Over There - The Complete Season (Box Set) (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Classic and compelling viewing
Disadvantages:	Incomplete story

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Over There was a one series television show about the war in Iraq from a soldiers viewpoint. Each episode trod on the toes of real life politicians, in the States the show was frequently in the press for showing what the American public view as the real story in Iraq. Over There holds no punches and shows the effect of the war on the Soldiers, and of those left behind.

This box set contains all 13 episodes

1) Pilot

Upon arrival in Iraq a group of soldiers are thrown straight into a fire fight with insurgents. The battle progress's slowly over a 24 hour period, during this time the soldiers are focused on one by one and we learn who the characters are as well as their strengths and weaknesses. For one of the soldiers it almost proves fatal when he disobeys an order; now Bo is determined not to upset the applecart anymore and happily takes on the duty of doing the beer run into nearest town. However when the truck drives over a landmine Bo's leg is blown off.

2) Roadblock Duty

With Bo laid up in Hospital; the rest of his troop are put on roadblock duty. When Bo's replacement arrives the soldiers are mortified to discover that he is an Iraqi morn soldier. Before they have chance to express their outrage for the situation a car pulls up refusing to stop….

3) The Prisoner

Bo tells his Doctors that despite having only one leg he will return to fight in the deserts of Iraq with the rest of his crew again; Bo insists that he is taken off morphine now so he can return to fight sooner.
In Iraq Bo's team are made to look after a prisoner; this prisoner offends them in many ways and when he tries to attack one of the female soldiers the others decide to take the law into their own hands.

4) I Want My Toilets

A General demands that the soldiers clear a path for Army latrines to come through. However they need to pass through deadly insurgent territory.
Terry, Bo's wife makes their home ready to use with a wheelchair.

5) Embedded

In the military hospital Bo is fitted with his new prosthetic leg. In Iraq Smoke, one of Bo's old team is framed by the Iraqi's for murdering a civilian. John Moffet a journalist is there at the time of the incident and prepares a news report saying it was a hoax. However by the time the report goes to air the news network have edited the piece creating more fuel. In an attempt to alleviate the situation Moffet head off to see an insurgent warlord but does not realise that despite his news network having an impartial view on the war he is still an American; Moffet is kidnapped and paraded before the nation on the television. His captors order that the infidel American's leave Iraq or they will execute Moffet live on a webcam.

6) Its Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding

The squad discover that a bounty has been placed on Smoke's head; any Iraqi that finds and kills Smoke will be well rewarded.
Back in an American army base Vanessa the partner "Dim" one of the soldiers goes off the rails, she sells herself at local bars; but unaware of the damage its doing to her son.
The soldiers battle against the clock to find Moffat before its too late.

7) Mission Accomplished

Bo returns home but finds that Terry's want to keep him there has become overpowering and he begins training to return to war.
One of the squad Mrs. B returns to America when her autistic son goes off the rails.
Vanessa's abuse of her life causes fatal consequences.
And the rest of the squad guard a prison which is sat directly in the centre of a battleground.

8) Situation Normal

Bo tries his leg out on a racecourse. While Mrs. B finds that the stress of being in Iraq has affected her worse than she realised and goes AWOL.

9) Spoils Of War

When the squad find billions of Dollars in gold they have to battle against temptation not to take it.
Vanessa enters Alcoholics Anonymous but fails miserably on her first day.
Dim makes a friend of Mrs B who has returned from being AWOL; all the time completely unaware of events at home.

10) Suicide Rain

One of the husbands of the soldiers starts an affair with a woman back home; unaware of the terrible time his wife is having in Iraq.
Angel decides to offer his life in order to save an American hostage.

11) Orphans

Bo is traumatised when he finds that not only is he not allowed to return to Iraq but his military pay has been stopped.
The squad have to evict an orphanage; but in doing so they have to condemn each child to death.

12) Weapons Of Mass Destruction

The Squad are told they are getting some new soldiers; but are horrified when they turn out to be untrained Iraqi's.
A suicide Bomber stalks the towns looking for his target.

13) Follow The Money

Bo meets someone who is eager to get him back into the Army where he belongs; but at what cost?
Lt. Underpants bad management of the squad has horrific consequences.

Cast:-

Josh Henderson .... Pfc. Bo Rider
Luke MacFarlane .... Pvt. Frank 'Dim' Dumphy
Erik Palladino .... Sgt. Chris "Scream" Silas
Keith Robinson .... Pvt. Avery "Angel" King
Sticky Fingaz .... Maurice "Smoke" Williams
Lizette Carrion .... Pfc. Esmeralda "Doublewide" Del Rio
Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak .... Eddy
Nicki Aycox .... Brenda "Mrs. B." Mitchell
Omid Abtahi .... Tariq Nassiri
Brigid Brannagh .... Vanessa Dunphy
Sprague Grayden .... Terry Ryder
Lombardo Boyar .... Sergio Del Rio

Overview

Over There is an unusual drama; its quite difficult to watch at times and I found that I was putting off watching the next episode for some time. I just did not seem to be that bothered with it. However after each absence of viewing I could not understand why I had delayed the next viewing, as really it was an excellent show.

With the exception of the ongoing personal drama's each episode is self contained like a movie. The show holds no punches and takes you beyond the realms of some movies let alone a television show. The language grows more colourful as each week episode goes past as does the sexual content and the violence. But then the show is the handy work of Steven Bochco the man behind NYPD Blue, Murder One, and Hill Street Blues so I guess you should expect it.

Every actor pulls out a excellent performance; but for me the star of the series was shown in Episode 5 and 6 in the form of actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the role of John Moffat. Gosselaar is probably best known for his 6 year role as Zach Morris in the kids show Saved By The Bell. He potrays such depth of character and you can really sympathise with his wanting to do right by the soldiers he has come accustomed to and regards as his brothers. His capture as a prisoner sadly echoes that of British captive Ken Bigley; and you are moved by his plight hoping for a safe outcome.

The show was a very daring attempt to show the true damage of the Iraqi war; but like so many things it upset too many people. As a result the stories of the soldiers remains incomplete at the end of the 13th episode. You would think that in this day and age a fictionalised series of events would be allowed to be screened without outside interference.

Special Features

Each episode has a different audio commentary to accompany it; whether it be by a member of the cast or the crew. This gives tremendous insight into the real dangers of filming in the Middle East during a time of war.

Weapon De-Briefing: I could not get this option to work on any of my DVD players; I returned the DVD for an exchange but the replacement was the same.

Tour Of Duty: Shows how the series was shot; exposes the special effects and adds elements to the show you might not have considered.

Languages English - Dolby Digital (5.1)

Subtitles Danish ; English ; Finnish ; Norwegian ; Swedish

The DVD box set is available from Play.com priced £29.99