Moonlighting - Seasons 1 & 2 (1985)

romance comedy

This is a wonderful show to watch with someone special,I got it free with my pepsi points. August 27, 2008

Funny and interesting

My husband and I are trying to find shows that has little to no profanity. Moonlighting is a show that can be on when my little grandson comes to stay. It is lighthearted comedy and yet it is also interesting. Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepard make a good acting team. I bought the season one and two pack and I have not watched all of it, but so far there are no gruesome murder scenes or profanity. I gave these shows a 5 star because I feel it is a "family" type show. We need more shows like this. July 25, 2008

The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice (Season 2, Episode 4)

Casual Moonlighting fans will likely remember "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" as "the one in black and white." Operating as investigators on a dubious "unfaithful spouse" case, private investigators Maddie Hayes and David Addison (of the Blue Moon detective agency) are told about the notorious Flamingo Cove Murder, which involved a clarinetist, his songbird wife, and the new cornet player in their swing orchestra. The clarinetist was murdered, and the singer and cornetist (?) always swore that the other did the killing, right down to their dual executions.

Hayes and Addison instantly form opposing opinions as to who is "obviously" guilty, leading to an argument, after which each goes home and dreams his/her side of the story. It's fairly weak for a wraparound, but the dreams make it worth it.

Done in a film noir style, "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" references films of the era (especially The Postman Always Rings Twice) in addition to being solidly crafted, designed, shot, acted, written, and directed. (That year saw the series nominated for sixteen Emmys, eight of them for this episode.)

Each's dream perfectly suits their personalities. Maddie's is more reminiscent of the expected style: straightforward, romantic, and melodramatic (with a nicely cathartic first kiss for Shepherd and Willis), while David's involves more ironic voice-over, wisecracks, and parodic fourth-wall breaking. (For those reasons, I prefer David's, although a tad more seriousness would have made it perfect.)

And how they did this, I don't know, but Orson Welles made his final filmed appearance by introducing this "Very Special Moonlighting." ("Television," he says with the ever-present glint in his eye, "is about to take a huge step ... backwards.") "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" is my second favorite of the series; only the second-season finale "Camille," guest starring Judd Nelson and Whoopi Goldberg, tops it for pure entertainment value. April 12, 2008

Good DVDs, so-so show

The DVDs are very good quality and even the ripping to iPod MP4 format is smooth with no hiccups. That said, I forgot how irritating the constant bickering between the two lead characters is! I must have been much more tolerant in my teens watching this show, but it really grates on me now. I don't think I can stomach more than one season of 'Moonlighting'. I still vote 'Remington Steele' as my all-time favourite TV show from the 80's -- the relationship between the two lead characters is much more comfortable. March 7, 2008

A blast from the past

This was actually a requested Christmas present for my 13 year old who had seen repeats on television and thought it was good. I caught it first time around when it was new and different, there really wasn't anything like that on TV. My son loves it but cannot believe the shoulder pads and the big hair; did we really dress like that?? Not to mention Bruce Willis with hair! If it's 80s nostalgia you're looking for, then this is the one for you. January 15, 2008

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