Reruns, schmeruns: Watch TV on DVD
Posted: Thursday, July 30, 2009 6:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:
TV
I still remember a birthday party I had when I was about 10. VCRs were brand new, and of course no one had heard of DVD players. We went to what was then a brand-new concept, a video store, and rented a giant clunky VCR (had to leave a $500 check as a deposit, if I recall correctly) so my little guests and I could watch a movie. (I'd give anything to remember what it was. Disney? The original "Freaky Friday"? "Grease"?)
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Oh, Shane and Vic. I already know what's coming for you, even though I have yet to watch "The Shield" series finale.
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How times have changed. Today, I'd argue that many television shows are best watched on DVD. It's how I got caught up on such gems as "The Shield," "The Wire," "Gilmore Girls," "House" and "My Name Is Earl."
Before I get too excited about TV on DVD, I admit, there are some drawbacks. First off, there's no practical way to hide from spoilers. I have yet to see the series finale of "The Shield," a show I adore, but yes, I already know about the dramatic finish.
And there's less of a sense of community about watching a show years after it aired. It's harder to find someone eager to talk about a convoluted twist on the second season of "24" when most who watched it have forgotten it. (Web sites, such as Television Without Pity, are welcome finds for cases like this.)
I still find DVD sets pretty expensive, but between Netflix, libraries, and friends' collections, you can cut costs if you're smart, especially for shows that have been out for a while.
But overall, I find the pros of watching shows on DVD far outweigh the cons. Who has time to mark out an hour in their calendar to watch a certain show every week? With the DVD sets, I pick the time to tune in. I can watch one episode, or gorge on five, all with no commercials. And with all today's serial dramas ending on a cliffhanger, I get instant satisfaction by just letting the next episode in the sequence roll. No more missing an episode and finding yourself lost in "Lost."
Some sets have better extras than others, but if I really love a show, I find the blooper reels, deleted scenes, and director/actor commentaries a lot of fun.
And when people who watch shows on DVD find out you do the same, the recommendations come flying fast and furious. Fans are eager to introduce you to their favorite shows, especially if you missed them the first time around.
So let's do just that: Share thoughts about the TV on DVD-watching experience in the comments, and offer up the names of the shows you think are great to watch this way. I'll start updating my Netflix queue ASAP.
