DVD Review: The Middleman - The Complete Series

When it comes to great shows that were canned before audiences got a chance to fully appreciate them, “The Middleman” can easily fight its way to the top of the list. This hokey comedy about world domination and a secret organization that would make S.H.I.E.L.D. jealous is sexy, irreverent and downright fun at every turn.

“The Middleman” stars Matt Keeslar as The Middleman, a modern-day superhero tasked with saving the world from the most ridiculous super-villains, aliens, monsters and just about every possible campy-bad guy you can imagine. Natalie Morales stars as Wendy Watson, The Middleman’s trusted sidekick who gives new meaning to the word naughty principal or sexy geek for that matter. Wendy Watson, or DubDub (WW) as her friends call her, is a comic geek and the show’s version of Robin, The Boy Wonder.

From the moment you start watching The Middleman, you’ll quickly become engrossed in this offbeat tale. Creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach originally tried to make this show nearly a decade ago. When he didn’t get the support he wanted, he decided to adapt it into a graphic novel. Ten years later, fans who were privileged enough to catch the short-lived twelve episode series still can’t stop laughing. Each scene is prefaced with quirky captions to augment the calamity of the show.

It’s unfortunate that shows like The Middleman can’t find a home on broadcast television. ABC Family picked up the series when they were working on re-branding their cable network. Alas, the ABC Family audience prefers shows like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” to shows with a sci-fi flair like “The Middleman” or “Kyle XY.” The network did not put enough marketing effort into the show’s launch to help “The Middleman” garner a strong start-up audience.

If you’re a fan of comic books, smart comedy or just want to be entertained then check out “The Middleman” on DVD. This is one of the few shows that you can pick up and watch an entire season over and over again, yet still be entertained with each passing moment. “The Middleman” may no longer be on the air, but this is one show that will forever live on in the heart’s of fans, while gaining new fans everyday.

Bonus Features:
- Web Featurettes
- Alternate Scenes
- Weekly Javicasts
- The ABC Family Middleman-ager
- Gag reel
- Casting Sessions
- The Wilhelm Scream
- The Evolution of the Opening Title Sequence
- “The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome” Table Read
- “Scream Your Love for Me” Music Video
- PSAs
- A Gallery of Photography by Ralph King