The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 3, 2025

"The Sweeney: Series Two" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Old Gold Media. The supplemental features on the release include multiple archival video introductions; multiple archival audio commentaries; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

No time to be patient

A direct comparison between Season One and Season Two of The Sweeney reveals only one minor adjustment in the material that the latter produces. In Season One, the tense drama is occasionally countered with light humor, some of which has an unmistakable cinematic quality. In Season Two, Regan (John Thaw) and Carter (Dennis Waterman) still dispatch hilarious one-liners while hunting villains, but the tense drama instantly neutralizes them. There are two reasons for this. First, Regan and Carter are after villains who are more pragmatic and vicious, willing to risk substantially more than their counterparts from Season One. Second, the new material is penned with an even greater emphasis on authenticity, which is why it is noticeably darker.

The least vicious villains are two Australian imports, both thieves pretending to be trained swimmers-pool boys-gym experts, who launch a series of burglaries with the help of a beautiful female chameleon. They are the only ones to challenge Regan and Carter twice in two different episodes, too. Also, they are the only ones who manage to get Regan and Carter’s boss, Haskins (Garfield Morgan), suspended and on his way to be permanently removed from The Flying Squad a.k.a. The Sweeney.

The remaining villains are a motley crew of delusional risk-takers, unhinged crime bosses, and suicidal psychopaths. One of the most dangerous among them attempts to take out Regan after his younger brother is arrested and transported to a hospital, where he quickly loses a kidney and then his life. Another of these characters then hires an assassin to stage an ‘accident’ and kill a French teacher who has chosen to walk away from an arrangement that has made him a rich man, but the perfect murder becomes a nightmare when Carter’s wife is identified as the victim. In the most violent episode, several masked robbers enter the campus of a big university and, while emptying the vaults of a busy bank branch, create a tense hostage situation that forces Regan and his colleagues to seek support from a couple of veteran snipers.

All episodes are again broken into three fairly even sections, each maintaining a similar tempo. They all spend time on the streets again. The quality of their action footage is very similar, too. However, this time, there are a few episodes where the physical altercations last a little longer and are a bit more intense.

The supporting cast includes a young Lesley Anne-Down, David Lodge, Vernon Dobtcheff, Bill Maynard, Maurice Roeves, Stephane Turner, James Booth, John Rhys-Davies, Roy Kinnear, and Ronald Lacey.

The thirteen episodes of Season Two were lensed by Norman Langley and Dusty Miller. Langley also lensed several episodes of The Professionals, which was the biggest competitor of The Sweeney. Miller went on to lense the two feature film spin-offs, Sweeney! and Sweeney 2.

*This four-disc box set brings exclusive new restorations of all thirteen episodes "from the original 16mm A/B negatives, with shot-by-shot grading work, digital processes such as image stabilization, de-flicker, scratch concealment and a combination of automatic and manual clean-up of visual defects." All episodes are presented in 1080/50i on Region-Free discs.

The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080/50i transfer, The Sweeney: Series Two arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Old Gold Media.

The four-disc box set brings exclusive new restorations of all thirteen episodes of Season Two "from the original 16mm A/B negatives, with shot-by-shot grading work, digital processes such as image stabilization, de-flicker, scratch concealment and a combination of automatic and manual clean-up of visual defects." I think that these episodes look as good and in some ways even better than those of Season One. Why? Because the consistency of the restoration work is even more impressive. Indeed, on my system, every episode boasted outstanding delineation, clarity, and depth, with equally great density levels. Color reproduction and balance are fantastic as well. Despite the diverse content, plenty of which was shot on busy streets and at unique locations, all primaries and supporting nuances looked perfectly set and very, very healthy. Indoor and darker areas also revealed wonderful shadow nuances, which help the already striking dynamic range of the visuals be even better. I did not encounter any traces of problematic digital corrections. All thirteen episodes looked spotless as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. However, to view its content in North America, where 1080/50i is not supported, you will need a Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray player that converts 1080/50i to 1080/60i or 1080/60p. Check your manual to see if your player does this conversion).

The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM Mono 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Each episode features an LPCM 2.0 isolated track as well. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

I chose the LPCM 2.0 track. Each episode mixes good music and action. A few, like Thou Shalt Not Kill!, have a slightly more active sound design than the rest, but the overall quality of the audio is outstanding. Clarity, sharpness, stability, and balance are terrific. I did not feel the need to turn on the subtitles, but in a couple of places the accents can be a bit too thick. I tested the 5.1 track only during a few shootouts and intense car chases. I liked it, too. I suspect that many viewers will prefer it over the LPCM 2.0 track.

The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Introduction - this video introduction to "Supersnout" was filmed by Bill Maynard. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Commentary - this audio commentary for "Chalk and Cheese" was recorded by Robert Fairclough and Mike Kenwood.

• Peter Brayham - in this program, writer/stuntman Peter Brayham discusses some of the work he did for The Sweeney. There are some particularly good comments about the dangerous car chases that were done and the conception of specific material. In English, not subtitled. (15 min)

• Isolated Music Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Introduction - this video introduction to "Big Brother" was filmed by Gwen Taylor. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Commentary - this audio commentary for "Hit and Run" was recorded by Dennis Waterman and Garfield Morgan.

• Roger Marshall - in this program, writer Roger Marshall recalls his first encounter with John Thaw and the evolution of some of the material he penned for The Sweeney. In English, not subtitled. (15 min)

• Isolated Music Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

BLU-RAY DISC THREE

• Introduction One - this video introduction to "Poppy" was filmed by James Booth. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Introduction Two - this video introduction to "Stay Lucky, Eh?" was filmed by Kan Hutchison. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Wild Boys - in this program, writer Roger Marshall and actors George Layton and Patrick Mower discuss the introduction of the two colorful Australian thieves who outsmart Regan and Carter in one episode and then return for a second job in another. Linda Bellingham, who plays their British connection, also comments. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Isolated Music Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

BLU-RAY DISC FOUR

• Introduction - this video introduction to "Trojan Bus" was filmed by Linda Bellimgham. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Sweeney! Trailer and Introduction - presented here is an original trailer for the feature film Sweeney!, with a filmed introduction by Linda Bellingham. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Isolated Music Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Booklet - 12-page illustrated booklet with writings on The Sweeney and technical information about the new 2025 restoration of the show.

The Sweeney: Series Two Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Terrific. This is a short but perfect summation of the quality of all the restoration work done on Season Two of The Sweeney and its presentation on Blu-ray by Old Gold Media. I could not be happier with this release, and cannot wait for Season Three to reach my mailbox in early December. If you decide to pick up the first two seasons of The Sweeney, also take a look at the two feature films, here and here, which offer even more fireworks from some of the roughest areas of London. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.