Plot: What’s it about?
Georgia Lass (Ellen Muth), who prefers to be known as George, is not the kind of person to take life by the horns. No, she has no real clue what she wants to do, so she left college and spends her time doing pretty much nothing. Her mother Joy (Cynthia Stevenson) tries to motivate her, but the two always end up in arguments. George even tries to provoke her mother at times, which leaves the two at odds more often than not. The latest move by Joy is to force George to take a job, one she is doomed to despise. The position is a temporary one, in which George is hidden away in a basement office with an endless wave of files. She has the tedious job of sorting and organizing the files, then delivering the files when needed. Of course, she hates the job within mere minutes, but she is stuck for right now. As she takes her lunch break, which is only thirty-five minutes instead of an hour, her life takes an unexpected turn. A toilet seat from the Space Station Mir has been heading toward the surface, destined to land at some point. As it happens, the object crashes down right on top of George and ends her life. But this is not the end, as she finds herself recruited to be a grim reaper, not her idea of a great afterlife. Will George be able to do more with her afterlife, or will she just waste it like she did her own life?
This series was a success, but comparisons to Six Feet Under were constant and in truth, there is no comparison. The basic premise of death aside, the shows take different approaches and tones with the material. In Dead Like Me, the afterlife is covered with attitude to spare, not to mention a downbeat texture. Those elements create a unique atmosphere, one which has moments of light, but often remains in darkness. But by the same token, Dead Like Me can be hilarious and never fails to entertain. The basic premise that the afterlife is even worse that life is novel, as is the take that multiple reapers comb the streets. Imagine a darker, smart ass Touched by an Angel and that’s close to Dead Like Me. A lot of details surface in the premise, in order to allow certain plot movements to take place. So the show asks us to take a leap of faith, but what show that deals with death wouldn’t? You’ll notice some quirks and inconsistent traits, but all in all, this is a well crafted and enjoyable series. Ellen Muth (Superfire, Cora Unashamed) is a fireball in the lead role, with a great sense for the material, not to mention she’s a hottie. Her costars are solid also, though she is the attraction here, to be sure. I am thrilled to have this great series on DVD, so of course, Dead Like Me is very recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a new series, so of course, the visuals look pristine and dynamic. The prints have no signs of debris or grain, which ensures the image has good depth and refinement. In other words, softness is never an issue and detail is always high. I found colors to be quite vivid, but also natural in scope, while flesh tones were warm and normal at all times. Just as solid is the contrast, which yields well balanced black levels and no loss of visible detail in the least. So in the end, these episodes look terrific and MGM should be commended on their work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 surround option isn’t overwhelming, but it contains a decent level of surround use. The elements never forced either, which means this mix has a natural sound and no harshness is evident either. I had no problems hearing the dialogue at any time, as vocals were clean and crisp with no volume issues in the least. The music and sound effects manage to create a decent enough atmosphere, which is welcome in a show such as this. I wasn’t blown away, but I was surprised with how active this track was. This release has no subtitle options however, which is a real disappointment.
Supplements: What are the extras?
All of the extras are found on the first disc, with a cast commentary track on the pilot episode, a half hour of deleted scenes, a brief behind the scenes featurette, a look at the show’s music, and a selection of still photos.
