TV mystery programs lead off this weeks new Blu-ray and DVD releases.
NCIS: New Orleans: Season 3 (CBS/Paramount, 2016-17, six discs, 23 episodes, audio commentaries, crossover episode of NCIS, featurettes). Scott Bakula and his New Orleans military investigators (including Lucas Black and C.C.H. Pounder) are back, along with newcomer Vanessa Ferlito as an FBI agent investigating the team. This season they also search for a rogue sniper and find danger on a deep-sea oil rig. (The fourth season begins Sept. 26 on CBS.)
The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season (Sony, 2016-17, five discs, 22 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). This season finds Liz (Megan Boone) trying to resolve the mystery of her lost childhood as the Task Force is reeling from her resurrection, as well as past betrayals, which have especially shaken a vengeful Red (James Spader). Christine Lahti has a recurring role. (The fifth season begins Sept. 27 on NBC.)
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 10 (Acorn, 2016-17, five discs, 18 episodes, featurette). Shortly after the turn of the 20th century in Toronto, methodical detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and crew use their groundbreaking forensic technology to stop a thief who emulates a comic book character and a serial killer using poison lipstick. They also meet up with author H.P. Lovecraft and an early episode is set against the Great Toronto Fire of 1904. (The 11th season will begin Oct. 10 on CBC.)
Riverdale: The Complete First Season (Warner, 2017, three discs, 13 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers). The Archie Comics characters began in the 1940s as innocent high schoolers, then underwent a dramatic 21st-century comic book reboot. But this TV drama goes a step further, filtering the characters through Veronica Mars and Twin Peaks. Your reaction to this dark, more adult Archie universe may depend on your age, so perhaps the most understandable metaphor is Jughead, whos gone from being Archies goofy-but-wise best friend to his estranged ex-pal, an eccentric, brooding writer. (The second season begins Oct. 11 on the CW.)
The Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season (Warner, 2016-17, three Blu-ray discs/four DVD discs, 17 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers). This DC universe comic book adaptation features a ragtag team of superheroes protecting the timeline from being manipulated to change history. After losing their leader, they are recruited by the Waverider crew to go up against the Legion of Doom super bad guys. Episode seven, Invasion, was set up with preceding crossover episodes of Supergirl, The Flash and Arrow, but for some reason they are not included here. (The third season begins Oct. 10 on the CW.)
Billions: Season Two (Showtime/CBS, four discs, 12 episodes, featurettes). This graphically profane and sexual Showtime series stars Paul Giamatti as a ruthless U.S. attorney and Damien Lewis as an equally devious hedge-fund mogul who are constantly trying to one-up each other. Malin Akerman and Maggie Siff co-star. (Season 3 will premiere early next year on Showtime.)
Descendants 2 (Disney, 2017, deleted/extended/alternate songs, featurette, bloopers, animated short series: Descendants: Wicked World). This TV musical sequel is about the teenage kids of various Disney animated feature villains. The premise has the son of Belle and the Beast bringing a group of the Villain Kids from their island prison to the kingdom for a better life. But now the daughter of Ursula (The Little Mermaid), angry at not being chosen, is plotting to unleash the imprisoned villains on the kingdom.
Mickey and the Roadster Racers: Start Your Engines (Disney, 2017, seven episodes; Roadster Racers flag). The Sensational Six comprised of Disney cartoon icons Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, and dogs Goofy and Pluto race around Hot Dog Hills, as well as taking trips to Hawaii and London in this animated Disney Junior series.
The Powerpuff Girls: The Last Donnycorn (CN, 2016-17, 12 episodes, special episode). In addition to the 22-minute special of the subtitle, which features a robot unicorn and other evil unicorns, regular episodes have Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup taking on fortune-tellers, yetis and monkeys, among other mayhem-causing creatures.
Digimon Adventure tri.: Determination (Shout!, 2017, in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed English, featurette). This Japanese animated feature is a sequel to Reunion, and now another infected Digimon appears to attack Odaiba, so Mimi and Palmon set out to prove to the world that all Digimon are not evil.
NCIS: New Orleans: Season 3 (CBS/Paramount, 2016-17, six discs, 23 episodes, audio commentaries, crossover episode of NCIS, featurettes). Scott Bakula and his New Orleans military investigators (including Lucas Black and C.C.H. Pounder) are back, along with newcomer Vanessa Ferlito as an FBI agent investigating the team. This season they also search for a rogue sniper and find danger on a deep-sea oil rig. (The fourth season begins Sept. 26 on CBS.)
The Blacklist: The Complete Fourth Season (Sony, 2016-17, five discs, 22 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). This season finds Liz (Megan Boone) trying to resolve the mystery of her lost childhood as the Task Force is reeling from her resurrection, as well as past betrayals, which have especially shaken a vengeful Red (James Spader). Christine Lahti has a recurring role. (The fifth season begins Sept. 27 on NBC.)
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 10 (Acorn, 2016-17, five discs, 18 episodes, featurette). Shortly after the turn of the 20th century in Toronto, methodical detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and crew use their groundbreaking forensic technology to stop a thief who emulates a comic book character and a serial killer using poison lipstick. They also meet up with author H.P. Lovecraft and an early episode is set against the Great Toronto Fire of 1904. (The 11th season will begin Oct. 10 on CBC.)
Riverdale: The Complete First Season (Warner, 2017, three discs, 13 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers). The Archie Comics characters began in the 1940s as innocent high schoolers, then underwent a dramatic 21st-century comic book reboot. But this TV drama goes a step further, filtering the characters through Veronica Mars and Twin Peaks. Your reaction to this dark, more adult Archie universe may depend on your age, so perhaps the most understandable metaphor is Jughead, whos gone from being Archies goofy-but-wise best friend to his estranged ex-pal, an eccentric, brooding writer. (The second season begins Oct. 11 on the CW.)
The Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season (Warner, 2016-17, three Blu-ray discs/four DVD discs, 17 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers). This DC universe comic book adaptation features a ragtag team of superheroes protecting the timeline from being manipulated to change history. After losing their leader, they are recruited by the Waverider crew to go up against the Legion of Doom super bad guys. Episode seven, Invasion, was set up with preceding crossover episodes of Supergirl, The Flash and Arrow, but for some reason they are not included here. (The third season begins Oct. 10 on the CW.)
Billions: Season Two (Showtime/CBS, four discs, 12 episodes, featurettes). This graphically profane and sexual Showtime series stars Paul Giamatti as a ruthless U.S. attorney and Damien Lewis as an equally devious hedge-fund mogul who are constantly trying to one-up each other. Malin Akerman and Maggie Siff co-star. (Season 3 will premiere early next year on Showtime.)
Descendants 2 (Disney, 2017, deleted/extended/alternate songs, featurette, bloopers, animated short series: Descendants: Wicked World). This TV musical sequel is about the teenage kids of various Disney animated feature villains. The premise has the son of Belle and the Beast bringing a group of the Villain Kids from their island prison to the kingdom for a better life. But now the daughter of Ursula (The Little Mermaid), angry at not being chosen, is plotting to unleash the imprisoned villains on the kingdom.
Mickey and the Roadster Racers: Start Your Engines (Disney, 2017, seven episodes; Roadster Racers flag). The Sensational Six comprised of Disney cartoon icons Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, and dogs Goofy and Pluto race around Hot Dog Hills, as well as taking trips to Hawaii and London in this animated Disney Junior series.
The Powerpuff Girls: The Last Donnycorn (CN, 2016-17, 12 episodes, special episode). In addition to the 22-minute special of the subtitle, which features a robot unicorn and other evil unicorns, regular episodes have Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup taking on fortune-tellers, yetis and monkeys, among other mayhem-causing creatures.
Digimon Adventure tri.: Determination (Shout!, 2017, in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed English, featurette). This Japanese animated feature is a sequel to Reunion, and now another infected Digimon appears to attack Odaiba, so Mimi and Palmon set out to prove to the world that all Digimon are not evil.
