Homicide Life on the Street - The Complete Season 7

Homicide Life on the Street - The Complete Season 7

• Crime and punishment direct from the streets of Baltimore. Powerful, darkly humorous, and always original, this final season brings an explosive end to one of the edgiest police dramas ever to hit television--Homicide: Life On The Street. A critical darling during its groundbreaking run, Homicide: Life On The Street features authentic Maryland locations, storylines based on real-life cases, and a

All 22 episodes from the seventh and final season--including "La Famiglia," the two-part "Kellerman, P.I.," "Zen and the Art of Murder," "The Why Chromosome," and "Forgive Us Our Trespasses"--are collected in a six-disc set. 17 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; audio commentary on one episode; featurettes; biographies. **22 episodes on 6 discs. 17 1/2 hrs.**Homicide's seventh season was surely its riskiest. Could they go on without Andre Braugher--should they even try? Fortunately, the answer is yes. As good as Braugher was, Homicide wasn't a star vehicle and the ensemble remained strong. Of course, there were a few cast changes, but that was nothing unusual. In season premiere "Famiglia," two new characters are introduced: Det. Renée Sheppard (Michael Michele, Ali) and Sgt. Giardello's FBI agent son, Mike (Giancarlo Esposito, Do the Right Thing), visiting from Arizona. In the follow-up "Brotherly Love," Mike deci des to stay and becomes special liaison to the Baltimore PD. In addition, Austin Pendleton (Oz) would appear frequently as Chief ME George Griscom.

As ever, a variety of charismatic performers dropped by during 1998-1999. They include Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU), Jena Malone (Donnie Darko), Wallace Shawn (My Dinner With André), and Reed Diamond (Judging Amy), reprising his role as Mike Kellerman. In addition, a crossover with Law & Order ("Sideshow") brought Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, and Sam Waterston into the fold. Notable seventh season directors include Lisa Cholodenko (High Art), Miguel Arteta (Chuck and Buck), Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost), and Kathryn Bigelow (Near Dark).

The general consensus is that Homicide's seventh season was its weakest. Even at its worst, however, it was still the smartest crime drama on network television. Althoug h year seven would turn out to be the last, the show didn't really end until broadcast of Homicide: The Movie the following year. In it, the surviving cast members reunite to solve the attempted assassination of mayoral candidate Giardello. The TV movie also ties up loose ends from series finale "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" (like whether Kyle Secor’s Tim Bayliss killed a murder suspect). Unfortunately, it isn't included with this 22-episode set. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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