Plot: What’s it about?
After the death of their father, sisters Claire (Tammy McIntosh) and Tess (Kym Wilson) were left to run their family’s ranch, Drover’s Run. When their father Jack was alive, the family was living in hard times, as Jack struggled to keep up with payments to the bank. Tess returned to the family home with bad news of her mother’s death and her presence caused some tension, but Jack wanted her to stay. Even as he died, he told Tess that she wasn’t alone in life and now, she and Claire are in charge of Drover’s Run. The idea of these two women running such a large ranch has locals wondering how soon it will close down, but despite their differences, the sisters plan to give it their best shot. They have to earn the respect of the other workers and prove to themselves they can do it, but that won’t be a simple process. Can they save the ranch, even as they battle their own personal issues, or is everyone right about their slim chances of success?
I’ve said in reviews of other seasons of McLeod’s Daughters that this is an Australian soap opera, which is true. But this isn’t the kind of soap opera we’re used to, the storylines aren’t over the top and the performances aren’t ham handed. In truth, McLeod’s Daughters is more like a primetime drama, but it does have a soap opera edge. The plots border on melodrama at times, but never go too far in that direction. So imagine it more as an evening drama with more soap opera than most, a good show that teeters at times on soap style. This second season builds on the first, moving on the storylines we have left and of course, branching out new ones, some that are wrapped up quickly, others which plant seeds for long down the road. The stories here are good, often quite serious, but in a down to Earth, realistic approach. The cast continues to impress, while the rugged visuals add a lot to the experience. I had a great time here and I give McLeod’s Daughters’ second season a solid recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Great work from Koch on this season, as the shows look great. The prints have no debris or grain to mention, which allows for a very crisp, razor sharp visual presence, so fans will be quite pleased. The show’s bright colors stand out and look terrific here, with no evidence of smears or other problems. The contrast balance is smooth and well executed also, which means black levels look excellent and no detail loss is to be seen. Not much else I can say in this section, as these episodes just look terrific.
Audio: How does it sound?
This show’s main audio element is the dialogue and as such, the soundtrack doesn’t always showcase a lot of depth or presence, but it does have moments to shine. The show takes place on a ranch, so you’ll hear the expected noises, nature and otherwise. The assorted ranch sound effects and general atmosphere don’t always live up to a high level, but overall, it sounds good. As far as dialogue, I found vocals to be flawless, no volume or harshness issues in the least.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
