The disks play perfectly, the color is bright, the audio clear and crisp! This is funky series, I loved it years ago and love it still!

A French exchange student friend of my daughter spent a year here in Albuquerque. Among other observations she noted the prevalence of white picket fences, along the sidewalks, of the tree-line streets, in the older parts of the town. "We have nothing like that in France," she said. Yes, white picket fences seem to be a unique part of Americana, that denotes stability, home and tranquility. It was a brilliant choice as the title to this TV series of two decades ago, which depicts the mythical small town of Rome, Wisconsin, in America's heartland, being roiled by the changes of the modern world"¦ as well as the fundamental dilemmas of the human condition that have always been with us.

And two decades ago I had a rather unique perch from which to watch this series: I lived in Saudi Arabia, a country also being roiled, by the changes of the modern world, changes on steroids. TV itself was still somewhat controversial. It's introduction in the "˜60's would lead to the assassination of King Faisal, whose name was given to the hospital where I worked. For a decade or more, the one Saudi English language TV station showed endless loops of the current King greeting a visiting dignitary, and "discussing matters of mutual interest." To watch an hour of that would fit most definitions of "cruel and unusual punishment." Suddenly TV dishes appeared on roof tops, "Star" TV out of India broadcast a variety of shows, mainly from Bollywood, some from England, and one, just one, from America: Picket Fences. I felt it was so good at the time, I'd adjust my schedule so that we could see it,.. en famille. The series was brilliant then, would it be the same, the second time around?

YES. Brilliant in all aspects. There is an excellent choice of characters, about 15, who each have their own stories, their own dilemmas about the meaning of life. The professions in which they work are not the boring ones of, say, retail; rather, they are law enforcement, medicine and the law. The central ones are Sheriff Jimmy Brock, and his wife, Dr. Jill Brock. They have three children, one, Kimberly, wonderfully played by Holly Marie Combs, is 16-years-old, a child from Jimmy's previous marriage. Jimmy has two excellent young deputies, Max and Kenny. Judge Bone is a curmudgeonly, no-nonsense type who rules according to the law"¦ except when it is inconvenient"¦ or wrong"¦sometimes. Douglas Wambaugh is a Jewish lawyer who, as Jill points out in one episode, deliberately hams it up, as a caricature of himself. Another staple of the series is the medical examiner, Dr. Carter, obsessive, nerdy and lonely, a pathologist who reminded us of a mutual friend. Each of these actors plays their parts so well, as do the numerous "guest appearance" actors. The episodes would usually weave two storylines, focusing on one or more of the principal characters.

Some of the topics, of two decades ago, seem to be ripped from today's headlines. Judge Bone must rule about a transsexual's right to teach the kids, and there is the reaction of the medical examiner, when he realizes he has dated and kissed her, without knowing her background. Should an HIV positive dentist reveal his status to his patients? What are the rights of native Americans to their ancestor burial grounds? How should the homeless and indigent be treated? Short people? Alzheimer's? Dying with dignity. Should Mormons be allowed to practice polygamy? And what of other religious groups' rights to sacrifice animals as part of their religious rites? And a rabbi accuses Douglas of being a "self-hating Jew." What rights should children have to privacy, particularly in regards to their sexuality? Kimberley kisses her girlfriend, and the parents freak out"¦ Jill had a similar reaction when her father brings home his 26-year-old wife-to-be, and demands the "rights" of a parent to lead his own sexual life. And there is Jimmy seeking solace by playing his saxophone after catching Jill kissing her former fiancé, who she has not seen for more than a decade, who came to the town to perform a fetal tissue transplant into the brain of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease.

The dialogue is fresh and succinct. There are some memorable "one-liners." And the show's writers do "nuance"; all too often there are no easy answers to some of the anguishes of life"¦ other than a heart-felt song. Again and again the show will highlight the biases and prejudices of one or more of the actors, with a plot line that underscores the moral value of tolerance of those who are different than us. And the show does tug at the heart-strings of the viewer, sometimes bringing a tear to the eye.

A definite 6-stars. The question remains: When will Amazon bring out Seasons 2,3, and 4 on their video system?

Awesome show I wish it hadn't been canceled

This is my first time to see Picket Fences in first season although I heard about it in the 90's. It is a wonderful story about the people in a small town. There are a lot of love and affection with the family of the town's sheriff and her wife who is the town's doctor. I like all the cast in this first season. They all have good chemistry with each other especially Tom Skerritt and Kathy Baker. They are all wonderful. I just wish that they will make DVDs on the rest of the seasons in US format. It is not fair that we don't have that in US format when it is an American series produced here in USA. The Non-US format DVDs can't play in my US DVD player. I just wish that they have the rest of the seasons in US format soon so I can buy them. I like and love the stories made by the creator and producer Mr. Kelley.

Quirky characters and quirky plots, loved it when it was new and in reruns, and I still enjoy it.