by Jon Partridge
New on DVD this week, The Returned was A&E’s attempt to remake the acclaimed French series Les Revenants, a look at a community dealing with the sudden reappearance of deceased loved ones. The adaptation was headed up by TV vet Carlton Cuse, known for his work on The Strain, Bates Motel, and Lost. While remakes often suffer in comparison, this release has the benefit of me approaching it with a clean slate, having not seen the original. What better way to see if The Returned was a welcome sight or should have stayed gone.
The Returned offers up a simple premise — the dead residents of a small town return. They look and act the same as they did prior to their death, but have no memory of it. A young girl lost in a school bus accident turns up at her family home one morning; partners return to their loved ones, all oblivious to what has transpired and picking up where they left off. Obviously this jars those who had moved on with their lives. Such a scenario is ripe for drama and character development and conflict; it is also entwined with a plot thread concerning the reemergence of a serial killer as well as the overall mystery of how and why these people have risen. This is not some Walking Dead scenario, skewing the horror angle for something more mysterious.
Much like The Leftovers, the core of the show explores grief, how people have dealt (or not dealt) with the pain of loss just in a slightly different way. However The Returned lacks the depth and emotional punch the HBO series delivers. At times the mood overwhelms the piece, leaving you emotionally numb to developments; this is coupled to misguided priorities both from a character and narrative point of view. While the assembled talent is notable, the superior performances and more interesting tales come from characters with less attention, Michelle Forbes being of significant note. Despite the flaws, the show does craft an engaging mystery and wisely rests the focus on the human element of the story while weaving in the larger plot elements. It’s a solid bedrock for the show — which has recently been cancelled — making this set more of a standalone curiosity than a hook for a larger piece.
THE PACKAGE
In these days of hi-def, anything other than a Blu-ray is going to disappoint, and it’s usually mystifying when a show/film is released soley on DVD. The Returned is at times a rather handsome production and while the image quality is fine here, you can’t help but pine for HD. Often with a DVD, the package is a little underwhelming concerning extras. Thankfully this release bucks the trend. As well as all 10 episodes from the season, there are 7 featurettes looking at specific characters whose “return” is the focus of their respective episodes. There is also a “Creating the World of The Returned featurette” which shows some interesting behind the scenes details, and another which looks at some of the artistry bringing the show to life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While lacking emotional heft at times The Returned still puts together a intriguing concept that coupled to a talented cast that makes for some interesting TV. In spite of the DVD-only release, the package is a decent one that offers a great way to check out the show.
The Returned is available on DVD from 15th September 2015.