I really enjoy the performances by the cast members, but I also really detest Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe). I like wacky stuff that dimensionalizes or humanizes a fictional creation, but Kudrow´s character is wacky for the sake of being wacky. The other five characters often act with chagrin when they realize that they´ve done something silly, but Phoebe is so oblivious to reality that she elicits groans rather than laughs from me. I know that there´s little chance of getting rid of her for the show´s 9th and final season, but miracles do happen, right?
Video:
The first season of "Friends" arrives on DVD with a 1.33:1 (full-frame on 4:3 monitors) video image. I was rather disappointed with the video quality. Most of the footage sports a digital sheen, and there are too many moments of vertical striations for my liking. On the other hand, colors and lighting have been reproduced well.
Audio:
Warner Bros. has seen fit to remix the show´s soundtracks into Dolby Digital 5.0 English presentations. Since "Friends" is a sitcom, there´s not much that requires the use of dazzling sonic effects. Therefore, while the 5.0 mixes help to "widen" the depth of the soundstage, there´s nothing on these DVDs that will compel you to pop them into your DVD player to impress your friends. Dialogue and music are well-balanced, although the "laugh tracks" can be a tad loud sometimes. Low-end frequencies are basically nonexistent, but they´re not really necessary for something like "Friends."
English, French, Spanish, and Korean subtitles as well as English closed captions support the audio. (For some reason, Disc 1 has two Korean subtitle streams. Weird...)
Extras:
Despite the fact that there are 4 discs in this box set, there aren´t many extras to accompany the first season of "Friends." Where are the bloopers? Where are the interviews with the cast members looking back at their costumes and their hairstyles from the first season? Sigh...
Disc 1: Executive Producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane contribute an audio commentary for the pilot episode. The start chatting as soon as the show gets underway, and they discuss many, many things during the entire 30 minutes of the episode. It´s an enjoyable and surprisingly informative commentary, but there´s a commentary only for the first episode. Also on Disc 1 are cast/producers biographies/filmographies in the form of text pages.
Disc 4: The other "big" extras are found on Disc 4. "A Peek at Central Perk: Interactive Map" is an interactive feature that takes you around the set of the characters´ favorite hangout. The "Friends of ´Friends´" menu page offers clips of the various guest stars on the show. This is a rather redundant feature because you get to see the guest stars in the episodes themselves anyway, so why bother? LOL. There´s a "How Well Do You Know Your ´Friends´" Trivia Quiz that´ll be played once in your lifetime, and there´s "The One With the trailer of Season Two," which is simply a commercial for the next box set.
Finally, on each disc, the menu screen that allows you to pick an episode to watch also has these "coffee cup" icons in front of each episode´s name that allow you to view a snippet from that particular show. The cardboard gatefold packaging provides information about each episode´s writers, director, original airdates, and guest stars.
Entertainment Value:
"Friends": The Complete First Season provides plenty of humor, warmth, and even humanity. The characters are all emotionally needy in one way or another, but they complement each other very well. After 8 seasons, I still can´t stand Phoebe, but what do I know, right? Dealing with her is a small sacrifice for enjoying smart writing, witty dialogue, and lovably neurotic characters.
Video:
The first season of "Friends" arrives on DVD with a 1.33:1 (full-frame on 4:3 monitors) video image. I was rather disappointed with the video quality. Most of the footage sports a digital sheen, and there are too many moments of vertical striations for my liking. On the other hand, colors and lighting have been reproduced well.
Audio:
Warner Bros. has seen fit to remix the show´s soundtracks into Dolby Digital 5.0 English presentations. Since "Friends" is a sitcom, there´s not much that requires the use of dazzling sonic effects. Therefore, while the 5.0 mixes help to "widen" the depth of the soundstage, there´s nothing on these DVDs that will compel you to pop them into your DVD player to impress your friends. Dialogue and music are well-balanced, although the "laugh tracks" can be a tad loud sometimes. Low-end frequencies are basically nonexistent, but they´re not really necessary for something like "Friends."
English, French, Spanish, and Korean subtitles as well as English closed captions support the audio. (For some reason, Disc 1 has two Korean subtitle streams. Weird...)
Extras:
Despite the fact that there are 4 discs in this box set, there aren´t many extras to accompany the first season of "Friends." Where are the bloopers? Where are the interviews with the cast members looking back at their costumes and their hairstyles from the first season? Sigh...
Disc 1: Executive Producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane contribute an audio commentary for the pilot episode. The start chatting as soon as the show gets underway, and they discuss many, many things during the entire 30 minutes of the episode. It´s an enjoyable and surprisingly informative commentary, but there´s a commentary only for the first episode. Also on Disc 1 are cast/producers biographies/filmographies in the form of text pages.
Disc 4: The other "big" extras are found on Disc 4. "A Peek at Central Perk: Interactive Map" is an interactive feature that takes you around the set of the characters´ favorite hangout. The "Friends of ´Friends´" menu page offers clips of the various guest stars on the show. This is a rather redundant feature because you get to see the guest stars in the episodes themselves anyway, so why bother? LOL. There´s a "How Well Do You Know Your ´Friends´" Trivia Quiz that´ll be played once in your lifetime, and there´s "The One With the trailer of Season Two," which is simply a commercial for the next box set.
Finally, on each disc, the menu screen that allows you to pick an episode to watch also has these "coffee cup" icons in front of each episode´s name that allow you to view a snippet from that particular show. The cardboard gatefold packaging provides information about each episode´s writers, director, original airdates, and guest stars.
Entertainment Value:
"Friends": The Complete First Season provides plenty of humor, warmth, and even humanity. The characters are all emotionally needy in one way or another, but they complement each other very well. After 8 seasons, I still can´t stand Phoebe, but what do I know, right? Dealing with her is a small sacrifice for enjoying smart writing, witty dialogue, and lovably neurotic characters.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]9939[/release]