Body of Proof: The Complete Second Season

The second season of the forensic crime series starring Dana Delaney as Philadelphia medical examiner Dr. Megan Hunt—a once-famous surgeon who lost none of her ego in her forced career change—improves upon the first, during which her arrogance verged on insufferable (House made it work; this series didn't). Here, the writers quite smartly turn the efforts to humanize Megan into part of the character's journey, as she continues to mend fences with her daughter, Lacey (Mary Mouser); her attorney ex-husband, Todd (Jeffrey Nordling); and her equally ambitious and headstrong mother, Joan (Joanna Cassidy), whose overbearing personality sheds a little light on Megan. Jeri Ryan is Dr. Kate Murphy, the boss who tends to cover for her star doctor, while the excellent John Carroll Lynch and Sonja Sohn are Bud and Samantha, a detective team who learn to put up with her sometimes abrasive attitude. The otherwise familiar formula brings in quirky assistants and third-act breakthroughs to solve the mystery, but the season ends with a surprising two-part terrorist bio-weapon attack that claims a team member, followed by a finale that pits Megan against a serial killer (guest star Peter Stormare) who she put behind bars years before. Compiling all 20 episodes from 2011–12, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, and webisodes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)