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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Punky & Her Friends and Lot's of Extras, January 29, 2005
The second season of Punky Brewster will be in stores on February 8th, 2005. This is awesome news for fans of the series who were treated with the first season of Punky Brewster on DVD less than a year ago. The second season includes 22 episodes from the 1985-1986 season. If you are from the 80's you surely remember and love Punky Brewster. Soleil Moon Frye starred in this series as a loveable orphan who found a new home with an older man named Henry. Punky attended school and had daily adventures with her friends Cherie, Margeaux, Allen and her dog Brandon.
The episodes of the second season are a bit different than season 1. You can tell instantly that the writers tweaked the show a bit. Henry is now much more warm to Punky and her friends, whereas during season 1 Henry was much more grumpy and sometimes mean. The goofy, nerdy building super doesn't make frequent appearances. Season 1 was primarily about Punky and her accepting that she is an orphan and developing her relationship with Henry. Season 2 is for the most part about Punky and her friends.
Punky is now in the fourth grade and her teacher Mike Fulton (formerly Mike from Fenster Hall), plays a large part in Punky's life. Mike is a mentor and a friend. In the episode, "Just Say No," when Punky and Cherie are influenced to use drugs by an ultra cool girl group named The Chicklits, Mike helps Punky and Cherie organize their own group of kids who Just Say No. In the episode, "The Search," Punky and Mike embark on a search to find their mothers. In a very bittersweet episode, Mike and his mother are reunited and Punky still doesn't find her own mom. Mike was in so many season 2 episodes he should have been included in some of the season 2 artwork for the DVD.
Cherie emerges as Punky's clear best friend and they continue to share adventures. Punky, Cherie, Margeaux and Allen share a wild adventure in a crazy two part episode titled "The Perils of Punky." This two part episode is part The Goonies and part Neverending Story. Kids will find this episode amusing.
The DVD Packaging
The DVD packaging is quite similar to season 1. The cover art is the same, except this set is orange. The episode names are written on the inside box flap. Each individual disc lies in their own space and are easy to remove.
The Extras
Punky Brewster stickers! Each set includes on sheet of color Punky Brewster stickers. The best thing about Punky Brewster on DVD is the fact that you get episodes of the cartoon series It's Punky Brewster. Shout Factory has included over 3 hours of the cartoon series on this box set. I think it is great that you get the episodes of the cartoon because this is a cartoon series that probably wouldn't have been released on DVD otherwise. Soleil Moon Frye still doesn't appear in an updated interview or episode commentary, but actor George Gaynes appears in a sit down interview.
If you enjoyed Punky Brewster as a child or teen in the 80's, chances are that you are now in your mid-late twenties or thirties. Watching these episodes as an adult, you might think to yourself, "This is kind of silly I can't believe I used to watch this show." However, it is important to remember that Punky Brewster was a show written for kids. If you have kids of your own or nieces or nephews I guarantee that kids today will enjoy this show. My kids love Punky Brewster. Watching Punky is the ultimate treat for them and they laugh out loud at her hijinx.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Punky Power!, February 10, 2005
I was only a year old when Punky Brewster first aired on NBC. I am now 21 and have been waiting for this show to be on DVD since it went off the air as reruns when i was in the 4th grade...about 1994. I think Punky was my idol. I loved everything about her and the fact that I looked like her. Its so great to watch all these episodes now, because its hard to even remember them. I remember the characters and some stories, but not well enough. I get so excited to come home after going to school (college!) LOL and watch a few Punky episodes. Its funny how much things change. I loved all the episodes, but "Perils of Punky", the 2 part episodes were so strange! I don't know if little kids were enjoy it, but its Punky so its ok. I just wasn't thrilled with those episodes.
I also loved that there were stickers!!!!! I hope that they continue putting out the rest of the episodes of Punky. As someone else has mentioned, the cartoons are a great bonus! I loved the saturday morning cartoon and we wouldn't be able to have them w/out these DVD's. I also hope that the next DVD set has an interview w/Soleil because that would make the set complete. I think its only fitting that she talk about the show that launched her career.
If you're looking for something to remind you of your childhood in the 80's...this is it! My boss's daughter (and my friend) is 10 years old and I have her hooked on Punky. Her mom watched it as a teenager, and likes that I have been buying them and sharing them with her. I love to see that kids now days are able to see something WORTH watching. Shows today just aren't what the 80's and early 90's were.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MORE PUNKY POWER!! I LOVE Punky Brewster!!, March 31, 2005
The Punky Brewster saga continues with this fabulous set of Season 2!
Punky Brewster ROCKS!!
This 4 disc set contains all 22 episodes of the 1985-86 season, and 3 hours of the popular Saturday morning animated show It's Punky Brewster, as well as an interview with Helsinki-born actor George Gaynes, who played Henry Warnimont, Punky's foster (and later adoptive) father. An extra special feature of this Season 2 set is a sheet of free Punky Power stickers included in every box. I LOVE Punky Brewster! I've got Punky Power!!
In Season 2, Punky and the gang are back, and a year older. Punky and her friends are now 9 and in the fourth grade with Mr. Mike Fulton, who was introduced at the end of Season 1 as a worker at Fenster Hall, the emergency children's shelter. Now Mike has gotten a job as a teacher, and Punky, Cherie, Allen and Margaux are all in his fourth grade class.
One of the differences between Season 1 and Season 2 is the absence of Eddie, the goofy, and geeky apartment building's maintenance man. Although, I can understand his removal, as this season is primarily about Punky, and the developing relationship with Henry and her friends, I still kind of missed Eddie in the second season. To me, he injected a different kind of humor into the show, with his constant mishaps, and his run-ins with Henry and his wisecracks. Oh well. The show is still terrific anyway. I just kind of missed those scenes, that's all.
Season 2 also deals more with serious issues than they did in Season 1, which though had some heavy episodes (Fenster Hall, I Love You, Brandon, etc.) they weren't as many. In Season 2 there are episodes that deal with drugs and peer pressure (Just Say No), parental kidnapping in custody disputes (Milk Does a Body Good), the consequences of stealing (Christmas Shoplifting) facing one's fears (Urban Fear) gender discrimination (Girls Will Be Boys), compassion for others (The Gift) and more!
But though this season deals with several serious issues, they are presented in such a way that it is suitable for all ages to see. Also, like Season 1, there is no graphic violence, or other inappropriate material.
However, there is one 2 Part episode (The Perils of Punky) in which Punky and her friends find themselves lost in the woods during a camping trip, ending up in a vacant Indian cave, where Punky tells a ghost story that becomes the basis of the episode, which younger children (even some sensitive adults alone at night! LOL!) might find scary.
But other than that, this show is still a WONDERFUL family-friendly show! Out of all the DVD's I've seen, Punky Brewster is one of my favorites! I CAN'T WAIT until all 4 seasons of this wonderful show come out on DVD! I am going to buy them all!
Ever since I got this set, I have been watching it over and over! When and if I have children someday, I want them to watch this great show too! Although at the rate I am watching it now, by then, I may need to buy a whole new DVD set of this series! LOL!!
Like with Season 1, I love ALL the episodes on this set, but I think my favorite episode would have to be the 5 part "Changes" episode, because it shows how the love between Henry and Punky has blossomed over the past two seasons, and how although they're not biologically related, these 2 have truly become like father and daughter. Best of all, this 5 episode story arc ends with Punky being officially adopted by Henry!
However, there are still no special picture or sound features like Dolby Digital, Surround Sound, THX, or DTS. The picture and sound are still okay, considering that it was made in the 80's, but I'm sure that the DVD creators could get a lot more sales, if they just included some of these features (which to some people (not necessarily me) that are the whole reason for buying an item on DVD)
Also, once again, there is still no captioning or subtitles available on this DVD set. As I said in my review for Season 1, this is a minor quibble, but Shout! Factory should REALLY consider including closed captions, and maybe even separate language tracks (with subtitles, of course!) for future releases. Naturally, they would need to raise the price a little with the inclusion of these features, but I, for one would not mind paying a little more to get those extra features for a show as fantastic as Punky Brewster.
Punky Brewster is TRULY a GEM!! They just don't make shows like this anymore. I grew up in the 80's, having been born in 1978. The 80's had so many WONDERFUL shows. Punky Brewster, Webster, Mr. Belvedere, Perfect Strangers, Who's the Boss?, Full House, Family Matters, Baby Talk, Head of the Class, Family Ties, Growing Pains, The Cosby Show, Doogie Howser M.D., Picket Fences, Life Goes On, and more!
Unlike now, when TV is clogged with crap like the reality show rage of Survivor, Fear Factor, and other equally revolting junk
Punky Brewster is a MUST for all 80's fans like me. This show is an instant blast to my childhood. I LOVE PUNKY BREWSTER!!
I strongly encourage ANYONE who wants to see a wholesome, good quality show, that the whole family can enjoy, to buy this set of Punky Brewster!
PUNKY BREWSTER RULES!!
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