What TV show did you last watch a season of on DVD/Blu-ray?

I was a bit annoyed at this season straying from the four perspectives format - Noah, Alison, Helen & Cole. For some reason the show thought we'd give a toss about Noah's French squeeze, Juliette. Alas, I did not. Her getting a perspective both at the start of the season and in the last episode robbed us of screentime for Alison and Cole - who I much rather would've seen/spent time with (especially the season final. The fact that half of it was wasted on this character I didn't care about was very annoying). 

As others have noted, while in the beginning of the show the differences in the versions of each story from the different characters' perspectives weren't *too* drastic, it seemed they got carried away with just how much difference there was between stories this season. Has everyone on this shows just got really bad memories? Given how messed up each one of them seems, it wouldn't be surprising. I really can't think of more screwed up people I watch in a TV show currently (who aren't the 'villains' - though sometimes it seems like they are). 

Anyway, going in descending order from least 'messed up' to most...

Cole - I know Cole has his fans, and sometimes he seems okay...but I don't think he's as 'innocent' as some like to make him out to be. He's at fault in things too, and I always will remember that time he waved a gun around at Noah, his daughter and whoever else was there (I forget). I know that sometimes when he seems like he's verging on being the nasty sort, it might be attributed to Alison's perspective - but I do think he's got some darkness in him that isn't all just her imagining it. He did his best to stay away from her, but he just can't seem to stick to it - that's not all on her. He's got to have some self-control...which he clearly doesn't. So everyone blaming Alison for the way Cole acts needs to accept that he's just as guilty of making mistakes as she is.

Helen - She really messed up this season, but as mentioned^...so has everyone else. Maura Tierney makes Helen - for me, at least - as likeable as such a character can be. She is deeply flawed, and there are times she bugs me, but I still love her line deliveries a lot of the time. Her reaction to her daughter, Whitney's, new boyfriend (Furkat - because of course that would be his name, and he'd be a total tosser) was hilarious, as was her reacting to her godawful parents in the second last episode of the season. Oh, how I despise them (actually, it's a toss-up between her parents and her kids as to who I hate more. I especially don't like her two sons. The annoy the hell out of me. Her youngest daughter is okay, I guess, and Whitney can be supremely annoying at times...but other times her attitude and reactions just amuse me because they're like the 'typical' moody teen turned up to 11 and some of the stuff she comes out with is so crazy, I can't help but laugh). Helen's parents are truly messed up individuals, and I wish she'd slapped her mother back when she hit her. I honestly hope they were stuck in their 'panic room' for a good long while.

What I liked this season involving Helen was seeing her brief couple of scenes with Alison. She has an interesting view of her. I liked their scene early in the season, but especially the one in the second last episode where she confessed what had happened involving Scotty and Alison admitted that she already knew/her part she played is Scotty's death. I really enjoy these two when they interact now, because it's not just some yelling-fest. They speak more or less reasonably. Plus I liked Alison saying that she wasn't the only one to blame for the affair, but saying she'd just take it if Helen wanted to place the blame for it entirely on her.

Alison - Ruth Wilson was the main reason I'd checked this show out on DVD to begin with. I think that a lot of people, like characters in the show, make the mistake of placing the blame for everything entirely on her. Yes, she's responsible for a lot of the stuff that's happened, but so is everyone else. Plus, she is a royally screwed up person (who isn't on this show?). I don't think Ruth Wilson gets enough credit for the way she portrays Alison and all the emotions she feels at any given time. Not to mention the trauma of having lost her child and feeling responsible for it. It's no wonder she acts the way she does with her daughter and is always worried about her. Yes, she took off without warning and checked herself in to get help, but she did it to keep her daughter safe. Perhaps it's because it always seems like everyone's against her that I feel sympathy for her. It doesn't seem like many people (be it characters in the show or viewers) like her character, but I can see why she acts the way she does and while she might not necessarily be 'likeable' all the time, she's at 'understandable' in her actions, I think. I also don't like Luisa much. I realise it should be the other way around, but I just don't. Still, maybe if they'd given *her* some of the half episode segments that Juliette had, I might've come around to like her a bit more.

And lastly...

Noah - Easily the most messed up character on the show. He really went out of his mind this season (literally). I think it was guessed by most people at the start of the season that he'd stabbed himself in the neck and was imaging Brendan Fraser's guard doing it (speaking of - as others noted...Brendan Fraser's looking a bit rough these days. Though I think it added to his portrayal of Gunther, who was suitably creepy and at times morbidly amusing. It was just so odd seeing Rick O'Connell from The Mummy movies playing this overweight, balding, creeper of a character...but that's probably why he was so effective - it just seemed so *wrong* to see him like this. 



It was a relief to finally learn the full story of why Noah was the way he was, the origin of all that guilt and self-loathing her felt, and just why exactly he had an affair. Of course, how much of it is actually the case/truth will probably always remain a mystery given this is a show where no one can be trusted to be 100% a reliable narrator of their story. The one part I did enjoy of the otherwise disappointing season final was his interaction with Whitney. There's been so much animosity from her towards him for so long, that is was a relief to finally see her soften towards him a little (a shame it took her jerk of an 'artist' boyfriend hitting her to get us there - this was one time where I would've fully approved of Noah's aggression and gladly watched him beat the crap out of Furhat. I mean, FURKAT). Though I guess it showed progression for his character - that he actually listened to Whitney and went after her instead of seeking revenge against her abusive boyfriend. I enjoyed their talk/s they had and I'm glad that he gave her some actual decent fatherly advice, admitted his screw-ups and was able to leave both her her Helen at the end of the episode in a somewhat decent place. Dominic West did a great job showing Noah losing his mind - it was somewhat of a relief to see him acting relatively normal in Tomb Raider which I saw at the cinema last week.



The episode's ending, with the cabbie asking where Noah wanted to go next totally reminded me of a similar ending in the Season 1 final of Felicity.