The 2004 DVD release is a two-disc set. It comes in a case that is covered with a parka, and the episodes are on two double-sided discs. The first two sets I purchased had scratched discs, which is what knocks the set down a star for me. The extras include deleted and extended scenes, which include several minutes worth of deleted scenes from each episode; video documentary footage, that is the footage filmed for the documentary that was made during the third episode; mock movie footage that was filmed for Ed's daydreaming fantasies in the sixth episode, and unexposed footage which is a blooper reel with bloopers from each episode (generally 4-6 minutes of bloopers per episode). So, there is a lot if you like extras.
It is worth noting that this release does include the original music that was used when the show aired on TV. As most fans of the show are aware, the show used a lot of copyrighted music. When the first season was initially released on DVD in the US, it was very expensive because of how much Universal had to pay for the rights to the music. Some of the second-season sets also had the original music, but from the third season forward, the DVDs used replacement music, which was basically canned instrumental music. If you get one of the later US releases some of the songs in the first season are replaced. Given how important the music is to the series, most people want the original songs, so keep that in mind.
Overall, the season is very good. The acting and writing are excellent, but the episodes are much more stand-alone in this season than they are in later seasons. Basically, after you watch the pilot, the episodes can be watched in almost any order, as there is not a ton of flow from one to another. The show does a fun nod to Twin Peaks, the other popular show of 1990, and the season finale introduces the character Adam, played by Adam Arkin, who is basically the Cicely version of Bigfoot (someone everyone has heard of but has never seen), who would be a major recurring character throughout the series. The first season basically sets up the premise and the characters but is not as good as it would become in the subsequent seasons.
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