7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Freelance writer Samantha (Rose McIver) and aspiring chef Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) throw both caution and money to the wind to leave NYC and convert a rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast — only to find that it’s inhabited by a close-knit, eclectic group of spirits of deceased former residents! Adding to the supernatural surprises, Samantha discovers that she can see and hear ghosts everywhere, including those with whom she now shares a home. Old-school haunting and oddball humor fuel this sharp-witted, quirky comedy series that gives new meaning to the real estate phrase, “It’s got great bones.”
Starring: Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brandon Scott Jones, Richie Moriarty, Asher GrodmanComedy | 100% |
Supernatural | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Ghosts is based on a UK series of the same name which debuted a few years ago, but some with certain American viewing habits may wonder about one minor if still salient piece of information. In this American version, Samantha (Rose McIver) and Darren, er, Jay Arondekar (Utkarsh Ambudkar) inherit a crumbling estate willed to them by a recently deceased distant relative of Sam's, and while they initially debate whether or not to sell it, they disclose they both have a fondness for HGTV renovation shows, one which ultimately helps to spark their decision to stay and fix the place up. And in fact there's a kind of funny if slightly disturbing moment of sex play between the couple where Sam suggests she can be "Joanna" to Jay's "Chip Gaines" (if you don't get the reference, Google will most likely autofill within nanoseconds of typing in either name). That little bit of backstory may cause some to wonder if Alison and Mike Cooper from the UK version of the show might have been fans of HGTV-esque series like Escape to the Chateau, which features an expat British couple attempting to renovate a dilapidated estate in France. One way or the other, the whole obsession with HGTV (which actually recurs intermittently throughout this series) may actually be a "calling card" of sorts for the show, at least for those who (frankly like this reviewer) have often turned to that particular network during the most calamitous times of the last few years if only because it frequently offers heartwarming tales of renewal and renovation, with the added benefit of being able to see what the inside of other people's houses are like (that last part is a joke, kind of). Watching television (not necessarily limited to HGTV) crops up in this show repeatedly as well, though the real underlying premise of the series is that after an unfortunate accident, Sam is suddenly able to see and hear the many spirits inhabiting the place she's recently inherited.
Ghosts: Season One is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The IMDb lists the Sony Venice but kind of interestingly also lists a source capture resolution of over 5K, which makes me wonder whether this series may have had a 4K DI. One way or the other, this has some generally excellent detail levels throughout, especially with regard to some of the finery some of the "historical" female characters like Hetty and Alberta in particular. But even things like Thor's bristly beard or Sass' fringed outfit provide more examples of the general excellence of fine detail levels. The palette is actually a bit muted quite a bit of the time, tending to favor more burnished tones which perhaps subliminally emphasize the supposed history of the place. CGI is winning for the most part, especially with regard to fun effects like spirits walking through walls or living humans walking through spirits. There are occasional downturns in detail levels in some of the barely lit basement material. My score is 4.25.
Ghosts: Season One features an often fun Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track (this is another recent release from Lionsgate where for whatever reason their Audio menu lists only "Dolby 5.1" without the clear identifier of a lossless track). The scuttling to and fro of the spirits provides quite a bit of surround activity, though it tends to occur in fits and starts. Some fun effects in terms of the ghosts attempting in various ways to "reach out and touch" the living also provide good opportunities for both discrete channelization and some "ghostly" panning effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Kind of surprisingly, this release offers no on disc supplements. A digital copy is included, and packaging features a slipcover.
I actually have a couple of friends who think Ghosts is one of the best "new"(ish) comedies on television. I'm frankly not sure it's that great, but it has a degree of heart that many, more acerbic, modern comedies don't seem to be able to muster, and there are some really appealing characterizations offered in this first season. I'm not sure the writing is at a consistently excellent level, but when it connects, it does so very well, and interestingly in that regard, it's often most effective in some of the "little" throwaway lines between characters rather than for any of the "swing for the fences" material. Technical merits are solid, and with caveats noted, Ghosts: Season One comes Recommended.
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