Plot: What’s it about?
Judge John Deed (Martin Shaw) is an idealist, at least when it comes to the law. He sees himself as a champion for the common man and often clashes with corporate interests, politicians, and even his fellow judges. His controversial rulings have him at odds with his peers often, but Deed remains dedicated to his cause. In his personal life, Deed is self destructive and doesn’t put forth the same level of care he does behind the bench. In this season, Deed oversees two extensive cases that will push his idealism and dedication to the law to the limit. A soldiers is on trial for the deaths of numerous Iraqi civilians, but the trial is riddled with political involvement. He also re-opens an older case that involved a soldier who was given military vaccines that caused him great harm, only to discover much darker secrets beneath the surface. As he navigates both his minefield of a personal life and these explosives cases, can Deed find the path to the best outcomes?
This show follows the life of John Deed, both as a judge and as a man. In this sixth and final season of Judge John Deed, we have two double episodes that provide a worthwhile conclusion to the series. The cases are hot button issues and lined with intricate interests, so Deed’s navigation is trickier than ever. I preferred the War Crimes episode, as it had more depth, but Evidence of Harm is also a rock solid installment. I was glad more time was taken on characters besides Deed himself, as it was nice to get some development before the curtain call. If you’ve enjoyed previous seasons, this one will continue that trend, as Deed is as liberal and risk taking with his judgments as ever. Shaw is quite good as always, while as I said the others are given some nice moments to shine in as well. I only wish more episodes were present, perhaps one more, but even with only two double episodes, the season feels substantial and worthwhile. So if you’re a fan of the show already or just want a new courtroom drama to watch, Judge John Deed is well worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The show looks excellent, with an almost film-like look that really impresses. Not up to the levels of an HD presentation obviously, but for a DVD release, this is superb work. The visuals show off great detail, with no errors or concerns I could detect. I found colors to be natural and consistent, while contrast is even and never slips up at all. This is simply a terrific presentation that fans will greatly appreciate.
Audio: How does it sound?
The stereo soundtrack is capable, but of course not that dynamic. Even so, the needs of the material are covered and that is what matters in the end. The show’s sound design leans on dialogue above all else, so clean vocals and proper volume balance are present at all times. This ensures you will not miss even a single line. The other elements sound fine too, but the dialogue is the real star of this show. This release also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
