The Good
This 7 disc release comes with 25 episodes that show why classic TV is so beloved amongst its fans.
The Bad
No Extras.
The Impossible Mission Force (IMF) is back in Mission: Impossible: The Complete Second TV Season. With the addition of Peter Graves as James Phelps, the new leader of the IMF, he is aided by Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain), Rollin Hand (Martin Landau), Willie Armitage (Peter Lupus) and Barney Collier (Greg Morris). While at times it might be a tad difficult keeping up with what Phelps and his team are doing, that is actually half the fun of this release. This show was so tightly scripted, so well put together and filled with such intricate plots that it’s amazing that things came out okay for the IMF as much as they did.
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Some of the episodes that our fearless team gets into are “Widow” which sees the IMF doing everything in their power to bring down some drug lords. That Cinnamon has to get a little too close for comfort with this team is half the reason for this episode’s tension. The two parter called “The Slave” examines the slave trade in a Muslim country. Once again the IMF gets involved, and Cinnamon and Barney find themselves in great danger when they pose as slaves themselves. Lastly, “Trial By Fire” plays like a supped up version of Stalag 17 as Jim and Barney go undercover in a prison camp to aid a freedom fighter.
As I have mentioned, this show was given to labyrinthine plots but it obviously struck some kind of chord as it ran for 7 years.
Features
No Extras came with this release.
Video
Full Screen Format. Digitally re-mastered. These shows looked very well compressed on this release. Score another one for Paramount. Lately, their releases seem to be doing a very solid job of presenting themselves in the pristine form that we expect from TV on DVD. This show employs a lot of dark blues and blacks. It is very strong in how it looks with the only achilles heel being how bad some of the disguises the IMF is forced to wear look. There is also a ruggedness to this show. The characters rarely crack smiles and they conduct themselves with a business-like approach at all times. This show is by the book and it also feels that way as well.
Audio
Dolby Digital - English 5.1 Surround. English Mono. Spanish Mono. Subtitled in English, Spanish and Portuguese. I used to be able to watch this show in the afternoon on the local station, KDOC, in my area. Sadly, that channel switched up its lineup and now I can’t compare or contrast the audio. I like that Paramount went in and newly remixed these episodes. For its day I am sure that Mission: Impossible was considered to be the highest of high tech shows (it still looks good to me), so I feel it’s only fitting that Paramount up the ante with this release.
Package
The IMF team is shown in this front cover with the iconic image of somebody lighting the fuse that begins each show. The back features a message self destructing in a briefcase, with a shot of the world in a bluish gray map above it. There is a tiny description of what this show is about and some minor technical specs. All the discs are neatly stored in four slim cases, each one showing off a different member of the team on the front. The back lists out all the episodes for each disc and it serves up a description for them as well.
Final Word
I really like watching this show on DVD. It’s like getting to see little mini movies that examine certain aspects of American history. I imagine that this is how 24 is going to play 20-30 years from now. I have also come to realize just how different all the characters were. I have often heard people deride the Tom Cruise movies that were made out of this show because they don’t really utilize the whole team. On the Mission: Impossible show, sure Phelps is their leader, but I find myself drawn into the show because of how the team is utilized. Everyone plays an integral part in bringing off whatever mission they happen to be undertaking. That sort of places each character in the unique position of being the star of this show. That they have such solid actors as Landau and Graves only enhances the already rich stories being told.
They have placed all 25 episodes of this show across 7 discs. Mission: Impossible: The Complete Second TV Season feels bulky but it is actually quite compact, just like how I imagine the marching orders for the IMF team must’ve been.
Mission: Impossible was released .
