‘Ghosts’ (U.S.): Season 1 DVD Review – Supernatural Comedy Will Make You Feel Alive

Freelance writer Samantha (Rose McIver) and aspiring chef Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) throw both caution and money to the wind to leave NYC and convert a rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast — only to find that it’s inhabited by a close-knit, eclectic group of spirits of deceased former residents! Adding to the supernatural surprises, Samantha discovers that she can see and hear ghosts everywhere, including those with whom she now shares a home. Old-school haunting and oddball humor fuel this sharp-witted, quirky comedy series that gives new meaning to the real estate phrase, “It’s got great bones.”

For thoughts on Ghosts: The Complete First Season, please check out my colleague Tia Fabi’s review here.

Video Quality

Ghosts: The Complete First Season comes to DVD with 18 episodes over 2 discs, which does bring up some concerns over space, but this release mostly avoids compression issues. This series has been given a Blu-Ray release, but that was not made available for review. Due to the limitations of the format, these episodes are not going to look as good as they do in high definition, but the presentation is strong within the DVD format. Even without the added definition, this is still a visually impressive show with subtle details easily visible in most environments. Colors are rendered admirably, and there is a small bit of texture in the clothing and the production design. A lot of the show takes place in the bright daytime, and night time scenes do not seem as impressive with black levels struggling ever so slightly. Skin tones look natural, and close ups look quite good. While this presentation gets the job done, you should probably go with the Blu-Ray option if you want the best experience. 

Audio Quality

This DVD set comes with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that sounds perfectly acceptable for the type of show that it is. Dialogue is the focus of this series, and it is rendered clearly with a focus in the center channel. The whimsical music cues are presented exceedingly well here. Amongst all of the quips and exchanges, sound effects and background chatter never overwhelm the dialogue causing lost information. The rear speakers create an enveloping atmosphere as the sounds of the environment transport you. The mix has a decent sense of directionality so that nothing ever feels like it is coming from the wrong place. This track is far from pushed to the limits, but it executes its intention well. There are English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc. 

Final Thoughts

Ghosts comes out of the gate as a series that is incredibly easy to fall in love with. The show is one that opens up a multitude of storytelling possibilities that range from the lighthearted and silly to the incredibly moving and poignant. The two central characters have impeccable chemistry with one another, but it is colorful array of spirits which really bring everything you want to this series. This is one of our favorite new sitcoms in recent years. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a DVD with a decent enough A/V presentation but no special features. If you are a fan of the show, you might want to spring for the Blu-Ray version for only a couple dollars more. Highly Recommended 

Ghosts: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate 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.