DVD Review | Will & Grace (Season 2)
Written by: Kage Alan

Ah, so many people, including myself, thought that “Will & Grace” would never see a second season.  Not that it wasn’t a good show, because it was and the first season was extremely funny, but it was a show that prominently featured two gay men.  Who wanted that?  Conservatives didn’t.  Honestly, the Religious Right didn’t.  Somehow, though, the show caught on and earned itself a second season.  That’s not bad, but then when you consider that the writing team has an excellent handle on the characters and the director had experience on “Cheers,” “Friends” and a number of others, “Will & Grace” had an honest chance. 

As last we left our friends, gay lawyer Will Truman (Eric McCormack) and straight interior designer Grace Adler (Debra Messing) had decided it was time to once again part ways as roommates.  The opening of Season 2 shows Grace in her new pad as Will nearly tearfully closes the door…and walks across the hall to his apartment.  Key laughter!  And that’s what Season 2 is full of.  Flamboyant Jack (Sean Hayes) is still married to Salvadorian maid Rosario (Shelley Morrison) and dodging the I.N.S.  As for Karen (Megan Mullally), she’s still dodging having to let husband Stan have his way with her in the sack.  Then there are those pesky problems with learning to live on a budget.  Say what?  That’s like saying Vodka is just a morning beverage.

What do we have that’s new this time around?  Well, after Will loses his biggest client, he’s forced to close up shop and seek employment elsewhere.  After trying the cater waiter route, he represents Grace against big time lawyer Ben Doucette (the late, great, Gregory Hines).  The result?  Will gets a brand new job!  The catch?  He has to land a HUGE client within a week and who is the only person he can swing an audience with?  Oh, yeah; Karen.  And when Rosario is caught bumping uglies with another member of the household, Jack is soon out on his ass.  Oh, the drama!  Well, laughs.

I was sorry to see actor Gary Grubbs leave, but Gregory Hines adds not only presence, but additional star power to the show that I’m sure attracted additional future big name guest stars.  Addressing how audiences will never see two gay men kiss on television was amusing, but the execution of a straight actor with a questionable one gives the whole event a sort of fakeness to it.  Still, it was an attempt at a step forward.

Lionsgate has released “Will & Grace” (Season 2) in its original Full Screen ratio.  Video quality is extremely good and audio matches.  Unfortunately, the only extras we’re given are several short “themed featurettes.” While perhaps a bit cute if you haven’t already watched the entire season, these are really just a sad attempt to cover up the fact that there aren’t any cast interviews, commentaries or behind-the-scenes featurettes.  What is up with that?  Loaded with extras?  I think not.  And if I remember correctly, even the Region 2 discs had extras.

One of the strangest things about Season 2 is that the episodes on the final disc are out of order.  The 2-part season finale is labeled in the correct order on the box, but appears first on the disc, which creates some continuity problems if you’ve never seen the show before.  This is odd and I wonder if Lionsgate is even aware of it.  This is a terrifically fun show and it deserves much better in the area of extras.  Hopefully we’ll see some in the next set.

Season Rating: B+
DVD Special Features: D-