Cheap Oz - The Complete Fifth Season (DVD) (Lee Tergesen) Price

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Customer Reviews of Oz - The Complete Fifth Season

Leftovers and assorted odds and ends for Season 5 of "Oz"
Given that the fourth season of "Oz" was a double-dose of sixteen episodes, it is not surprising that going back to only eight episodes for the fifth season seems so skimpy. But the previous season also ended with a bang, after the gas explosion in the Oz kitchen, and the biggest thing to happen in this season comes at the end of the first episode, although we do have the death of another major character in the final minute of the last episode and which convinced me to round up on this one. The only real story arc that pops up constantly has to do with the sessions that Sister Pete (Rita Moreno) sets up with Schillinger (J.K. Simons), Said (Eamonn Walker) and Beecher (Lee Tergesen), which continues the roller coaster ride involving that trio that has existed since the first episode of "Oz." Otherwise, there is still a relatively high level of violence (amazing how many inmates are killed in this prison) and more full frontal male nudity than any other series of cable (or network) television. <
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>If you did not know there was going to be a sixth season you would be convinced that they were trying to wrap up things here to end the series. Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) finally comes back from solitary, Brass (Blake Robbins) is back limping on his bad leg, and even Keller (Christopher Meloni) ends up back home. When the ex-Mrs. McManus shows up in Oz that you really get the feeling all the chickens are coming home to roost. However, this does not take away from the overwhelming feeling that they are setting up things for done the road, with the deal between Beecher and Schillinger being the spark on the latest fuse of their tinder box relationship. But we have been done this road before and there are not that many family members left for either one of them to have killed. <
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>There really is not a dominant figure during this season. Nobody has really filled the power vacuum since Adebisi was killed, which is hardly surprising. But that helps explain why not much seems to be happening this fifth season. The tension between the Aryans and the Muslims pretty much simmers all year (the violence level is so high on the show that what happens in Season 5 makes the place seem quiet) and even Ryan O'Riley (Dean Winters) just seems to be going through the motions with all of his machinations; there is nothing really on his front burner until things turn really bad for Cyril (Scott William Winters). Maybe it is because his mother (Betty Lynne Buckley) is around and he is on what passes for his best behavior, but it certainly fits the rest of this relatively low- keyed set of eight episodes. When the high points of the season are a bilingual dog, a gum transplant, and God giving Rebadow lottery numbers to play, this only confirms the verdict. "Oz" is still worth watching, but you have to think the glory days are in the rear view mirror.

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It's Not For Everyone....
Being a long time Oz fan, the release of the series on DVD is a God send and true to memory it doesnt disappoint! The 5th series offers the usual mix of high drama, ultra violence , plot twists and the occasional moments of comedy to 'lighten' the mood, as much as can be expected from Oz anyway... <
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>The fifth season opens with a brand new cafeteria and a redecorated Em City due to the fire from the climax of season 4, but while its a different look, everyone else is most definitely the same.. as usual each episode is divided into several different story arcs that generally tie into the theme of that particular show, still narrated by the excellent Hill (Harold Perrineau). <
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>The mood of season 5 is a lot more reflective and introverted than previous seasons, as all the major characters actions from seasons past begin to catch up with them all to a degree and each person begins to come to terms with their doings and the consequences of those actions, leading to some quite emotional scenes between our heroes/villains... <
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>As usual, the main players take centre stage, everyones favorite, Beecher (Lee Tergesen) struggles with his sense of morality especially over the returning Keller (Chris Meloni), and later on in the season in a complete turnabout sacrifices a young inmate to Schillinger (the fantastic J.K. Simmons)and the brotherhood just so he can see Keller, this however leads to an even bigger crisis of conflict which culminates in Schillinger being locked up indefinitely... Said (Eamonn Walker)also continues his struggle with his demons and in attempt to redeem his soul is given White (Played brilliantly by Michael Wright) to rehabilitate by McManus (Terry Kinney) which climaxes in White making a decision in good faith which ends him back in solitary...the other major character is of course the insufferable Ryan O'Reilly (Dean Winters), i have a real dislike of Ryan and im not sure whether its the character or the actor that im not keen on however it just doesnt work for me as i cant believe in 6 years he lasted without getting at least stabbed!! Anyway, the main story is his mentally challenged brother Cyril (Scott Winters) trial for murder, the big focus of course is he's brain damaged and not culpable for his actions, the season follows the attempts of Ryan, alongside his mother Suzanne (Betty Lynn Buckley), Sister Pete (Rita Moreno) and later on new inmate Father Meehan (Malahy McCourt) to quash the conviction or at least the death penalty sentence handed down to him... <
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>Other notable occurances during the 5th season, the miraculous survival from season 4 of Rev. Cloutier (Luke Perry) who then in a really daft sequence 'appears' as a vision to those who entombed him and encourages them to avenge him, and then completely disappears from hospital with no explanation or investigation at all ( I'm sorry to blow what happens before anyone sees it but it REALLY annoyed me )... Alvarez (Kirk Acevedo) manages to stay on the straight and narrow and even aids the officer he blinded back in season 2 culminating in an attempt at parole...Rebadow (George Morfogen) searches desperately for a cure for his dying grandson and is dealt a crippling blow when it appears he may have a chance,not once but twice... Hill (Harold Perrineau) begins a downward spiral after a family tragedy that may see him slide irreperably... <
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>These are, of course just some of the happenings in season 5, as per usual it has so many twists and turns involving characters i could be here all day! The feeling i had when viewing season 5 was that the end was close, as the major characters all began to reflect and become or at least attempt to (This is Oz remember!) become better people, and the writers were already preparing to tie things up.. As a result the body count is i believe the lowest out of all 6 seasons and violence whilst still prevalent is also used sparingly which to a degree is a refreshing change of pace compared to the previous seasons... Standout episode for me was episode 6 'Variety' purely because we get to see Beecher and Schillinger sing and dance (sort of)!! Seriously though, its another quality season , and the thing that always amazes me about the writing and acting, is that even though these guys have done just about every sadistic and evil thing you can imagine, you still empathise and sympathise with them, Alvarez is a prime example of that, yet you still think 'hey he's not such a bad guy'! Now THAT'S great writing and acting... <
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>All in all, another great season however you do feel the end was nigh to a degree which makes me sad hence 4 stars!! Word of note though if you havent watched Oz before this season, go back and buy the previous seasons , purely because you need to know the characters history to truly understand their actions and attitudes in this season... Hope this was useful to somebody, definitely purchase it, cant wait til season 6... <
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Another trip down the blood soaked yellow brick road
What is it that makes HBO's ultra volitale men in prison drama Oz such compulsively addictive viewing? Perhaps it's the layers of storylines being told over one another, perhaps it's the fact that this is one of the finest ensemble casts ever assembled, or, possibly, because one is so shocked at what is seen on screen that they anxiously, or dreadfully, await to see just who gets shanked next or what else develops. Whatever the case, Oz remains one of the best shows to ever grace HBO, and one of the most underrated. The fifth season of Oz begins with the aftermath of the kitchen fire, followed by the power control triangle between Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen), white supremiscist leader Vern Schillinger (J.K. Simmons), and Kareem Said (Eamon Walker). In the meantime, the mother of Ryan and Cyril O'Reilly (Dean and Scott William Winters) comes to the prison to teach the prisoners of performance arts, while a few inmates train some dogs to be guides for the blind. Of course not all of this ends well at all, but what else would you expect while taking a trip down this blood soaked yellow brick road? Standout performances from Tergesen, Simmons, Walker, the Winters brothers, Kirk Acevedo, B.D. Wong, Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney, and the rest of the usual suspects are highlights here, but it's Law & Order: SVU's Christopher Meloni who steals the show as Beecher's psychotic lover Keller, who has coming agendas of his own. By the time season five comes to a close, it is apparent that the end is soon near, and by the time it reaches it's climax, you'll be begging to see how it all comes to an end.