Plot: What’s it about?
Have you ever been in a relationship with someone you loved, but had a bad feeling that things weren’t as good as you thought? Perhaps your lover is working over a lot, but their paychecks remain the same or maybe your lover just seems more and more distant. Your mind would start to ponder the possibilities, one of which is that your lover is seeking comfort in the arms of another. But even if you tried to find out, more likely than not, you’d never be able to find for sure. That’s where Cheaters comes in. The Cheaters crew spies on your lover, finding out where and how they’re spending their time. If it becomes evident that infidelity is present, then the evidence is presented and a confrontation is arranged. Even when confronted with the truth, would the cheaters be able to be honest, or would the lies just continue?
The concept seems like exploitation, a concerned person feels he/she is being cheated on, so a television show documents the process. This sounds like tabloid television, right? While Cheaters does have bad language, sexual situations, and even fist fights, this is not exploitation. The situations are not manipulated, this is not about flash and shock, this is about personal relationships. We watch the emotion the person goes through as they watch the footage of their partners with others, then we’re right there for the eventual confrontation. The confrontations often get nasty, but the situations aren’t sensationalized, just presented as they happen. Cheaters was first aired in 2000 and new seasons are still produced, so a lot of cheaters must be out there. This four disc collection has the most interesting episodes, which means more violence and sex. I find Cheaters to be an excellent show and as such, I can recommend The Best of Cheaters: Volume 1.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. I love this show, but damn, these episodes do not look good at all. In truth, they almost look like streaming video at times, with a lot of breakup and other digital woes to contend with. The image is just bad from start to finish, not unwatchable, but bad and fans will be let down in that respect. But to be honest, this is not the kind of material you need pristine transfers to enjoy, though of course, we would prefer that.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio is as basic as it gets. The show sounds just like it does on television, very basic and with no frills to mention. You don’t need power or dynamic presence in this case however, as the material is simple and just needs the basics covered. The sound effects are natural, since the show is just reality captured on film, so all of those elements sound fine. The majority of the audio comes in the form of dialogue and since the vocals come across well, that is all that matters.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
