DVD Corner

The Purge- The Complete Series Blu-ray Review

“The Purge” is an underrated series that deserved more love.

Created by James DeMonaco (who also created the original film), 2018’s “The Purge” is a horror anthology TV series extension of the Blumhouse film franchise. The series ran for two seasons and 20 episodes total. The first season takes place in 2027 during Purge Night and centers around a number of characters including Miguel (a marine searching for his sister Penelope who has joined a sacrificial cult), Jane (a finance exec who wants to advance her career and hires an assassin in order to try and make that happen), Jenna and Rick (an anti-Purge married couple who make an unsavory deal with pro-Purge elites to enrich their lives), Lila (comes from an elite background and has a romantic dynamic with Rick and Jenna), and Joe (a factory worker who dons a mask on Purge night to enact a warped agenda). Season 2 takes place during 2036 and 2037. It begins as Purge Night ends and leads up to the following Purge Night. This season focuses on an entirely different set of characters including cops turned bank robbers during the Purge (led by Ryan), a New Founding Fathers of America surveillance expert (Esme) looking into murders, a college teen (Ben) who becomes a serial killer and a husband and wife (Marcus and Michelle) who survive a hitman on Purge Night.

“The Purge” had the misfortune of coming out before the big streaming boom where the show would have fared better as the USA Network was certainly not an ideal home for this horror series. It’s a shame this spin-off of the film franchise was so short-lived as it truly gave fans more world building (and was better than most of the films to boot).

The anthology format was the perfect choice for this show as it not only allowed an exploration of various characters (sometimes interconnected), but we got to learn so much more about different factions and what America looks like after Purge Night takes place in the second season. Had the series gone on, there’s so much more the writers could have dug into. The show merely scrapes the surface of its potential in its two seasons.

Although both seasons are well worth watching, the second season digs a bit deeper. Season 1 was very Purge Night centric and we got a glimpse at the wider scope of the event through different POVs including Good Leader Tavis and her cult (wonderfully played by genre favorite Fiona Dourif). Season 2, however, gives viewers a deeper look at life after Purge Night and how people prepare for it and live daily life. The sophomore season also looks at the societal structure and various character mindsets into how people are either corrupted by Purge Night, how people use it as a means to eliminate their problems, or how others are fed up by the horrific Government program. Season 2 boasts a stronger cast too including Max Martini, Dermot Mulroney, Conor Trinneer, Paolo Nuñez, and a massive cameo from the film franchise (not going to spoil the fun).

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p for season 1 and 2.10:1 1080p for season 2. How do they look? Both seasons contain sharp hi-def transfers.

Audio Tracks: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The 5.1 tracks are top notch. The alarm system will be ringing throughout your house.

Extras:
* Deleted scenes from 3 episodes of season 1
* “Table Read”- Not a full read but rather mere clips.
* A short conversation with the cast and crew.
* A showcase of “Costumes and Props.”
* “Anatomy Of A Scene”- A behind-the-scenes look at The Gauntlet sequence.

November 14, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Blumhouse, The Purge, The Purge TV Show, The Purge- The Complete Series Blu-ray Review