Spaced - Definitive Collectors' Edition

Spaced is a sitcom like no other. The premise is simple enough: Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) and Tim (Simon Pegg) are out of luck and love, so pretend to be a couple in order to rent a flat together. Downstairs neighbour and eccentric painter Brian suspects someone's fibbing, and almost blows their cover with their lecherous lush of a landlady, Marsha. Fortunately he soon falls for Daisy's health-freak friend Twist, while Daisy herself goes ga-ga for pet dog Colin. Tim remains happily platonic with lifemate Mike; a sweet-at-heart guns 'n' ammo obsessive. The series is chock-full of pop culture references. In fact, each episode is themed after at least one movie, with nods to The Shining and Close Encounters of the Third Kind proving especially hilarious. Hardly five minutes goes by without a Star Wars reference, and every second of screen time from Bill Bailey as owner of the comic shop where Tim works is comedic gold. The look of the series is its other outstanding element, with slam-zooms, dizzying montages, and inspired lighting effects (often paying homage to the Evil Dead movies). It's an affectionate fantasy on the life of the twenty-something that's uncomfortably close to the truth.

The second series finds the gang at 23 Meteor Street a little older, but definitely none the wiser. Tim's career is hampered by severe hang-ups over The Phantom Menace. Daisy's career is just plain non-existent. There is still a spark of sexual tension between them, but it's overshadowed by Brian and Twist getting it on. Propelling the seven-episode series arc is the threat of Marsha discovering that none of the relationships are what they seem, Mike's increasing jealousy and a new love interest for Tim. That's the basis for a never-ending stream of in-jokes and references that easily match the quality of the first series. Tim has a Return of the Jedi flashback, then deja vu in reliving the end of The Empire Strikes Back. There are spoofs of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Robocop, The Sixth Sense and comedy rival The Royle Family. There are guest spots from Bill Bailey, Peter (voice of Darth Maul) Serafinowicz and The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith. Every episode is packed with highlights, but this series' guaranteed geek pant-wetting moments have to be the mock gun battles, slagging off Babylon 5 and learning that "The second rule of Robot Club is: no smoking." Jessica Stevenson won a British Comedy Award for this year. It deserved a whole lot more. --Paul Tonks

SERIES ONE - The first series of Spaced was hidden away in the Channel 4 autumn season of 1999. Even though it's rating weren't great, it recieved enormous critcial acclaimed and many subsequent awards. Series One is where it all began (obvisiously), Tim and Daisy are flat hunting and soon become firm friends. So they lie their way to the keys of flat and pretend that they are a professional couple. From then on we encounter, as their tradgic life unfolds, their ups, their downs, their world may be warped, it maybe be 'Spaced', but hell, it's funny! Highlights from the first series include Brian's art reunion with transexual Vulva (played by David Walliams from Little Britain) and Daisy purchasing a dog. Also watch out for the paintball match of the millenium. Great stuff.

SEROES TWO - Spaced returend in early 2001 with a second batch of seven episodes continuing the mangled life's of Tim, Daisy and their hapless friends. Emotions run high as Daisy finds herself on the run from the law, Brian finds death a great painting influence, Tim spices up the gang when he gets a fiery young girlfriend, Mike enters Robot Wars, Twiat has got her eyes on, and then off Brian and Marsha smashes the empty wine glass on the existance of 'Spaced'. A great second series, although I don't believe it to be quite as surreal, witty and original as the unbeatable first.

THE EXTRA'S - A feast of delicious extra's include a commentary by Jessica Stevenson (Daisy), Simon Pegg (Tim) and Edgar Wright (director) on every episode. There are deleted scenes from both series (also with commentary), side splitting fluffs and out-takes, hom-o-meter, trailers, characters and biographies and now, in this special edition collectors set, a third disc, which includes rare interviews from the cast especially recorded for this DVD as well as an insightful and delightfully surreal documentary. Enjoy (but try and stay sane).


The BEST comedy series in the history of the world   October 17, 2004
Keith Barlow (Purley, Surrey)
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

If you are reading this review, you must be half interested, so buy it now!!!!! This is the coolest, funniest, most life-affirming, heart warming and downright hilarious tv show ever. If youre into films, sci-fi and video games, you'll lap up all the references and homages, and if youre not, you'll still love it just because its so twisted and funny. It might not be for everyone, as not everybody shares the same sense of humour, but
I defy you not to fall in love with Tim, Daisy, Mike, Marsha et al. And at 16.99 for a 3 disc set, which includes a feature length documentary (with a specially filmed ending that all Spaced fans have longed for) and extras on every disc, you cant go wrong. BUY IT!!!!!!!!!


Clever boys...   May 7, 2006
Timothy Larabee (San Antonio, TX United States)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

I finally sought out Spaced after hearing how wonderful it was in reviews for Shaun of the Dead. I'm so glad I picked it up. It is by far one of the best britcoms you won't see stateside. Spaced works on so many levels. It is chock full of cult and pop culture references, catering to the slacker twenty-somethings the show represents.

I love the show because as outrageous as it is at times, the characters are genuine. Instead of US show ala Friends, or Seinfeld (love the latter, hate the former), the characters here aren't residing in NYC with successful careers, milking up a seemingly picture perfect high life, while canned laughter roars in the background. Instead, we are garnered with characters who just struggle to keep work, spend time making cult references, playing paintball, and languishing over an artistic career that may not come to be. In other words, a show about much of us.

In between the lovable characters are the numerous references. Movies like Star Wars, the Shining, and Manhattan are spoofed while a number of british shows that I have not had the pleasure to watch are also referenceced. That you don't get every gag is OK. The series has so much original wit and likeable characters (and Twist), that there is much for everyone.

The actors in this show are hilarious, namely for their spot on deadpan delivery. Again, despite the hilarity of the situations, Simon Pegg and co have a dry kind of humor about them. The writing is very direct in-your-face humor mixed with plenty of subtle nuances that make you have to watch the show at least twice to catch every single little gag.

The side players are great too. My favorite would have to be Mark Heap, as the kind of freakish artist type. He is a holdover with Simon Pegg from Big Train and does a wonderful job here. The album is also chock full of guests like comedian Bill Bailey and the Office's Ricky Gervais also make appearances. It's a must see that I hope also gets its way to the US!


For non Star Wars Fans   November 30, 2004
Erin McGuinness (Wellington, New Zealand)
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

For all those people out there who enjoy good british comedy - you do not need to be a Star Wars fan or a closet zombie geek to enjoy this fantabulous series.
The comedy is pure genius, you can't stop laughing - but what makes this an absolute gem is you really start getting involved with the characters - You feel the pain and frustration that Marsha the landlord goes through with Amber (her teenage daughter), Mark's joy when he gets accepted back into the TA, you agree with Twist and her some what harsh comments on fashion, you understand where Brian is coming from with his art and most of all you watch with bated breath to see if Tim and Daisy finally notice that they are meant to be with each other!!
You have to get this Boxed set, this programme is a gem and what guts me is that the New Zealand population hasn't been subjected to it and the only way I found out about it is I just happened to go to Shaun of the Dead and have Q&A time with Edgar Wright and all anyone in the audience could ask questions about was this strange phenomenon called Spaced.


We need this in the U.S.!   January 5, 2006
P. Gagliardi (Horsham, PA United States)
18 out of 21 found this review helpful

I live in Pennsylvania in the USA. Up to now, I've never seen a comedy series I liked more than 'Seinfeld'. A friend of mine who spent time in the UK lent me 'Shaun Of The Dead', which I enjoyed very much. He said if I liked that, I might like 'Spaced'. In my opinion, comedy series now have a new benchmark! This show adheres to the old entertainment standard: always leave them wanting more! It not only makes you laugh hysterically, it draws you into the lives of these people in a way that makes you miss them terribly when the show ends. I WANT MORE!
These discs are only available in PAL format, so when I was lent them originally, I had to watch them on my PC, of course by changing the Region Code on my DVD-ROM. Well, I love this show so much that I purchased an entirely new, Region Free, PAL to NTSC converting DVD Player (for any fellow Americans, it's available on Amazon: the Philips model 642/37 Player). And, shamefully, the DVDs are not available in the US, so I had to purchase the set through Amazon.co.uk. Since I already had an Amazon.com account, the process was painless (so, again fellow Americans, don't hesitate to buy this, if have an Amazon.com account and at least a DVD-ROM on your PC.)
In closing, I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys laughter (and especially myriad sci-fi movie references), to buy this set now! You'll be very, VERY happy you did!