In early 1990s Boston, violent criminals, corruption and racism are a normal part of life and, to make matters worse, are backed by the local law enforcement agencies. Hailing from Brooklyn, District Attorney Decourcey Ward seeks change and forms a surprising alliance with a hardened FBI veteran, Jackie Rohr. This unlikely duo takes on a family of armored car robbers from Charlestown. The case evolves into the change that Boston needs by altering the city’s untrustworthy criminal justice system.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/Y4SNS4G9gKc?si=BW6NrV52IED10iTi&t=3820]

Video Quality

City On A Hill: The Complete Series arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Showtime Home Entertainment with an excellent AVC encoded 1080p transfer. This series consists of 26 episodes spread across seven discs, providing plenty of room for episodes to breathe and avoid compression artifacts and aliasing. The show has a thematically appropriate depressed color palette that rarely radiates off the screen but is rendered with significant nuance and depth. Skin tones appear especially weathered and detailed across the ensemble. This presentation soars when it comes to unlocking the subtle details of the frame

The presentation is stronger than the streaming and broadcast versions of the show thanks to the compression of that source, but this series does not appear to be available through its network app any longer so that point is moot regardless. Black levels are deep and provide a robust amount of detail in shadows. Highlights never clip or veer into blooming in this presentation. Every episode maintains its stability which reminds you why physical media is the way to go over streaming. Showtime has delivered a strong physical media option for a series well worth your time.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray set comes with a dynamic DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the sonic intentions of the series without issue. Dialogue comes through clearly without being drowned out by the music or any sound effects. Kinetic moments occasionally rise to the surface, but the narrative is more focused on the slow-burn interpersonal drama and criminal elements. When it needs to, the track digs in to deliver some texture in the lower registers. The track showcases environmental sounds in a way that feels authentic and immersive. The music conjures the appropriate atmosphere for the series which is presented with exceptional fidelity within the mix. The audio presentation is every bit as solid as you want. There are English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Season 1

Inside The Episode: The first three episodes of the first season are given brief post-show breakdowns with the cast and creative team.

- Episode One (2:30)

- Episode Two (2:37)

- Episode Three (2:35)

Kyra Sedgwick Directs City On A Hill: A two-minute look at actress (and Kevin Bacon’s wife) Kyra Sedgwick taking over directing duties for episode seven of the debut season.

Capturing Boston: A three-minute piece that takes a look at the importance of Boston to this story in particular.

Final Thoughts

City On A Hill is a great under-the-radar crime drama from Showtime. While Kevin Bacon will understandably be the draw for many viewers, it is Aldis Hodge who continues to impress us with each opportunity he receives to show off his skills. We wish we could have had more than three seasons with this story, but this is a satisfying story as is. Showtime Home Entertainment has delivered a Blu-Ray that offers an excellent A/V presentation and a couple of special features. If you are in the market for a compelling crime series, this one will treat you well. Recommended

City On A Hill: The Complete Series can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Showtime Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.