Take 4 TV: Oz
Oz: Season Four (2001)
What's Going On?: For those of you not in the know, "Oz" is the nickname for the Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary...yes, my friends, this is a prison drama, not a series based around munchkins and flying monkeys. Most of the action takes place in the experimental cell block within Oz known as "Emerald City," where prisoners are given much more freedom and responsibility than in other cell blocks. A lot of the fourth season focuses on the new chief officer of "Em City," and his somewhat unconventional practices, while the perpetual feuding between the different factions within Oz becomes more and more escalated.
Leading the Line-Up: On the "officer" side, you have Ernie Hudson, playing the warden of Oz (Leo Glynn), while Terry Kinney plays the "creator" and controller of "Em City," Tim McManus. Also, it would be remiss of me not to mention Rita Moreno, who plays Sister Peter Marie, the nun/psychologist of the prison (and one of the best characters/actors in the series). Among the inmates you have Lee Tergesen, who plays the "everyday guy who makes a serious mistake and finds himself in prison," Tobias Beecher; you have Eamonn Walker, who plays the leader of the Muslim faction, Kareem Said; and you have Harold Perrineau, who plays the wheelchair-bound narrator, Augustus Hill (some of you will recognize him as playing Michael, Walt's father, on the television series Lost). Many, many more folks...too numerous to mention.
Things to Look Out For: Lots of violence and nudity in this, so not for the faint of heart. Oh, and Luke Perry makes a surprise appearance this season, and does a pretty damn good job.
Random Trivia: The arm that is being tattooed in the opening credits belongs to series creator Tom Fontana.
And I Quote: Augustus Hill (narrating): "So, what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom? What makes us so different? We're the only species who put our own kind in cages."
Life Lessons From Oz: 1) If you find yourself near an elevator shaft in prison, and no guards are around...you or someone with you is likely about to bite it. 2) Like in 24, don't get too attached to characters...you never know who is suddenly going to get shanked. 3) "Tits" is prison slang for drugs. Seriously. Who knew.
Curt's Take: "Worth Considering" - Well, it took me forever to get through the first episode...but then it suddenly just grew on me, like a soap opera. Next thing I knew I was on Episode Twelve, waiting for the next disk in the mail. If you can look past all the sex and violence and nudity...it's a pretty gripping drama. Almost Shakespearean. Watch characters rise, fall and come to the end of their rope. There are some prisoners you really want to see succeed, and some staff members you want to see fail and be humiliated. Wouldn't start with this one, though...go back to Season One and catch the first several episodes. Decide for yourself.
On Our Next Episode: Switching over to the BBC...a comedy series where the entire cast of characters if played by three guys. Ah, those wacky Brits.
What's Going On?: For those of you not in the know, "Oz" is the nickname for the Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary...yes, my friends, this is a prison drama, not a series based around munchkins and flying monkeys. Most of the action takes place in the experimental cell block within Oz known as "Emerald City," where prisoners are given much more freedom and responsibility than in other cell blocks. A lot of the fourth season focuses on the new chief officer of "Em City," and his somewhat unconventional practices, while the perpetual feuding between the different factions within Oz becomes more and more escalated.
Leading the Line-Up: On the "officer" side, you have Ernie Hudson, playing the warden of Oz (Leo Glynn), while Terry Kinney plays the "creator" and controller of "Em City," Tim McManus. Also, it would be remiss of me not to mention Rita Moreno, who plays Sister Peter Marie, the nun/psychologist of the prison (and one of the best characters/actors in the series). Among the inmates you have Lee Tergesen, who plays the "everyday guy who makes a serious mistake and finds himself in prison," Tobias Beecher; you have Eamonn Walker, who plays the leader of the Muslim faction, Kareem Said; and you have Harold Perrineau, who plays the wheelchair-bound narrator, Augustus Hill (some of you will recognize him as playing Michael, Walt's father, on the television series Lost). Many, many more folks...too numerous to mention.
Things to Look Out For: Lots of violence and nudity in this, so not for the faint of heart. Oh, and Luke Perry makes a surprise appearance this season, and does a pretty damn good job.
Special Features to Catch: Pretty weak on special features...two of the sixteen episodes have cast/creator commentaries (skip the one on the final episode, but the one with Rita Moreno during Episode Eight is somewhat entertaining, if you feel you must catch one). Also, the final disk has some deleted scenes from throughout the series, but nothing spectacular.
Random Trivia: The arm that is being tattooed in the opening credits belongs to series creator Tom Fontana.
And I Quote: Augustus Hill (narrating): "So, what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom? What makes us so different? We're the only species who put our own kind in cages."
Life Lessons From Oz: 1) If you find yourself near an elevator shaft in prison, and no guards are around...you or someone with you is likely about to bite it. 2) Like in 24, don't get too attached to characters...you never know who is suddenly going to get shanked. 3) "Tits" is prison slang for drugs. Seriously. Who knew.
Curt's Take: "Worth Considering" - Well, it took me forever to get through the first episode...but then it suddenly just grew on me, like a soap opera. Next thing I knew I was on Episode Twelve, waiting for the next disk in the mail. If you can look past all the sex and violence and nudity...it's a pretty gripping drama. Almost Shakespearean. Watch characters rise, fall and come to the end of their rope. There are some prisoners you really want to see succeed, and some staff members you want to see fail and be humiliated. Wouldn't start with this one, though...go back to Season One and catch the first several episodes. Decide for yourself.On Our Next Episode: Switching over to the BBC...a comedy series where the entire cast of characters if played by three guys. Ah, those wacky Brits.
posted by Curt at 6:39 PM
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