Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (Collector's Edition)

Details: By Loron Hays; 28 March 2016

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Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series - Blu-ray Review

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The third time is the charm for Shout Factory with their blu-ray release of the American teen comedy-drama television show (complete with its own built-in cult following), Freaks and Geeks!

Created by Paul Feig with Judd Apatow as executive producer, Freaks and Geeks is one (of two) of the smartest high school-based shows EVER made. Hands down. The other? My So-Called Life but – before we get too far ahead of ourselves with ravings about Angela and company – let’s concentrate on this one as it is the FIRST to make its debut on blu-ray. It deserves the love.

Shockingly enough, Freaks and Geeks originally aired on NBC. It was also killed by NBC after only 12 episodes had aired. While its fans labored and petitioned hard to get the remaining episodes aired, it was clear that this show would be a one season event only BUT WHAT A SINGLE SEASON IT WAS! Collected in this release from Shout Factory are 18 of the best-written television scripts you could ask for. They are funny and honest and clearly reflect the attitudes and angst of teens - whether freshmen or seniors -growing up in 1981.

Most of us; however, never saw it until it was in syndication. Sad but true.

Starring Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Busy Philipps, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty as Mr. and Mrs. Weir, Freaks and Geeks is about a geeky brother and freaky sister and what happens when their two worlds collide under the roof of William McKinley High in the fictional town of Chippewa, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

The social struggle is on as these teens face one dilemma after another. From burnouts to the real geek squad, the show – featuring cameos from Ben Stiller, Jason Schwartzman, Leslie Mann, Rashida Jones, Shia LaBeouf, and Lizzy Caplan – is both dangerously clever, awkward, and damn straight with its audience. I have no idea where the audience was when this originally aired in the 1999-2000 school year. Apparently not tuned into NBC - at least not tuned enough for them to care to even think about renewing.

But the show didn’t need another season; everything was mostly wrapped up with Lindsay’s choice and the other events in the final episode, “Discos & Dragons”. It is perfect in its imperfection run of 18 episodes and nothing more.

Freaks & Geeks was the launching pad for a lot of today’s comedic talent. That much is evident. While some of these actors would follow Apatow to Undeclared on Fox (another short-lived television show about college life), most hitched their stars to everything outside of the television screen and, well, look at them now. They are all recognizable names.

And the music! Well, it’s all about the music. From Rush to disco, all the attitudes are on display. Look at the names on their folders. The jean jackets. The Converse. The ripped pants. With the Joan Jett opening with inspires with its accurate depiction of school photograph sessions, there’s no way that Freaks & Geeks can’t connect with anyone.

This is more familiar than anything on the nightly news. And, of course, as highlighted in the final episode, there’s much to do about The Grateful Dead.

So, I invite you to return to a simpler time and reminisce about what it meant to grow up in the age without wireless Internet and cell phones, where music was the social identifier and uniting force for a lot of teenagers. It was when Dungeons and Dragons, turtlenecks, and adolescent uncertainties reigned supreme.

With this blu-ray release, Freaks and Geeks is made brand new again.

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Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray Details:

Collector's Edition

Available on Blu-ray - March 22, 2016
Screen Formats: 1.33:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Nine-disc set (9 BDs)
Region Encoding: A

Containing all 18 episodes in both their original aspect ratio and their widescreen counterparts, Shout Factory offers fans a chance to own the cult show in high-definition with their release. Freaks and Geeks was always cinematic and, as it was shot on 35mm, there is a strong filmic quality to its shimmy and shake. The Blu-ray release does a good job of presenting these components. The picture is very vivid and the locales are crisp. Black levels are strong throughout. The 5.1 DTS-HD master audio soundtrack is the way to go with its heavy use of music in the rear channels.

Supplements:

Commentary:

From cast and crew, there are various commentaries recorded for individual episodes spread across the discs. There are 28 commentaries in all.

Special Features:

Remember the Yearbook Edition release on DVD a few years ago? Well, that’s what Shout Factory has ported over, complete with all of the original supplemental material. You get all those deleted scenes, audition footage, and original promo materials. The only NEW addition is a revealing, 45-minute conversation between Apatow and Paul Feig. Recorded in 2015, the two men recount the show's development from conception to its cancellation. A booklet is also included. Good stuff.