I really enjoy the performances by the cast members, but I also detest Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe). I like wacky stuff that 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 probably final) season, but miracles do happen, right?
Video:
Like the First Season, the Second Season of "Friends" arrives on DVD with a 1.33:1 (full-frame on 4:3 monitors) video image. The Second Season looks appreciably better than the First Season, but the video is still not as great as, say, the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" DVDs. Sometimes, the footage sports a digital sheen rather than appearing film-like, possibly due to overzealous edge-enhancement. However, colors and lighting schemes have been reproduced well.
Audio:
Warner Bros. re-mixed 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. Low-end frequencies are scarce, but they're not necessarily suitable for something like "Friends" anyway.
Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles as well as English closed captions support the audio.
Extras:
Despite the fact that there are 4 discs in this box set, there aren't many extras to accompany the Second 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 2: Executive Producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane contribute an audio commentary for "The One With the List". The three have much to say about the episode as well as the series as a whole, and the commentary is an enjoyable listen. However, there's not enough substance to be gained for my liking from a 30-minute commentary.
Disc 3: Executive Producers Bright, Kauffman, and Crane contribute an audio commentary for "The One With the Prom Video". Since this is a key episode in the "Friends" universe, the three execs enthuse brightly about one of their creation's most notable high points.
Disc 4: The other "big" extras are found on Disc 4. "Open House at Monica and Rachel's Place" is an interactive feature that takes you around the set of Monica and Rachel's apartment. 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? "What's Up With Your 'Friends'?" offers a couple of clips of the principal characters doing random things. There's a "How Well Do You Know Your 'Friends'?" Trivia Quiz that'll be played once in your lifetime, and you get to see the full-length version of the "Smelly Cat" music video after completing the quiz.
--Miscellaneous--
On each disc, the menu screen that allows you to pick an episode to watch also has "coffee cup" icons in front of each episode's name. These icons access previews of the episodes. Each disc also has a list of the show's leads as well as executive producers. There are some weblinks if you use a DVD-ROM drive to view the discs.
The cardboard gatefold packaging provides information about the episodes' writers, directors, original airdates, and guest stars.
Entertainment Value:
"Friends": The Complete Second Season, like the first season, provides plenty of humor, warmth, and humanity. The characters are all emotionally needy in one way or another, but they complement each other very well. After all these years, 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, lovably neurotic characters, and increasingly inspired physical antics.
Video:
Like the First Season, the Second Season of "Friends" arrives on DVD with a 1.33:1 (full-frame on 4:3 monitors) video image. The Second Season looks appreciably better than the First Season, but the video is still not as great as, say, the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" DVDs. Sometimes, the footage sports a digital sheen rather than appearing film-like, possibly due to overzealous edge-enhancement. However, colors and lighting schemes have been reproduced well.
Audio:
Warner Bros. re-mixed 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. Low-end frequencies are scarce, but they're not necessarily suitable for something like "Friends" anyway.
Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles as well as English closed captions support the audio.
Extras:
Despite the fact that there are 4 discs in this box set, there aren't many extras to accompany the Second 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 2: Executive Producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman, and David Crane contribute an audio commentary for "The One With the List". The three have much to say about the episode as well as the series as a whole, and the commentary is an enjoyable listen. However, there's not enough substance to be gained for my liking from a 30-minute commentary.
Disc 3: Executive Producers Bright, Kauffman, and Crane contribute an audio commentary for "The One With the Prom Video". Since this is a key episode in the "Friends" universe, the three execs enthuse brightly about one of their creation's most notable high points.
Disc 4: The other "big" extras are found on Disc 4. "Open House at Monica and Rachel's Place" is an interactive feature that takes you around the set of Monica and Rachel's apartment. 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? "What's Up With Your 'Friends'?" offers a couple of clips of the principal characters doing random things. There's a "How Well Do You Know Your 'Friends'?" Trivia Quiz that'll be played once in your lifetime, and you get to see the full-length version of the "Smelly Cat" music video after completing the quiz.
--Miscellaneous--
On each disc, the menu screen that allows you to pick an episode to watch also has "coffee cup" icons in front of each episode's name. These icons access previews of the episodes. Each disc also has a list of the show's leads as well as executive producers. There are some weblinks if you use a DVD-ROM drive to view the discs.
The cardboard gatefold packaging provides information about the episodes' writers, directors, original airdates, and guest stars.
Entertainment Value:
"Friends": The Complete Second Season, like the first season, provides plenty of humor, warmth, and humanity. The characters are all emotionally needy in one way or another, but they complement each other very well. After all these years, 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, lovably neurotic characters, and increasingly inspired physical antics.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]10558[/release]