XENA
SEASON 6

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Release Date: March 15, 2005

MSRP Price: $79.98 
Amazon Price: $55.99
Costco Price: $57.99
Sam's Club: $62.52

22 Season 6 Episodes 
Format: full-screen 
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Run Time: 1056 minutes
Number of Discs -  10
Sound - Dolby Digital 5.1

Xena DVD

the PRETENDER Season 1 Rating:  A
Video:  A
Audio:  A
Content:  B
Acting:  B
Bonus Material:  A
Overall:  A

STARS: Lucy Lawless, "Renee O'Connor, Ted Raimi (SeaQuest DSV), Kevin Smith, and Hudson Leick

Lucy Lawless brought her essence to the role of Xena for six seasons. The series came in with a bang and went out with the same force. Like Hercules the series was a fun watch, loaded with action built around a comedy back drop. The series never took itself serious and constantly played to the audience. Every episode had something for the fan to enjoy. 

I enjoyed Saturday nights. If there was nothing else to do, you could watch the back to back episodes of "Xena" and "Hercules". It was surprising to watch the series come to a close when the ratings were still good for both series. It was like Lucy Lawless had run her course ready to move on to other projects. Projects that have yet to materialize for the actress married to the shows executive producer Rob Tapert. 

The syndicated market has dried up for new syndi series. They've been taken over by repeats of old series like Buffy, Stargate, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, and others. 

Fans were sad to see their series end, but they were given a great ending to fun and entertaining seies. 

PACKAGING 
Anchor Bay kicks butt on packaging always. The use of quality images and design make this a nice way to take the series out with a bang.  

VIDEO: 
I wasn't so impressed with the final season on dvd. The disc sets colors appear a bit soft, maybe washed out some I guess - but it still looks good. Much better than the first season boxed set. 

AUDIO: 
Xena gets the full treatment and that includes a 5.1 transfer. The bass is very hard on the re-digitized soundtrack and the distribution of sound through the speakers rocks. The Emmy Award winning music works great. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
The boxed set isn't loaded with much in the way of extras. it's not something I feel is really needed.  

• Season six (box says five) photo gallery

• Interviews with Actors, Producers, Writers, Directors, and Costume Designers. 

• Audio commentaries with Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert & Joel Metzger and Michael Hurst. 

• Special Featurette - Bringing monsters to life at K.N.B. EFX Group. 

• Special Featurette - Xena Convention 2004 

• Never-before-seen on set footage 

• Alternate Director's Cuts and deleted scenes

• Direct Access Scenes 

• Production drawings and sketches 

• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

CD-ROM 

• Actor, Writer, and Director Bios

• Series Trivia 

• Chronicles 

• Extensive Original Production Designs & Sketches.

SUMMARY: 
This boxed set takes Xena out with a bang. The season boxed set is loaded with extra material like it predecessors. The quality of the boxed set should be envied by other studios. That being said look at the cost of these boxed sets. Maybe, just maybe these boxed sets aren't worth having the extras.  

Xena: Season Six Overall Rating:  A

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