Bedlam: Season 1

A Great Setting And Attractive Cast, But The Haunting Of The Week Premise Wears Thin
It seems like it's been quite a while since we've had a good ghost story on television. Ironically, though, "Bedlam" debuted on BBCAmerica on the same week as FX launched Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story." So, all of a sudden, I had two to check out and the shows couldn't be more different. "American Horror Story," for those that haven't seen it, is a spectacularly over-the-top freak show designed to push the boundaries of television and of reason. I have yet to decide whether I think it is brilliant or if it is convoluted rubbish--but one thing is certain, I can't tear my eyes away from it! "Bedlam," unfortunately, plays it much more conventionally and safe. The show has a terrific hook, though. It is set in a creepy former mental institution currently being renovated into luxury apartments. The building itself is disconcerting and scary and has a convenient adjacent grave site. A great selling point to prospective inhabitants! The hospital environment allows for plenty...

Loved the show, hate the DVD's commercials!
Loved the show, even the non-answers of the season ending episode 6. Not an over-the-top horror gorefest as so many are these days, but enough spookiness to satisfy. The 'ghost of the week' premise is a bit weak, but the underlying plot into which these hauntings are tied is intriguing. There's been development of the characters over the six-episode arc, but the characters still are left with enough ambiguity that anything could be happening with them, and any one of them could be involved in the major over-arching plot. Hoping we get a second series.

However, the DVDs have a major drawback -- you cannot skip over the commercials. You have to sit through 4 minutes before you can get to the show. While I appreciate BBCA's desire to sell other shows -- making me sit through commercials for a show in which I have zero interest EVERY TIME I want to watch this show, pretty much guarantees I will not be purchasing any more DVDs from them.

Unless it's a season 2...

A Great Setting And Attractive Cast, But The Haunting Of The Week Premise Wears Thin
It seems like it's been quite a while since we've had a good ghost story on television. Ironically, though, "Bedlam" debuted on BBCAmerica on the same week as FX launched Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story." So, all of a sudden, I had two to check out and the shows couldn't be more different. "American Horror Story," for those that haven't seen it, is a spectacularly over-the-top freak show designed to push the boundaries of television and of reason. I have yet to decide whether I think it is brilliant or if it is convoluted rubbish--but one thing is certain, I can't tear my eyes away from it! "Bedlam," unfortunately, plays it much more conventionally and safe. The show has a terrific hook, though. It is set in a creepy former mental institution currently being renovated into luxury apartments. The building itself is disconcerting and scary and has a convenient adjacent grave site. A great selling point to prospective inhabitants! The hospital environment allows for plenty...

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