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Dead Like Me: The Complete First Season (REGION 1) (NTSC)
The idea of the afterlife created by Bryan Fuller, who also created the similarly quirky Wonderfalls," is that right before you die you soul is taken from your body by a Grim Reaper. Although they are replete in the opening title sequence these are not Grim Reapers as in figures in black hood carrying scythes. In fact, they look like regular folk, although not the regular folk they were when they were alive now that they are a peculiar variety of undead. We learn the rules of the game along with young Georgia Lass (Ellen Muth), an 18-year-old sourpuss called George. Having decided to forego the college experience George has been sent out into the world to find a job and during lunch she is passed on the street by a strange man who touches her. We see a light passing from her to him and within seconds a toilet seat from a disintegrating Russian space station strikes her dead. George is surprised to see herself looking at the big hole in the ground where she had been standing a moment ago and even more surprised to be informed that she is now a Grim Reaper. This task is done by Rube (Mandy Patinkin), who is in charge of a cadre of Reapers in this particular town. This includes Mason (Callum Blue), an English bloke who has figured out that you cannot overdose when you are already dead so indulge in drugs to your heart's contextt; Roxy (Jasmine Guy), a meter maid for the police department with ample attitude to spare; and, at first, Betty Rhomer (Rebecca Gayheart), a former beauty queen who is ready to move on to the next level. We are not quite sure what that is, because while Grim Reapers get to release souls and head them in the right direction (bright lights that assume various pleasing shapes), they really do not know what the final destination is really like for the dead. Of course, in the early episodes of the series George is not happy with being dead and not exactly thrilled with a job when she is given a post-it note with a name, address and E.T.D. (estimated time of death) so she can go reap a soul. The latter is taken care of when she gets a couple of hard lessons about what happens when she does not (your form in the afterlife is not how you look at the moment of death, but at the moment that your soul is reaped, so it is something you would want to have done before the autopsy). The former is more difficult, because trying to reconnect with her life from beyond the grave is hampered by the fact that she looks different (to everyone else) and she cannot say anything that would convince anyone who knew her before that she was still around. One of the strengths of this quirky series is that we do not ignore the family that Georgia has left behind as her mother (Cynthia Stevenson), little sister (Britt McKillip), and father (Greg Kean) try to deal with moving on after her death. Watching the Lass family disintegrate is almost a show within the show, capable of standing on its own, because their interaction with Georgia the Grim Reaper is infrequent and usually something indirect. We are as interested in what is going to happen to Joy and Reggie (and J.D. rather than Clancy) as we are to Georgia and her friends. Another thing that makes "Dead Like Me" work is the actual friendship that springs up between George and Dolores Herbig (Christine Willes). Now known as Millie, George ends up going back to work at Happy Time, the employment agency that she was taking a lunch break from when the sky fell on her head (even when you are undead a girl has to eat). Dolores is extremely annoying, but "Millie" pretends to play along so long that she actually starts playing along with Dolores' weltanschauung. The cherry on top with this show is Mandy Patinkin as Rube, who finally has a role in which he can say pretty much anything he wants, especially when it comes to what he is having for breakfast and how it is cooked. I like the way he calls George "Peanut" all the time as he imparts to her the facts of being undead. I also like the way Roxy gets mad at people who tear up their tickets, the moments of conscious that Mason has when doing his job, and the way Reggie honors the memory of her sister. But then it is a well- established fact that I like quirky. Joining the cast during this first season is another Grim Reaper, Daisy Adair (Laura Harris), an actress who had a role in "Gone With the Wind" and makes no bones about how she got the gig before she died. She and George become roommates just to cause further trouble for our heroine (and her frog) and is most definitely the character who rubs me the wrong way. But in the end I have to say that the only thing about "Dead Like Me" that really bothers me is that the post-it notes only have the first initial of the person who is destined to die. You cannot tell a person's gender from just an initial.
Our Price: £31.88 (subject to change)
The early adventures of the Grim Reaper known as Toilet Girl
Review date: 2005-06-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
I am sure the people at Showtime knew what they were doing when they scheduled "Dead Like Me" to start when HBO's "Six Feet Under" was over, because the two shows are certainly complementary. However, while the deaths that begin each episode of "Six Feet Under" have their moments in terms of being rather weird (my favorite was the woman convinced it was the Rapture when she saw the a bunch of helium filled inflatable dolls floating away), they do not have the Rube Goldberg quality of what the gravelings can set in motion in "Dead Like Me."
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Reviews
The best show on TV today
Review date: 2005-05-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
I'm currently enjoying the 2nd (and sadly last) series of DLM on Sky 1. This show is fantastic and original, really the besy show around.
DLM centres around George, who we meet on the last day of her 18 years of life. But luckily (though she doesn't see it that way) she doesn't pass to the other side, she has been chosen for a special job - a reaper - collecting the souls of people about to die, and sending them to the other side.
George isn't alone in this, in her area there is a team of 4 other reapers lead by Rube, to help and guide her in her new life...
DLM really goes the extra mile when we also follow George's parents and younger sister as they try to deal with this bombshell, and move on.
Simply an amazing show: at times serious, funny and shocking, you are always left thrilled.
Pilot (Double length)
Dead Girl Walking
Curious George
Reapercussions
Reaping Havoc
My Room
Reaper Madness
A Cook
Sunday Mornings
Business Unfinished
The Bicycle Thief
Nighthawks
Vacation
Rest in Peace
great
Review date: 2005-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
Although i havent seen the first season, i have seen the second and all i can say is its great and very funny. A great series to own!
Dead like me is so cool
Review date: 2005-03-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
Well first and foremost I have to say I seen all the shows on sky one and I could not wait until it came out on to Region 2 so I got it on Region 1 and spent last weekend looking at all 4 DVD's it was a pure joy to recount the all the highs and low's of this SEASON 1, if you are thinking of getting it. Go on treat yourself I can't Waite for DEAD LIKE ME SEASON 2
what i thought
Review date: 2005-03-27 Rating: 4 out of 10
Wen buffy angel an other shows of its type finished most people were wonderin what would they watch, with the same sarcasim, wit, an of course a** kickin! well here it is.
Dead like me is basicly an 18 yr old girl strugling 2 deal with life like every other teenager, with the same problems most of us face.
untill her untimely death.. witch i think was a classic..
wich bring loads more problems plus afew more complicated ones which u dont have everyday!
with out givin the hole plot away she becomes a grim reeper so not only has she got 2 deal with her death,a new life(death) as a grim reeper,the joys of findin work an a home she has the usual problems of an everyday teen very funny is a must see hopefully there will b more than just 2 serise!!!!!!!!!!
Product Details/Specifications
Director(s):
Recording label: MGM
Manufacturer: MGM
EAN: 9780792860570
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 0792860578
Number of items: 4
Format: Anamorphic, Colour, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-06-15
Universal product code (UPC): 027616903150
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 627 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-06-27
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Published)