Beauty And The Beast - The FInal Season DVD Credits:

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Beauty And The Beast - The FInal Season DVD Release Date: 5th February 2008

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Beauty And The Beast - The FInal Season DVD Review:

I’ve heard a lot of hype over the years about the 1980s television series called Beauty and the Beast. The show may have had a short run, but it managed to make an impact and was able to gain a devoted following in a short amount of time. As such, I’ve always been curious to see what all the fuss was about. Now that the third and final season is available on DVD I finally got the chance to give the show a look. From the unbiased viewpoint of a modern day viewer who knows very little about the show, I was honestly left a bit underwhelmed.

The largest pitfall that Beauty and the Beast succumbs to when viewed in a modern context is one that can be said about many 80s productions: the show simply hasn’t aged well. It just feels so undeniably…well, 80s. From the fashion, to the hairstyles, to the actual film stock itself, everything about the production just reeks of the 1980s. Sometimes a show or film can feel dated without affecting the overall tone of the production, but more often than not Beauty and the Beast just feels kind of cheesy. To the devoted fans that have grown up with the show, this isn’t a problem because they fell in love with it during the time period, but to modern eyes it may hamper one’s enjoyment of it.

While Beauty and the Beast may not have aged well over the years, what still remains strong even 20 years later is its undeniable originality. If ever a show was destined for cult status, this is it, because it has to be one of the most original and downright strange creations to ever make it to network television. The back of the DVD case sums things up nicely: this unique fantasy-crime drama series features the adventures and romance between Vincent, a mythic, noble man-beast, and Catherine, a savvy assistant D.A. in New York. These two share a strong, mystical bond that enables Vincent, while in his underground lair, to sense whenever Catherine is in danger in the World Above. In the final season, Catherine, pregnant with Vincent’s child, becomes a victim to a murder druglord who steals her baby from her after she gives birth. Drawing strength from the everlasting love he and Catherine share, Vincent relentlessly pursues her killer, determined to bring him to justice and to rescue their child.

Vincent’s underground lair is a world of dark and dreary production design that the Phantom of the Opera would feel right at home in. The art direction is often quite beautiful and gothic in the underworld, establishing a mood of solace and gloom. Catherine’s world of New York City is much more akin to the grimy streets and messy offices of Law and Order. It’s interesting to watch the two worlds overlap at certain times and it’s a wonder that they exist on the same show without it coming off as schizophrenic. Suffice it to say that the show is a weird mix of fantasy, romance, and crime drama. These three elements mix together quite nicely in theory, but unfortunately the way that they’re utilized in the show more often leads to sappy soap opera storytelling rather than the gripping romantic fantasy thriller that it could be. The ideas are all unique and interesting, but the execution leaves something to be desired.

As is par for the course with CBS DVDs, there are zero bonus features to be found on this 3-disc DVD set.

Fans of the show would do well to stop listening to me and get the final season of Beauty and the Beast without a moment’s a notice. If you’re already a fan, then nothing I can say is going to stop you, and who am I to stop you anyway? If you’ve never seen the show before, then I recommend it, but with some hesitation. It’s worth a look for its cult status and its unique melding of genres. Just know that you may have to wade through a bit of 1980s cheese to get to the meaty stuff. Beauty and the Beast is a prime example of how something can seem beautiful in its day, but can become more beastly with the passage of time.

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Beauty And The Beast - The FInal Season DVD review written by: Anthony Berk