Joan of Arcadia - The First Season
by Alan Myerson, David Petrarca, Elodie Keene, Gloria Muzio, Helen Shaver
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DVD details
Actor: Amber Tamblyn, Jason Ritter, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Michael WelchDirector: Alan Myerson, David Petrarca, Elodie Keene, Gloria Muzio, Helen Shaver
Brand: Paramount
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), PCM Mono; English (Original Language), PCM Mono
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 1028 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-05-10
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Product features:
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- Box set; Color; DVD; Widescreen; NTSC
DVD Reviews of Joan of Arcadia - The First Season
DVD Review: Superb Characters, Acting, Writing - Must See TV!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I like my movies dark and edgy, preferably Indies, which is why I am so surprised at my addiction to the TV series "Joan Of Arcadia." It's about as hard-boiled as "Little House on the Prairie," which, oddly enough, I also watched avidly. Perhaps it is the excellent writing and outstanding cast which sets this program apart. All time favorites Joe Mantegna, (lots of noir under his belt), and Mary Steenburgen team up with talented young Amber Tamblyn, (Joan), Jason Ritter, (son of John Ritter), and Michael Welch to play members of the Girardi family, who recently relocated to the small town of Arcadia.
Joan Girardi, a pretty, (not glamorous...interesting), precocious teen, is experiencing adolescence Bigtime. She adores her family, BUT, they are a continual source of embarrassment. Her dad, Will Girardi, (Mantegna) is the town's new police chief, and a loving, moral man. He is not religious, however. Mom, Helen, (Steenburgen), works at the high school as an administrator, and is a spiritual, creative person. Handsome older brother, Kevin, (Ritter), is a recent paraplegic due to a terrible car crash. And younger brother Luke, (Welch) is a brilliant, but geeky guy.
What's interesting here is the show's concept. Joan talks to God. On a daily basis. And He talks back. I know, sounds either zealous or corny...but it works! And I say this from the perspective of one who likes her entertainment separate from all things religious. As Joan grows up, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, God advises her. This is not God of burning bush fame...nor the omniscient booming voice from stage left. Joan's God is played by the average man/woman/girl/boy on the street. His voice and all-knowingness can come out of the mouth of the mailman, a bag lady or a cute guy. He appears in each episode and asks Joan to perform a seemingly innocuous task. The instructions are usually opaque, and Joan rarely sees their relevance. It is up to her to work out how her actions resonate within her family and the community at large. The point is that Joan is only asked to do something small, like join the chess club, or volunteer at a high school art show. The results usually have a far ranging impact. They act as a catalyst which trigger events in the lives of others. Joan's constant realization of how significant the "little things" one does are, teaches her that she doesn't have to save the world to make a difference. This idea is one of the many reasons Joan of Arcadia is so special.
There is nothing preachy or saccharine-like about the program. If I didn't know that God was in the cast, I wouldn't think the show had anything to do with Him at all. The show's approach is one accessible to people of all religions, although based on the Judeo-Christian tradition. Even agnostics would enjoy Joan and company - the Girardi family certainly questions their beliefs and faith at times.
Season One introduces the family as a unit and as individuals. They are all adjusting to life in a new town, new school, new job. God works with Joan on becoming an achiever, as opposed to an underachiever. Kevin has to cope with his rage and his disability. Wheelchair bound, he is no longer the top athlete he used to be, and his life has changed drastically. He hasn't really begun to internalize all this yet. Luke is an extremely gifted kid, but really geeky in an adorable way. He'll cope. Helen is struggling with her belief in God, after her sons traumatic accident. She was also a talented artist at one time, but has not painted in years and must deal with the reasons she stopped. And Will's work as chief cop is fascinating. There are mini-police dramas in almost every episode. He is caught up in some ethical dilemmas at work also, which also make for interesting watching. There is tremendous chemistry within the cast. Mantegna and Steenburgen make a believable and loving couple and the kids interact effortlessly, like siblings. Joan's best friend Grace Polk, (Becky Wahlstrom), and boyfriend Adam Rove, (Chris Marquette) are wonderful characters. There's not a dud in the group.
I don't know a single person who thought they'd like this show when they heard about it. They watched, and they were happily surprised. Goes to show the importance of keeping an open mind!
This DVD feature all 23 episodes on six discs. Deleted scenes are included from almost all episodes. The filmmakers and cast provide audio commentaries.
By the way, as I am sure you've noticed, the only way to watch a TV series these days is by renting/buying the season DVDs - no commercials, and no seven day wait between shows. You can also nod off in the middle of a segment and rewind. Enjoy!
JANA
Description of Joan of Arcadia - The First Season
JOAN OF ARCADIA:FIRST SEASON - DVD MovieOnce in awhile a show comes along that breaks the mold. Most such programs fail, but Joan of Arcadia set out to do something new, beat the odds, and found an audience. Created by Barbara Hall (Judging Amy), it?s a unique hybrid of My So-Called Life, The Commish, and--well, something different. Unlike CBS predecessor Touched by an Angel, faith creates more questions than answers (and God even has a sense of humor).
Joan (Amber Tamblyn) is an ordinary 16-year-old. Father Will (Joe Mantegna) is the local Arcadia police chief, mother Helen (Mary Steenburgen) is a teacher/administrator, younger brother Luke (Michael Welch) is a fellow student, and older brother Kevin (Jason Ritter, son of John Ritter) is a high school graduate who was paralyzed the year before. He used to be popular and athletic. Now he watches TV and builds models. In the pilot, God speaks to Joan for the first time, as a cute boy, and asks her to get a job. Once she's convinced He's really God, she does. Her action inspires Kevin to get one, too, and his process of rejoining the world begins.
As in Joan Osborne?s theme song, "One of Us" (featured on two episodes), God will continue to appear to Joan in a variety of guises--even as a dog walker who looks like Russ Tamblyn (Amber's father). He?ll often ask her to do things that make her uncomfortable, but she'll always learn from the experience and some good will always come from it. Unfortunately, she isn't able to talk to anyone about this or they'd think she was crazy, not even friends Grace (Becky Hahlstrom) or Adam (Christopher Marquette). By the season finale, faith will be replaced by doubt, setting the scene for the second season, in which Joan?s faith will be restored. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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