As promised in the first review of the BFS Entertainment complete collection DVD set of the 2006-09 BBC drama "The Street," coverage of this release is divided into posts on each of the three series (my people call them seasons) of the program. The current discussion is on the second season.
The overall theme of the hour-long episodes is the trials and tribulations of the working-class inhabitants of the houses on the titular neighborhood in Manchester, England. Although the first-season episodes focus on numerous issues that range from adultery to mandatory retirement, crime and the effort to avoid punishment for said offense is a common element of virtually every second-season offering.
The season opens with the effort of one resident to take the place of a twin who dies under circumstances regarding which said resident has some culpability. The unraveling of the deception and the end result are wonderfully clever and entertaining.
The following clip, courtesy of YouTube, shows the mix of humor and drama in the aforementioned episode (and the entire series.)
Another story about crime involving relatives has "Doctor Who's" 11th doctor Matt Smith playing a late adolescent who finds himself taking the fall for an offense that his cousin/neighbor commits. The extent to which Smith will cover for his cousin and how far the cousin will allow Smith to be considered guilty of the crime make for great drama. The conclusion regarding all this is equally satisfying.
The most though-provoking second-season episode does not involve any real criminal offense but does revolve around both adultery and the identity crisis that giving into long suppressed desire triggers. This one is especially guaranteed to inspire lively discussion around the dining room table.
Mail fraud under very quirky circumstances is at the center of another second-season episode. This one is more light-hearted than the other five of the season and ends on a predictable but particularly uplifting note.
The final point to address (of course, pun intended) regarding this season of "The Street" is that it further solidifies the reputation of British television surpassing that of American fare in quality.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Street" is welcome to email me. You can also connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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