More streamlined and downbeat than its predecessor Hill Street Blues (also created by Steven Bochco), NYPD Blue continued second time around to mix near-the-knuckle detective work in pursuit of New York's scummiest with more character and relationship-based drama. Although it's regrettable that its ethnic-minority characters such as Lieutenant Fancy are increasingly marginalised here, the series is more comfortable, and even has fun with, regular characters such as the nervy Detective Medavoy and his on-off paramour Donna Abandando. Andy Sipowicz's simmering, tough-nosed recovering alcoholic is increasingly and amusingly put to the test in a number of situations, including a murder investigation in a gay bar; being sung to at his own wedding by Nic Turturro's Detective Martinez; and a love scene in the shower in which we experience the dubious pleasure of seeing his bare bum.

New female introductions, such as the strong but sympathetic Detective Lesniak, also helped to shake up the series with a much-needed oestrogen boost. There's also fun to be had in spotting a number of guest appearances by up-and-coming actors destined to make it in their own right such as Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) and Debra Messing (Will and Grace).

On the DVD: NYPD Blue, Series 2 DVD box set contains a number of extras, primarily a one-hour documentary in which the cast and programme-makers discuss the series episode by episode, the self-congratulatory mood only broken by some subtle digs at departing star David Caruso (apparently, he walked straight off the set following his final take into a waiting limo without any farewells). There's also a small piece paying tribute to the music of theme-writer Mike Post and an item covering the relationship between Sipowicz and Assistant DA Sylvia Costas, in whose marriage this series culminates. --David Stubbs

DVD Description
NYPD Blue: Season 2, praised with six Emmy awards from a record-breaking 26 nominations and more than 20 other awards and honours, contains the episodes from 1994-1995, chronicling the gritty true-to-life cases of 15th Precinct, devoted keepers of the peace in New York who don’t play by the usual rules. Dennis Franz continues his award-winning role as Detective Andy Sipowicz, a tough-as-nails cop whose battle with alcoholism is a striking parallel to the crime war he fights daily as a member of the police force. Returning only for the first four episodes, Season 2 sees the shocking departure of Sipowicz’s partner, Detective John Kelly, played by David Caruso. However, Sipowicz isn’t on his own for long, as a new member to the team is introduced, Detective Bobby Simone, played by Jimmy Smits. Special appearances by Salma Hayek and Giovanni Ribisi also feature in this series.

A strong supporting cast including Sherry Stringfield and Amy Brenneman also return in NYPD Blue: Season 2, along with some original Season One cast members whose roles grow further in this series. James McDaniel as Lt. Arthur Fancy – the tightly-wound, by-the-book precinct commander, Nicholas Turturro as James Martinez – the young, newly-promoted detective who looks to John Kelly for guidance and Sharon Lawrence as the tough-but-fair Assistant District Attorney Sylvia Costas all emerge as more complex characters in Season 2. A further significant relationship develops between Detective Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) – a ‘good detective’ who is going through some personal problems and civilian employee Donna Abandabdo (Gail O’Grady) – the voluptuous and caring precinct secretary to whom there is more than meets the eye.

Episodes

Disc One:

• Trials and Tribulations
  
• Cop Suey
  
• For Whom the Skell Rolls
  
• Dead and Gone

Disc Two:

• Simone Says
  
• Double Abandando
  
• The Final Adjustment
  
• You Bet Your Life

Disc Three:

• Don We Now Our Gay Apparel
  
• Vishy-Vashy Vinny
  
• In the Butt, Bob
  
• Large Mouth Bass

Disc Four:

• Travel With Andy
  
• Bombs Away
  
• A Murder With Teeth In It
  
• Un-American Graffiti

Disc Five:

• Dirty Socks
  
• Boxer Rebellion
  
• Innuendo
  
• The Bookie and Kooky Cookie

Disc Six:

• The Bank Dick
  
• A.D.A. Sipowicz