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[tab title="Movie Review"]

The little television series that could, Showcase’s Continuum, returns to Blu-ray via Universal Studios Home Entertainment and a 3-disc Season Three set. The series is broadcast here in the United States on Syfy and, well, let’s not kid ourselves, you still aren’t watching. It really is a shame that one of the smartest science fiction shows barely gets noticed and so many crappy ones continue to be made. Mixing solid social commentary with action, intrigue, and mind-warping time travel antics, the show – created by Simon Barry – tackles class warfare, consumerism, and the role of corporations in politics with a scathing bite that is nastier than expected … which, in spite of its growing fanbase, is probably why most Americans are tuning in.

Last season ended with a massive cliffhanger as the future engineer, Alec (Erik Knudsen), jumped backwards in time to save his dead girlfriend. Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) must deal, in the present, with the aftermath of his decision to alter the past. We also learn that the “Freelancers” are not the demons they were originally made out to be. The group reveals that they are temporal guardians, protecting the time continuum from changes ... which makes Alec their Public Enemy No. 1. Alec’s actions quickly set in motion ripples that affect everyone around him - including this new timeline's already-resident Alec. Kiera doesn’t agree with the Freelancers’ methods but she agrees to “team up” and try to fix the timeline Alec has created. Unfortunately, things have already changed and most are not for the better.

In the world of Continuum, corporations like Monsanto are behind the governments of the future. Literally. Yeah, it’s an evil concept and, probably, closer to our current reality than we care to be aware of. Much of Continuum is finger-pointing fictional reality that hits home. The enemies are familiar enough and all the players – even the ones we thought bad – are beginning to realize that they might all be on the same side in the battle for fixing timelines and living in a better reality even as the future unravels in unexpected ways.

Continuum continues to combines some really sharp writing and characterization with the best moments of Star Trek and Fringe. The show dares to ask some challenging questions and then commits to following the road less traveled into a sort of Aldus Huxley approach. Of course, there are no sure things and, as Season Three develops into the unhinged madness of timelines combining and secrets being exposed, we begin to see Time itself do the double crossing. Taking full responsibility for two season's worth of mystery, intrigue and action, Season 3 of Continuum manages to answer most of its questions, then completely uproot the premise and replant it in a strange new world filled with new threats, mysteries, and increasingly of the idea that the future is unknowable.

While it's hard to believe that such a complex story will be successfully completed in six episodes in 2015, fans of Continuum should be happy that the show was granted a 6-episode Season Four instead of just a flat cancellation without any resolution offered to Season 3’s cliffhanger. I’d encourage you to watch or, hell, at least Netflix the damn show but, alas, it seems that it makes no difference now.

Continuum is destined for a proud cult following.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - December 23, 2014
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region Encoding: A, B

Universal’s 1.78:1 image is very good, especially for a modern TV show. Detail is consistently good and blends well with the copious use of CGI and practical effects. The show is a bit soft at certain spots, most likely due to the use of digital cameras that aren’t as expensive as top of the line Ari Alexa’s etc. Black levels are usually very good, but sometimes can have a slightly washed out look, especially during outdoor shots. Colors are good, and contrasts are normal. Saturation is well done and the show tends to lend itself a slightly yellow color grading. Universal has given us another solid 5.1 DTS-HD MA presentation of the Sci-fi show, which bears an incredible resemblance to the quality of last season. The show is still front heavy for the most part, but the surrounds are given some solid use, with the shootouts and increased sequences in the very hectic future. Vocals are nice and clean, which is quite understandable for a typical front heavy show, and the LFE blends in smoothly, giving a nice low end to the series and gives those gunshots a nice wallop to the chest when needed.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• Well, this time we get only two episode commentaries with Creator Simon Barry and Director/Executive Producer Pat Williams. I sort of liked having a commentary with every episode. Call me obsessed.

Special Features:

There is, once again, not a lot to choose from but the upgrade from the near-barebones complement of extras the Blu-ray release of Season One offered continues. This time we get “webisodes” and a good luck at the show away from the camera.

• Webisodes (15 min)
• Continuum: Behind the Scenes (40 min)

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