'The Twilight Zone' CS DVD: Peele Does Serling Proud

 

The CBSHE October 4, 2022 CS DVD set of the 2019-20 Jordan Peele 20-episode two-season Showtime homage to the OS TV Land classic series "The Twilight Zone" is an awesome part of the CBSHE Blocktober releases on that date. This embarrassment of riches is a godsend to those of us facing our third-in-a-row Covid-related winter of comfortable isolation.

The well-produced releases of small-screen neo-classics include (reviewed) separate DVD and BD sets that include both "Dexter" OS and "New Blood," a DVD CS set of the Aaron Spelling take on "adulting" "Melrose Place," and DVD and BD sets of "Picard" S2. Posts on "Melrose" and "Picard" are scheduled for the first week of October 2022. 

This arguably most successful reimaging of this series that has launched other reboots, a feature film, a pop song, and countless sitcom plots and references succeeds because executive producer/host Peele recognizes the wisdom of not fixing what is not broken. A large part of this is the realization of Peele that the themes of racism, corrupt leaders, threats by brothers from other planets, and the price for getting that for which you wish are as timely today as they were in the early days of the Golden Age of Television. 

Peele additionally continues the tradition of casting past, present, and (presumably) future household names in each installment of this pure anthology series in which every episode has an unique cast portray a complete original group of characters facing a stand-alone series of ultimately unfortunate circumstances. 

Both 10-episode seasons of this Showtime series are must-see. Highly subjective opinions regarding which offerings are best reflect the personality of the viewer while proving that the series has something for everyone.

Personal fave "The Wunderkind" stars John "Harold" Cho as a spin doctor who gets the titular young online star elected president of the United States only to learn to be reminded of the adage that absolute power absolutely corrupts. Jacob Tremblay of "Room" fame portrays the second most fictional or actual occupant of the Oval Office. The homage in this one is to the OS episode "It's a Good Life" in which Billy Mumy plays a boy who exiles his real and imagined foes to life among the children of the corn.

Second fave "Blurryman" also is from S1. This very meta one that aptly involves a "Twilight Zone" scribe finding the line between her professional and personal lives blurring. This one that most directly honors Serling features "special guest star" Jason Priestly as himself. That casting further honors the OS.

The S1 offering "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet" expertly updates the classic OS episode in which William "Kirk" Shatner plays an airline passenger who increasingly goes crazy trying to convince his fellow frequent flyers that there is gremlin on the wing. The updated version substitutes the OS creature with a very 21st century device. 

The S2 opener "Meet in the Middle" is especially creepy. This one has a couple make a very unusual love connection only to (of course) realize that they are not in Kansas anymore. The moral this time is very well known to all of us who have dated; people do not show their unique style of crazy until it is too late. 

Christopher Meloni and Jenna Elfman star in personal S2 fave. "A Human Face," which finds a married couple contending with a menacing presence in their house, has twists that are more than worthy of the OS. The aspects of the parent-child relationship will hit home for virtually everyone who has raised a child. Staging the terror in an otherwise ordinary dwelling plays homage to Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock. 

The deserving of the title special features go well beyond the sadly deleted scenes and the highly amusing gag reels. We get the awesome music video from "Wunderkind" and a tribute to Serling that gives due respect to the man behind one of the first "Must See" series that will enlighten and entertain so long as the viewing public can watch it. 

'Dexter' OS CS & New Blood DVD & BD: Killer Miami Vice

 

The CBSHE October 4, 2022 separate DVD and BD combined releases of "Dexter" and the righteous reboot "Dexter: New Blood" are part of a Blocktober celebration of neo-modern classics. 

Other marathon (rather than binge) worthy CBSHE releases on that day include DVD and BD sets of "Picard" S2 and the DVD CS set of the Jordan Peele "Twilight Zone reboot. The "but wait there's more" releases on that date include the DVD CS set of the Aaron Spelling no-reason to feel guilty cult classic "Melrose Place," a.k.a. "Reality Bites: The Series." Posts on these "Dexter" companions will be published in the next few weeks. 

The initial note regarding the "Dexter" set is that pristine cinematography of Miami in the OS and upstate New York in "New Blood" and the equally expert voice-over narration of the titular excitable boy, and perfect mood-setting background music make paying a little extra for the BD set well worth it. The already insignificantly incremental cost is even lower when you consider that you get 96 OS and 10 "New Blood" episodes plus a plethora of extras that provide insightful autopsies of these truly psychological procedurals.

The terrifically twisted premise of the multi-Emmy winning OS is that the day job of  every man-child Dexter Morgan is a top-notch blood-spatter (not splatter) in the CSI department of Miami homicide. He spends his nights (and portions of this days) providing vigilante justice with extreme prejudice. Like all superheroes, the angst of Dexter stems from the nature of his being orphaned at a young age. 

The "but wait there's more" is that is Dexter kills two demons with one scalpel by satisfying his bloodlust (a.k.a. dark passenger) via a code that it as flexible as the non-interference Prime Directive that governs the United Federation of Planets around which "Star Trek" series revolve. Theoretically, getting Saranwrapped on the work table of Dexter requires being a killer who otherwise would escape justice. 

The appeal of the OS extends well beyond the awesomely twisted premise. Original showrunner Clyde Phillips more than earns his salary by assembling a skilled team in front of and behind the camera. 

Watching Dexter play a perpetual cat-and-mouse game with his colleagues who are pursing both the same prey and (unbeknowst to them) their colleague alone makes the series worthwhile. Making every character as compelling as our lead and being as well portrayed as "Six Feet Under" alum Michael C. Hall plays Dexter makes the series genuinely must see.

Fellow lab-rat Vince Masuka easily takes the prize for the most repulsively odd duck. The creepy giggle of this gleefully deranged pervert is a series highlight. This guy who acts like a 16 year-old boy who chugged a pound of Kool-Aid powder and a bottle of Viagra has absolutely no filter or sense of the meaning of "TMI."

Homicide detective/Dexter step-sister Debra Morgan runs a close second to Masuka in terms of the quirky turkeys that are charged with putting killers behind bars. Her prodigious proficient profanity entertainingly includes enough f bombs to level Florida. Her role as an overly intrusive caring sister makes things especially challenging regarding the hobby of her co-worker/sibling.

The "and the rest" include Jimmy Buffet emulating Angel Batista, humorless James Doakes, and stereotypical tough-boss Maria LaGuerta. Suffice it to say that things do not end well for the detectives who get too close to learning the truth about what Dexter gets up to in his laboratory.

More perverted fun comes from the road runner-coyote game that Dexter often plays with the guest psycho killer of the season. Our "hero" finds that he has an actual or figurative kinship with that individual. One of the best storyline involves a love-interest  and potential partner-in-crime who either is a femme fatale, an innocent, or someone between those extremes. 

The literal and figurative awards for best "guest villain" goes to GOAT John Lithgow. Lithgow portrays Arthur Mitchell, whose outward persona is that of holier-than-thou Ned Flanders. Lithgow does equally well playing this aspect of Mitchell as he does portraying a "Great Santini" style demanding and abusive parent of a teen son. Dexter suspecting Mitchell of being the wonderfully warped Trinity Killer sets the game afoot in a manner that aptly has Dexter facing his Moriarty. 

The OS wraps up with an S8 finale that serves equally well as a conclusion to that season and the series. Dexter essentially sails off into the sunset while leaving scorched earth behind him.

The 10-episoide limited series "New Blood" has Phillips riding back into town after getting out of Dodge at the conclusion of OS S4. This reboot finds Dexter living under an assumed name in the small upstate New York town of Iron Lake. His apt job this time is selling hunting rifles.

The rural setting full of folks who enjoy stalking innocent wildlife aptly leads to a stereotypical arrogant trust-fund baby adequately poking the bear to bring Dexter out of retirement. The ensuing events putting our vigilante on the trail of a killer who meets his code is very true to the spirit of the OS. Dexter not introducing his main squeeze, who is the "New Blood" answer to Andy Taylor, to his dark passenger further brings us back to what makes the OS a classic.

The "but wait there's more" element is a surprise visitor teaching Dexter lessons about heredity and the sins of the father. The fun here involves the difficulty of discouraging the newcomer from joining the family business. Learning whether the family that slays together stays together alone has "New Blood" passing the "one more" test.

The final note of note regarding "New Blood" is that a former co-worker also comes to town in a manner that evokes the old days by threatening the ability of Dexter to protect and avenge the innocent regarding the one who otherwise would get away.

The bottom-line this time is that "OS" and "New Blood" both boldly go where others fear to tread. Although everyone knows that the nice quiet young man next door may have a mini-cemetery on his property, few series mine exceptional dark humor and drama from that theme.