the one with Anna and Michelle was good, but I did enjoy the Nelsan and Michael Lehmann one (I think Michael did it with Anna last season?) Michael was fun! Liked how he said that it was because of Anna being with Stephen that she was able to do all those nude scenes comfortably and Nelsan said that he was so surprised how effortlessly she took of her dress in that scene where she was to be Maryann’s bridesmaid and said she was very professional). I think Michael has a thing about Anna!
I loved the little quips relating to the episodes made by Hoyt, Pam etc. Pam was real snarky but fun! Hoyt said he loved the romance between Bill and Sookie but said they had their troubles due to them being quarrely.
I love the screen savers (lots of Bill) and thoroughly enjoyed all that was given in the Blu Ray set! It took me ages, as I watched the regular, enhanced, features with commentaries, quips, commercials, FOTS, Vampire news etc etc!
For those who are getting the DVDs – enjoy! I did!
“Today is the day a lot of fa(g)s have been waiting for – the Season Two Blu-Ray and DVD is available!”
Did you mean fan(g)s? :p
*cough* Thanks, Nick. Yes, that “n” is an incredibly important letter. Sure, you can drop a random “e” or “l” here and there. But THAT “n”… Crucial. :-)
I got mine at Target because it has a bonus disc – the 45-minute Q&A with most of the cast at the Paley Center from last year. I can’t wait to watch it!
Bought mine today very excited cant wait to watch over and over.