From its 2001 premier to an abrupt cancellation in 2007, Crossing Jordan was one of the best shows NBC had going for it. The series, following the title medical examiner (Jill Hennessy) as she investigated numerous crimes, was a hit in its day. And at long last ,the Tim Kring-created series hits the DVD format. ***

This 5-disc set comprises all 23 episodes from the show's first season, which aired from 2001-2002. The episodes are as follows: Pilot, The Dawn of a New Day, The Ties That Bind, Born to Run, You Can't Go Home Again, Believers, Sight Unseen, Digger Part 1, Digger Part 2, Blue Christmas, Wrong Place Wrong Time, Blood Relatives, Miracles and Wonders, Four Fathers, Acts of Mercy, Lost and Found, Crime and Punishment, With Honor, For Harry with Love and Squalor, The Gift of Life, Someone to Count On, Secrets and Lies Part 1, and Secrets and Lies Part 2. ***

One small problem with the DVD set is that the episodes are featured here in the order they were aired, not the order in which they were written. This does create a few little continuity problems here and there, and it could prove to be an annoyance to the bigger fans of the show. Still, if you're just a casual fan checking out the show, you probably won't even notice. ***

Something Universal must be praised for on this set is the inclusion of original music that aired with the episodes. Most DVD manufacturers will edit out the music for legal reasons, but Universal has gone to great lengths to present these episodes the way they aired, with music intact. This is one of the reasons that the show took so long to arrive on DVD, but it's worth it for what are uncut “as-aired” episodes (at least as far as I can tell.) ***

An instant classic for NBC that was unjustly and abruptly cancelled, Crossing Jordan will stand the test of time, in the long run. And this DVD presentation is a must-buy if you were a fan of the series while it aired. ---

Image And Sound:

The image quality on the pilot episode doesn't fare as well as the other episodes in the set, which is disappointing (though this is most likely a source material issue.) The episodes are presented in anamorphic widescreen, and there are no major image flaws aside from occasional grain. ***

The audio has no real problems worth noting. It's mostly a dialogue-driven show, and throughout the DVD, all of the dialogue comes across loud and clear, easy to understand.

Universal has done an impressive job gathering plenty of worthwhile bonus features for the DVD presentation of Crossing Jordan. Select episodes in the set get a commentary track, which is an interesting, worthwhile listen for any fan of the series who has seen these episodes (the crew on each commentary differs slightly from episode to episode, see the “special features” header at the top of this page for more information on who contributes on which tracks.) Also included are over 20 minutes worth of deleted scenes, taken from various episodes in the season - it's interesting to see what footage didn't make the final cuts! The other featurettes are interviews with the cast and crew, which go pretty in-depth on a variety of subjects, from the show's main character right down to other characters and the show itself as a whole. Universal has outdone themselves on this set. It's a shame not every TV show released on DVD can get this treatment! ---

Final Words: