Season 1 was absolutely classic but from what I read, the quality dropped off in later seasons. NO region 2 dvds available so I was obliged to watch it on youtube and I'm so glad I took the trouble to. (Originally because William Russ was in the second arc and he takes a great part, whatever you see him in.) However the first arc (Sonny Steelgrave, with Ray Sharkey) is as excellent, if not more so. I've never seen such well produced television and I don't think even the writers and actors realised at the time what a classic they were bringing to life .The powerful and moving finale to the Steelgrave arc is unforgettable. Season 1 buy is very much recommended...the rest optional, from the sound of them (and the little I've managed to see.)
Addendum: after attempting to watch the second series, I eventually gave up. There's only so much uninteresting junk you can wade through to get to a watchable episode. First four episodes weren't that bad though the "undercover" thing seemed to be fading away and being replaced by a personal revenge motive re Vinnie's brother's murder. These are followed by a one-off involving Vinnie's mother's romance with an ex-Mafia don (again no under cover stuff- which I thought was the whole point of the series!) then an excruciatingly boring five episodes of zero interest concerning the garment industry(watching paint dry would be preferable) followed by one episode involving Frank's wife needing a new liver (no undercover stuff) and the next the same though quite interesting as Vinnie is forced to stay in a clinic and has drug induced dreams where he meets Sonny again and - a shameful and unconvincing part of the plot (apparently written by Wahl himself, unbelievably) tells Sonny that he no longer feels any grief or regret about his death and that it was deserved. This is not only unforgivable but totally without credibility given their undoubted close relationship. And especially the Nights In White Satin scene in the first series. Producers,Wahl.....what on earth were you thinking of to even include this ugliness? The rest of series 2 is taken up mainly by another arc concerning the music business (not much undercover stuff here either) and it mostly seem to concentrate on Vinnie's boring affairs/romances with women, which much as I like him, I'm not watching to see. Season 3 I haven't seen except for three poorly recorded episodes involving Roger Lococco whom I really liked (and even he doesn't seem to sparkle in these). Addn.managed to get the full set since this was first written so can review season 3 in more detail. First 4 episodes aren't bad mainly because they stick to the mob activities and spare us the Vinnie romances. Next major arc is the Washington DC one which I found 100% boring and with little relevance to "undercover work". This is followed by the Volchek arc and as another reviewer has noted, Volchek is no Mel Profitt. It's all too lightweight and furthermore it's apparent that Ken Wahl is beginning to play a more minor role, virtually disappearing for most of the time after the first two episodes of that arc. I don't know what the real life squabbles mentioned by another reviewer between KW and producers were but it made these episodes feel patchy and not in the original spirit of the programme, which was dark, dangerous, uncertain and full of genuine suspense. What they should have done was extend the two fantastic arcs of season one into perhaps a season each and let it go at that. That's the reason I gave this 10 stars,because sadly the rest is mainly junk.
Review of Wiseguy
