Warner Bros. | 2003 | 969 mins. | Not Rated
Everwood is one of those better-than-average family dramas that got lost in the television shuffle. Though the series ran for four seasons on the WB, the show didn’t return when The WB and UPN merged to form The CW Television Network back in September of 2006. The show had a devoted fan base, so the cancellation was a major disappointment to millions of fans. Further, Warner Bros. released the first season of the show on DVD back in 2004 when the series was still on the air; however, back in 2006Warner Bros. said they had no plans to release future seasons of Everwood at that time. After three years of waiting, Everwood: The Complete Second Season has finally been released.
Created by Greg Berlanti, Everwood centers on Dr. Andrew “Andy” Brown (Treat Williams), a widower who leaves his high powered job as a Manhattan neurosurgeon for the fictional town of Everwood Colorado. Joining him in the move are his 9-year-old daughter Delia (Vivien Cardone) and 15-year-old son Ephram (Gregory Smith). Predictably, much of the first season dealt with the family adjusting to their new environment and trying to get along with a whole new set of people. Andy finds himself butting heads over medical opinions with the towns other doctor, Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes) but Andy’s cheerful demeanor and Harold’s cranky ways mesh well and the two begin a friendly rivalry. Andy also strikes up a friendship with their next door neighbor Nina Feeney (Stephanie Niznik).
Ephram is your typical teenager, dealing with the usual travails of being an adolescent. He is a talented pianist who quickly develops a crush on Dr. Abbott’s 15-year-old daughter Amy (Emily VanCamp). During the first season, the action centers on Amy’s boyfriend Colin Hart (Mike Erwin) and her older brother Bright’s (Chris Pratt) best friend. He has been in a coma since the Fourth of July when he and Bright were in a car accident. Amy hopes that Andy can save him with experimental brain surgery. Dr. Brown is successful and soon, Colin is awake.
Colin’s struggle to survive was really the soul of the first season. Though everyone was thrilled when he woke up, it is soon clear that things aren’t right. Colin has lost most of his memory, including his memory of Amy. He begins lashing out; sometimes violently and his friends begin to steer clear of him. Andy end up having to perform a second risky surgery and Colin experiences complications.
As season two begins, it is revealed that Colin has died. Unfortunately for Andy the town blames him for young man’s death and nearly everyone shuns him, both personally and professionally. Andy is struggling with his own guilt and Colin’s presence is felt throughout the season. Amy struggles with Colin’s death the most; falling into a deep depression and unable to concentrate on schoolwork, she and her father’s once solid relationship begins to crack under the pressure.
There are three characters that make their debut during the second season and really shake things up. The first is Tommy Callahan (Paul Wesley), a known drug dealer Amy begins to date, shocking her friends and family. Marcia Cross (Melrose Place, Desperate Housewives) is impressive as Dr. Linda Abbott, Harold’s globe-trotting sister who returns to Everwood to reconnect with her family. Much to Andy’s surprise, he has strong feelings for her and begins to believe he can find love again after his wife’s death. Sarah Lancaster plays Madison Kellner, a 20-year-old college student Andy has hired to babysit Delia. Initially, Ephram doesn’t get along with her but their relationship evolves into a romantic one. Though his dad is concerned, Ephram goes through all the trials and tribulations of first love; albeit with an older woman.
The supporting cast also turns in some strong work this season. Bright–who has become close friends with Ephram–becomes determined to go to college on his academic merits, after being kicked off the football team for failing a summer school class. Edna (Debra Mooney)–Harold’s mother and Andy’s nurse–is brought directly into the family drama after Amy moves in with her and her husband Irv (John Beasley) after she refuses to follow her father’s orders.
A few notable guest stars pop up, as stories involving patients and town happenings are interwoven with the longer story arcs. Philip Baker Hall returns as Andy’s mentor Dr. Donald Douglas; James Earl Jones gives an Emmy nominated performance as Will Cleveland, a crotchety jazz enthusiast who has a real impact on Ephram. Betty White plays Harold’s sweet yet diabolical mother-in-law Carol and steals every scene she appears in.
If you’ve never seen Everwood, at first glance it might seem like a quaint little show set in small town America, dealing with the little things in life. In reality, Everwood explores stories about friends, family, loving and learning to let go. Yes, the show does have a degree of sappiness but Everwood’s success lies in its ability to balance that with a truly complex set of situations and emotions that almost anyone can relate to.
All 22 episodes of this season are presented in the anamorphic widescreen format. The image is somewhat soft, with warm colors used throughout. Close-ups reveal fairly sharp detail for a standard definition release. There is some noticeable grain but it shouldn’t affect the overall viewing experience.
The audio is presented in Dolby 2.0. This set up is fine for a series that relies mostly on dialogue. What sound effects there are sound fine. Subtitles are available in English and French.
The only extra features on this set are deleted scenes available on several episodes, as marked on the cases. The video of the deleted scenes are of lesser quality than the main presentation but fans should enjoy the extra tidbits.
[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Video:” rating=”3.0/5″ group=”s1″ ] [xrr label=”Audio:” rating=”3.5/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Extras:” rating=”2.0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Film Value:” rating=”3.5/5″ group=”s1″] [/xrrgroup]
