Television on DVD

The fact that I enjoy TV has already been established. A habit of taping and rewatching television programs began with My So-Called Life. I certainly don't tape and keep everything I watch; currently, only Buffy and Angel get that treatment.

But I love this new trend of entire seasons of good television series being released on DVD, making it easy to find and rewatch favourite episodes, or just scenes. So much easier to manage than dodgily labelled homemade VHS tapes.

The collection to date:

Angel Season 1 — Angel leaves Buffy, goes to LA, and sets out to "help the helpless" with prodding from half-demon Doyle. Cordelia meets up with him and quickly becomes an employee. A surprisingly strong, satisfying season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 — "X-Files Meets My So-Called Life." Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. The complete first season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 — The little fantasy show that could matures into a fine (yet still funny) drama. The complete second season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 — Arguably the best season, featuring Slayer-gone-bad Faith and the big evil you can't help but love, the Mayor. The complete third season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 — Buffy, Willow, and Oz go off to college and get intangled with the military-funded Initiative. Riley Finn and Spike become new regulars. The complete fourth season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 — Buffy suddenly has a little sister, and nobody finds it odd. Amazing what those monks can do. Also Glory, Spike's infatuation with Buffy, and Joyce's farewell. The complete fifith season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 — Buffy's back from the dead, but not all is well.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 — The final epic battle, against the First Evil itself.

Firefly — Joss Whedon's short-running Western space drama, showing that he can create great characters under many different scenarios. All 14 episodes.

Freaks and Geeks — All episodes of this excellent series, which ran for only a year, and many extras, particularly commentary tracks.

Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004 — A look back on this pivotal election.

My So-Called Life — Amazing family drama starring Claire Danes and Jared Leto. All 19 episodes.

My So-Called Life: The Complete Series — Deluxe re-release by Shout! Factory.

Once and Again Season 1 — By the My So-Called Life creative team, another family drama, this one kicked off when newly separated Lilly can't deny her attraction to divorced father Rick.

Queer as Folk Season 1 — Demonstrating that gay people aren't so different from straight people. (Except that they do seem to be having more fun.) The complete first season.

Queer as Folk Season 2 — The ongoing adventures of Brian, Justin, Michael, and the rest of the gang, with a few new cast members to shake things up.... The complete second season.

Queer as Folk Season 3 — Things get political as Brian takes on a controversial new client, running for office on a "family values" platform.

Queer as Folk Season 4 — The boys continue to struggle to become men, dealing with sickness, death, and separation. But there are still plenty of moments of fun and joy.

Queer as Folk Season 5 — In the final season, the various relationships get sorted out in a way that isn't always completely satisfying but is probably realistic.

Rock Star: INXS - The DVD — Best performances and behind-the-scenes footage from the hit 2005 reality series.

WKRP in Cincinnati—Classic 1970's comedy about a low-rated radio station suddenly switching to rock format.

On the wish list:

Angel Season 5
Boomtown Complete Series
Homicide: Life on the Street — any season