Sinbad: The Complete First Season

Sinbad of Arabian Nights fame receives a grandiose Pirates of the Caribbean-type treatment in this Anglo-Irish BBC co-production filmed in picturesque Malta and replete with digital f/x and magical creatures. More resembling a thief of Baghdad than the sailor of traditional folk tales, Sinbad (Elliot Knight) begins as a reckless youth in 8th-century Basra, accidentally causing the death of the emir's nephew and losing his own brother to execution. As part of his atonement, Sinbad is cursed and sent to sail the oceans in a captain-less, hazard-prone vessel called the Providence, whose multicultural crew (an Arab physician, a Viking war criminal, an African princess) become Sinbad's allies in perilous, fantastic adventures that cut across world folklore. Among the diversions here are werewolves, mermaids, ninjas, Death himself, and what would pass for the fabled “roc” bird. The production values and costumes are superb, and while only a few guest stars in the exotic cast (Naveen Andrews, Timothy Spall, Janet Suzman, Dougray Scott) might be familiar to U.S. viewers, this series is a real treasure. Compiling all 12 episodes from the 2012 debut season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (C. Cassady)