Friday, April 8, 2016

DVD Review : Prisoner's Wives: Complete Collection




For fans of addictive British drama and Orange is the New Black, Prisoners’ Wives: Complete Collection makes its DVD Debut on April 12, 2016 from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. Written by Julie Geary (Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Coronation Street), this gripping BBC drama explores what happens to family members after a loved one is arrested. Several interweaving storylines create a captivating saga of love, heartbreak, hope, despair, and unlikely friendship. Series 1 stars Polly Walker(Rome, Caprica), Emma Rigby (Endless Love), Pippa Haywood (Mr. Selfridge), and Natalie Gavin (The Syndicate). Then in Series 2, Sally Carman (Shameless) and Karla Crome (Under the Dome) join Walker and Haywood. This enthralling drama makes it “maddeningly difficult to tear yourself away” (The Telegraph). The strong supporting cast includes Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), David Bradley (Harry PotterGame of Thrones), Adam Gillen (Oliver Twist), Jonas Armstrong (Edge of TomorrowRobin Hood), Adrian Rawlins (Harry Potter movies), andNicola Walker (MI-5). This DVD 4-disc set features 10 episodes ($59.99, AcornOnline.com). BBC One premiered Series 1 in 2012 and Series 2 in 2013. Series 2 made its U.S. Premiere in December 2015 on Emmy®-nominated Acorn TV, the premier North American streaming service for world-class television from Britain and beyond.

A criminal goes to prison—but that’s only the start of the story. This engrossing drama follows the wives, girlfriends, daughters, and mothers who are left behind to pick up the pieces.

In Series 1, Gemma’s (Emma Rigby) perfect life falls apart when her husband (Jonas Armstrong) is arrested for murder. She becomes part of a strange sorority including the glamorous Francesca (Polly Walker), wife of career criminal Paul (Iain Glen); struggling young mother Lou (Natalie Gavin); and respectable widow Harriet (Pippa Haywood).

In Series 2, bride-to-be Aisling (Karla Crome) hopes her father will get out of jail in time to walk her down the aisle, and mother-of-three Kim (Sally Carman) works to prove her husband’s innocence.

Street Date: April 12, 2016                           SRP: $59.99  
DVD 4-Disc Set: 10 episodes – Approx. 608 min. – SDH Subtitles
UPC 054961215690                                       ISBN 978-1-62172-156-7
Contains violence, coarse language, nudity, and sexual situations

My Thoughts 

Prisoner's Wives is an exciting crime drama that gives us a look at the women who are left behind when their men are sent to prison. From a young mother whose husband is arrested for murder to the wife of a crime lord, a group of unlikely women form a friendship forged from a combination of hope and despair. There are ten fantastic episodes in this series.

1- Gemma's life falls apart when her husband, Steve, is arrested for murder. At first she believes in him, but the investigation makes things look bad. On visiting day, she meets Francesca, a career criminal's wife and a young drug dealer named Lou.

2- Fran loses her fancy house and has to get a job. We also meet Harriet, a very sheltered mother of one of the inmates.

3- Fran movies in with her dad. Harriet's son gets badly beaten.

4- Gemma becomes a informant. Fran and Paul have some issues.

5- Lou is arrested but makes bail and stays with Harriet. Steve's partner in crime makes bail which makes Gemma nervous.

6- Sean is released and also stays with Harriet. Gavin turns to God. Fran makes a bad decision and Gemma seeks protection.

7- Fran tries to handle Paul's deals, but it's a big disaster. Gang rivalries start to heat up. We meet a new wife, Kim, whose husband is arrested for child abuse.

8- Kim tries to talk to her husband's alleged victims. Fran starts working at a car wash. Harriet and the prison chaplain's relationship blossoms.

9-  Fran's dad has some questions for her and Paul. There is a shocking death at the prison

10- Mick is released but has no where to go. Harriet's turns her away when she visits. Shocking end to Fran's story--no spoilers.

This was a really great series. When everyone calls for punishment, it's easy to forget the people who are left behind and how their hearts will break, not to mention the stigma they have to live with. This was a very well-written series with a strong story line and powerful characters that were very easy to relate to. This is one series I could watch again and again.



4 comments:

Unknown said...

I haven't see this series yet but after reading this review I want to watch it now .

Edye Nicole said...

I've never heard of this show before! Thanks for sharing :)

Maryann D. said...

This crime drama does sound very interesting to view. I think it would definitely hold my interest.
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VickieC said...

havent heard of this one before,,sounds interesting