In the debut season of KIN, a boy is killed and his family embark on a gangland war with an international cartel – a war that is impossible to win. But the Kinsellas have something the cartel does not: the unbreakable bonds of blood and family.
For in-depth thoughts on Kin: The Complete First Season, please see my colleague Tia Fabi’s review from its original premiere here.
Video Quality
The first season of Kin comes to Blu-Ray with an eye-popping 1080p presentation that pushes the format to its limit. The series is filled with intricately curated, distinct sets and gorgeous cinematography that is presented with perfect clarity on this disc. Colors from the blood and costumes pop off the screen alongside the varied lush landscapes that bring some life to the show. Black levels are very deep and never betray the objects on screen. No instances of compression artifacts crept up during the viewing. From the many brightly lit scenes to the darker, shadowy sequences, the skin tones and facial details are incredibly rendered in a way you could almost mistake this for a 4K disc. Subtle facial features are readily visible, such as the cuts and bruises you see throughout the season that lends itself to intricate texture. This is a tremendous presentation that showcases a beautifully shot series that deserves the best.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite forceful in its own way. The series is primarily dialogue driven, but there are also some impactful kinetic sequences that kick this track into overdrive. There is some nice ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during crowded sequences or when the family visits unique locales. The dialogue primarily stays in front center channels and is reproduced clearly. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. The score brings a richness to the series that fills up the room on this track. When the action kicks in, there is some heft to the low end that is appreciated in a series such as this one. This track has a substantial dynamic range that should please fans of the series.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on these discs.
Final Thoughts
Kin is a show meant for a more patient mind, but give it your attention and it could be your next new addiction. The series does not always offer up something groundbreaking in the narrative, but the performances from the ensemble elevate it to something incredible. The show develops quite effectively over the course of the debut season, and by the time you reach the conclusion you will be begging for the next one. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray set featuring a grand A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. While the show has primarily been more of a niche endeavor up until this point, the show is ready to be discovered by a fanbase ready to champion it. Why not add yourself to those ranks? Recommended
Kin: 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 Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
