- Joined
- May 9, 2003
- Messages
- 3,103
Chicago Fire Season 2 DVD Review
Chicago Fire: Season 2 cooks its second season onto DVD with this collection, which became available last week. The 5-disc collection presents all 22 episodes in anamorphic picture and 5.1 sound, along with a few extras, mostly consisting of some quick BTS featurettes on various episodes. The series continues to be more of a soap opera than a serious drama, but the cast is attractive and there are plenty of interesting fire rescue situations to keep viewers’ attention.
Studio: Universal
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 480P/MPEG-2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DD
Subtitles: English SDH
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 15 Hrs. 30 Min.
Package Includes: DVD
Disc Type: DVD-9 (dual layer)
Region: 1
Release Date: 09/02/2014
MSRP: $44.98
The Production Rating: 2.5/5
Chicago Fire: Season 2 continues to provide slick, shallow entertainment as an attractive cast tackles fires, each other and various emergencies around Chicago through the latest batch of episodes. This is still more of a soap opera set amidst the flames than a serious drama, but one can’t deny the eye candy of the various wild stunt situations that the series regularly presents. As the Dick Wolf series moves through its sophomore year, it has now spawned a new spinoff series, Chicago P.D., thus allowing for the usual crossovers and additional drama. Fans of this series will likely enjoy having the whole season together in one package, along with a small collection of quick behind-the-scenes featurettes, some webisodes and two episodes of Chicago P.D. to boot.
The DVD set includes all 22 episodes of the 2nd season in anamorphic picture and 5.1 sound, along with a the aforementioned selection of extras, mostly consisting of short BTS featurettes covering various episodes.
Video Rating: 3.5/5 3D Rating: NA
Chicago Fire: Season 2 is presented in an anamorphic 1.78 transfer that shows off a clear picture and accurate flesh tones. As always, this is a perfectly acceptable standard definition presentation of the series, matching or exceeding how viewers without HD reception will have seen the show.
Audio Rating: 3.5/5
Chicago Fire: Season 2 is presented in an English Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that has some surround presence during the big fire rescue sequences, as well as for the music. The mix certainly is clear and the dialogue is easy to understand.
Special Features Rating: 2.5/5
As I regularly do with TV series sets, I will describe what can be found on each disc, in order. The BTS featurettes are all presented in anamorphic 1.78:1 format with 2.0 sound.
There are chapters to each episode, but they are not in any menu, so you wind up needing to jump through the episode blindly to get back to a specific point.
DISC ONE:
Episodes:
A Problem House, with a BTS segment featuring producer/director Joe Chapelle (1:04)
Prove It, with a BTS segment featuring actor Charlie Barnett (2:42)
Defcon 1, with a BTS segment featuring stunt double Travis Russell (3:41)
A Nuisance Call, with BTS segments featuring and interview with actors Taylor Kinney and William Smillie, video of burn makeup being applied, and then an interview with special effects coordinator John Milinac (7:04 total)
A Power Move
Disc One includes the following Special Feature:
Previews – Here is a collection of anamorphic previews for other television series available on DVD from Universal: Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, House, Covert Affairs, psych, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bates Motel, and Dracula.
DISC TWO:
Episodes:
Joyriding, with a BTS segment featuring Executive Producer/Writer Derek Haas (1:41)
No Regrets, with a BTS segment featuring Executive Producer/Writer Michael Brandt (1:34)
Rhymes with Shout, with BTS segments featuring Jessie Spencer and Monica Raymund, as well as David Eigenberg, who spends time accusing various lamp posts in the area of mischief… (4:02 Total)
You Will Hurt Him, with a BTS segment featuring stuntman Dan Maldonado (1:27)
Not Like This, with a BTS segment featuring director of photography Lisa Wiegand (5:48)
DISC THREE:
Episodes:
Shoved in My Face, with a BTS segment featuring production designer Craig Jackson (3:13)
Out With a Bang, with a BTS segment featuring actor Charlie Barnett (3:40)
Tonight’s the Night, with a BTS segment featuring gaffer (head electrician) Tony Lullo (3:10)
Virgin Skin, with a BTS segment featuring actor Yuri Sardarov (3:40)
Keep Your Mouth Shut, with a BTS segment featuring actress Daisy Betts (2:33)
Disc Three includes the following Special Feature:
I am a Firefighter Digital Series (5:57 Total, Anamorphic) – This is a webisode series in four parts, featuring actress Monica Raymund as her character, Gabriela Dawson. In these webisodes, Dawson is left on her own at the station and takes a solo call to rescue a man trapped in a burning vehicle. The webisodes cannot be viewed individually, so you will need to watch them as a bundle.
DISC FOUR:
Episodes:
A Rocket Blasting Off, with a BTS segment featuring camera operator Reza Tabrizi (2:10)
When Things Got Rough, with a BTS segment featuring sound mixer Blair Scheller (2:47)
Until Your Feet Leave the Ground, with a BTS segment featuring actors Yuri Sardarov, Joe Minoso and Christian Stolte (3:03)
A Heavy Weight, with a BTS segment featuring actor David Eigenberg (2:16)
DISC FIVE:
Episodes:
A Dark Day (Chicago P.D. Crossover event pt 1). This is the Chicago Fire side of the crossover event. The cast list is so long that the credits actually start as soon as the episode begins, without any teaser. A BTS segment featuring producer/director Joe Chapelle is included. (3:56)
8:30 PM (Chicago P.D. Crossover event pt 2). This is the Chicago P.D. side of the crossover event. Technically, this is a Special Feature for this Disc, but in reality we’re just seeing the second half of the story.
One More Shot, with a BTS segment featuring actor Edwin Hodge (1:42)
Real Never Waits
Disc 5 contains the following Special Feature:
Chicago P.D.: Stepping Stone (43:09) – This is the first proper episode of Chicago P.D., as seen this past season on that series.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Chicago Fire: Season Two is a solid collection of the second season of the NBC drama. The picture and sound are good, and, as with the first season set, there are a few extras here for the fans of the show. It’s still not the deepest or most gripping dramatic series on the air, but it continues to have an attractive surface. Fans of the show will want to pick this up as the third season gets underway (starting September 23). More casual viewers may want to watch an episode or two on the air before committing to a full year on disc.
Reviewed By: Kevin EK
Support HTF when you buy this title:
