7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Relive every thrilling moment as ABC's ONCE UPON A TIME: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON casts its tantalizing spell. The curse is broken, magic has arrived, and there's no telling what -- or who -- will be unleashed! Now the exiled fairy-tale characters must grapple with a flood of awakened memories as they come to grips with their new "reality." Old loyalties will be tested, new heroes will emerge and vengeful villains will wreak havoc -- including ruthless pirate Captain Hook and the relentlessly wicked Cora. Amidst the backdrop of previously unexplored lands and a newly magical Storybrooke, love and sacrifice will set the stage for the ultimate battle between good and evil. For, in the words of Rumplestiltskin, where magic is concerned, only one thing is certain: it always comes at a price. From Storybrooke to Fairy Tale Land and beyond, experience the mystery, romance, action and adventure of ONCE UPON A TIME's remarkable second season. Complete with all 22 unforgettable episodes, plus exclusive bonus features, this must-own 5-disc boxed set is pure enchantment on an epic scale.
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared GilmoreFantasy | 100% |
Adventure | 64% |
Romance | 60% |
Supernatural | 30% |
Imaginary | 18% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Five-disc set (5 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
When last we left Storybrooke, Maine, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) had broken the curse that caused the residents to forget their true fairytale identities, her parents Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) were reunited, young Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) had been brought back from the brink of death, and evil queen Regina (Lana Parrilla) and Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle) were vying for control of... well, everything. As Season Two begins, magic has begun seeping into the real world, and a whole new breed of curse -- and string of foes, ne'er-do-wells and rogues -- are thrust into the mix. Emma isn't alone in her fight, though, and soon draws more allies to her side, standing among them a man who could be friend or foe: Killian Jones (Colin O'Donoghue), better known by his more colorful moniker, Captain Hook. To offer much more would require a near-endless unraveling of an at-times infuriatingly dense plot; one that's rather digestible when taken in episode by episode, but one that remains unmistakably, and I'd argue unnecessarily, convoluted.
As arguments in the writers' room spill onto the set, the cast looks on in horror...
Once Upon a Time's flat, cartoony green-screened vistas and hiss-worthy CG doesn't hold up well under high definition scrutiny, but that's about the only criticism that can be leveled at Disney's hook-sharp 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. The second season offers a wintry twenty-two episodes, with crisp whites and ominous blacks aplenty, and lovely skintones that seem to defy the bleakness of the palette. Deadly primaries continually pierce the chilly Storybrooke air, though, and visceral fairytale reds are out for blood. Literally. Detail is also excellent... minus shots that are slathered in CG that is, which tend to be softer, noisier and flatter than everything before and after. Edges are precise enough to slice a hair down the center, fine textures are so well-resolved that closeups become the stuff of legend, and delineation is quite good, even though minor crush creeps in from time to time. Moreover, significant macroblocking and banding are almost nowhere to be found (insert obligatory jab at the exception: the series' rickety CG), aliasing and ringing are held at bay, and little else disrupts the otherwise striking proceedings. It all comes together to even best its first season counterpart, making for a most charming followup presentation.
Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is better than its predecessor too, thanks to more aggressive sound design and more engaging rear speaker activity. A few scenes are still more front-heavy than they could or should be, but they're very much the exception rather than the rule. Storybrooke's hospitals, city streets and town docks are supported by a welcome boost in ambience, as are the fairytales' forests, castles and kingdoms, and directionality is more involving. (Even if it shoots a tad wide on occasion.) LFE output is more assertive as well, with more startling thooms and magic booms. It helps that Season Two is more intense than Season One, but no matter the cause, the result is more exciting. All the while, Dialogue remains clean, intelligible and convincingly grounded throughout, dynamics are notable (just not extraordinary), and the soundfield is immersive enough to make the entire experience a reasonably compelling one. The Complete Second Season doesn't offer a groundbreaking AV presentation, but it doesn't disappoint either.
Once Upon a Time is meaner and... meaner in its second season. Leaner, though, it is not. In spite of greater focus, more riveting villainy, and a few welcome changes, Season Two is still overcrowded, convoluted and prone to awful bouts of CG, while its heroes, chief among them Snow, Charming and Emma, can't compete with the likes of Rumpelstiltskin and Captain Hook. Storybrooke is a villain's paradise, or at the very least a rogue's showcase. Season Three looks to be a season of Neverland nights, so here's hoping the writers' room can take the series to more thrilling, sharply penned worlds than these. Disney's Blu-ray release is much better, with a terrific video presentation, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a decent selection of special features. Is The Complete Second Season better than the First? As a Blu-ray release, you bet. As a season of a problematic show? In some ways yes, in some ways no.
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Includes Bonus DVD
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