DVD Review: Case Histories, Series 2

A tough guy with a soft heart, Golden Globe^® nominee Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter movies, The Patriot, Awake) returns as Jackson Brodie in CASE HISTORIES, Series 2 on DVD July 15, 2014 from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. Filmed on location in Scotland and based on works by bestselling author Kate Atkinson, this character-driven drama features an International Emmy^®-nominated performance by Isaacs as a former Edinburgh cop trying to make a living as a private detective. The DVD 2-disc set includes three feature-length mysteries as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette and cast/crew interviews ($39.99, AcornOnline.com). Series 2 aired in the U.K. on BBC1 in June 2013 but makes its U.S. debut with this DVD release. The series was created for television by Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars).

While Jackson Brodie has a hard time paying his bills, he has no shortage of clients seeking his services. Some are parents looking for children and some are children looking for parents; some are worried about the future and some are seeking information about the past—an area that continues to haunt Brodie, too. 

Unable to overlook a wrong or neglect a person in need, Brodie feels compelled to find answers for his clients. But he doesn’t find much peace from the women in his own life, including his ex-wife, ex-girlfriend (Natasha Little, Kidnap and Ransom), 12-year-old daughter, long-suffering bookkeeper (Zawe Ashton, Fresh Meat), and a former colleague (Amanda Abbington, Sherlock) who seems to be the only person on the force still talking to him.

Episodes: Started Early, Took My Dog; Nobody’s Darling; and Jackson and the Women

BONUS: Behind-the-scenes featurette (18 min.) and cast and crew interviews (27 min.)

Case Histories, Series 1 was released on DVD in November 2011 coinciding with the debut of the first three episodes on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery!, however Series 2 has not aired in the U.S.

Street Date: July 15, 2014                                 SRP: $39.99

DVD 2-Disc Set: 3 episodes on 2 discs • approx. 273 min., plus bonus • SDH subtitles

UPC 0-54961-8817-9-6

Contains nudity, violence, and coarse language

My Thoughts

Jackson Brodie is a private detective trying to make a living in Scotland. He is struggling to make ends meat and dealing with the untimely deaths of both of his siblings, but he still trudges on and often helps others find the closure he's been denied. This series includes three exciting episodes.

Started Early, Took My Dog- Brodie helps an Australian woman find her birth parents. His investigation uncovers dark secrets from the past that could turn a child's world upside down.

Nobody's Darling- A woman hires Brodie to see if her fiance is cheating on her and in a bizarre twist, also gets hired to investigate whether that same jealous woman may have murdered her soon-to-be husband's previous fiance. In this episode, Brodie's daughter moves to town to live with him.

Jackson and the Women- Brodie takes on two separate cases. One young man comes to him and asks him to help figure out who killed his mother when he was three. The second case involves a missing nineteen year old girl.

This is such a great series with tons of action and a beautiful Scottish backdrop. Jason Isaac does a remarkable job portraying the haunted Brodie. I am so glad the series was released on DVD since it never aired in the States. Anyone who enjoys a good thriller will love each one of these episodes.

If you want to get the advantage of a full set of amazing  stories that are loaded with murder and intrigue, than this is the box set for you. You can order Case Histories, Series 2 for only $39.99 at Acorn Media or find it on Amazon.