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Spaced: Complete Series 1 and 2 (Box Set) [1999]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £41.95 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Spaced is a sitcom like no other. The premise is simple enough: Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) and Tim (Simon Pegg) are out of luck and love, so pretend to be a couple in order to rent a flat together. Downstairs neighbour and eccentric painter Brian suspects someone's fibbing, and almost blows their cover with their lecherous lush of a landlady, Marsha. Fortunately he soon falls for Daisy's health-freak friend Twist, while Daisy herself goes ga-ga for pet dog Colin. Tim remains happily platonic with lifemate Mike; a sweet-at-heart guns 'n' ammo obsessive. The series is chock-full of pop culture references. In fact, each episode is themed after at least one movie, with nods to The Shining and Close Encounters of the Third Kind proving especially hilarious. Hardly five minutes goes by without a Star Wars reference, and every second of screen time from Bill Bailey as owner of the comic shop where Tim works is comedic gold. The look of the series is its other outstanding element, with slam-zooms, dizzying montages, and inspired lighting effects (often paying homage to the Evil Dead movies). It's an affectionate fantasy on the life of the twenty-something that's uncomfortably close to the truth.

The second series finds the gang at 23 Meteor Street a little older, but definitely none the wiser. Tim's career is hampered by severe hang-ups over The Phantom Menace. Daisy's career is just plain non-existent. There is still a spark of sexual tension between them, but it's overshadowed by Brian and Twist getting it on. Propelling the seven-episode series arc is the threat of Marsha discovering that none of the relationships are what they seem, Mike's increasing jealousy and a new love interest for Tim. That's the basis for a never-ending stream of in-jokes and references that easily match the quality of the first series. Tim has a Return of the Jedi flashback, then déjà vu in reliving the end of The Empire Strikes Back. There are spoofs of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Robocop, The Sixth Sense and comedy rival The Royle Family. There are guest spots from Bill Bailey, Peter (voice of Darth Maul) Serafinowicz and The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith. Every episode is packed with highlights, but this series' guaranteed geek pant-wetting moments have to be the mock gun battles, slagging off Babylon 5 and learning that "The second rule of Robot Club is: no smoking." Jessica Stevenson won a British Comedy Award for this year. It deserved a whole lot more. --Paul Tonks

On the DVD: Series 1 includes trailers, out-takes, deleted scenes with commentary, cast, crew, and character biographies and a full audio commentary by the director and cast. Series 2 features a chaotic but highly enthusiastic commentary from the director and cast, including of course Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, who also talk about some deleted scenes and why they were removed. There's an outtakes blooper reel, as well as a selection of raw location footage and a self-explanatory clip, "Daisy Does Elvis". The most useful feature, though, is the subtitle "Homage-o-Meter" facility, which displays all the movie references throughout the series. --Paul Tonks/Mark Walker


Hillarious from start to finish!
Review date: 2008-05-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

Had never seen it on tv before so only came across it due to a friend buying it. After i'd watched a few episodes from series one i realised i had to buy the box set! it is so cleverly done and am sad there was only 2 series of it! It's definitely worth buying i literally cry with laughter when i watch the episodes.

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Reviews


SUBLIME AND RIDICULOUS. JUST BUY IT!
Review date: 2005-04-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

What can I say about Spaced that hasn't already been said on this page? Okay, I'll try to come up with something. Brilliantly written, beautifully performed, superbly produced, wonderfully knowing quality British comedy at its best. Lots of film and entertainment references (Star Wars, An American Werewolf In London, Scooby Doo etc.) that are laugh-out-loud funny. And characters you really warm to. Do yourself a favour and buy this. Actually, don't buy this. Get the more recent 'Collectors Edition' instead and you will have a whole extra disc of goodies to chortle at.

Pure Genious in a box!!! Classic
Review date: 2004-08-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

So,here you are searching through the amazon "shelves" when you come across this magnificent box set. Only your not sure whether to leave it or buy it. Hmmmmmmmmm.....

Anyone with a sense of humour should own Spaced, with its' -well unique characters and random gags/jokes which always strike the right nerve at the right moment to make you laugh.
After the intials laughing, we come to the point. Is it long enough to be worth my hard earned cash? Of course, spanning two series of 7 espisodes and dvd extra features are not just a quickly added gimmick but full on commentry and outakes, biographys and more. Your ripping amazon off at this price.

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright are pure comic geniouses, (if thas a word?)And bring notice back to the dying art of comedy, without losing its britsh charm. It also stars Matt Heap (known as stressed eric to most) Nick Frost (Simons loyal friends in recent movie "shaun of the dead") And Jessica whats-her-name(Obviously well known)

So are you still asking that question?
Q:Should I buy it?
A:YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A nice surprise for something that I missed first time.
Review date: 2004-07-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

I'd not seen this on TV and a work colleague prompted me to see it next time it was on. However, I spotted this box set so I took the plunge.

The box set is actually just a box for the two original DVDs which arrive in their own separate DVD cases!

As for the actual series - I liked it immensely. The crazy and sometimes touching antics of this group of oddballs hit just the right chord with me.

I'm not a sitcom lover really, although some (Scrubs for instance) are better than most. The Spaced team, however, kept my interest up mainly through the Sci-Fi aspect (of which I'm a fan). I always like those little references. If you're keen on that side of things then the DVD has a special feature just for you! I only discovered the feature on the second disk! Doh.
Basically, as well as the normal subtitles, there is a second subtitle selection that points out the pop-culture references as they appear on screen. It's a big help when you sometimes hear a reference and it leave you thinking 'There's a joke there somewhere but I've no idea where'.

I watched each episode again with the commentaries - all were worth listening to, more for the comedy than for the factual side of things I suppose.

All in all - I enjoyed both disks (I did think there'd be more easter eggs though) and will be tuning in for the third series (if or when it appears). Tivo is set ready!

Spaced Series 1 and 2
Review date: 2004-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I came about this series quite randomly, a friend bought it over for the weekend and we ended up spending the majority of the daylight hours that weekend watching both series. If you've never come across them before, this lot of no hopers will have you hooked! The characters are hilarious, acting brilliant and I'd recommend this for anyone who is/are buying for a couch potato. Withnail and I in series for the twenty first century.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Simon Pegg
Julia Deakin
Jessica Stevenson

Creators:
Jessica Stevenson (Primary Contributor)
Simon Pegg (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Channel 4 Video
Manufacturer: Channel 4 Video
EAN: 5014138069469
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2004-04-12
Number of discs: 2
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Theatrical release date: 2001-05-14
Language: English (Original Language)

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