DVD Review: Miami Vice Seasons 1 & 2

Synopsis:

Season 1 – The cops. The cars. The clothes. From executive producer Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) comes the first season of the explosive, groundbreaking detective show that redefined the word cool. Set against the seamy and steamy Miami underworld, MIAMI VICE allows you to ride shotgun with suave cops Sonny Crockett (Golden Globe® winner Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas) as they battle a never-ending gallery of criminals, drug dealers, and lowlifes. Jan Hammer’s electrifying score features a soundtrack of rock legends, including Glenn Frey, Phil Collins, U2, and Peter Gabriel, and every episode crackles with excitement and stylish flair. Also stars Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Edward James Olmos(Battlestar Galactica) and a powerhouse roster of guest stars, including Ving Rhames, Jimmy Smits, and Bruce Willis. See why Time magazine called MIAMI VICE TV’s hottest and hippest cop show.

Season 2 – The groundbreaking detective series that defined a decade returns to DVD with all 22 thrilling episodes in Miami Vice: Season Two! In this electrifying Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning second season, Vice cops Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) are back in their sleek Ferrari pursuing every ruthless criminal under the relentless Miami sun.

What We Thought:

I wasn’t old enough to watch Miami Vice when it first aired, but I remember the cultural effect it had. The music, the clothes, the style, the show set trends back in the day.

I watched the show years back in reruns and watching it now, boy were those trends very 1980’s. The music and cars are still cool, but man, I hope the clothing trends never fully come back. Some have, but some shouldn’t!

Besides the style, what made the show a hit was the great chemistry between stars Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. The Crockett and Tubbs dynamic was hard to beat in the 1980’s and that dynamic still holds up today. They played off each so darn well. Even in the pilot, both leads were perfect for one another.

Those leads were both good looking dudes solving crime and doing things people wanted to do. It sounds simple yet it worked flawlessly for the show. From day one, they both wanted to find who killed their partners and the show never slowed down from there.

The city of Miami itself set the tone for the show. It was all pretty people with tons of money, tons of coke, lots of skin and cool music. If you lived hundreds of miles away, Miami became THE place you wanted to go to then.

Highlight episodes of Season 1 & 2 include, investigating an undercover agent who might have turned criminal while looking into porn, the power boat racing and smuggling episode, the two women smuggling coke in statues, Tubbs taken hostage by a punk gang, going to New York to take down a cartel, the British TV celeb, the stewardess dying from coke balloons, the pretty amazing Miami Grand Prix episode, and the cruise ship being attacked by pirates.

Miami Vice Season 1 & 2 have been out on DVD before, but Mill Creek has them at great low prices. If you were a fan of the show and don’t own them, you should definitely pick them up now. Some of the show doesn’t hold up today, but overall it’s still an entertaining show and you can’t deny the “It” factor of the two leads and the show’s style. Because of that, it is…

RECOMMENDED!

Bonus Features:

• None

Cast & Crew:

• Don Johnson
• Philip Michael Thomas
• Edward James Olmos

Recommended If You Like:

• Magnum P.I.
• Starsky & Hutch
• Classic 1980’s TV Shows