Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Key & Peele Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 22, 2014

Note: This set contains seasons one and two of 'Key & Peele." It's currently the only way to own season two. Season one is available separately and is identical to the release contained in this set. This review will cover season two only. For a review of season one, please click here.

Think of "sketch comedy" and think of Saturday Night Live, a long-running program with a tradition of humorous shorts, popular culture lampoons, political satire, and all variety of brief, easily digestible, and uproariously funny bits. The show has launched careers too numerous to count and too popular to contemplate, and it remains a staple of Comedy television that has certainly seen dips and rises in ratings but that remains a constant part of American television culture. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, along with Comedy Central, launched a new program in January of 2012 aptly titled Key & Peele that follows the basic sketch format but does so with the help of rather high production values and, rather than an entire cast of players, keys in (no pun intended) on two primary actors surrounded, when necessary, by a handful of supportive background performers. Though race plays a significant role in the program, Key & Peele sees fit to tackle any number of current and former cultural and political issues, injecting a sense of humor, cultural relevance, and sometimes an underlying thematic significance into their sketches, resulting in one of the funniest programs on television and a fresh alternative to aging material like Saturday Night Live.

COTUS (Comedian of the United States) and FAT (First Anger Translator).

Season two's ten-episode arc begins with the classic Key & Peele Barack Obama spoof, seeing the President accompanied by his "interpreter" Luther who, more or less, relays the President's words with a little more, how to say it, feeling. The season progresses through a myriad of topics and skits, including Obama the pot smoking college student, Bible re-imaginings, Civil War reenactments, talent shows and British judges more concerned with contestant sob stories than actual talent, locker room celebrations and off-the-cuff athlete interviews, racist dogs, "Dub Step" music, civil rights, deep thoughts on feces, Apple product launches, animals with human heads, and plenty more in the way of comic mischief, pop culture satire, and social commentary.

It's still too early to declare Key & Peele "classic comedy" but there's no mistaking that these guys are on the top of their game, on top of the goings-on in modern society, and on top of the world. While their brand of humor isn't universal and while not every sketch will satisfy all audiences -- chances are some of them will downright offend some -- the comedy duo displays a mastery of the satirical and random sketch that's as good as anything modern SNL is cranking out, and with less numbers on their side. Season two doesn't show so much show growth as it does program mastery. The actors' chemistry remains central to their success and the larger scope and feel behind some of the skits contribute to a greater overall sense of completion, but it's in the polish of delivery, the nuance of the performance, and the understanding of the world and the people, happenings, and feelings in it that make the show a standout success. Every skit shows a level of total commitment to form and execution that, even in the bits that aren't quite as funny as others (subjectively speaking, of course, as is always the case with comedy), one can appreciate the astronomical level of talent on display and the creativity behind most every sketch.

The following episodes are included with Key & Peele Season Two:

• Obama College Years
• Dubstep
• Country Music
• I'm Retired
• Bone Thugs & Homeless
• Michael Jackson Halloween
• Non-Stop Party
• Gang Stand-Off
• Manly Tears
• Biological Dad

Key & Peele Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Key & Peele Season 2's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer satisfies on all fronts. Some banding over the opening titles with some infrequent occurrences later on represents the only glaring weakness. Generally, the image offers rich, tactile details across the board, particularly evident on faces and clothing, including the Biblical-era robes and Confederate uniforms. The HD video source offers a very crisp, well-defined image that's constantly sharp and never excessively glossy. Colors are satisfying, showing rich diversity and nuance across the entire spectrum, from the most garish shades to the most subdued hues. Black levels are satisfactorily deep and true, while flesh tones appear accurate. In total, this is a solid presentation in every area of concern.

Key & Peele Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Key & Peele Season 2's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack handles the program's audio needs with ease. In-studio moments that feature Key & Peele on-stage before a seated audience play with fair envelopment and accuracy in applause and dialogue both. Light atmospherics help bring better sonic definition to a number of sketches, while various sound effects, most in the intermediate range of stage presence, play with acceptable clarity and attention to detail. Dialogue enjoys unflinching accuracy and a balanced front-center placement.

Key & Peele Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Key & Peele Season 2 contains several short bonuses grouped into two sections.

• Obama's Anger Translator (HD): A collection of four shorts: Tropical Storm Luther Pounds the RNC & DNC (1:37), Obama Responds to Clint Eastwood (2:05), I Sunk Your Battleship, B!tc# (2:35), and Alternate Obama Outcome (1:26).
• Vandaveon and Mike: Critiquer's Corner (HD): A collection of ten shorts, including Episode 1 (3:21), Episode 2 (2:56), Episode 3 (2:22), Episode 4 (2:38), Episode 5 (3:09), Episode 6 (2:13), Episode 7 (2:26), Episode 8 (2:27), Episode 9 (2:47), and Episode 10 (3:13).

Key & Peele Seasons 1-2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Key & Peele isn't groundbreaking television, at least not in the sense that it offers something completely novel and unique, but it does demonstrate an unflinching command of the comedy sketch style and is good enough to at least threaten stalwart SNL, to push it, to make audiences think twice before robotically tuning into NBC's long-running program as the first, best, and only genre option. And that's only a good thing for comedy fans everywhere. Key & Peele Season 2 sees the tandem at its best, impressing together on-stage but more importantly dazzling in a variety of sketches that are both funny and, often, relevant. It's not for all tastes -- what is in modern entertainment? -- but many audiences will find something special brewing in this collection of ten outrageously funny episodes. Paramount/Comedy Central's Blu-ray release of Key & Peele Season 2 features solid video and audio to go along with a few supplements. It's a shame season two isn't available separately, but diehards will want to pick this up, anyway, and maybe gift or sell their well-loved season one release. For newcomers, this two-fer is a no-brainer starting point. Recommended.