Deadliest Catch Season 2 DVD Review

The second season of Deadliest Catch got off to a slow start, with the weather service predicting severe weather conditions, and the start of the season beginning on an "unlucky Friday." Captain Hillstrand of the Time Bandit takes his chances and heads out to sea anyway, deciding that the benefits outweigh believing in the superstitions of the past. When a fierce storm approaches, he also decides to fish through it instead of seeking shelter like some of the other captains.

In this season, we learn that the Coast Guard has changed some of their regulations, in an attempt to provide added safeguards for the fishermen. We also learn that the Big Valley, which sank in season one and caused several deaths, was at fault for the accident. The boat was carrying thirty percent more weight in crab pots than it should have been. As a result, all of the fishing vessels are facing increasing scrutiny and inspections at the beginning of season two.

Severe weather hampers the boats throughout the season, much like season one. One boat, the Aleutian, is hit by a rogue wave, causing injury to just about everyone aboard, but other boats are hampered by accidents as well. The Northwestern suffers some bad luck, first in the form of breakdown, and later by pulling crabs that are covered in barnacles, which makes their value far less than the standard.

As the fishing season progresses, the weather conditions worsen and the ice pack thickens. Morale is low as sea spray ices down the boats and has to be scraped off by hand. The Opilio season gets underway with no relief in sight. While some boats play it safe, the Time Bandit forges its way north, regardless of the dangerous icing. Thousands of pounds of ice accumulate across the boat, and must be scraped off by the crew so it does not add too much weight, causing the vessel to sink. Eventually, everyone heads back to shore, and the season ends with a tearful reunion as family members reconnect in Dutch Harbor, slightly worse for wear.

Season two of Deadliest Catch features twelve episodes. They are Heading Out to Sea, Batten Down the Hatches, On the Crab, The Finish Line, Friends and Rivals, A New Hunt Begins, Smoke on the Water, Man Versus Ice, On the Edge, Pribilof Stare, Race Against the Ice, and Cashing In. There are not any notable bonus features. Season two was a great continuation of the story, and met the expectations that I had after being a fan the first time around. It is always worth the watch, and the DVD version is a lot of fun if you are hooked, allowing you to watch all of the episodes at once.