Hustle : Complete BBC Series 2 [2004]

The documentary on the making of episode 6 (season 2) is also worth watching where they show how they made the mission impossible type scenes.

The season 2 DVD's are not edited like the original season 1 disks (which has now been sorted).

A note about the edited Season 1 disks: If your season one box states 52mins per episode on the back, then you have the edited version. The box should say 59 mins per episode (unedited version)


Honest, no lies, straight up: a must-buy   January 20, 2006
sharkspeed007 (Hereford, UK)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

The Main Feature: It's all about The Con. Well, sort of. That's the line, but 'Hustle' has always been just as much about the zip, the zap, the style and the characters of the Con. Series 2 is no different, and once again, it's deliciously good drama.

Both the grifting gang and the hustles are as entertaining - and downright clever - as ever. Series creator Tony Jordan skilfully stirs together often seemingly random scenes with a generous sprinkling of surprise, suspense and sassiness before they all combine and the Con is fully revealed.

The acting's fine, but that's not really the point; 'Hustle' is mostly about its sparkling surfaces and plot acrobatics. That's not to say that the quintet don't gel, because they do. Robert Vaughn (Albert) is refined and memorable, like a rare, well matured whisky, while Warren (Danny) and Lester (Mickie) fizz together, with lashings of humour and juicy one-liners.

As they work their marks, the gang clearly has a great time. And the tone of the production matches that giddy mood, with a jazzy Vegas soundtrack, freeze frames, and even fourth-wall eye contact by the characters. 'Hustle' has its farfetched moments, but Bharat Nalluri's keen direction keeps the action fluid and linear. Storylines have a splendid rationale that would only reveal holes upon unnecessarily close inspection. It's a pacey and playful show, from the cartoon opening credits to the twists at the end. This isn't the dark psychodrama of 'The Grifters' or one of David Mamet's double-cross movies. It's a fluffy hour of flimflam, spun with silk and told with a wink.

Overall Package/Extras: The DVD comprises two disks; each containing three full-length episodes and one half of the 30 minute making-of documentary on the season finale. It's good - with plenty of behind the scenes footage and cast/crew interviews - although individual episode commentaries would have been welcome.

Both are packaged in a standard plastic DVD case which matches the Series 1 box.





incredible series keeps getting better - episodes NOT cut!!   September 22, 2005
Matt Jones (England)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

after the first series i could not wait for the second series but doubted it could be as good. i was proved immenseley wrong. this series has all the cleverness, style and charm that the first had, and much more! more elaborate cons, more depth into character, and the 2nd series does NOT, repeat NOT shorten the episodes like the first series DVD unneccesarily did.

this was the best series of a single programme on BBC1 since the 6th series of only fools and horses over 10 years ago.


it's all ok   September 22, 2005
NOEL CUNNINGHAM
9 out of 21 found this review helpful

hustler series two is not cut and now series one is out now uncut.


No con to be found   August 2, 2005
A. Thompson (UK)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This season is still of a high standard, although it lacks the va-va-voom of the first one. There are many more holes in the episodes, most notably the second episode; where if it had anymore holes in it, you could strain tea. However, despite that particular weak episode the others are beautifully crafted. The most stunning of which was by-far the theft of the Royal Family's Crown Jewels. The cons are more elaborate, and the characters are developed much further than before. A welcome addition to anyone's DVD collection.