Army Wives: The Complete Third Season with Kim Delaney, Catherine Bell & Sally Pressman Now on DVD

Army Wives: The Complete Third Season, was just released on DVD on February 9, 2010 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The eighteen dramatic episodes take viewers on an emotional journey into the lives of five military families living at the fictitious Fort Marshall, an active Army Reserve Post in South Carolina. Starring Kim Delaney ("NYPD Blue," "CSI: Miami") as Claudia Joy Holden, Catherine Bell ("JAG," Bruce Almighty) as Denise Sherwood, Sally Pressman (My Best Friend's Girl) Roxy LeBlanc, Brigid Brannagh ("Over There") as Pamela Moran, and Sterling K. Brown (Righteous Kill) as the "Army wives," the drama follows the lives four women and one man, as they form relationships, raise families and pursue careers in the ever-changing environment of the US Army. The five-disc contains every Season Three episode plus behind-the-scenes features, six webisodes, bloopers, and other bonus material.

The Army wives face new challenges in Season Three. Claudia Joy (Kim Delaney) faces unexpected problems with Emmalin (Katelyn Pippy) who is dealing with with the loss of her sister. Michael Holden (Brian McNamara) plans to move the family to Brussels, and Claudia Joy discovers she has a chronic illness. Pamela (Brigid Brannagh) learns Chase (Jeremy Davidson) has been keeping secrets from her and lying to her while he avoids spending time with his family. Joan (Wendy Davis) and Roland (Sterling K. Brown) face Joan's pending deployment and Roland's new job. Denise (Catherine Bel) and Frank (Terry Serpico) almost divorce as a result of Denice's affair. Their son Jeremy (Richard Bryant) returns from war wounded emotionally by the loss of his best friend. Roxy (Sally Pressman) is stlll trying to make a go of the Hump Bar while Trevor (Drew Fuller) accepts as a job as a recruiter and one of their sons is tested for learning disabilities. It may not sound like much in print, but the way these stories are woven together and the way in which the characters are developed as their lives intertwine makes each episode of Army Wives poignant and powerful.

I was very enthusiastic about Season Two of Army Wives, but I liked Season Three even better. There was a stronger undercurrent of commitment to marriage as Season Three dealt with the high price of affairs and the efforts the couples made to work through their problems. Issues of faith were brought in and handled, perhaps with a more watered-down, PC treatment than I would prefer, but certainly not with the heavy-handed mockery and belittling Hollywood usually bestows on matters of faith and the church.

As one who grew up in an Army family, I can attest to the traditional values and love for God and country which is portrayed in this series, as well as the changing lives and upheavals faced by Army families. There is much in Army Wives that hits close to home, and Season Three showcases some of the series' finest moments. The DVD ends with several cliffhangers including an explosion and a gunshot. I can't wait for Season Four (which starts in April) of Army Wives to answer several pending questions.

If you read my other DVD reviews you know I rarely get overly excited about television shows anymore, but Army Wives is that rare exception. Well acted, with a strong supporting cast, excellent story lines and beautiful scenes of Charleston, this is one series I hope continues for several more seasons.

Also see:

Army Wives - the Complete Second Season: Patriotism & Drama Now on DVD
More of My DVD Reviews