Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Final Season [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Before I comment on Showtime's "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" which just wrapped up its concluding season, I must ponder the curious announcement of the Final Season (Season Four) DVD release. Lions Gate owned the rights for the first two seasons and Paramount is releasing this season, but it begs the question--just who owns the rights to Season Three and what's going on? At first, I assumed this might be a compilation of the last two seasons--but with a listing of one disc at 187 minutes, this does not seem to be the case. I researched outside of Amazon in the event their listing was erroneous, but I have encountered the same information at alternate sources. So where is Season Three? And without it, is there really much of a market for this product at this time? I will just say that pivotal relationships evolved in Season Three as did Belle's career and to skip the entire story sequence is doing a great disservice to this spry and entertaining show. But, be that as it may, I will serve up some specific comments relating to the Final Season.

Season Four begins with the on again/off again relationship of best friends Hannah/Belle (Billie Piper) and Ben (Iddo Goldberg) in newfound stability. But the couple is destined for continued stresses and strains. As much as Ben seems to want to be relaxed in the coupling--Belle's unorthodox obligations perpetually drive a wedge between them. One of the season's largest plot lines revolves around Belle's boss (the criminally underutilized Cherie Lunghi) going to jail and her naive daughter living with Belle. Belle must now juggle Lunghi's job as appointment setter (I'm using a polite euphemism) as well as the secrets she has kept from her child. This becomes increasingly problematic as the girl starts to behave in decidedly more confrontational ways. Belle also ventures to New York, battles with Charlotte (the season's MVP Gemma Chan finally getting a chance to shine), experiences an unexpected tragedy, and engages in a dangerous new dalliance with a detective.

Through the eight episodes, we're constantly left with the question of whether Belle can really have it all. Is this destined for a happy ending? Or will the same problems and frustrations continue to circle? The detective (Paul Nicholls) seems to be able to cope with the complexities of Belle's existence despite being slightly creepy. But Ben has always been the course of true love. The program sets the choice up for Belle between the two men--but it's not as simple as it seems. The real quandary is what is right and true for Belle discounting everything else. Piper is given nice material and moments of genuine drama as she wrestles with her choices. And, in the end, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" eschews conventional expectations with an ending that seems perfectly in tune with this amusing, but hard edged, comedy. A solid season most noteworthy for Piper's emotional transformation and Chan's comic mischief. But again, what does it all mean without Season Three to set it up? KGHarris, 6/11.

Loved seasons 1 & 2, haven't been able to find season 3 anywhere. Got this for Xmas and watched the entire DVD in one day. Still like the plot, IN-LOVE with Billie Piper, but was a bit disappointed in the ending. Left hanging... :(

The only sad thing about this DVD set is that it is the conclusion to a marvelous series.

I had considered myself fortunate to have seen the previous 3 seasons on cable. As the first 2 seasons became available on DVD I bought and enjoyed those sets.