Customer Reviews

Father Ted - The Complete Series 2

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If you like Father Ted, this is the 2-DVD set to buy. 10 unbelievably funny episodes starring Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly, and Pauline McLynn (the aunt in "Angela's Ashes"). With 2 hilarious appearances by Graham Norton.

Some highlights are: "The Plague," in which Dougal's black and white bunny multiplies, much to the horror of Bishop Brennan (who fears rabbits due to his unfortunate experience of being trapped in an elevator with several of them); and "Song for Europe," in which Ted and Dougal steal a catchy tune to use with their own lyrics ("My Lovely Horse") in order to win a songwriting contest.

Some of the lyrics go like this:

"My lovely horse running through the field,
Where are you going, with your fetlocks blowing in the wind,
I want to shower you with sugar lumps, and ride you over fences,
I want to polish your hooves every single day and bring you to the horse dentist."

The best part of the episode is Dougal's dream sequence, which shows him with Ted in their very own music video.

I'm looking forward to the American release of series three. Tragically, Dermot Morgan, who plays Father Ted, died the day after filming the final episode. He has left a wonderful legacy to the world of comedy.

TV comedy doesn't get any better than this! Father Ted Series 2 is even better than Series 1. The laughs are unstoppable with episodes like:

...

"Hell" - Father Ted, Dougal and Father Jack go on holiday in a miniscule caravan, only to have it invaded by the hilarious screeching Father Noel (played by So Graham Norton's very own Graham Norton)and his riverdancing youth group.

"Tentacles of Doom" - The Bishops are coming to elevate the Holy Stone of Clonrichert to a level II holy relic and Ted must train Father Jack to say things other than "Feck!", "Drink! and "Girls!". The outcome is ROFL funny.

"Cigarettes And Alcohol And Rollerblading" - Lent has never been scarier! They enlist Sister Assumpta to help them hold their Lenten vows, however Sister Assumpta has different ideas about Lent which include sleeping on bricks, starvation and torture.

Ever want to go on holiday and see "Saint Kevin's Stump", stay up until "10 past the 11" doing the riverdance with Father Noel Furlong? Maybe you'd like to meet the "Dancing priest", the "Spinmaster", or the "most boring Priest in the world"? You might just like to see Fathers Ted and Dougal in the obligatory video for "My Lovely Horse", attempt to give up Cigarettes and Rollerblading, or covered in raw sewage! At the very least you could have a cup of tea or some cake with cocaine, excuse me, raisins in it! Remember not to roll up the "magic road" and don't go to far down the "Bob Geldof road". Well, if you're interested in any of the above then Father Ted: The complete series 2 is for you! This, the hilarious 2nd season of Father Ted is collected on two discs with 5 episodes on each disc. The episodes included are:

01. Hell:"You've a lovely voice, very like Celine Dion"
02. Think fast, Father Ted:"Off to see the Dancing Priest"
03. Tentacles of Doom:"Dougal, we are not watching ALIENS!"
04. The Old Grey Whistle Theft:"Its only a bleedin' whistle."
05. Song for Europe:"We have to lose that sax solo."
06. The Plague:"Thats...um, caviar."
07. Rock a Hula Ted:"She has a lovely bottom"
08. Cigarettes & Alcohol & Rollerblading:"She's been eating chocolate!"
09. New Jack City:"Its the hairy hands, is it?"
10. Flight into Terror:"It was Father Fluffy Bottom."

The extra features include writer's commentary by Graham Linehan on Disc 1 and Bios and Photos on Disc 2. Unfortunately, the Christmas episode, "A Christmassy Ted", is not included here which is strange because it was released in the same year (1996) as the rest of series 2. Hopefully it will be included on the 3rd and final series collection. The final series consists of 8 episodes so with the addition of "A Christmassy Ted", it will probably be another 2 disc set. I can't wait! Anyway, Series 2 is worth every penny, I could stay up until nearly "half ten" watching it! To all the other Father Ted fans out there: "You're a mad crowd!"

We consider this to be the best comedy series ever.
Hopefully Series III will become available in the USA
on DVD soon, as our Series III was purchased outside
the U.S. on VHS

For those who love humor, whether it be 'Subtle' or very 'In your Face', 'Toungue In Cheek' or down right rude, you will love this DVD. While the manufacturers appear to be keeping it quiet as to which Episodes will be included on this disk, the BBC America web-site as been slightly more helpful.

The American/Canadian release of Series two is more complete than the British counterpart currently available. Included are such episodes as 'Flight Into Terror', 'New Jack City' and 'Cigarettes, Alcohol and Rollerblades'. These three epsiodes were never really a part of Series two when It was aired originally in the UK, they were one-offs done in between Series two and three, and included two extremely good Christmas Specials (One of which includes appearances from the BBC Ballykisangel cast).

From the very first episode where Ted and Dougal get stuck in an extremely small Caravan with an extremely over zealous Singing Priest and his group of teen-age groupies, to Ted and Dougal entering 'A Song For Europe' after stealing somebody else's tune (this episode includes a scene where the 'Bleep' stays on for 80% of the time), from Ted and Dougal being dragged across a field behind a tractor for lent, and Ted climbing under an Aeroplane in mid-flight to repair the damage that father Maguire has done, it is not stop laughs.

This series is a fitting tribute to Dermot Morgan and his comic genius, and though he is missed greatly, with episodes like this, we will never feel that we missed out.

Just when I'd thought that I would never experience the thrill of an uncontrollable belly laugh again, Father Ted comes along and slays me silly. Irreverent, clever, and utterly orignial, Father Ted will tickle your funny bone bigtime, and what is more, the laughs go up with each viewing, as the absurdity becomes more and more apparent and the myriad of subtle nuances are discerned.

If you are uninitiated, then let me enlighten you: The thing about Father Ted and his cohorts are that they are the least committed priests ever, and the episodes are more about their non-priestly impulses and adventures, which Ted is gifted at rationalizing in the name of the Almighty. There is more drinking, swearing and lawbreaking in ths show than can be found on most post-prime time network shows. Yet they look and act like your garden variety loveable priests, and the dichotomy between the appearance and the reality is a HOOT.

Think of how fun and ridiculous Black Adder is. Or Ab Fab. Well, Father Ted is totally right up there, with a charmingly Irish, parochial twist.

Those of you who have only seen Graham Norton as a chat show host *must* see where he started to snowball. And yes, the stereotype he plays brings back memories from childhood, making it subjectively funnier. But even if you've never experienced a mad minister/priest, you'll find "Hell" one of the funniest episodes of Father Ted, and it starts off this 2 DVD set in fine style. The other 9 (yes, count them :) episodes are:

- Think Fast, father ted
- Tentacles of Doom
- The Old Grey Whistle Theft
- Song for Europe
- The Plague
- Rock a Hula Ted
- Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading (another of my personal favourites)
- New Jack City
- Flight Into Terror

Disc one has the first five episodes and also features a running commentary by one of the writers - I've only heard the first 10 minutes, but it seems a little tedious.

Disc two has the other five, along with Bios and photo gallery.

If you've never heard of Father Ted, you *have* to see this. If you have, what... are you reading this for.

Should you buy it? "That would be an Ecumenical matter..."

DRINK!

It is probably cheaper and better to buy the box set as there are 5 episodes per disc and 4 discs in total. Father Ted ran for three seasons for a total of 25 episodes. The sound is Dolby 2.0 Stereo. The frame is 1.33:1. Season two gets a bigger budget. Instead of ploughing costs into vamping up the sets and characters, the producers have rightly chosen to keep the original low budget feel and just double the amount of episodes for the year which is why Season two is broken up into Part 1 and Part 2 packages of 5 episodes + 5 episodes. Region 1 of Season two has both parts in one package on two discs. Region 2 sells the parts separately. "Hell" is about a cavern holiday that goes terribly wrong. The scene with the toy cows is a classic. Father Noel and other reoccurring characters turn up here and throughout the season. "Think Fast, Father Ted" has Ted and Dougle rigging a raffle to try and repair a car they trashed which had been donated to the parish. "Tentacles of Doom" is about the Holy Stone of Clonrichert which manages to find its way up a Bishop's behind no thanks to Jack. "The Old Grey Whistle Theft" sees Dougle implicated in the theft of a whistle when he meets up with young bad-boy priest "Damo" who gets up to all sorts of tricks. "A Christmassy Ted" is about group of priests who get lost in Ireland's largest lingerie store and only Father Ted can get them out... Vietnam style. Hysterical stuff.

Part 2 has the "The Plague" with Bishop Brennan back to the problem of Father Jack sleepwalking in the nude and Dougle's pet rabbit overpopulation. "Rock-a-Hula Ted (aka Lovely Girls)" leaves Dougal in charge of the house when he gets a visit from a feminist type Sinead O` Conner who takes over the home. "Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading" is one big withdrawel from drugs because of Lent where things go crazy for everyone. New Jack City is about Jack's retirement to the old folks home and is replaced by Father Fintan Stack, who is even worse. Ted and Dougle work out a plan to break Jack out so he can defeat Father Stack. "Flight into Terror" has Ted back in hero form trying to save a plane of priests from crashing. Season two is all cracking good stuff. Like we said it is probably cheaper and better to buy the box set.

So I started watching Father Ted on insomniac Saturday nights here in New Jersey. I decided after the third time I caught it that I wanted to get the complete DVD set. Have not been disappointed so far(except one episode that started great with 8 priests in a lingerie section of a department store).

Overall I really enjoy this show and I am sad that Dermot Morgan died after the third season. This was a very funny show and Father Jack Hackett of course... is who I want to be when I grow up...

Father Ted is the story of three priests, one a con man, one a drunkard, and the last a complete idiot, exiled by the catholic church to a small island in the middle of nowhere. The Comedy is hilarious although somewhat more difficult for American viewers like me to understand. It can jump around a little bit at times. The funniest thing about the series is that just about every character is a priest. You've got hippie DJ priests, cool smoking soccer playing priests, and not to forget the effete sing along leader priest who won't shut up. In some ways.. it's like a Young Ones for the 90s. Just replace the college kids with priests. It's a wonderful show.

The American release of the complete season two is coinciding with the British release of the second half of season two. Previously, the English releases (including the first half of season 2) have had commentary tracks that are not available on the American release. I hope they put the commentary track on this one.