The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
85
Studio and Year: Universal - 2012
MPAA Rating: NR
Feature running time: 595 minutes
Genre: TV/Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: VC-1
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, B.J Novak, Angela Kinsey, Leslie David Baker, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Oscar Nunez, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Ellie Kemper, Zach Woods
Directed by: Various
Music by: Jay Ferguson
Written by: Various
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: September 3, 2013
"Farewell…."
Film Synopsis:
The Dunder Mifflin crew bid farewell to their own little corner of Scranton in the hilarious ninth— and final— season of the groundbreaking, Primetime Emmy® Award-winning hit series, The Office. Andy is back as regional manager, but finds his true calling is in showbiz. Will this finally put Dwight in charge? Jim lands the job of his dreams in Philadelphia, which means big changes for Pam and Darryl. Back at the office, Erin struggles with matters of the heart, Nellie meddles in everyone’s affairs, and Angela discovers that her dream marriage isn’t quite what it seems. And then, the documentary that has been following these quirky co-workers for nine seasons finally airs, and nothing will ever be the same.
My Take:
A remake of the hit 2001 BBC TV series of the same name, The Office is a mockumentary style sitcom that documents the exploits of the employees at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. My first experience with the The Office was back in 2005 when NBC ran the first four episodes in a row during prime time. The first episode we saw was “Diversity day”. It literally had us in stitches and we haven’t missed an episode since. Over the years we have reveled in the hysterical absurdity, rooted for blossoming relationships, and bonded with these endearingly quirky characters that we have come to know so well. Everyone has a turn in the barrel and the results can be uproariously funny and occasionally heartwarming. The genuine chemistry among the cast shines through brilliantly.
Steve Carrel’s departure left very large shoes to fill. Michael Scott’s antics are the reason I began watching The Office and the series just isn’t the same without him. As is previous seasons before it Season nine has its share of in office inappropriateness, off color humor, orchestrated folly, and infused drama that doesn’t derail the drollery but effectively supports it.
I like Ed Helms but Andy doesn’t have the effecting affable charisma and warmhearted oafishness of Michael Scott. The addition of young Dwight/Jim the twenty something interns adds little and Catherine Tate’s Nellie Bertram is nothing but a ridiculously integrated and annoying distraction. Like the previous season there is ample chemistry to be found in the endearing characters and their interpersonal/interoffice relationships unfortunately memorable episodes were few and far between rather than the norm. I will say that season nine proved to be better than season eight particularly because of the Jim/Pam situation which played out over the course of the season. As fans we have watched and pulled for them throughout the series and really enjoyed how their marital troubles were integrated here.
We loved this show and watching its final season was difficult as after nine years it had become an integral part of our TV watching family (if that makes any sense). The finale was tastefully done and it was rewarding seeing how everyone and everything ended up. I will miss The Office. Fortunately we can relive some of its best moments over and over again via home video and reruns. Thanks for the memories. I won’t say goodbye, but rather, see you later…
Season eight’s 23 episodes are spread over five BD-50 Blu-ray discs with the bulk of the bonus features contained on disc four. It comes housed in a flimsy fold out cardboard keep case (held shut by an unsubstantial slipcover) where discs 1&2 and 3&4 snap into the plastic hubs in an overlapping configuration that while serviceable makes removal of the bottom discs a bit awkward.
Parental Guide:
The Office contains mild thematic material and suggestive language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 80
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
The Office Season Nine comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring 1080p VC-1 encoded video that has an average bitrate of 19 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.3 Mbps.
This video presentation is reminiscent of the show’s broadcast high definition quality and looks terrific on Blu-ray. Colors are vivid with rich primary highlights and natural rendering that looks superb. Skin tones are characteristically distinguishable with lifelike complexional structure. Resolution is excellent as images have crisp definition, revealing subtle delineation, and above average dimension. Blacks are strong and depth of field in low level shots is appreciable. Sharpness fluctuates here and there but fidelity is never in question. This is a faithful and pristinely rendered high definition presentation that won’t disappoint
The multi-channel lossless audio won’t test the limits of your surround sound system but it capably delivers the elements present in the show’s soundtrack. Dialogue is tonally rich with excellent room penetration and defining clarity. Dynamics are punchy and bass response is appropriate in support of the track’s recorded elements. The front channels handle the bulk of the audio and presents an open two dimensional soundstage with the surrounds supplying ambient detail. I think the mix mates perfectly with the source material and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
Final Thoughts:
After Nine seasons of laughter, a few tears and watching some of the most endearing characters created for television it is time to say so long to The Office. The final season doesn’t rank among the show’s best but it was still one of the better sitcoms in prime time and the cast/crew gave fans a wonderful sendoff. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in a fan friendly offering that boasts top notch video quality, crystal clear DTS-HD Master Audio sound and a solid assortment of bonus supplements. For long time fans this Blu-ray offering deserves a place in your collection.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package
The Review at a Glance: (max score: 5 )
Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )
85
Studio and Year: Universal - 2012
MPAA Rating: NR
Feature running time: 595 minutes
Genre: TV/Comedy
Disc Format: BD-50
Encoding: VC-1
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, B.J Novak, Angela Kinsey, Leslie David Baker, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Oscar Nunez, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Ellie Kemper, Zach Woods
Directed by: Various
Music by: Jay Ferguson
Written by: Various
Region Code: A,B,C
Blu-ray Disc release Date: September 3, 2013
"Farewell…."
Film Synopsis:
The Dunder Mifflin crew bid farewell to their own little corner of Scranton in the hilarious ninth— and final— season of the groundbreaking, Primetime Emmy® Award-winning hit series, The Office. Andy is back as regional manager, but finds his true calling is in showbiz. Will this finally put Dwight in charge? Jim lands the job of his dreams in Philadelphia, which means big changes for Pam and Darryl. Back at the office, Erin struggles with matters of the heart, Nellie meddles in everyone’s affairs, and Angela discovers that her dream marriage isn’t quite what it seems. And then, the documentary that has been following these quirky co-workers for nine seasons finally airs, and nothing will ever be the same.
My Take:
A remake of the hit 2001 BBC TV series of the same name, The Office is a mockumentary style sitcom that documents the exploits of the employees at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. My first experience with the The Office was back in 2005 when NBC ran the first four episodes in a row during prime time. The first episode we saw was “Diversity day”. It literally had us in stitches and we haven’t missed an episode since. Over the years we have reveled in the hysterical absurdity, rooted for blossoming relationships, and bonded with these endearingly quirky characters that we have come to know so well. Everyone has a turn in the barrel and the results can be uproariously funny and occasionally heartwarming. The genuine chemistry among the cast shines through brilliantly.
Steve Carrel’s departure left very large shoes to fill. Michael Scott’s antics are the reason I began watching The Office and the series just isn’t the same without him. As is previous seasons before it Season nine has its share of in office inappropriateness, off color humor, orchestrated folly, and infused drama that doesn’t derail the drollery but effectively supports it.
I like Ed Helms but Andy doesn’t have the effecting affable charisma and warmhearted oafishness of Michael Scott. The addition of young Dwight/Jim the twenty something interns adds little and Catherine Tate’s Nellie Bertram is nothing but a ridiculously integrated and annoying distraction. Like the previous season there is ample chemistry to be found in the endearing characters and their interpersonal/interoffice relationships unfortunately memorable episodes were few and far between rather than the norm. I will say that season nine proved to be better than season eight particularly because of the Jim/Pam situation which played out over the course of the season. As fans we have watched and pulled for them throughout the series and really enjoyed how their marital troubles were integrated here.
We loved this show and watching its final season was difficult as after nine years it had become an integral part of our TV watching family (if that makes any sense). The finale was tastefully done and it was rewarding seeing how everyone and everything ended up. I will miss The Office. Fortunately we can relive some of its best moments over and over again via home video and reruns. Thanks for the memories. I won’t say goodbye, but rather, see you later…
Season eight’s 23 episodes are spread over five BD-50 Blu-ray discs with the bulk of the bonus features contained on disc four. It comes housed in a flimsy fold out cardboard keep case (held shut by an unsubstantial slipcover) where discs 1&2 and 3&4 snap into the plastic hubs in an overlapping configuration that while serviceable makes removal of the bottom discs a bit awkward.
Parental Guide:
The Office contains mild thematic material and suggestive language.
AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:
REFERENCE = 92-100 / EXCELLENT = 83-91 / GOOD = 74-82 / AVERAGE = 65-73 / BELOW AVERAGE = under 65
**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**
Audio: 80
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Dynamics:
- Low frequency extension:
- Surround Sound presentation:
- Clarity/Detail:
- Dialogue Reproduction:
Video: 90
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
- Resolution/Clarity:
- Black level/Shadow detail:
- Color reproduction:
- Fleshtones:
- Compression:
The Office Season Nine comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring 1080p VC-1 encoded video that has an average bitrate of 19 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.3 Mbps.
This video presentation is reminiscent of the show’s broadcast high definition quality and looks terrific on Blu-ray. Colors are vivid with rich primary highlights and natural rendering that looks superb. Skin tones are characteristically distinguishable with lifelike complexional structure. Resolution is excellent as images have crisp definition, revealing subtle delineation, and above average dimension. Blacks are strong and depth of field in low level shots is appreciable. Sharpness fluctuates here and there but fidelity is never in question. This is a faithful and pristinely rendered high definition presentation that won’t disappoint
The multi-channel lossless audio won’t test the limits of your surround sound system but it capably delivers the elements present in the show’s soundtrack. Dialogue is tonally rich with excellent room penetration and defining clarity. Dynamics are punchy and bass response is appropriate in support of the track’s recorded elements. The front channels handle the bulk of the audio and presents an open two dimensional soundstage with the surrounds supplying ambient detail. I think the mix mates perfectly with the source material and sounds great.
Bonus Features:
- 2003 casting – Audition tapes featuring those eventually cast for the show but also a number of familiar faces that didn’t make the cut but who have since gone on to other very successful projects – 5 minutes
- Behind the scenes/panel discussion – 45 minutes
- (HD) Deleted scenes – 2 plus hours
- (HD) The Office: A look back – 29 minute retrospective featuring cast/crew
- (HD) Finale table read – 77 minutes
- (HD) Season Nine Blooper reel – 14 minutes
- (HD) Autotune Andy – 1 minute feature
- Ultraviolet Digital
Final Thoughts:
After Nine seasons of laughter, a few tears and watching some of the most endearing characters created for television it is time to say so long to The Office. The final season doesn’t rank among the show’s best but it was still one of the better sitcoms in prime time and the cast/crew gave fans a wonderful sendoff. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in a fan friendly offering that boasts top notch video quality, crystal clear DTS-HD Master Audio sound and a solid assortment of bonus supplements. For long time fans this Blu-ray offering deserves a place in your collection.
Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS55 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8801 11.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103 Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" Series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SV Sound PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
APC AV S15BLK Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package