Righteous Recommendations
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24 season 1 offers a couple of different DVD selections, which I'll tell you more about below, and a number of different box sets that I won't cover in detail. It should be an easy decision: do you want it by itself or with the other seasons?
There are 2 TVD sets. The older, typically cheaper release is just “Season 1” offering a simple design and a couple of extras. Even if you see multiple listings for it they are, as best as I can tell, all the exact same product. The newer one is a “Special Edition.” It offers a special case and more features.
The original Season 1 set offers 6 DVD's. I got mine new for well under $20 so keep your eyes out for sales.
Video:
1.78 widescreen: The image is inconsistent. It looks decent most of the time but can be smudgy and blurry at times. It's grainy sometimes bad enough to look like the image is being projected on a bed of pebbles. There is enough trash to be noticeable but not to the point of being annoying.
Audio:
2.0 Dolby: It seems like 5.1 surround sound would benefit this series well, but the quality is clean and clear. There is no surround sound immersion, but the back channels fill the space a bit so that it doesn't sound like everything is coming from the front.
Packaging:
This is one of those long folders that fits into a cardboard box. I haven't seen any listings that make it look like it's been repackaged (they saved that for the Special Edition version) although most of the later season sets appear to all come in slim cases.
It has an insert that lists each episode with directors and writers, and plot summaries that I found more confusing than helpful (I think they were trying to avoid too many spoilers but then ended up not giving very distinctive episode descriptions as a result). There are a few other notes like a cast list as well.
The interface features one of the characters on each screen and a loop of the theme song. The episodes do not have menu pages of their own.
Since each episode’s name is the time that they cover (“12:00 A.M. – 1:00 A.M.” is the first title) it would have been helpful to have an animated frame to give a clearer indication of which episode is which. I often found myself unsure of which was the last one I watched particularly if there happened to be a few days in-between viewings.
Extras:
-Alternate ending: I'll talk more about this in the episodes section.
-Intro: 1:33: This is an intro to season 1 by Kiefer: It’s short and doesn’t really provide any new information. Ironically the intro is the last thing on the last disc.
Other Editions:
The series box set appears to contain the Special Edition. You won't get the unusual metal packaging, but you'll get everything else.
Final Thoughts:
Really this comes down to which set offers you the better price for what you want when you want it. If you care about extras you'll want the Special Edition. If you care more about price you can find good deals on both sets with the older set usually but not always being the cheaper option. While I unfortunately don't know much about the series box set it's worth considering if you're after the whole run of 24.
Want to get your hands on something you read about? Click the links below.
The Special Edition DVD is a 7 disc set.
Video:
1.78 widescreen: Like the first set the image is inconsistent. It looks decent most of the time but can be smudgy and blurry at times. It's grainy sometimes bad enough to look like the image is being projected on a bed of pebbles. There is enough trash to be noticeable but not to the point of being annoying.
Audio:
2.0 Dolby: The audio quality is clean and clear. Again, there is no surround sound immersion, but the back channels fill the space a bit so that it doesn't sound like everything is coming from the front.
This seems to be the exact same presentation quality as the original TVD.
Packaging:
The DVD's are held in a cardboard book. Each page has a pocket for a disc. Everything is held in a metal case with a hinged lid. On the front is a digital display.
It looks like this has been repackaged with a more standard plastic DVD case and standard cover art. Chances are that's what you'll get if you buy it new so if you're really interested in the more unusual packaging you'll need to pay close attention to what you're getting.
The insert has the same summaries as the earlier one but is otherwise pretty much completely different. There are a few pages of introductions. There is no cast list or details like airdate and director listed with the episodes.
The interface is exactly the same as far as layout, images, and music. There are new options added, and each episode now has its own page with setup and features options.
Extras:
-Intro: 1:33: Keifer Sutherland introduces the series talking about the story and the real-time challenges. It plays automatically before the menu when starting disc 1 and can also be played individually. It's the same one as on the original release but put in a more appropriate spot.
-Deleted Scenes: There are 25 with play all option plus an alternate ending. More details are in the episodes section.
-The Genesis of 24: 24:42: This behind the scenes look covers the early misgivings of such an odd concept, casting, the complicated character of Jack, developing the style, using the boxes instead of split-screen, writing the music, reworking the pilot after negative reactions, deciding on the final villain, and deciding to make the end tragic.
-The Rookie: These are short parody videos that appear to have been used for deodorant commercials.
-Coffee Run: 7:03: The rookie goes for coffee and has a few adventures.
-Get This To: 10:01: The rookie needs to get a PDA to his boss in the field and has an adventure.
Episodes:
There are 24 episodes at 41-43 minutes long each.
Each episode is on 1 chapter on the original DVD. I hate it when half-hour shows do that much less something this long. There is no reason not to include at least a couple of chapter breaks. Episodes on the Special Edition have 12 chapters with a scene selection interface. There is a play all option for the Special Edition but not for the earlier release.
All extras in this list apply only to the Special Edition except where noted.
1) 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM
-Commentary: Director and director of photography: I don't like the sound mix, it has so much bass it boarders on muddled at times. It's fairly slow and a bit dull. Topics covered include the usage of split-screen, changes made due to budget, actors and their dialogue, cutting out sex and drugs in the party scene, Jack's magic locker, and the removal of traditional filmmaking tools because of the real-time aspect.
2) 1:00 AM-2:00 AM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Alan & Teri Discuss Jack's Profession: 0:20: Short comments about what Teri thinks Jack does.
-Kim & Rick Discuss Jack's Profession: 0:27: What Kim thinks Jack does.
4) 3:00 AM-4:00 AM:
-Deleted Scenes:
-Jack & Officer Hamilton Talk About Palmer: 0:37: A few comments about Palmer.
-Officer Hamilton Dies: 0:55: A tie-in to the previous scene.
-Carl Chats With Barry: 2:15: A confrontation with Carl throwing his weight around.
5) 4:00 AM-5:00 AM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Alan & Teri At The Hospital: 0:46: Running around the hospital.
8) 7:00 AM-8:00 AM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Ira Spares Kim & Teri & Discusses His Contingencies: 1:23: The girls being hauled around and Ira on the phone.
9) 8:00 AM-9:00 AM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Kim Comforts Teri In Captivity: 1:17: Lots of crying in the prison room.
10) 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
-Deleted Scenes:
-The Palmers Visit An Elementary School: 0:31: Arrival and greeting.
-Nina & Tony Discuss Jack's Marriage: 0:43: A short conversation.
13) 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Jack Gives Rick A Second Chance: 0:39: Conversation while on the run.
14) 1:00 PM-2:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Nina Searches The Hospital Room: 0:41: Investigating the mysterious man.
-Nina Pulls Prints From The Hospital Room: 0:35: Almost giving up on the investigation.
-Nina Tells Tony She Wants To Bring Kim & Teri Back To CTU: 0:41: Following up on the fingerprints.
16) 3:00 PM-4:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Kim Confronts Nina & Teri In The Safehouse: 1:41: A conversation about what is really going on.
-Teri Comforts Kim: 2:03: Slow conversation moment.
-Andre Drazen At The Cafe: 1:22: Talking with a waitress.
-Jack Plans To Use Elizabeth Nash As A Spy: 1:34: Jack is confronted about the liabilities.
-Teri Asks Kim Not To Tell Anyone What Eli Did To Her: 1:40: A moment in the debriefing room and investigation of strange noises.
17) 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Johan Calls Andre To Tell Him The Women Escaped: 1:08: A phone conversation after the car wreck.
19) 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Teri's Amnesia: 1:03: Trying to jog her memory with photos.
-The FBI Comes For Carl: 0:34: A quick confrontation.
20) 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Phil Is Wounded & Confesses His Feelings To Teri: 0:53: A brief conversation in the car.
23) 10:00 PM-1:00 PM
-Deleted Scenes:
-Kim Is Held Hostage By The Drazens: 0:45: Getting ready for the attack.
-Teri Tells Nina About Her Pregnancy: 1:50: An apology moment.
24) 11:00 PM – 12:00 AM
-Commentary: Director and Leslie Hope: It's not very good. The sound mix seems a bit low quality, it mostly consists of a lot of random comments or stating the obvious, and it has too many quiet moments. Some of the more interesting topics covered are Penny as an actor and her evil character, seeing Dennis lose it, the 3 possible endings, and how to dodge questions without giving away the ending in interviews.
-Alternate Ending: 2:27: I read that 3 endings were shot, but only 1 is included here. There is an optional commentary for it that is fairly interesting. It's a happier ending all around. This one is included with both releases.