Wezzo's DVD Reviews > Father Ted: Series 1
Wezzo's DVD Reviews > TV Series > Father Ted: Series 1
Father Ted: Series 1
Main Feature:
For a synoposis, here's one from Amazon.co.uk by Simon Leake:
Father Ted is one of those rare sitcoms that defies categorisation--it owes as much to Flann O'Brien and Samuel Beckett as it does to Monty Python--and its blend of satire, character comedy and anarchic surrealism has made it a cult favourite around the world. Exiled to remote Craggy Island, Father Ted shares a house with the breathtakingly stupid Father Dougal Maguire and the constantly inebriated Father Jack, who has a small vocabulary and a taste for furniture polish. Their housekeeper, Mrs Doyle, takes care of them with a never-ending supply of tea and sandwiches: "Go on now, Father, won't you try one? They're diagonal." Together they fight boredom by dressing up as Elvis, startling ducks at the fair and provoking nuns.
That really says it all! It's a truly excellent series, and you'll laugh and laugh again at Ted's hidden un-priest-like ways, Dougal's sheer stupidness, Jack's constant swearing, and Mrs Doyle and her tea-making. The six episodes on this set are all brilliant, but the one standout for me has to the final ep of S1, "Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest", in which Jack devours floor polish and dies.. well, almost dies, that is. Every episode has many a funny moment though; be it Mrs Doyle's swearing in "And God Created Woman", the three stages of Elvis' life in "Competition Time", or Father Stone's father's depression in "Entertaining Father Stone". An excellent set of episodes; perhaps Channel 4's best comedy of all-time. Perfect show. 10/10
Audio:
Typical TV release, stereo. Nice and clear usually, occasionally muffled. Adequate by all means. 6/10
Video:
Again, as is usual with a TV release,a direct 4:3 transfer. In my opinion the image is a little too grainy, but it's still just good enough. 5/10
Price:
Originally an over the top £20, now can be found for about £15 - fair for a show like this. 6/10
Extras:
There's the usual interactive menus (pretty damn good!) and scene selection; there's also commentary by writer Graham Lineham - sometimes too quiet, but he offers many an interesting tidbit! The commentaries (on every episode) are great fun to watch, and are certainly worth a listen to get some added value. Nothing else though, other than hearing impaired English subs. 4/10
Packaging:
Nice plastic snapper case, which holds the disc well. Episode synoposis' are on the back of the cover. 8/10
Overall:
Excellent comedy on a fair disc. 64%
Family-Friendly Rating:
Mature Teen, there's a fair amount of bad language and sexual references.
~Wesley Mead, aka Wezzo
This document last updated..
Send E-Mail to: dm007f6795@blueyonder.co.uk
Copyright © 2004 . All Rights Reserved