Customer Reviews

Daybreak: The Complete Series

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I really liked this show when I watched the original broadcast in HD, but this is a review of the actual product (which I received today), not the series itself.

It comes in a thick plastic case which might be used for four discs, but there are only two discs. How do they fit 13 episodes on only two single-sided discs? First, they replace the 5.1 channel high fidelity soundtrack with two-channel stereo. Then they compress the video a lot more, and it shows, more or less. It actually looks better than I thought it would, but compression artifacts are obvious in the details, such as the weave of his shirt, or the color banding in the sky of a rising sun. All the commentaries seem to be here, however, sometimes two per episode, and there are three video features as well, probably from the original DVD release.

For reasons unknown, the discs are in two loose paper sleeves. It may be that the distributor intends to save money by using the same thick plastic box for all their releases requiring more or less discs (and sleeves).

The ideal Daybreak on DVD would be on Blu-ray, so that I could see a version that looks at least as good as the original broadcast. Second best would be the previous four-disc release. Last of all is this two-disc set, though it's still worth watching if you haven't seen the show yet.

Day Break was a terrific show, I never understood why it didn't catch on. It's kind of a blend between "24" and "Groundhog Day", and felt as fresh and fun to watch as those both did in the beginning. While the show was cancelled, all the episodes were completed, and the series feels complete. In a way maybe it's better the show didn't last, as it never had time to grow stale. Don't miss it!

Day Break was one of the finest contemporary series ever. Cerebral in nature, a real thought provoking series that really inspires one to elucidate the flow of the story every minute. Most were only able to view 6 full-framed broad-casted episodes with commercials along with those fortunate enough to have caught the remaining seven widescreen episodes on a computer monitor over the Internet.

One of the many unique aspects of this fascinating show is the brilliance in its casting. The cast consists of a broad spectrum of ethnicity that delightfully, does NOT have anything to do with the storyline. Just fine actors playing their parts to perfection.

I never imagined I would ever see this series again. It will be a pure delight to view the entire series commercial free & in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I think everyone will have varying opinions interpreting each episode all the way to the very last scene! Enjoy!!!

I watched this show online when it was on the air. The show was great.

This DVD set, however, is the worst DVD set I have ever had the displeasure of trying to watch. The sound is awful. It's very hard to hear what the characters are saying over the background noise and music. The video is very grainy and it looks like someone filmed it with a cheapo home video camera. The lights are too bright, and the darks are muddy and hard to distinguish.

I know this show looks and sounds better then what is represented on this set. Someone decided to re-release this to make a quick dollar and screw over consumers. Do not buy this set. You will be sorry. I am. This show deserves a much better release.

Yes, there are features.

Commentaries on all 13 episodes featuring: Stars Taye Diggs, Moon Bloodgood, Adam Baldwin, Victoria Pratt, Mitch Pileggi, Meta Golding, Ian Dale Anthony and Ramon Rodriguez, Creator/Writer/Producer Paul Zbyszewski, Showrunner/Writer/Producer Jeffrey Bell, Director/Producer Rob Bowman, Producer Matthew Gross, Writers/Producers Steven Maeda and Henry Alonso Myers, and Film Editor/Producer Marta Evry. (15 total commentaries)

Interviews with Cast and Crew

Behind the scenes footage

Please have it closed-captioned (CC)--or better yet, subtitled for the deaf and hearing-impaired (SDH) for the next time you re-release this movie! As I'm deaf, I'm unable to enjoy the current movie release.

I really enjoyed the show but the quality of this particular DVD release is lacking. As described in other reviews it comes in a thick DVD case which should be able to accommodate the four or five Disc that you would expect with 13 episodes plus the extras. When you open the case there are 2 Discs in paper sleeves that sit in a pocket of the case. Very odd. After reading the small print on the DVD packages I did find that it states there are 2 Discs while the DVD packaging gives the impression that it would contain more. What a shame since it potentially had a chance to be a very nice set with the commentary extras.
The good news is that this set was found at Target for $5. At that price it might be worth buying since the show was entertaining and did have some closure.

I am baffled as to why this show didn't catch on, it was amazing. The writing, cinematography and (perhaps most of all) the performances were all top-notch. Taye Diggs, Jonathan Banks and Adam Baldwin are particular standouts among an engaging cast. The camera work was stunning, especially in HD, with L.A. in a palette of rich reds and oranges. The story was beautifully intricate -- if cut off too soon.

I don't see any bonus features listed here. If true, that's a real disappointment. I would be very interested in hearing about the show's influences and (like many others) I'd like to hear about what plans the writers had to tie up loose ends.

A final note: One of the last scenes in Day Break had its music replaced at the last minute due to cost issues. It was a terrible change and I very much hope it's been rectified for the DVD. [...]

UPDATE: As far as the last scene, the broadcast music is also on the DVD, unfortunately.

On a shopping binge i picked up the first season of a lot of shows - Mad Men, White Collar, Dexter, Six Feet Under, Veronica Mars, Numb3rs and a few other whose names i'd heard and were highly hyped. i found this cheap and it sounded like a detective Groundhog Day so figured i wasn't risking a lot of money. Boy was i surprised - this was BY FAR the best TV series i picked up. Had a friend over and we watched episode after episode wanting it to not end (although my friend liked that it ended before it got old).

Here's the basic idea - a cop is framed for murder, his day goes poorly, he wakes up the next morning and it all starts over again. His hope is that if he finds out who framed him (or more appropriately, who heads the shadowy organization that framed him), the day will end and life will go on. A detective Groundhog Day. Within a few episodes you learn one thing is different - any damage (or gunshot wounds) he receives are still there the next day. Not the bandages that kept him alive, just the wounds. So, unlike Bill Murray, he can't just do anything, he has to try to stay alive.

A few more episodes go by and you learn that the day CAN change. There are several people who are important to him, each with a problem, a problem that ultimately causes him problems. If he solve that person's problem, the next day that person "feels" different and does something to make his day easier. For example, his partner has an issue that causes a death every night. Once he solves her problem, from every day forward, she solves her own problem and he has one less death to worry about. Solving other people's problems helps solve his problems, little by little.

A few more episodes go by and you learn that he isn't the only person who can tell when the day repeats. This part could have been developed better and perhaps would have been had the show not been cut short.

So it's not exactly Groundhog Day. It's also not a comedy and he's not stuck in place - every day he researches a clue and tries to remember it so that the next day he can learn a little more, eventually working his way to the bad guy. You watch him make progress little by little, and it's interesting to see.

i buy a lot of cheap stuff and i'm almost always disappointed but this month has been good - i picked up Fast Forward (another canceled show) that is fantastic and this one, which is better than fantastic. Since i also liked FireFly (another show canceled in its first season), maybe i just like shows everyone else hates. But to me, this show was worth all the previous bad investments i've made in bargain shows.

FROM THE VERY 1ST EPISODE [OF 13] THIS NEARLY 10 HOUR SHOW GRABS + HOLDS YOUR INTEREST UNTIL THE CONLUSION. AS ANOTHER REVIEWER STATED " THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF MY TOP 5 DRAMAS EVER". GREAT ACTING COMBINED WITH A GRIPPING STORYLINE MAKE THIS A MUST SEE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DVDS[2] QUALITY