Everwood is the beautiful small town that speaks to everyone who has ever had to live in a small town and survived. Much about it is good, but there is way too much going on that is known by far too many people to make it as idyllic as it seems.
The second season of this dramatic series weaves a more complicated web of the lives of the town’s citizens than would be suspected by the beauty and simplicity of the environment.
In Season One, the story focused mainly on the Brown family, Dr. Andy Brown (Treat Williams) a successful neurosurgeon who decides to move his family to a small Colorado town, Everwood, after the death of his wife. His son Ephram (Gregory Smith) is fifteen, wants to be a musician, but is stunted emotionally by his mother’s death.
While working out their romance he neglects both his children and his new good friend Nina (Stephanie Niznik) at times when they all could use his help and attention. Ephram has fallen for Delia’s babysitter Madison (Sarah Lancaster) an “older” woman of 20, and makes a fool of himself repeatedly until she takes notice of him.
Delia is sweet one minute, and acting out the next, confused and hurt by what seems to be the desertion of both her brother and her father. And then there are the Abbotts. Dr. Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes) is fighting several battles of his own, while his daughter Amy (Emily Van Camp) is trying to get over the death of her boyfriend Colin and find her way through the emotional trauma of lost love, and growing up.
Everwood has its comic moments, but in Season Two there is much angst and suffering on everyone’s plate. The realities of death, depression, HIV, divorces, drugs, sexual experimentation and custody battles ring true with audiences, and the small triumphs of the characters are applauded as much as the mistakes are grieved over.
Family ties and love, whether tough or gentle, seem to rise to the top of the emotional messes and win out over hopelessness.
Everwood: The Complete Second Season is presented on six discs containing all 22 episodes in a nice single box with multiple “pages” and slipcase. Included is a booklet containing episode information and synopses, and both case and booklet are illustrated with stills from the season.
Subtitles are available in English and French, and many of the episodes include unaired scenes. The episodes are presented in widescreen format, and have a total running time of 939 minutes. The series is not rated.
It is easy to get caught up in the lives and stories of these characters, finding that one cares more than might be expected from an hour long drama series. The acting is near perfect for every character, and long after the episode has ended, the viewer will be thinking about the story.
Everwood: The Complete Second Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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