Oz: The Complete Third Season

Okay, okay--I gots no problem admittin' it: I just love being behind prison bars. That's right, I'm an Oz addict. For the uninitiated, this Emmy-nominated ensemble series starring Ernie Hudson, Rita Moreno, Harold Perrineau and Lee Tergesen takes place at Oswald--oops, the name's been changed to Oswald State Correctional Facility (rather than penitentiary because, let's face it, nobody's repenting ‘round here). Season three further explores Cell Block 5 (i.e., Emerald City) head Tim McManus's bright idea to separate the 10 disparate incarcerated groups (Irish, Homeboys, Aryans, Gays, Mexicans, Italians, Bikers, Christians, Muslims, and Others [such as penis-biting Beecher and wheelchair-ridden Hill]) and create a coalition to work out grievances. Fat chance, McManus! There's more fussin' and fightin' than ever in this 1999 eight-episode season: Beecher's out of the hospital (after having his arms and legs broken) and ready for payback; Alvarez lands in solitary--which he can leave only after divulging what he knows about Warden Glynn's daughter's rapist--and tries to make amends to the correction officer whose eyes he previously stabbed out; sick n' twisted Adebisi stuns everyone with his crazy talk of racially-motivated conspiracy (and ends up with a gun in the season finale); and--my personal favorite--smartass antihero Ryan O'Reily balances his crafty Oz-controlling behavior with protecting his slow younger brother Cyril. With new storylines--from establishing the Russian faction (Olek Krupa's Yuri Kosygin is the most ruthless in-prison murderer to date), to a children's puppet show the inmates never miss due to a collective fixation on host Miss Sally (and her chest) and tension-releasing (ha!) boxing matches--the third season spices things up considerably, while also boasting an awesome array of guest stars (Treach from Naughty by Nature as one of the most brutal and atrocious convicts yet; Anne Meara as the O'Reilys' aunt) and directors (Steve Buscemi, Matt Dillon, Terry Kinney). DVD extras include commentary on one episode and 22 minutes of deleted scenes. Highly recommended. (J. Williams)