So it's all coming to a close. The cast of Friends (Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Monica) are bowing out, riding high on the ratings. While a spinoff featuring Joey will continue the Friends lineage, this season will be the final for the show about hair, coffee and being in your prime. With their bowing out comes the complete seventh season on DVD and this one is the best yet!
Season seven followed many storylines, many arcs that changed the face of the series. The season opens with Monica and Chandler's engagement leading towards their eventual nuptials. The hijinks continue through the season with the girls vying to be bridesmaids and phobe wanting to sing. There's a couple of episodes involving rachel and ross's "books" which are pretty humorous. One that hits home with me is where the group reflects on their own turning of 30 during Rachel's big 30 party. Boy does this episode hit home! Yeah there's many many more memorable episodes of this great comedy series.
The complete season list includes 23 episodes spread over five discs. These can be found at http://www.nbc.com/Friends/episode_guide/index.html
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The Disc:
Friends fans who picked up the first six seasons will know what to expect here. Each episode has been newly remastered in its original 4:3 broadcast aspect ratio bringing a vibrant picture from the already colorful television broadcasts. Sounds come in the same newly remixed English Dolby Digital 5.0 surround setups. As with the previous seasons this is quite impressive considering the clarity of the center channel and the ambiance of the surrounds for a simple comedy.
As with the previous versions we get the uncut extended versions featuring "never-before-seen footage." As to what exactly is unseen remains a mystery to me but Warner has never deceived us before. Next up is screen-specific audio commentaries by producers Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, on three episodes. All of these are interesting to listen to especially for thier lighthearted approach.
Next up is a hilarious Gag Reel that highlights just how much fun it must be to work on the show. With the season featuring the wedding of Monica and Chandler, the disc also offers up Monica's Wedding Book Challenge Trivia Quiz. Interesting, at least the first time through, anyways.
Finally there is the usual small time stuff such as the Friends of Friends clip index, What's Up with Your Friends? video character profiles, and "Gunther Spills the Beans About Next Season"?
bottom line:
One of TV's classics already, the seventh season of Friends shows just how quickly this series jelled and became one of America's Must See shows. Definitely with a modest price one of the best DVD's to own.
By - Brian "Shroom" Gray
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