Law and Order UK: Series 2 (2 Disc Set) [DVD] [2009]

Law and Order UK returns for a second season, this time there are only 6 episodes (one less than last time) and again these episodes have been "adapted" from episodes from the American versions of the series. It is a double disc set which means that there are 3 episodes per disc plus extras.

Disc 1

1. Samaritan - adapted from US episode "Manhood"
Commentary
2. Hidden - adapted from "Bitter Fruit"
3. Community Service - adapted from "Volunteers
Extended and Deleted Scenes
Tour of police set with Freema Aygeman including a 40 second interview (yes that's 40 seconds) with Robert Glenister about his character in the episode "Honour Bound"

Disc 2

4. Sacrifice - adapted from "Sonata for Solo Organ"
5. Love and Loss - adapted from "Consultation"
6. Honour Bound - "Corruption"
Commentary
Extended and Deleted Scenes
Interview with Harriet Walter
Interview with Richard Stokes

There are NO SUBTITLES.

As with the previous season the "Law" consists of: Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh), Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) and their boss Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter); the "Order" are James Steel (Ben Daniels), Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) and their boss George Castle (Bill Patterson).

I have a couple of grips with this series:

1. No subtitling - do the producers of the DVD really think the hard of hearing don't watch DVDs

2. No audio description for the blind or partially sighted

3. Why on earth, with all the good writers and possible stories there are, isn't the UK show producing it's own independent stories rather than recycling old US stories. Does Dick Wolf think that we in the UK are that thick we won't notice?

On the good side, there is an exploration of the growing character relationships between detectives Ronnie Brookes and Matt Devlin.

This was the Ronnie Brookes season and Bradley Walsh was the stand out actor of this season. Over this season we also learn more about the history of DS Brookes, and, according to a recent interview with the show's Executive Producer, we can expect to learn more about the background of Matt Devlin next season.

I enjoyed this season and look forward to the next with the hope that it will be longer, flesh out the characters more, and have more extras such cast commentaries, out takes and SUBTITLES.

We, in North America are just enjoying what we understand is "Season 3" of Law & Order UK.
However, the "Seasons" are not the same as in the UK.
The UK Seasons are only 6 or 7 episodes each. And in North America our "Season 1" of Law & Order UK included all 13 episodes which originally comprised the UK version's Seasons 1 and 2. Likewise, the North American "Season 2" actually includes all 13 episodes that comprise the UK version's Seasons 3 (7 episodes) and 4 (6 episodes).
I have both of the currently available NA DVD sets - Seasons 1 and 2, and as I have a multi region DVD player, I ordered the UK's Seasons 3 and 4, only to find I already had them in the NA Season 2 DVD collection. So these have become needless duplications. I hope that makes sense.
Just a warning for those NA fans who have a multi region player, NOT to order the UK's Seasons 3 & 4.
Having said that we find Law & Order UK series is stronger and grittier, and more "genuine" than the (original) North American Law & Order and its off-shoots L & O SVU and L & O Criminal Intent. Perhaps that is because we originally lived in the UK (emigrated here 36 years ago) and can relate to the British way of life.
Highly recommended series!!

Great tv series but not shown in Australia in a regular time slot or promoted .Worth buying as you will watch episodes more than once or share around to family.