Third Watch (Box Set) (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Nail biting, cushion hugging, tisue holding, cram packed DVD
Disadvantages:	No extra's, not that I watch them !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Excuse me while I commit the ultimate sin….. Old lady dancing!! The boys are back in town, oh yeah!!!!

Okay, now reasonably calm I shall explain my bloomer swinging, belly swaying and boob waggling dance. Cast your mind back around nine years, this was my first meeting with Eddie Cibrian, and Oh my….. Third Watch became the new series on Sky one and I paid my fees happily. This lasted one season, one season folks. It is also shown on FX sporadically.

Enough rambling I hear you cry, I know you want to know why you should fork out £49.99 for this box set (check out Ebay, I bought mine region 2/4 for just over £30 but waited a long 3 weeks shipping). Put it this way, I was one of over 250,000 people that signed a petition online to get it released on DVD, I am not alone.

**The characters**
Third Watch combines the Fire, Police and Paramedics in a New York Precinct nick-named Camelot, working the shift 3-11pm. Kim, and Bobby are the paramedic team, obviously very close friends and both very much in love with their jobs, both remain calm in crisis, it's almost a sibling love/hate relationship.

*After a personal moment in the truck they hit traffic…… over the speaker
Bobby: "Please move to your right!"
[vehicle moves left]
Kim: "Your other right!" *

Alongside them in their plight to save lives is Doc who has to teach the new guy Carlos how things work in the real world, how being a paramedic isn't just driving around and saving people's lives. To Doc being a paramedic means going above and beyond the call of duty.

*Doc: Hide? I drive a giant red and white van with flashing lights and sirens. *

Kim's ex husband is Jimmy (played by Eddie Cibrian) and he could save me from a burning building every day of the week. Not only because he is DDG (Drop Dead Gorgeous) but because as a fireman he is the best. Okay, he may well be a womaniser, and this season doesn't show him to be the best father in the world, but he is DDG!

The 55th precinct is just across the street, employing one of the funniest characters of the show, Bosco, hungry for the better job, no drunks, vagrants or domestic will see him at the scene. Whilst he will sit in his car waiting for someone else to answer the radio, his partner, Yokas, just wants to do her job. When Bosco doesn't win the battle he throws his toys well and truly out the pram.

*Bosco: Do you have to embarrass me like that?
Yokas: Sorry, I'll go back to letting you do it yourself.
Bosco: Thanks. *

Sully is the officer who answers the calls Bosco ignores, a street smart guy who helps others out, from drunks to hookers, in the knowledge that they may one day return the favour. Trying to teach this to Davis, the rookie son of his dead partner who wants to book all and sundry tries even his patience sometimes.

*Sully: Your mom's still doin' your laundry for you?
Davis: She doesn't like it when I use the machines. I always screw up the colours.
Sully: She still cutting the crust off your sandwiches too?
Davis: They're better that way. *

**The Episode Guide**
As there are 6 disks to this set, there is no one plot. Each episode continues from the previous whilst bringing around something new. *Welcome to Camelot*
It is in the pilot where we are introduced to everyone, almost lose a paramedic and are shown that humour can blend with such brutal scenes. I don't mean brutal as in "Close your eyes Sarah", I mean as in "Do you need a tissue?" We watch as a woman causes multiple fatalities in a car accident and heads to the nearest bar, only to hear Yokas inform her they will wait outside so she can count the body bags.

• Anywhere but here*
  In episode two we watch and learn about Bosco and his couldn't care less out of work attitude, and his give everything he's got attitude in the community.
• Patterns*
  Doc takes it upon himself to find the owner of a very expensive watch, allowing an insight how some people deal with grief, whilst watching Doc try to cope with his own. Bosco has been videotaped having sex in the squad car. Kim and Bobby have a heated discussion as to why she is still sleeping with Jimmy.
• Hell is what you make of it*
  Sunny, a teenage junkie, destroys Kim's faith in humanity, and a suicide attempt causes Bosco to deal with his homophobia. Doc decides not to help a wounded gang member for fear of getting hurt causing Carlos to doubt his vocation.
• Responsible Parties*
  Mercy Hospital's new doctor reprimands Yokas, Bobby and Kim. Yokas acts the vigilante to punish a Gang leader.
• Sunny, like sunshine*
  Davis and Sully's working relationship improves, Bobby visits his elder brother in prison, and Doc and Carlos get into a brawl. Kim feels immensely guilty over the loss of a former patient, Bobby confesses his love.
• Impulse*
  Sully goes to a movie with his partners mom, Carlos attempts to revive a premature baby who's mother he injured.
• History of the world*
  Davis won't perjure himself to support Sully, Bosco tries to resolve a family conflict at a restaurant, while Yokas tries the same at home.
• Modern designs for better living*
  Davis endangers a kid he is trying to help, Doc learns that his father did not accidentally overdose, and all 3 services are required to help an extremely obese woman to the hospital.
• Demolition Derby*
  Yokas' drinking escalates. An explosion traps a demolition team in an already collapsing building. A difficult decision is to be made, one life over another.
• Alone in a Crowd*
  An illegally parked car delays the fire fighters causing a woman to die. Sully reflects on his life after reliving the past. Western medicine kills a Chinese patient.
• Journey to the Himalayas*
  Davis learns his father was a corrupt officer. Bobby finds his recently released ex con brother covered in someone else's blood. Yokas and Bosco help a mentally retarded 15 year old who had consensual sex with her older, also retarded, boyfriend. Doc tentatively embarks on a romance with a doctor.
• This band of brothers*
  Bobby and Kim get closer. Carlos is upset about Doc's new relationship and Yokas is enraged by Bosco's treatment of a wounded thief. Bobby issues his brother a tough choice.
• Bullets and a broken heart*
  A gunman is targeting gay men. Yokas arrests her husband for being drunk while driving.
• Officer involved*
  Davis shoots an innocent man, tensions escalate between Yokas and Bosco and Jimmy reveals he's dating a cop.
• Nature or Nurture*
  Doc and Carlos' good deed sees a young boy killed. An off-duty Bosco commits a crime. Jimmy's gambling has spiralled out of control.
• Ohio*
  Stuck in a hotel kitchen the police officers debate politics whilst the paramedics recall the worst thing they have ever seen.
• Men*
  Doc goes to the extremes to save his dying father. Jimmy promises an injured factory worker his leg will not be amputated.
• Spring forward, Fall back*
  A toddler goes missing from a traffic accident scene, mounting a massive police search. Carlos discovers he is to soon be a father, much to Doc's disgust.
• A thousand points of light*
  Two abused boys lie about a motel fire which killed their mom. Carlos talks to the mother of his unborn child about not having the baby.
• Just another night at the opera*
  Bobby saves a carjacker, Carlos has a complaint made against him, Bosco attends the opera and Davis foils an internal investigation.
• Young men and fire*
  Jimmy has a chilling encounter with an ex fireman. Yokas is pregnant, Davis celebrates being on the force a year.

**Is Third Watch for you?**
I like Holby, CSI and used to love London's Burning (anyone remember that?) This series combines my love for all these drama's and more. It isn't for the faint hearted as there are regular scenes of close up bodies and such like. The drama can be heavy, but there is always a little dark humour not far away. Each main character's life unravels in such a way it pulls you in, which is a good job, because keeping in touch with real friends whilst watching all 22 episodes is difficult at best! Good enough to view the fifteen hours plus (934 minutes) in one sitting, if only I had the time….

**My test**
The ultimate test to me is can you make a coffee while the DVD is playing. The fair answer is yes, but you will rewind to catch up. While gripping in the plot, unbelievably realistic and fast paced, you feel you wouldn't miss something in 5 minutes, but are always mistaken.

**Extra's**
There aren't any. Fingers crossed for season 2 (Any Warner Brothers employees out there).

**Why should you buy it?**
It's a great series, the character's are deep, the plot's certainly interesting, continuity is excellent. All in all it's a highly entertaining series. It has been recorded in the natural 4:3 format, so although not naturally wide screen it takes the format well enough. The 2.0 Dolby Soundtrack is easily acceptable, speech is clear and concise. The soundtracks are unobtrusive and relative to each scene. It has been directed by some of the best, won an Emmy, derives from the multi-award winning creators of ER and West Wing. Whilst the special effects are many years old, they don't appear dated, neither does the dialogue, the clothes, the scenes. What are you waiting for?

And if you're still unsure..... My Sex and The City, Desperate Housewives and CSI boxsets have been packed ready to move. This still sits on top of the DVD player!!! ;)

Take care