Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Emerald City: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Ephemeral Emerald City

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 29, 2017

Was there really that much of a demand out there for a TV show based on The Wizard of Oz (and the original novel), an extraordinarily popular film that's pushing an admittedly timeless 80 years old? And a typically modern brooding, almost humorously wannabe edgy, and forced version at that? Is there even room on TV for it? Seriously, there are certainly a ton of channels and streaming outlets out there today that need to fill up air time, but it literally feels like the television show bubble may be about to burst. Will this be the needle in the haystack (or the scarecrow) that sets that in motion? Even if it isn't, Emerald City is certainly a failed project, quickly cancelled after a single season and 10 episodes, despite an admittedly interesting vision for the land of Oz under the steady direction of screen veteran and visionary Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) whose feature films are known for their portraits of organically occurring excesses, a perfect fit for Emerald City but, even then, unable to overcome the show's downfall, its desperate reach to reimagine yet another classic in today's murky, overly complex, needlessly gritty television world.

Official synopsis: Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) is transported to another world -- a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (Vincent D'Onofrio) governs over one kingdom, has outlawed magic, and faces not only the wrath of a growing cauldron of witches but a looming disaster brought on by a mythical force. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world and uncovers her true destiny, we'll see that there's no place like...Oz.

This is most assuredly a re-imagining, and a drastic re-imagining at that. The show explores Dorthy's background in more detail. She's still a Kansas girl, but her origins are more complicated than a mere everyday farm girl. Her companion pooch is now a police dog that's called "Toto" because some of the people in Oz, who speak perfect English, call dogs "toto." The yellow brick road gets its color thanks to a thick covering of hallucinogenic poppy (opium). Scarecrow is a man with amnesia who falls for Dorthy. The Wizard does not hide behind a curtain (at least not a literal curtain but rather a psychological curtain, the show's behind-the-scenes piece is quick to point out). There are brothels, torture, mud prisons...it's a drastic, contemporary change-up that picks and chooses what to keep and what to change and often changing what it keeps. It certainly forges its own identity and puts its own spin on the story with no reservations. Audiences apparently didn't find it all that palatable, though, if its quick heave-ho is any indication. It just feels so derivative (a word that can be bandied about with frequency these days) and, despite its original spin on an old tale, painfully adherent to modern contrivances, forcing every classic square peg to fit into today's round holes, to give it that adult contemporary edge that never feels organic. It's borderline painful to watch, despite a number of plusses.

On the production side, those plusses begin and more or less end with Tarsem Singh and his vision for the world. It's a wonderful blend of excess and grounded reality. Costumes flow, Oz skylines dazzle, the entire production is elegantly realized, almost always perfectly blending in with the surroundings. The show can transition from dank to dazzling in an instant, and it's well versed in its world and the many oddities, terrors, and joys that abound throughout it. It's very creative, visionary, even, and one cannot help but wonder if the show had been retooled to forge a more unique identity within the parameters of its core story if it might not have worked better without the expectations and other baggage that come with its namesake. Performances are solid, too, with the ever-capable Vincent D'Onofrio as the Wizard leading the way. Adria Arjona handles duties as protagonist Dorthy very well, falling into character and place with increasing resolve to see her journey through.

The following episodes comprise Emerald City. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging. Some spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• The Beast Forever: After a tornado transports Dorothy to Oz, she sets off to Emerald City to meet the Wizard, the only person who might be able to send her home.
• Prison of the Abject: In Emerald City, Glenda and West come together to say farewell to their fallen sister. Dorothy and Lucas meet a young man trying to free his best friend from a mysterious woman.
• Mistress-New-Mistress: Dorothy takes a dangerous risk in hopes of returning home, while Tip and Jack travel to the city of Ev to reverse Tip's condition.
• Science and Magic: Dorothy and Lucas' mission is sidetracked by the arrival of a mysterious young girl, while Tip finds herself caught between Glenda and West.

Disc Two:

• Everybody Lies: West interrogates Dorothy to get answers about East's death, while the Wizard asks the Kingdom of Ev to build him an arsenal.
• Beautiful Wickedness: The Wizard's past is revealed, including his connection to Dorothy. Plus, Lucas goes to great lengths to regain his memory.
• They Came First: Dorothy, Lucas and Sylvie journey north to Glenda's palace, while the Wizard enlists West's help to track down any new witches.

Disc Three:

• Lions in Winter: West employs dangerous magic to help Tip remember her past, while Lucas tries to readjust to life with Glenda.
• The Villain That's Become: Dorothy and Lucas find themselves fighting on opposite sides, while the Wizard storms Ev to obtain his arsenal.
• No Place Like Home: Dorothy, Glenda and the Wizard face off on the battlefield, while Tip and West storm Emerald City.

Emerald City: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Emerald City delivers a fairly pleasing 1080p image, one that's nicely filmic and capable of capturing both the more resplendent set pieces and costumes as well as the darker, grittier underbelly around Oz. Colors are nicely vibrant, tweaked a little towards desaturation but bolder primaries still stand apart nicely, such as the East Witch's red attire and the yellow-lined brick road. The image is made of many earthy shades and, additionally, a number of bleak, dreary scenes as well. The palette holds true enough through every variation. Details are firm and fine, revealing clothes, faces, terrain, and manmade environments with equal complexity and agreeable accuracy. Black levels hold deep and flesh tones are fine. A few overhead/establishing shots show some harsh digital processing resulting in a clumpy, noisy moment, but such are relatively few. Mostly, this is an enjoyable image in every regard.

Emerald City: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Emerald City's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack plays large. The show opens with impressively saturating rain and distant, lurking thunder that rolls through the entire stage. A tornado tears through later, ripping the stage apart with a ferocity that's nearly as intense as any other one is going to find on a modern soundtrack. Dorothy finds herself in a police car, and debris smacks into the windows and body from all directions with striking vigor and clarity. Effects throughout the season are spaced largely, presented clearly, and always maintain an impressive sense of precise placement and movement. Music is full and fluid, wide and well spaced, detailed and organic. Ambient effects settle in throughout the stage to pull the listener into the show's mystical and more barren and frightening locales alike. Dialogue is consistently clear, well prioritized, and naturally positioned in the front middle area of the soundstage.

Emerald City: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Emerald City contains deleted scenes on all three discs and a featurette on disc three. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 1:16): Scenes from "Prison of the Abject."

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 2:15): Scene from "Everybody Lies."

Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 0:50): Scene from "No Place Like Home."
• Oz Reimagined: The Making of Emerald City (1080i): A five-part feature.
• Oz: A New Beginning (8:25): Vincent D'Onofrio hosts an inside look at the making of the show. This segment focuses on the expansion of the character roster, differences from the popular film, the new Dorothy, character alterations, and more.
• Creating the World of Oz: Locations & Sets (7:28): Shooting locations, set pieces, building the nontraditional yellow brick road, freedom from limits, and more.
• FX: Science vs. Magic (9:34): A closer look at the show's digital work and stunts.
• Behind the Curtain: The Costumes of Emerald City (10:13): Just as the title suggests, a closer look at the series' diverse costumes.
• Along the Road: Productions' Journey (6:12): A pat-on-the-back piece.

Emerald City: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Emerald City, cancelled after its first season, is a charmless show that's too gritty for its namesake. It's the epitome of today's overzealous, overcooked, overthought, and overwrought television that's desperate to capture a market it has no place entering and no chance of competing in. The peripherals are strong and had the show distanced itself further from The Wizard of Oz it might have worked better, but as it is it's disposable entertainment, a novelty and curiosity at best. Good riddance. Universal's Blu-ray features a few extras along with high quality video and audio. Skip it.