DVD Corner

The League Season 2 Blu-ray and DVD Reviews

The second season of “The League” is an improvement over the first season.

Taco, Pete, Andre, Rodney, and Kevin are back for another 13 episodes of “The League.” In this season, the gang prepares for the 2010 Fantasy Football Draft, Las Vegas, induct a new league member (who is later replaced by another new league member), meet NFL players (Chad Ochocinco, Joshua Cribbs, and Terrell Suggs), attend a high school reunion, and quarrel about the league. Other key plots involve relationships and marriages, the return of Russell, a marathon, Ruxin and Sofia’s anniversary party, Halloween, Christmas, and the League champion.  

After a lackluster season one, “The League” wisely focused more on the show’s greatest strength- fantasy football. In fact, all of the best moments in season 2 tend to come out of jokes and discussions about the league such as the NFL player cameos, Rodney’s creepy fascination with his own draft picks, and Andre’s goofy gloating about his fantasy league victories.

Of course, not everything works in this series. Some of the character banter and episode plots feel very scripted, rushed, and forced as if the creative team is trying too hard to be funny. I also feel like the character of Taco is completely out of place here. He feels like he’s from another show and doesn’t jive well with the other cast members.

Summary: “The League” is hit-and-miss, but it’s worth a watch (especially if you like fantasy football and the NFL).

Note: Season 3 is currently airing on FX.

Video/Audio:

The 1.78:1 1080p picture quality on the Blu-ray set is fantastic. The colors are noticeably sharp and the cinematography is impressive to boot (especially for a sitcom). The DVD transfers aren’t on par with the hi-def picture quality, but it still looks better than most TV shows on DVD.

The 5.1 DTS-HD audio on the Blu-ray set doesn’t have too much going on audio wise other than dialogue and music. However, the DTS track is perfectly satisfactory. The     Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track on the DVD isn’t as layered as the hi-def audio track, but it’s sufficient enough.

Extras:
* Extended versions of episodes 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, and 13.
* A little over 11 minutes of deleted scenes.
* “Kluneberg Paint By Numbers”- A goofy Bob Ross painting parody.
* “El Notario”- Taco talks about being a notary.

* “Taco Tones Productions Presents”- 4 of Taco’s music numbers.

* An amusing nearly 9 minute gag reel.

* “ALT Nation”- Nearly 8 ½ minutes of alternate takes.

October 9, 2011 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review, DVD review | Chad Ochocinco, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Draft, NFL, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, The League Season 2 Blu-ray Review, The League Season 2 DVD Review