Plot: What’s it about?
Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore) was a detective in Chicago, but he was worn down by the big city hustle, so he moved to Florida to change things up. He expected life to be more laid back, with plenty of fun in the sun on the side. After all, how could he be stressed with warm weather and ample golf courses at his fingertips? But as he soon finds out, his new locale can be even busier than his old one. He finds himself under a massive pile of unsolved cases and when he starts to clear some headway, all new cases fall into his lap. Longworth is a dedicated investigator however, so he does whatever it takes to solve his cases. He might be as busy as ever, but he even manages to spot a love interest, the beautiful medical student Callie (Kiele Sanchez). So can Longworth keep a handle on the area’s murders, while also trying to woo Callie and keep his golf skills in practice?
A&E has brought us some great original shows, but is The Glades another notch in their belt? While the series is passable and isn’t bad per se, The Glades is as bland as can be. The premise is one we have seen countless times before, but nothing is done to make the series stand out. In other words, you’ve seen all this done before, done better, and done with more style. Instead of having a sharp edge like most recent shows of this kind, The Glades plays it safe and comes off as harmless. So the show isn’t good or bad, it just lingers in the “eh” zone. But I suppose if you don’t like the language or violence that similar shows contain, then The Glades is a viable option. I think there is still room for more fresh elements though, as even with a reserved nature, you can spice things up here and there. The cast is solid, with Kiele Sanchez and Matt Passmore as the stand outs. So while The Glades isn’t going to light up your living room, for fans of the genre, it is worth testing the waters.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This show was released to home video in quick fashion, so of course the episodes look clean and clear. I didn’t get a chance to see the show in high definition, but as far as DVD goes, this show looks terrific. The colors are natural and capture that Florida texture, while black levels are dead on as well. I found detail to be solid, but remember, this is standard definition. Even so, rock solid visual work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack covers the basics, but isn’t going to wow your ears. The show leans on dialogue and that means not that much surround presence. A few scenes per episode usually have a little kick here and there, but the audio remains anchored in the front channels. That’s fine however, as vocals sound great and the other elements sound fine, if on the under whelming side. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes an exclusive extended episode (Family Matters), deleted scenes, audio comments on the Moonlighting episode, and a pair of promotional featurettes.
