Written by: Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes
Starring: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Nick Frost, Julia Deakin, Mark Heap, and Katy Carmichael
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Britain’s Spaced is a cult hit that made its way to America via bootlegs and conventions. Thanks to BBC Video, this Geek friendly show is available through legal means. Spaced is a sitcom for the comic book reading, Star Wars loving, heartbroken nerd set.
The Show
The easiest way to describe Spaced is Friends with geek porn thrown in. The main characters, Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner decide to rent an apartment together that is for professional couples only. So, they pretend to be a couple to get the place. Daisy is a writer and Tim is a slacker comic artist that works at a comic store. Their friends are quirky and fun and add lots of depth to the story.
What I really like about this show is the characters. While some are stereotypical, they are likeable. The audience knows these people and can relate to them. We’ve all known the tortured artist, the fashion conscience party girl, the military buff, and even the comic fan, and writer. What Pegg and Hynes have created is a series about relationships for the fanboy. If you hate Friends, you will definitely love Spaced.
I do wish there were a bit more fan service for the geek set. This is a minor qualm though since too many quips would be unrealistic. Even though this is a funny show, I felt like I could relate to the characters. They are well rounded even though they represent many different subcultures.
If you are a fan of Big Bang Theory and Kevin Smith films, this is the show for you. I actually watched this set in 2 days, so it is entertaining and worth your time.
8/10
The Video
The widescreen presentation is of basic quality television, so nothing spectacular, but that is all you need. Colors are good but grain can get a little heavy in darker scenes. Overall the episoes are soft in detail often making them come off like glamour shots.
6/10
The Audio
The sound is presented in a simple Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. Everything is well mixed with no dynamic range. There’s no booming low end at all. Songs do kick in with some impact though. Overall the presentation is extremely basic but at least you can hear everything.
7/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features
This is the strong point for this set. There are commentaries from: Kevin Smith, Diablo Cody (Juno), Patton Oswalt, Matt Stone, and Quentin Tarantino. In addition, the original commentaries with the creators are included. Many featurettes and exclusive footage are featured on their own disc, so go ahead and throw away your bootlegs. Plus, it is all funny.
10/10
Overall (Not an Average) 9/10
The Show 8/10
The Video 6/10
The Audio 7/10
The Packaging and Bonus Features 10/10
Overall (Not an Average) 9/10