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Dvd Front and Back Covers of Csi Ny Complete Season

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Best 4K, Blu-Ray, & DVD Sets for TV Fans

For TV fans, there's nothing better than getting a full DVD set of their favorite show. In this guide, we'll go over some of the best DVD sets.

It's 2021 and we're still living through pandemic times. At this stage, almost everyone has binge-watched at least one TV show to pass the time or relax after a tiring day. Which TV shows are your favorite — and do you stream them, or did you buy TV show sets in 4K or Blu-Ray DVD format?

While it's common to stream TV series in this day and age, nothing beats owning a physical copy. In the first place, DVD sets of TV shows often include extra content for the show's fans. Having a physical copy also means that you can rewatch your favorite with or without access to the internet. It's also easier to show off, lend, and gift DVD sets of TV shows.

If you're looking to give someone a DVD set of a TV show, make sure you know that they want to watch it — because it's not like they can click away from it, as they would a streamable version. These DVD sets can be useless and a waste of space if they're not wanted. You'll also want to check if they don't own a physical copy yet or have it available on streaming services they could be paying for — such as Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and others.

The very first Game of Thrones fans were probably A Song of Ice and Fire fans — as Game of Thrones is based on the popular fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin. The first installment of the series was published in 1996, 15 years before the first episode of Game of Thrones was televised on HBO. The name of the TV series is the same as the book that was published in 1996. The Game of Thrones ran from 2011 to 2019, reaching 73 episodes or 8 seasons.

Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos and following several story arcs, Game of Thrones has a massive ensemble cast. The story arcs include political conflict, family relationships, military traditions — and magic. Game of Thrones attracted record viewership on HBO and the TV series enjoys an active and international fan base.

Critics have praised Game of Throne for its acting, complex characters, story, and production values. However, its frequent use of nudity and violence has not gone unnoticed. The final season received significant critical backlash due to its reduced length and questionable creative decisions. Many fans considered it a disappointing conclusion.

Game of Thrones still received 59 Emmy awards, the most by a drama series. These awards include the Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Many critics and publications have named Game of Thrones as one of the best TV series of all time.

Key Features

  • Television adaptation of George R.R. Martin's bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire book series
  • Follow the drama and intrigue of the noble families of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros
  • Enjoy visual effects and atmospheric sounds that match the scale of what Game of Thrones shows from within and beyond the Great Wall

Specifications

  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 8
  • Debut Date: April 17, 2011
  • Studio: HBO

Pros

  • Includes VFX breakdowns, behind the scenes content, deleted scenes, visual commentary by George R.R. Martin, and a cast reunion hosted by Conan O'Brien
  • Includes a 44-minute animated film about Aegon's rise and fall
  • Includes an ending to the epic story, which the book series has yet to offer

Cons

  • Lengthy torture and rape scenes throughout the show are difficult to watch but are required as plot devices

The TV series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician in Miami specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department. He also leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer. While the show's first season was based on Jeff Lindsay's Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the succeeding seasons evolved independently of Lindsay's book series.

While the first four seasons received universal acclaim, Dexter's reception dropped considerably as the TV series progressed. In fact, during the original airing of season 4's finale in 2009, a record-breaking audience of 2.6 million viewers tuned in to make it the most-watched original series episode ever on Showtime at that time. In 2013, the original airing of the series finale was watched by 2.8 million viewers — the largest overall audience in Showtime's history.

In 2020, it was announced that Dexter would return with a limited series titled Dexter: New Blood. Not only is Michael C. Hall reprising the title role but Clyde Phillips returns as showrunner — as he was for Dexter's first four seasons. This sequel series premiered in 2021.

Key Features

  • Follow the unlikely but not necessarily unlikable protagonist Dexter Morgan, a serial killer with a twisted sense of justice
  • Enjoy the TV adaptation of 2004's Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the first in a series of books by Jeff Lindsay
  • Understand the back story behind the new TV series, Dexter: New Blood

Specifications

  • Genre: Crime drama, psychological thriller, mystery, dark comedy, police procedural
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 8
  • Debut Date: October 1, 2006
  • Studio: Paramount

Pros

  • The packaging includes a box that makes the set easy to display
  • Discs are arranged neatly and for easy access when binge-watching
  • Discs are laser-printed and of a high quality

Cons

  • Closed captioning quality may vary from season to season

Superman: The Animated Series is the second series in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) after Batman: The Animated Series. Premiering 10 years after the 1986 reboot of the Superman comic book character, the animated series paid tribute to both the classic Superman and the newer or modern Superman. In this series, Clark Kent is shown to be quietly self-confident without jeopardizing his secrets. This is similar to the depiction of Batman's alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, in Batman: The Animated Series.

This animated series was eventually combined with The New Batman Adventures to become The New Batman/Superman Adventures, before Justice League aired. The latter also featured other popular DC Comics characters — including The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl, and Wonder Woman. It later spawned a sequel series entitled Justice League Unlimited.

Several episodes of this TV series involve Superman encountering other superheroes in the DC universe. Batman appears the most often, along with several of his allies and antagonists from The New Batman Adventures — including Robin, Alfred Pennyworth, The Joker, Harley Quinn, Bane, Commissioner Gordon, and Ra's al Ghul. In addition, other episodes feature other members of the Justice League.

Key Features

  • From the same team behind Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series
  • Follow the adventures of Superman, the legendary DC Comics superhero
  • Enjoy the voice acting of veterans such as Tim Daly, Dana Delany, and Clancy Brown

Specifications

  • Genre: Superhero, action, adventure, drama
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 4
  • Debut Date: September 6, 1996
  • Studio: Warner Bros.

Pros

  • Stories are simple, entertaining, and have a respect for the Superman mythos that comes from the Silver Age of comic books
  • Audio is crisp and clear — and includes English, French, and Latin Spanish dubs
  • Bonus features include some legacy features and an all new documentary

Cons

  • The packaging is a bit of a letdown considering the cost

Star Trek — now known as Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) — is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that follows the adventures of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew. TOS is set in the Milky Way galaxy, circa 2266-69. The ship and crew are led by a now-famous cast that includes William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as First Officer and Science Officer Spock. Shatner's voice-over introduction during the TV show's opening credits introduces the premise of the series.

While Star Trek was a moderate success during its original three-year run on television, it truly became a huge phenomenon in broadcast syndication. During the 1970s, it achieved cult-classic status and started to influence popular culture. Star Trek eventually spawned a franchise that includes eight television series and 13 feature films — along with numerous books, games, and toys. Its fans are credited with developing fan fiction as an art form, too.

The characters of TOS also appear in other Star Trek TV shows, games, and other products. Good examples of this are a young Spock that's part of the story of Star Trek: Discovery or an older Spock that's part of the story of Star Trek: Next Generation.

Key Features

  • Follow the original Star Trek crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise as they go on a five-year mission in outer space to explore new worlds, seek new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before
  • Enjoy the colorful and artistic set designs and costumes of the '60s sci-fi show
  • Find out the back story that makes the plot of Star Trek: Discovery and the new Star Trek films more enjoyable

Specifications

  • Genre: Science fiction, action adventure
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 3
  • Debut Date: September 8, 1966
  • Studio: Imports

Pros

  • Includes special features, such as two versions of "The Cage" and an alternate version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before"
  • Discs are in uniform cases that provide enough protection
  • Offers subtitles in Spanish and French

Cons

  • New CGI and cuts added to the episodes from the '60s can be distracting, especially for old fans

Supernatural creator Eric Kripke had been developing the TV series for nearly ten years before it began production. The concept went through several phases, shifting from the original idea of an anthology series to one of the tabloid reporters driving around the country in a van. Kripke wanted Supernatural to be a road trip series, too — which is likely why a huge part of the story, especially in the beginning, is the Dean Winchester's black 1967 Chevrolet Impala.

Supernatural's first episode was broadcast on September 13, 2005. The pilot was viewed by an estimated 5.69 million viewers, and the ratings of the first four episodes prompted The WB to pick up Supernatural for a full season. Originally, Kripke planned the series for three seasons but expanded it to five. The fifth season concluded the series' main storyline, and Kripke departed as showrunner. However, Supernatural continued successfully for 10 more seasons with new stories and new showrunners — including Sera Gamble, Jeremy Carver, Robert Singer, and Andrew Dabb. The long-running series also amassed a rabid fan base.

With its 11th season in 2015, Supernatural became the longest-running American live-action fantasy TV series. It finally concluded on November 19, 2020, after 327 episodes aired.

Key Features

  • Follow Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural beings
  • Enjoy a TV series creator-curated classic rock soundtrack
  • Get to know a cast of engaging characters — such as Castiel, Lucifer, and Crowley

Specifications

  • Genre: Action, adventure, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 15
  • Debut Date: September 13, 2005
  • Studio: Warner Bros.

Pros

  • Includes a box that holds all the individual season cases that's sturdy and makes for a good display
  • Includes a book that gives a brief description of each episode
  • Includes bonus features for season 15 on a separate disc

Cons

  • The discs don't fit well in their cases, and the cases are not identical

Star Trek: Discovery is the seventh Star Trek series. It also marked the end of a twelve-year absence of Star Trek on television, as Star Trek: Enterprise concluded in 2005. The story of Star Trek: Discovery begins a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series.

Initially, viewers follow Michael Burnham, a science specialist on the U.S.S. Discovery, who eventually becomes captain. Burnham's recklessness starts a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. She is court-martialed, demoted, and assigned to the U.S.S. Discovery — which has a unique and secret means of propulsion known as the "Spore Drive."

Like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, this TV series is about a ship other than the flagship U.S.S. Enterprise. Designs from the Star Trek franchise were reinvented and reimagined for the new TV series to take advantage of modern techniques and visual effects. While there are only three seasons in this TV box set, the series' fourth season premiered on Paramount+ on November 18, 2021. This set also doesn't include the companion series — Star Trek: Short Treks and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Key Features

  • Follow the U.S.S. Discovery on a Star Trek adventure that predates the story of the original series
  • Learn more about the Star Trek concept of the Mirror Universe
  • Find out the back story behind the TV series' multiple expansions and spin-offs

Specifications

  • Genre: Science fiction, adventure, drama
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 3
  • Debut Date: September 24, 2017
  • Studio: Paramount

Pros

  • Includes characters of difference races, species, and beliefs
  • Gives viewers a closer look at Vulcan and Klingon cultures
  • Introduces new concepts to Star Trek, such as the Kelpiens

Cons

  • Not a complete set because the TV series is still running

Most fans of CSI: NY are also fans of the previous CSI series — CSI: Las Vegas and CSI: Miami. CSI: NY gives you the best of what the CSI franchise is known for. The series features a diverse cast led by someone with a troubled past. City flavor seeps into the gritty subject matter of solving crimes. And somewhere along the way, the cast's chemistry fills in story gaps and ties everything up.

While the chemistry of the cast is a huge reason TV shows go on to run for years, there are only three CSI: NY cast members that appear on all of its nine seasons: Gary Sinise as Mac Taylor, Hil Harper as Sheldon Hawkes, and Eddie Cahill as Don Flack.

The most memorable part of CSI: NY is probably its theme song, which is taken from the first verse of The Who's "Baba O'Riley." For season 4 and onward, the theme was reworked to be more instrumental. The lyrics — "I don't need to fight to prove I'm right, I don't need to be forgiven" — were removed.

Key Features

  • Follow the New York adventures of Detective Mac Taylor, a former Marine from Chicago, and his team
  • Understand the back story behind the comic book, novels, and a video game based on this TV series
  • Enjoy the theme song for CSI: NY, The Who's "Baba O'Riley"

Specifications

  • Genre: Crime, drama
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 9
  • Debut Date: September 22, 2004
  • Studio: Paramount

Pros

  • Provides a different take on the CSI formula, compared to similar shows based in Las Vegas and Miami
  • Emphasizes the importance of criminal profiling along with good detective work
  • The entire series in physical form will allow binge-watching — especially if viewers missed the series repeat that started on May 2020 at CBS Justice

Cons

  • Early seasons don't have closed captioning

Beverly Hills, 90210 ran for ten seasons on Fox from 1990 to 2000. 90210 is also the first of six television series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise — which also includes 1992's Melrose Place, Models Inc., 2009's Melrose Place, and 2019's BH90210.

The original series follows the lives of a group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California, as they go through high school, college, and eventually into the adult world. The number "90210" refers to one of the area's five ZIP codes. The story began with Brandon and Brenda Walsh moving with their parents from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Beverly Hills. Typical topics of the series include AIDS, alcoholism, domestic violence, drug abuse, racism, romance, sex, and suicide — among many other important issues.

Beverly Hills, 90210 is credited with creating or popularizing the teen soap genre that many other successful television shows contributed to in the years to come. The show had many cast changes — Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, and Ian Ziering were the only actors to appear during its entire run. They also appeared on the first episode of the spin-off, 1992's Melrose Place. A sequel series called BH90210 in 2019 featured the return of Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, and Tori Spelling to the TV franchise.

Key Features

  • Follow BFFs Brandon, Kelly, Dylan, David, Steve, Donna, Val, Brenda, Clare, Noah, Janet, Matt, Gina, and Carly as they navigate life from high school and college to lives on their own
  • Watch 10 seasons of the multi-awarded teen drama series
  • Enjoy a special feature that shows the cast reuniting 19 years after the show ended

Specifications

  • Genre: Teen drama, soap opera
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 10
  • Debut Date: October 4, 1990
  • Studio: Paramount

Pros

  • Includes a Beverly Hills 90210 VAM disc with over 90 minutes of content
  • Includes behind-the-scenes featurettes and interviews
  • Includes Beverly Hills 90210: The Reunion and Beverly Hills 90210: A Look Back with Darren Star

Cons

  • Music that was originally in some episodes are replaced with alternative music due to copyright issues

NCIS: New Orleans stars Scott Bakula and C.C.H. Pounder. It's one of many TV series that are part of the NCIS franchise. With its series finale airing in May 2021, this TV series is newly concluded and its disc set would be an excellent gift this holiday season.

NCIS: New Orleans follows a fictional team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents led by Supervisory Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride. The team focuses on crimes that involve personnel in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and their territory ranges from the Mississippi River to the Texas Panhandle.

Working under the supervision of SSA Pride at the start of the series are Christopher LaSalle, a former Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy, and Meredith Brody, a transfer from the NCIS Great Lakes field office. They are assisted by Dr. Loretta Wade, the coroner for Jefferson Parish, along with Sebastian Lund, a forensics specialist who assists Wade, and Patton Plame, a hacker turned computer specialist for NCIS. The chemistry among the characters is what makes NCIS: New Orleans special — not unlike its predecessor, NCIS.

Key Features

  • Enjoy a different type of NCIS with this adrenaline-charged spin-off set in New Orleans
  • Follow Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride as he leads the pack at the Naval Criminal Investigation Service, where global security is a local priority
  • Discover why The Big Easy is notoriously hard on crime

Specifications

  • Genre: Procedural, action, crime drama
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 7
  • Debut Date: September 23, 2014
  • Studio: Paramount

Pros

  • Disc cases are very sturdy
  • Discs are of good quality, without any glitches
  • Comes with 10 hours of special features

Cons

  • Not the original NCIS TV series, which can confuse some people

Set and filmed in New York City, Sex and the City follows the lives of a group of four women — who, despite their different natures, remain inseparable and confide in each other. Carrie Bradshaw is the narrator of the series as well as one of the four main characters of the show. The series is known for multiple storylines that tackled relevant and modern social issues such as sexuality, promiscuity, and femininity while exploring the difference between romantic relationships and friendships.

Sex and the City received both acclaim and criticism during its original run and beyond and is also credited with helping to increase HBO's popularity as a network. The multi-awarded TV series still airs in syndication worldwide. It's also spawned two feature films, 2008's Sex and the City and 2010's Sex and the City 2. A prequel television series called The Carrie Diaries aired from 2013 to 2014.

It's a great time to watch Sex and the City's original six-season run again. Apart from the prequel series and the movies, there's more. On Jan. 11, 2021, a series titled And Just Like That... was announced. While it doesn't include Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones, it's still a sequel to the original TV series. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis, and Cynthia Nixon return to play their characters.

Key Features

  • Follow the life and adventures of thirty-something writer Carrie Bradshaw and her friends in New York
  • Enjoy the TV adaptation of the popular book by Candace Bushnell
  • Understand the back story that supports the Sex and the City films

Specifications

  • Genre: Romantic comedy, comedy-drama, sex comedy
  • Language: English
  • Number of Seasons: 6
  • Debut Date: June 6, 1998
  • Studio: HBO

Pros

  • The 17 individual disc cases come in a display-worthy white box with a matching sleeve that goes over it
  • Deleted sex scenes are added back in the episodes in this TV disc set
  • Episodes are in their original form and not remastered

Cons

  • The disc cases are plain and don't offer enough protection to what's in them

When it comes to enjoying TV shows, most people watch some of what's deemed popular — such as Game of Thrones — and then have quirky favorites like procedural shows or reality shows. TV shows with a huge and rabid following are more likely to have DVD sets that contain extra content, so as a gift-giver, you should prioritize getting them for someone you love.

A gift like this is especially sweet when it's given by a person that introduced the recipient to the TV show. It could also be a way to introduce the recipient to a show they've never watched. Like books and movies, our favorite TV shows say a lot about who we are — recommending our favorites to our loved ones is also often an act of pure connection, which we all need during these pandemic times.

What Genre Does Your Gift Recipient Like to Watch?

Some people that love watching TV don't even enjoy all genres of available shows. There are those that just like watching historical fiction or science fiction. Others just watch reality competitions and documentaries. If you know what type of book or movie a person likes, that information is a good clue to figure out what type of TV they like.

However, you can also give a DVD set of a TV show as a recommendation of what someone should watch next. If you enjoyed a certain TV show, you can also give physical copies of it to friends that you think would also like it.

What Is the Age of Your Gift Recipient?

Apart from the typical advice — that is, to make sure that any TV show DVD set you gift has only age-appropriate and parent-approved content on it — another thing to consider is giving physical copies of TV shows that the recipient might not have watched because it aired before they were born. Think of the original Star Trek series from the '60s, or if you're giving a gift to a Gen Xer, the original Beverly Hills 90210.

However, when recommending old TV shows, you must be prepared to have conversations about scenes that may not have stood the test of time. And, most of all, you must be prepared for the gift recipient to not like an old TV show that's one of your favorites.

Finally, especially if the gift recipient is a child, make sure that there's a DVD player they can use to use your gift.

We hope you like the items we recommend! Screen Rant has affiliate partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase. This won't affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

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Maria Ramos (3 Articles Published)

Maria is a first-wave millennial, first-generation Asian-American writer from Nevada with a fondness for working on entertainment, health, and wellness content. In a former life, she was the editorial head of a Southeast Asian music publication. Follow on Twitter: @miaoolivar.

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Dvd Front and Back Covers of Csi Ny Complete Season

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