Medical dramas have a rich history in television, emerging in the 50s and continuing with hits like The Pitt today. In the 70s, Emergency! became a sensation with its combination of real-life rescues by fire department paramedics, along with ER staff. While it’s hard to imagine today, ambulance coverage wasn’t always common, nor was the role of paramedics, and the show wound up popularizing emergency medical services and aiding in its expansion nationwide.
“Hit the streets with Squad 51 in Emergency!, the pioneering series that was the first to portray the real-life drama of those who devote their lives to saving others. With sirens blaring, dedicated paramedics Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe) and John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) respond to the most desperate calls in the City of Angels. A heroic medical team, including Nurse Dixie McCall (Julie London) and doctors Kelly Brackett (Robert Fuller) and Joe Early (Bobby Troup) await them at Rampart Hospital, where life-and-death decisions are all part of a day’s work. From legendary producer Jack Webb (Dragnet) come all six seasons of this gripping and suspenseful series that captivated viewers and launched a genre of television,” says the official description.
First off, the Emergency!: The Complete Series Blu-ray has a ton of content. Not only are all six seasons included across 28 discs, but six television movies are also included across two additional discs. That’s a grand total of 30 discs of the iconic show, which features great performances from Robert Fuller, Julie London, Randolph Mantooth, and Kevin Tighe. The show remains a fun watch, and its realistic action has helped it age well rather than come across as overly corny.
As far as quality goes, the Emergency!: The Complete Series Blu-ray is a major step up from the previous Blu-ray release. Not only are the original openings intact, but the high-definition transfer looks great, and the show has a filmic quality to it. Vivid color and solid DTS-HD 2.0 audio tracks help make these episodes look and sound better than ever before. Everything from the first season to the six television films that aired following the series’ conclusion looks great here.
While there’s not a ton of bonus content, there is an Adam-12 crossover episode included (“Lost and Found”). It’s a cool oddity to include (Fun fact: Emergency is a loose spin-off of the police procedural), even if it’s only available in 480p here. Additionally, I want to give a shoutout to the great packaging Universal has put together. There’s a nice outer box that houses four Blu-ray cases for the 30 discs, which keeps them organized rather than in one messy shell.
Emergency! The Complete Series Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict
It’s great to see Universal’s Emergency! The Complete Series Blu-ray release is presented with the respect it deserves. It’s a truly landmark medical drama, and its unique blend with firefighting gives the show a distinct personality. The show has aged well, and the new transfer looks great in high definition.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our Emergency! The Complete Series Blu-ray review.
