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.
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