Customer Reviews

JAG (Judge Advocate General) - The Complete Second Season

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Its rare when DVD season sets are released close together. Usually fans have to wait 10-12 months for a new release, but Paramount Home Entertainment has done right by the fans with this quick release of JAG Season Two on DVD, probably because they made us wait so long to begin with. But yes JAG fans, the Harm and Mac Attack is on the way. For those unfamiliar with the show, JAG tells the story of officers of the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps. Both investigators and lawyers, the JAGs go wherever the case is, whether its on the deck of a 75,000 ton aircraft carrier or with a Marine fire team in the field.

JAG Season Two was a milestone of sorts as well as a transition. Picked up after its cancellation by NBC after Season One, JAG was given 15 episodes to make its case to stay on the air. With the introduction of new characters, it quickly garnered more viewers and became a success for CBS, leading to another 8 seasons on that network. Season 2 saw the arrival of feisty and beautiful Marine lawyer Major Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) to join Tomcat pilot/Jag lawyer Lt.Cmdr. Harmon Rabb (David James Elliot). Mac was a great foil for Rabb, and the two characters had a palpable chemistry from their first episode together, We The People. (this chemistry was first seen in Bell's brief appearance in the 1st season episode Skeleton Crew, where she played Harm's murdered girlfriend.)

With the arrival of Mac however, we said a fond goodbye to Harm's former partners Lt. Meg Austin (Tracy Needham) and Cmdr. Allison Krennick (Andrea Thompson). Needham's departure was sad given the intelligence and chemistry she brought to the role of Lt. Austin, but with a new network, changes had to be made. Executive Producer Donald Bellisario decided to bring in Catherine Bell and focus the stories primarily on the team of Mac and Harm in Season Two, with great results. Lt. Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux), Ensign Harriet Sims (Kerri Turner), Petty Officer Tiner (Chuck Carrington), and CIA Agent Clayton Webb (Steven Culp) became regular characters, adding some fun to the mix, and the decision to keep Admiral Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) as the head JAG after Season One was a smart one. Jackson had the right amount of humor, gravitas, and fierceness to play the part.

The visual feel of Season Two was improved, with less reliance on stock footage from films as was seen in Season One. The biggest improvement was seeing Harm and company in the courtroom more, whereas Season One rarely had episodes focusing on the lawyer part of JAG. Overall storylines were tighter and better thought out, with the episodes Secrets, The Guardian, Code Blue, and Heroes the standouts in the season. Of course as with any show, there were some clunkers in the bunch, most notably the terrible Washington Holiday, with Harm watching over a Romanian princess. Season Two ends with the courtroom showdown between Harm and Mac in Rendezvous. A good episode, but not one that ended the season on a cliffhanger by any means.

The extras are very limited on this 4-disc set, due to its short length and the quick turnaround time between the release of Seasons One and Two. There are several audio commentaries, one featurette on Season Two, and a featurette on the real-life JAG corps. This season represented the new era of the show, with Mac, Bud, Harriet, Tiner, the Admiral, Webb, and of course Harm, and that alone is worth the money for JAG fans. Highly recommended.

A.G. Corwin
St.Louis, MO

I can't really review this DVD per se since it isn't released yet, but I just want to thank the powers-that-be for putting Season 2 out so soon after Season 1 was released. I am a huge JAG fan who still misses the show. I really enjoyed the Harm and Mac relationship, but since I didn't start watching JAG until about half-way through Season 2, I am really looking forward to getting Season 2 to catch up on the earlier episodes. I have Season 1 and I'm enjoying it immensely, but I won't be happy until they announce the release of the rest of the seasons. And I'll buy them all,too!

TV was rarely ever better. So, to the people who do the work of getting JAG onto DVD, I have one thing to say: BRING 'EM ON - AND DON'T DILLY-DALLY!!!

Ahhh so now here is where JAG really got its start!!! The chemistry b/w David James Elliott and Catherine Bell was the BEST!! When CB came on the show, she was so awesome as Mac-- first off what a cool TV character name; she was tough, strong, smart, beautiful, kick-a@# marine who gave her "flyboy" (a nickname she had for Harm)a huge run for his money. But the partnership is what was so special to watch... You NEED to buy this DVD--VERY WORTH IT!! :) It is the beginning of what people became known as "shippers" being for Harm and Mac being together. Also the rest of the cast ROCKED-- Bud was hysterical and Admiral was very entertaining to watch! Semper Fi JAG SEASON 2!!! :)

YES! I am glad that they also publish the 2nd season so shortly after the first one, for the secnd season is where the series actually starts for me with the introduction of Sarah 'Mac' Mackenzie as Harm's third and final partner.
The only thing I am hoping for now is, that they will also publish the DVDs over here in Germany very soon. If the 1st season isn't at least announced here by November, I think I will go for the American DVD boxes.

I can recommend this series for all fans of action and military series (or movies).

Recently purchased Jag the First Season, as did not know of this series at the time, but after that we never missed a show while it was airing on TV. I recommend this series for anyone who appreciates a good clean drama with a little romance thrown in here and there. I fully intend to buy each one as they come available. Enjoy!!

I'll begin by echoing the comments of what a relief it is that Season 2 arrives so soon after Season 1. Season 2 showed great improvement over the first one due to a combination of better actors who play more extensive roles, a change in focus for the show, and seemingly greater logistical resources for Bellisario that translated into better television.

The Season of course continues its focus of Harmon Rabb (David James Elliot) but introduces Sarah McKenzie, played by the talented and beautiful Catherine Bell who, as some have alluded to, adds a romantic and sexual element to the show. But past that, Bell's character simply trumps that of Lt JG Austin (Tracy Needham) with personality and character. The fact that she's a Marine undoubtedly augments her role.

One could argue however that the show's change in focus was the saving grace. Season 1 was action outside the courtroom. Season 2 places the camera more inside the courtroom, depicting military law and illustrating just what it is JAG's have to do. This was a brilliant move. For one, it adds a level of realism to the show, as the audience no longer is left coming to terms with how a lawyer would end up so often in the trenches. And second, the focus to courtroom drama contributes to the development of Harm's character and others. It's like discovering a new favorite flavor.

There are other contributing elements--such as Bellisario being able to shoot scenes that aren't taken so much from Hollywood scenes--that make Season 2 and the following seasons great, but JAG's improvement can mostly be traced to the above reasons. The best part is Season 2 is only a taste of things to come; JAG's greatness has been embodied in the model Season 2 established and the following seasons carried on.

Catherine Bell, as Mac, with her multi-facetted character, brings the spice to this second series that the first series was missing. The relationship between Mac and Harm, played by David James Elliot, is of equals and so much more interesting than when his partner was played by Tracy Needham, who was more like his kid sister. In this series you can see the groundwork for the future series which became so great. With the introduction of the Bud, Harriet and Admiral Chegwidden characters, all of whom are just right, it is like having all the right ingredients in a recipe. The introduction of the court room scenes as well as more time spent at the Jag offices, serves as a balance to the tension in the adventure scenes and really allows us to get to know the characters.

Well as the DVD of Season 2 has not been released yet as I'm writing this review, I can't really say that it's going to be good. I admit that I stopped watching JAG at the end of the first season, but through a good friend of mine, I started watching season 2. The almost mystical relationship that develops between Harm and Mac is difficult to understand at first, but for those that watched the future episodes for the series, it laid it's ground rules in season 2. I think that all of us would agree that the chemistry between Harm and Mac is something that we all wish for, but we hope that it doesn't take 10 years to figure it all out. I have to say thank you to the makers of this DVD set. We the fans of JAG have waited a long time for these to become available to us, and I'm sure we all hope the the remaining seasons are soon to follow on DVD. I hope to one day say that I own the entire series of JAG for my own personal collection.

I too missed the explanation to this cliffhanger, what happened to Harm after his arrest and it took a little time to get used to Catherine Bell, but she is really good. I also see the point now, Lt. Austin was very nice and beautiful but perhaps too smooth, so to speak. No tension.
Can't wait for the 3rd and 4th Season!

Although the extras are minimal and the episode commentaries are not especially informative, the episodes themselves are a must have for all Harm and Mac fans. This is Catherine Bell's first season with the JAG corps and the beginning of the nine year relationship between her character, Sarah MacKenzie, and David James Elliott's Harmon Rabb, Jr. This season was JAG at its best, light hearted and fun, while at the same time exploring some serious issues.