Search - Big Valley - Season 2, Volume 1 on DVD

Rosee B.
Reviewed on 11/11/2009...

This is a classic western series great for the entire family.

Still Worth Another Round With the Barkleys!

Sean Pasek | Albuquerque, NM | 12/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is disappointing to see that they have decided to split up Season 2, obviously taking a step out of the pages of the Battlestar Galactica releases. I won't be surprised if more companies begin to follow suit.

However, being a huge Big Valley fan for nearly thirty years, I have still gone ahead and purchased it. There should be 15 episodes in this first volume since each season of the Big Valley had 30 episodes. Fifteen episodes is still a fair amount compared with today's shows that put out 22 per season.



The second season of the Big Valley continues the story of the Barkleys. Season 2 is more solidified than the first season, even though the first season is very good.



It contains the 2-part episode "Legend of a General" where Heath is taken prisoner in Mexico, and only the help of an old Mexican general, can help the Barkleys get him back.



There's also "Caesar's Wife" in which, daring for its time, addresses a step-mother who makes advances toward her husband's son.



"The Velvet Trap" finds unsuspecting Nick falling in love with a woman who is, in fact, the girlfriend of a notorious outlaw and how she attempts to use Nick to get rid of a bounty hunter who is trying to track down the dangerous Jack Floyd.



They also added The Big Valley's first comedic episode in "The Great Safe Robbery" in which three bumbling brothers attempt to steal and rob a safe from a train depot. It's truly hilarious.



There is also the classic Big Valley episode, "Last Stage to Salt Flats" which finds the family (except Nick and Audra) stranded in the middle of the desert after their stagecoach is robbed.



All of the episodes in the season and in this volume are worth watching, especially since they will be unedited, and likely not seen by many viewers since they first aired, due to commercial time.



Nick looks as sharp as ever in his black leather vest, gloves, and large brown hat. He's also as fiesty and tempermental as ever, with plenty of great brawls for him to get into. The episode, "The Iron Box" shows how angry he can get when someone in his family is attacked or threatened. This is evident when Heath is tortured and brutalized by a demented prison warden, and Nick must figure out a way to save his brother when he is placed a sweat box.



Victoria begins having some adventures and getting out of the house as Barbara Stanwyck insisted that Victoria have some stories not centered around wearing dresses and answering the door.



This is a great show and a terrific season, even if you are only getting half, I think it's worth it. They simply don't make westerns or T.V. shows like this with such great adventure stories as this. Enjoy fifteen more episodes with California's favorite matriarchal family."

Cost

A. Lewis | USA | 11/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am pleased that Big Valley is continuing to be released and if they want to break up the second season, then fine. BUT I must object to the price that is almost the same price as the entire season one set! What is going on???"

Five stars for the series--and info on the price

DSR | Florida | 10/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Big Valley" reruns were my childhood favorite, and after buying this set and season one, I can say the show lives up to my memories. It would be a shame if Fox stopped releasing the DVDs--which brings me to the info:



After searching for a way to complain about the price-gouging on season two, I finally contacted a site that monitors DVD releases. They said sales of season one were poor and that Fox raised the price to recoup their losses. But since this half-set isn't selling well either, they probably won't release the rest.



Maybe if all the people who bought season one decide to buy this set they'll release more. Maybe not. Personally, I think Fox bungled the whole thing. When it comes to short-run series (Big Valley only ran four seasons), it makes more sense to release the complete series (with extras) at a premium price. Most fans would pay more up front to get the whole series and not have to worry about studios dropping the project. As it is, Fox has done nothing but shortchange consumers and undermine its own profits."