In 1976 suburban Illinois, three couples and their children wrestle with sexuality against the background of swinging.

CRITIQUE

Swingtown was a CBS hour-long drama that was largely dismissed by TV critics when it ran in the summer of 2008, while the fact that part of it was up against the Olympics didn’t help the ratings either; it was eventually canceled, after the 13 episodes that have been collected here.  But that’s a shame; this is a solid character-driven drama that gets stronger the more it goes on, and it deserved a chance at a few more seasons to really hit its stride.

One of the problems may have been that the set-up seems very simplistic.  Basically the series revolves around three couples:  pilot Tom and his wife Trina (Grant Show and Lana Parrilla) are the swingers, with a open marriage, sexy pool parties, and the basement room for orgies.  Susan and Bruce (Molly Parker and Jack Davenport) are the ordinary couple who move in across the street, and are tempted early, while Roger and Janet (Josh Hopkins and Miriam Shor) are Susan and Bruce’s old friends, who are a little more appalled by the idea of this lifestyle.

The pilot is a bit clunky and one-note at times, but as the series goes on, it becomes clear that the characters only seem one-dimensional before we get to know them; ultimately they all have their needs and wants that give them often-surprising edges and keep the season spinning interestingly.  But the series really isn’t salacious; it is instead concerned with exploring their characters, their relationships, their reactions to the sexual mores of the time, and how it plays into thoughts that until then they had kept repressed.

Adding a few more layers are the fact that Susan and Bruce have teenage children who are going through their own drama; bright 17-year-old Laurie gets involved with her summer school teacher, while younger B.J. befriends the sad daughter of the alcoholic party girl who lives next door.

The episodes do have fun with the 1976 setting: this is wall-to-wall period music, colorful clothes and set design that definitely evokes the time.  But ultimately these are about these characters having their eyes opened in one way or the other, and though this gets a little soapy at times, it is also a well-written show in which the characters grow on you.  It deserved a better fate.

THE VIDEO

Swingtown is presented in 16x9 widescreen.  The picture quality is generally good, with the 1970s feel captured well throughout.

THE AUDIO

Swingtown is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Digital.  Dialogue, music and sound effects come through clear. 

THE EXTRAS

There are Commentaries on the pilot and the last episode by executive producers Mike Kelley and Alan Poul, that are knowledgeable and interesting; they discuss capturing the period feel, as well as the fact that they based some of this on their own childhoods.

There are about 6 minutes of Deleted Scenes, most from the first two episodes.

The Spirit of ’76: The Making of Swingtown is a solid 23-minute featurette, talking about putting together the show, featuring interviews with the cast and crew.

Have a Nice Revolution: Sex and Morality in 1970s America is essentially just another making-of piece, this one 13 minutes long.

There is a 3-minute Gag Reel, mostly made up of the actors blowing lines.

FINAL THOUGHT

If you like solid, involving character dramas, this is well worth a look.