Spaced: The Complete Series

I really am a fan of Pegg and Frost and I love this series. There are tons of "pop culture" referances that I found great. If you are into Brittish culture you will love this.

Before there was Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, there was Spaced. Sadly, I didn't discover this BBC treasure until very recently, only checking it out after the rave things I'd heard about it since it's made it's way to our shores on DVD, and being a huge fan of the aforementioned films and the talent behind them, gave Spaced a shot. Needless to say, less than two episodes in, I fell in love. Spaced tells the story of wanna-be comic book artist Tim (Simon Pegg) and wanna-be writer Daisy (Jessica Stevenson); two people who just met and pose as a couple in an effort to rent out a flat. To make things complicated, they have to deal with their slightly unhinged landlady Marsha (Julia Deakin) and their even more unhinged artist neighbor Brian (Mark Heap). Loaded with pop-culture references (Star Wars and video games play a huge role, and Tim's tripped out zombie experience is an obvious precursor to Shaun of the Dead), brilliant dialogue, and plenty of undeniably hilarious moments, Spaced is a truly joyous experience. Even more undeniably true is the fact that Spaced is certainly funnier and smarter than any sitcom you'll find on American network television today (the only show in my opinion to even come close may be Arrested Development), and the special features included in this three-disc set only add to the experience. All in all, Spaced is a pure comic blast, and if you've missed out on this show but are a fan of anything from Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, Spaced is definitely more than worth your time.

I had never heard of this program until I saw it on DVD, even though I thoroughly enjoyed both "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz." What can be said about this amazing show that hasn't already been said?

My initial thoughts upon watching the pilot were that this was one of the most unusual programs I'd ever seen. By the time I finished the second episode, I was hooked. And by the final episosde of Season two, I was lamenting the fact that it was all over. Despite the characters seeming odd at first, you find that you really do care about them in the finale. For example, the landlady Marsha (the talented Julia Deakins)who creeped me out a bit at first ends up being fully fleshed out and when her feelings are hurt at the end, your own heart breaks for her.

The finale is complete and brings everything to a wonderful full circle.

And what do we get for a show that was under the radar for so many people? We get all the episodes, plus copious extras and commentaries that are more than worth the money. The 2007 Q&A reunion with the cast is worth watching, my only criticism being that it's a long shot held the entire time.

Worth the money, the time and its place in history.

If you're a fan of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, you will enjoy this 14-episode series from the BBC. In addition to the episodes, the DVDs are full of commentaries (both the original UK commentaries and some more recent commentaries). Also included in the DVDs are several featurettes about the making of the show. If you were introduced to the series via YouTube (as I was) you will be pleased with the picture quality on the DVDs. For those who want to catch every pop culture reference (both subtle and not-so-subtle) made in the series, the "homage-o-meter" (available in the subtitles menu) is for you.
In short, Spaced is a well-crafted comedy series that deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.

The only thing I can say about Spaced is that I am utterly sad that there's only about 7 hours worth of it, that it won't come back, and that an American re-make of it would be impossible. Buy it....you will enjoy!