Customer Reviews

Tru Calling - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(95)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I loved the premise of the show. This woman has the ability to save lives and does everything she can to, to the detriment of her own personal life does so. Eliza Dushku is a great actor and highly underrated. I loved her on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and she continues to prove her talent in Tru Calling. Shawn Reaves is talented and adds not just drama but certain type of comic relief. Jason Priestly, what can I say that hasn't already been said. He's not only extremely talented, but incredibly charming. He's got what they call in Hollywood the "it" quality. Rob Duncan who scores the show does a wonderful job. He did the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and it what an amazing work of art. He is quite the musical artist. I bought this DVD set without ever having seen any of it on television, trusting that the casting and creative people behind the scene would be enough for me to be assured that I would like it. Not only do I like it, but I love it. My only regret is that they didn't give the show a fair chance. I think at the very least that they should have been permitted to finish out the season. Just when Tru is going to find out about her Dad they end it. I felt cheated. It still had a lot of room for more great story telling and character development. You won't be wasting your money on this set Seasons one and Two.

After the first episode I was skeptical that this show would make it out of it's first few weeks. Tru spent too much time running about showing off that she could run (she eventually gets her own car). Thankfully this show was given enough time to work out the kinks and find it's pacing. By the time you hit the last six episodes you will be hooked.

My wife and I are very glad that we hung with this cult hit show. It may not have grabbed the biggest audience shares, but think about what shows it was competing with on Thursday nights last year. With "Friends" gone, "Survivor" just still being the same old same old, and the numbers for the apprentice dropping you now have the perfect excuse to give this show the chance it deserves. This is more than just a show for fans of "Buffy" and "Angel".

Year One of this show did what it needed to do. The first half of the season lets you explore a universe where it is possible for someone to go back one day and save someone's life. It helps you understand what makes Tru tick.

The second half of the season broadens that universe and shows that you may not have told about everything it has to offer and there are deeper mysteries to be explored. The last few episodes show that Tru Calling isn't just your typical good versus evil show. Tru Calling is about Tru struggling to understand her role in the world, discovering the truth about what has come before her, and assessing what means she must do to answer her "Calling".

Even if you don't get sucked in by the first few weeks please give this show a chance. If you have to, jump to the last 6 episodes (at least watch a few of the earlier episodes to get the flavor of the show and a feel for the characters). When Jason Priestley finally joins the cast for the end of the season you will get sucked into the storyline that until this point has been entirely one sided. Watch as the battle to save lives takes on it's own specially twist that will leave you wishing there were more episodes to watch. Hopefully there will be many more that are as gripping as these last 6 episodes (some of the best TV of the 2003-2004 season).

The dvd box set provides the full 20 episodes filmed in Vancouver, a must have for any Tru Calling fan.

Commentary by cast and crew adds the extra dimension to this set, as well as many special features that really take the time to draw you into the world of Tru Calling.

Many buy dvd sets simply for the extras, and TC does not fail to please in that department.

However, (isn't there always a however?), Tru Calling has only been able to film 6 of it's contracted 13 episodes for season 2 (Fox had cut the contract for episodes in half). Fox has called for Tru Calling's set to 'fold and hold' (ie. put in storage, of which many TV shows never come out of) and at this point in time, a new show is set to air in Tru Calling's time slot and has not been scheduled for Fox to run in its January line up.

This is where the fans of this wonderful show need to step up to the plate and not let this become part of the wash as Fox cuts its way through more pilot shows. You can show your support of this show in one of a number of ways:

1. Visit www.supporttrucalling.com to find the address of Fox to formally acknowledge your wish for this show to remain on the air and to be picked up for a full season;

2. Visit the above website and request the WB pick up Tru Calling for a full second season (rumour has it there have been talks);

3. If all else fails, the sales of Tru Calling season 1 dvd will be an indication of whether or not the 6 episodes of season 2 will be packaged and sold on dvd - if there's enough sales, fans will at least see the 6 episodes made.

Those who have seen the ending (of which I'm not gonna spoil here) know this show can take off.. if only a network will give it the chance.

I have been a huge fan of Eliza Dushku's ever since I first saw her play the character Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, when I first heard about her new show Tru Calling, I was extremely skeptical. Not only because the show looked ridiculous, but also because of the fact that FOX has a tendency to cancel their new shows. Anyone who was a fan of John Doe or Fastlane knows what I am talking about. Out of my loyalty to Eliza, I decided to give the show a chance. After watching the pilot episode, I was geniunely suprised that I found myself anticipating the next episode. As the show went on, I found myself liking it more and more each week. But as good as the show was throughout the season, it becomes flat out addictive after Jason Priestly joins the cast. When the season finally ended supplying one of the best cliffhangers I have ever seen, I was blown away at how good the show turned out to be. In my opinion, Tru Calling was the best show on television last year after Smallville. Both Alias and 24 that offered superior seasons in the past, failed to produce a third season that could match the first season of Tru Calling.

The concept behind the show is one that is both unique and interesting. While there have been shows where the main character helps people before, this was the first show that I have seen where a dead person gets a second chance at life by asking for help. Watching Tru relive a particular day to stop a person from dying with such little to go on, is really suspenseful. Each week, the show manages to supply a "race against the clock" type feel. The performances in this show are suprisingly good. Eliza is not only beautiful, but she is great in the role of Tru as well. Zach Galifianakis is superb as Tru's boss Davis. Since Davis knows what Tru can do, he helps Tru with each mission and the interaction between them is great. Jason Priestly comes in with only six episodes left, but is fantastic in the role and he did such a good job that he was kept on as a regular character for the second season. Shawn Reaves is also very entertaining as Tru's younger brother Harrison. While I enjoyed the entire first season of Tru Calling, episodes that worth mentioning are - "Brother's Keeper", "Two Weddings and a Funeral", "Daddy's Girl", "Two Pair", and "D.O.A."

If there was ever a show worth buying on DVD, it is definately Tru Calling. The set is worth owning just for the episodes themselves, but the extras only make it that much better. There is three featurettes, deleted scenes, and more.

A solid 5 stars...

A lot of people either love or hate this show. I love it, but can't seem to say why. Is it the fact that Tru could be any of us? Just a regular girl, trying to make her way with her makeshift family, thrown into an incredible situation and given an incredible gift to make a difference in people's lives.

Tru Davis is a college graduate who hopes to become a doctor someday. When she was young she witnessed her Mother's murder and at her Mother's funeral her Mother spoke to her. No one believes her and she later on believes that it was all just in her child's imagination.

However, when she gets a job a the county morgue to get experience in the medical field on her first night one of the victims of a murder calls to her for help and in that moment her day rewinds and she must relive the whole day, and somehow right the wrong that was done. This is the theme of the show. She goes to work and someone who died before his/her time calls to her for help and she has from the beginning of that day to right the wrong that happened.

Tru is a strong woman trying to make a difference and trying to help people. Not because it is her job, not because they are close to her, but because they are human beings who need help. Enough said. Too many people these days hesitate to help a stranger, but Tru is an inspiration to us all. Get involved and if there is someone who needs help and you can help them, do it.

I love the characters in this show. None of them are perfect, but they are all original in thier own way. Sure there are some time paradoxes that happen, but that is not what the show is really about. No show can tackle time travel without running into problems making it work for the story.

What this show is about is the people and it always hits it's mark!

I am a huge Buffy/Angel fan. So much so that when I found out that Eliza Dushku, who wonderfully played the popular character of Faith the Vampire Slayer, had decided to do a show called Tru Calling instead of a Faith-based spin-off of Buffy, I was understandibly ticked off by the idea. Why should she waste her talent on a show that looked kind of dumb when she could do a show that already had a fan base and would be helmed by Joss Whedon, one of television's greatest assets? After watching the show on TV, and then again in this boxed set, I have come to terms with Ms. Dushku's decision, and I've found a great little show in the process.
Dushku plays Tru Davies, a recent college graduate with hopes of going to medical school (although with her intelligence, she's pretty much a shoo-in). She planned on interning at a hospital in order to help on her application, but when the funding for it fell through, she was referred to taking a job at the City Morgue. There, she meets her boss Davis (Zach Galifianakis), a very quirky, yet friendly, man who is more comfortable with the dead than he is with the living. However, Tru gets a little more than she bargained for when, on her first night on the job (she has the graveyard shift), a cadaver turns to her and asks her for help. The day "rewinds", and Tru finds herself back at the beginning of the previous day, although now she retains all knowlege of what will happen. Using her knowledge of things to come along with her intellect, she is able to prevent the person from dying.
As I said earlier, when I first heard this premise, I thought it sounded a little cheesy. Not only that, but it doesn't exactly make this show original; it mainly has elements of Early Edition and Groundhog's Day to it, with some inspiration drawn from The Sixth Sense, Quantom Leap, and sometimes even Buffy. However, that may not be such a bad thing. Tru Calling takes many of the best aspects of these shows/movies, and combines them into a very entertaining hour of television.
Another problem I thought the show might have would be that, after a few weeks, the formula would get old. Wrong. Even though each episode has pretty much the same general formula (body asks for Tru's help, Tru rewinds and tries to help the person before they die), the writers are able to keep things fresh by adding new twists, interesting backstory for some of the characters, and even the risk of failure (notice how I said she TRIES to help the person).
Furthermore, the dead aren't the only people in need of help. Tru's sister Meredith (Jessica Collins) is a well-to-do lawyer who is addicted to cocaine and refuses to admit it. Her brother Harrison (played very well by Shawn Reeves) is a compulsive gambler who never knows when to quit, and is always asking for fiscal help from his siblings. Tru's best friend Lindsay (A.J. Cook) usually needs Tru's help with relationship issues, and Tru's father Richard (Cotter Smith) is very distant with his kids ever since the tragic death of his wife Elise (who was murdered in front of Tru 10 years prior). Throughout her rewind days, Tru is able to help her friends and family in little ways while helping total strangers live to see the next day.
For the most part, the actors were very good in their roles. Dushku, who I think turned down the Faith show to avoid being typecast as the "bad girl", is very good as the smart and heroic Tru. Reeves and Galifianakis are great in their respective roles. They each have very distinctive personalities, and are very funny to watch in their interactions with other people. Jason Priestly, who joins the cast towards the end of the season, plays Jack Harper, a man with a few secrets of his own, and he plays Harper extremely well. He is obnoxious yet cool at the same time.
Sadly, this show didn't pick up too much of an audience. For the most part, critics did not like the show, and it was up against shows such as Friends and CSI, however it does have a very loyal fanbase. So for a show that was so unpopular, it got a very strong DVD treatment. There are plenty of extras, such as deleted scenes, featurettes, and many commentaries on key episodes.
Some of the best episodes include "Putting Out Fires", "Brother's Keeper", "Murder in the Morgue", "Star-Crossed", "The Longest Day" (a very Groundhog's Day episode that aired 3 days after the actual Groundhog's Day of '04), "Valentine", "Daddy's Girl", "The Getaway", "Two Pair", "Rear Window", "D.O.A.", and the season finale "Two Weddings and a Funeral". I would reccomend at least renting this set if you are a fan of fantasy shows (it's definitely an acquired taste, which may be one reason why ratings were low). It really is a good show if you give it a chance.

I mean, Fox screwed the show right off the bat. They put it up against CSI, Survivor and Friends: the final season. It was no wonder that it didn't get good ratings, but it did pretty well considering it's competition. Here's my review of the season and be sure to watch for easter eggs on the final disc and maybe others.

Pilot- After Tru finds out that she wasn't going to get work at a hospital, or more accurately: medical school, she's transferred to the morgue where on her first day there, she gets asked for help from a girl in serious trouble.

Putting Out Fires- Tru falls in love with a fireman who asks for her help when he saves a boy from a house someone set on fire and of course, he dies in the fire but rescues the boy.

Brother's Keeper- Harrison is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend's husband, who won't get a divorce because he is rich and she would get way more value if they did. After the husband asks for Tru's help, Tru gets to find out everything except something Davis is hiding.

Past Tense- Five guys are living in the past when they all show up at the morgue and ask for her help. Now she attends the party, intending to save them when a sixth guy enters.

Haunted- Crazy college kids try killing themselves then re-awakening after about 10 seconds of going under, only one of the girls heart fails so Tru is forced to help. And Davis finally reveals his secret to Tru: he knows she relives days.

Star-Crossed- Two high-school kids die after a jealous brother runs them off a ledge. Now the only question is, why?

Morning After- Tru is forced to save her ex-boyfriend when he comes begging for her to take him back. She fears that she may have killed him as all the evidence leads that way.

Closure- A beautiful tale of a soldier dying of a decease and tries to see his ex-girlfriend because he loved her so much and the only reason they broke up was because of the war.

Murder in the Morgue- Tru finally convinces Harrison that she relives days. And while she tries to save the life of a bride who asked for help, she also has to save Davis and herself from dying after the supposable killer arrives at the morgue and tampers with the evidence.

Reunion- Tru's high school class is reunited and her old friend, who stole her boyfriend in high school, is murdered and asks for Tru's help.

The Longest Day- Geese, I'm glad I'm not her when it comes to days like these. It gets repeated 4 times as each time, someone different dies. Then she realizes that maybe someone is supposed to die but she's not doing something right.

Valentine- While Tru and Harrison try to find a way from revealing Tru's secret to Lindsey and Luc, a serial killer is on the loose at the cottage they've rented out. And Luc breaks up with Tru.

Drop Dead Gorgeous- Clare Kramer("Buffy's" Glory) makes a guest appearence, someone accidentally murders one of the beauty pageants who was actually targetting Clare's character. Tru is forced to help her while a reporter is starting to bug her about the amount of times she shows up and saves people and Davis reveals that her mother also relived days.

Daddy's Girl- Tru meets the man that her father paid to have her mother killed. And she is forced to save her father's girlfriend after she gets shot. Jason Priestley joins the cast as Jack Harper who tries out on the first day but his references didn't check out but after the day restarted, he was able to get the job on the spot.

The Getaway- Tru is unsure whether she should save the life of the reporter whose been bugging her. Cause it may reveal her ability.

Two Pair- As Tru starts wondering about Jack, thinking there's more to him then he leads on, two bodies ask for her help but she only saves one of them as the other one commits suicide after a phone call to her parents reveals how she lost all her tuition money and all the evidence of who made the call points to Jack. And Davis reveals to Tru how he knew she relived days.

Death Becomes Her- Tamyra Gray fakes her own death to disappear from the media because of her baby. Jack starts questioning about Tru never being on a pick-up.

Rear Window- Now Tru gets to ask questions about Jack as Davis shows up wanting to talk to her but the day restarts before he says anything. As the day goes on, he invetually discovers what it was and feels something is very wrong when he finds out that Jack was in a mental institute because he thought he relived days.

D.O.A.- Things seem all to good for Tru as her and Jack seem to be doing good and getting along. Well, until Jack purposely messes up a street direction so that the person dies and then later tries to stop her from saving someone else's life. It seems that while Tru relives days to save the lives of people that have recently passed away, Jack relives those days to make sure they stay dead.

Two Weddings and a Funeral- As Tru and Jack are now at war over whether she should save the lives of people that are supposed to die. Harrison becomes the next target for Jack as he passes away and asks for her help. Tru manages to save his life on day two, Jack notices and does something indescribeable to make sure that someone dies in his place. This causes a war between the two of them and Jack reveals that her father used to relive days the same way Jack does now.

Also includes Deleted Scenes, selected commentary of three episodes from some of the actors, the music video for the theme song, and featurettes:

"Finding the Calling: The Pilot"
"The Tru Path: Season One"
And "Evil Comes Calling: A late Season Twist"

And as for Jack, I don't think that he was necessarily a villain. I think Tru was a hero but Jack was definitely mis-understood, at least by Tru and her gang. He had a different opinion and I think, for the most part, he was right. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I guess we'll never know who the one actually messing with fate was.

It's fantastic show, give it a chance!! You'll probably like it!!

When I first got recommended this on Amazon, I had to have it. It took me a few weeks of trying to resist temptation, and hunting around for a better price, but I couldn't find one. I ended up buying it for myself, for Christmas, and getting it two days before! So that was a nice present to get!

Eliza Dushku is one of my favourite actresses at the moment - she's gorgeous! I still remember her in the early role of Arnie's daughter in Tru(e) Lies, and then her fabulous roles in Bring It On & Wrong Turn. She also appeared in Buffy, as a character called Faith, but I can safely say, I've never seen an episode of that show.

With each episode, you'll be drawn deeper into the world of Tru Davies, and you'll be discovering that the name of the series `Tru Calling' can have so much depth to it, and different meanings, and can be interpreted in many ways.

The credits are brilliant - they're your typical TV show credits, but have the added advantage of a great song "Somebody Help Me" by Full Blown Rose, and they're over pretty fast. Where the adverts would have originally been (probably making the show last an hour with it's original airing on TV), they're cool, quick, and funky segments, of the "flashbacks" that continuously appear throughout the show. Also, from about half way through the series, the episode names take a different turn, and seem to have the names of films. Look for yourself.

PILOT - Not the most original title for the first episode of a TV series. This is a rather slow beginning, as we get introduced to all the characters, but we soon get thrown into the thick of things, with Tru's first reliving happening pretty soon. This also features her doing a lot of running around (for all the guys, and for anyone who remembers Baywatch, this is for you), and lots of calls being taken & received on mobiles.

PUTTING OUT FIRES - Not everyone can be saved as Tru finds out the hard way, on only her second reliving.

BROTHER'S KEEPER - We get a bit more of a look in to Harrison's (her brother's) life here, as he features in smaller roles in the previous episodes. He's played by the cute Shawn Reaves (albeit blonde), who certainly looks like Owen Wilson's younger brother.

PAST TENSE - The thing about these episodes is they're all very similar, with formulaic plot lines, and Tru always manages to point the finger at the wrong person.

HAUNTED - Not one of the best episodes so far, but definitely an interesting concept. Tru helps a young med student who dies after participating in a secret experiment in which her heart is temporarily stopped.

STAR-CROSSED - One where Tru points the finger at different characters, and then it all comes clear towards the end of the episode, yet again very formulaic.

MORNING AFTER - Her ex-boyfriend & college professor appears again in this, and for once, the finger is pointed at Tru, and she has to work her butt off to figure out who's killed him.

CLOSURE - This is the saddest episode of the series. I was practically in tears just watching it. Ryan Kwanten, formerly Vinnie Patterson in Home & Away, stars in this, and this will show you despite how hard Tru tries, sometimes, she can't save everyone.

MURDER IN THE MORGUE - A really interesting twist to the story, having Tru trying to stop HERSELF getting murdered, and Davis too. A gripping story, complete with slow motion bullet scene, similar to the ones in Matrix.

REUNION - Episode set at the high school reunion, where the littlest thing Tru does, sets off a major chain of events.

THE LONGEST DAY - This is an episode where Tru discovers someone HAS to die, in order for perhaps someone else to live, and she has a tough time figuring this out.

VALENTINE - With a nosy reporter chasing Tru, we finally find out the connection between her & her mother through Davis, and to be honest, it's pretty predictable.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS - Hmm, strange episode here. It's called by the same name of a movie about a beauty pageant, and has a lot of the plot from Miss Congeniality too!

DADDY'S GIRL - The first appearance of Jason Priestley, ex Beverley Hills 90210 star, who's aged badly! You're busy trying to figure out what exactly he is, and why.

THE GETAWAY - Not much to say about this episode, apart from Tru confessing all, and not being believed.

TWO PAIR - This episode involves Harrison getting involved in helping Tru, and once & for all believing her.

DEATH BECOMES HER - Jason Priestley's character, Jack, is still hanging around, and believe me, you'll be clutching at straws, and coming up with all kinds of impossible answers as to why he's around!

REAR WINDOW - The end of this episode is the best part - we finally find out what is with Jack Harper.

D.O.A - More is revealed about Jack, in the penultimate episode, which will leave you shocked, and dying to watch the final episode.

TWO WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL - You'll be left open mouthed by the end of this episode, and I'm literally dying for the second season to come out on DVD now. So far, the second season hasn't fared too well in the USA, and whether it will get a cult following or not, is waiting to be found out. But the producers definitely have my vote for it to continue - it's too addictive for words.

With 20 episodes spread over 4 discs, averaging at 40 minutes each, and extras including selected episode commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes (Finding The Calling: The Pilot; The Tru Path: Season One; and Evil Comes Calling: A Late Season Twist) and "Somebody Help Me" music video by Full Blown Rose, you'll be literally blown away by this DVD box set, and you will be HOOKED.

If FOX cancels this show, I will never again watch anything on the network. These networks just don't get it. We are tired of the so-called "reality" shows. I myselt am tired of the same old drama crap that just keeps getting recycled into different shows. I mean, come on, we've got Everwood, The O.C., Summerland, One Tree Hill, etc. These are all basically the same darned show with different actors. Give us something different. We need shows like Tru Calling, Charmed, Dark Shadows, shows that can take us away for an hour into other worlds. Cancel the teenage crap. How many more shows do we have to endure about teenage pregnancy, slut versus homecoming queen, gay versus straight, illegitimate kids, and secret mistresses? Enough already.

If you decide to just pass by this show then you are truly missing out!! The acting is very well done and the storys incredible. You are following the life of Tru Davies med student who is currently working at the city morgue. She is dealing with a gift of reliving days and helping innocent people. Later on in the series Jason Priestly joins to play Jack Harper. Jack is a morgue attendent and has special abbilities of his own. He is there to stop Tru from saving people. He has come to keep the accounts of the univerese in balance. Filled with cliffhangers, laughs and tear jerking moments this show has it all. One of my fav. epsisodes before Jason came on was the second one. Tru meets a fire fighter that she thinks is the one she has to save, only she is wrong, in the end he ends up dying while saving the life of a 4-5 year old girl. At the end of the epsiode Tru ask him (he's dead) to ask her for help, but he doesn't his time has come. Tru then realizes that things are ment to be and that it was his time. I cried when I saw the end of this episode it was done wonderfuly! I hope you order this DVD set and make sure to check the show out this coming Jan. 2005. It has been moved to Thursdays at 9pm. ch.13 Fox. Thank you so much FOX for releasing this DVD!