NOW AVAILABLE (10/6):
* Islands of Wonder – Madagascar, Borneo, Hawaii (PBS)
$24.99 SRP DVD
—–In “Islands of Wonder,” viewers journey to three of the most exotic, mysterious, and remote islands on Earth: Madagascar, Borneo, and Hawaii. These isolated and iconic tropical islands harbor remarkable wildlife and human castaways found nowhere else on Earth. In a rapidly changing world, these fragile islands are a vital gauge for the health of our planet. Ancient Madagascar is the strangest and oldest island in the world, famed now for its lemurs. Though, over millennia, it has given rise to more unique wildlife than any other island. Borneo’s rich coral reefs, lush jungles, and mountainous landscapes reveal it is no paradise, and the struggles to survive are the secret to a greater variety of life, from orangutans to sun bears and flying snakes. Hawaii, the most remote island chain in the world, is a wondrous archipelago that has offered sanctuary for all life that have reached its tropical shores. From humpback whales to waterfall-climbing fish, carnivorous caterpillars, and even albatross. All these islands are home to an extraordinary wealth of diverse wildlife and stunning, yet seldom seen, natural backdrops. Single-disc release.
.
COMING ON 10/13:
* Van der Valk (PBS)
$39.99 SRP DVD
—–Van der Valk follows Piet Van der Valk, played by Marc Warren (Beecham House, The Good Wife), an engaging, unapologetic, and street-smart detective, as he leads his dynamic team in solving a raft of mysterious crimes using astute human observation and inspired detection. Brilliant, but cynical Piet Van der Valk solves these baffling crimes in and around 21st-century Amsterdam, which is more prosperous, cosmopolitan, and crime-prone than ever. At least, that’s the way steely-eyed cop Van der Valk sees his murder-infested beat. Van der Valk and his team tackle high profile cases in the worlds of art, politics, addiction, mysticism, and fashion. Co-starring are Maimie McCoy (Wallander) as Van der Valk’s right-hand woman, Lucienne Hassell; Luke Allen-Gale (Dominion) as the scruffy sergeant, Brad de Vries; and Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Jericho) as the squad’s brainy new guy, Job Cloovers. The recurring cast also includes Emma Fielding (Les MisĂ©rables) as Van der Valk’s incorruptible but indulgent boss, Julia Dahlman; and Darrell D’Silva (Game of Thrones) as the team’s hard-living, virtuoso pathologist, Hendrik Davie. Together they face challenging cases that give a new slant to Amsterdam’s renowned sophistication, for it appears that the city’s stylishness and toleration go hand in hand with murder. 2-disc set.
.
COMING ON 10/20:
* Flesh And Blood (PBS)
$34.99 SRP DVD
—–The already dysfunctional lives of Helen, Jake, and Natalie are thrown into disarray when their recently widowed mother Vivien (Francesca Annis) declares she’s in love with a new man, retired surgeon Mark (Stephen Rea). Their suspicion of the newcomer triggers events in the siblings’ own complex love lives, which begin to spiral out of control. Next door neighbor Mary (Imelda Staunton) has known the family for years and tries to support them all with wise counsel, but seems powerless to stop the events from escalating. Can this once close family overcome years of secrets and repressed sibling rivalry to pull together, or will old rifts and new conflicts push them apart? Or maybe even push them to the point of violence? Right from the start, we know that someone’s life is hanging in the balance, but we don’t know whose life, nor how it happened. As the mystery unravels, this dark yet deliciously witty thriller explores family dynamics, modern relationships, love, loyalty, and betrayal, while keeping viewers guessing up until the very last moment. 2-disc set.
.
COMING ON 11/3:
* The Crown – The Complete 3rd Season (Sony)
$45.99 SRP DVD; $55.99 SRP Blu-ray
—–The Crown traces the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 through to the early part of the twenty-first century. Season Three covers the time period between 1964 and 1977, and introduces an outstanding new ensemble cast led by Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies. Beginning with Harold Wilson’s election as the Queen’s first Labour prime minister and ending with the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, it follows pivotal moments such as the death and state funeral of Winston Churchill, the Aberfan disaster, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the Investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales. 4-disc set in either format.
.
COMING ON 11/3 OR 11/10 (“the first half of November,” per the Warner Archives social media post):
* Josie and the Pussycats – The Complete Series (Warner Archives)
Blu-ray
{no specific date, list price, or pre-order listing is available as of this writing}
EXTRAS: The Irresistible Charm of Dan DeCarlo: The Man and his Art.
—–They’re back…and better than ever, in High-Definition Blu-ray! All 16 episodes of the hit animated adaptation of the beloved comic-book series are here, as the all-girl rock band led by guitarist Josie, along with Pussycats Melody and Valerie, sing their catchy tunes through exotic adventures and fabulous hair. They are joined by Josie’s devoted boyfriend Alan, their manager Alexander, his trouble-making sister Alexandra, and her not-to-be-forgotten mischievous feline Sebastian (voiced by Hanna-Barbera’s legendary Don Messick). NEW 2020 1080p HD master from 4K scan of best surviving elements. 2-disc set.
NOTE: this title was originally released in 2007 on DVD format, and re-released on DVD in 2017. This is the show’s first release on Blu-ray Disc.
.
COMING ON 12/8:
* Father Brown – Complete Season Eight (BBC)
$39.99 SRP DVD
—–Accompany your favorite bicycle-riding English priest on eight more missions of mercy and murder-solving in the beautiful 1950s Cotswolds. Father Brown is heaven-bent in pursuit of whoever killed Kembleford’s flamboyant bee keeper, a lecherous socialite, a visiting gossip columnist, and an artist’s nanny. What brings master thief Flambeau back to the village? And will Bunty’s risquĂ© reputation finally be the death of her? Curious clues keep you guessing, from grand houses and quiet country lanes, to inside the vicarage, where Mrs. McCarthy’s kettle is always on. Eight more episodes of the popular BBC mystery series. 2-disc set.
* The Sommerdahl Murders – Series 1 (RLJ/Acorn)
$49.99 SRP DVD
—–DCI Dan Sommerdahl investigates murders in a lovely Danish coastal town with his best friend, Detective Flemming Torp, and his wife, Marianne, a criminal technician. But Dan’s years of devotion to the job have hurt his marriage, and with Marianne wanting a divorce, Dan discovers his rival for her affections is none other than his best friend. And they all must still work together to solve crimes. 2-disc set.
* The Other One – Series 1 (RLJ/Acorn)
$34.99 SRP DVD
—–When her husband dies at his surprise party, Tess (Rebecca Front, Humans) gets a bigger shock when she learns he had a secret family. Now she and her uptight daughter, Cathy (Ellie White, The Windsors), must get to know playful Marilyn (Siobhan Finneran, Loch Ness) and her daughter, Cat (Lauren Socha, Misfits). “Very funny…and moving exploration of love, grief, forgiveness, and family” (Guardian). 2-disc set.
