Search - Da Vinci's Inquest - Season 1 on DVD

High Quality crime series from Canada

James E. Maynard | Seattle WA USA | 09/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those of us in the U.S. who are fortunate enough to have access to Canadian CBC programming on cable television, DaVinci's Inquest will be a familiar offering. It is typical of the literate and sophisticated television offerings which are wholly produced in Canada largely for Canadian audiences. This series involves the Vancouver coroner's department as well as the police department in a series of death investigations which involve serious and often philosophical looks at the contemporary crime scene. The characters are well defined and believable while the acting is uniformly excellent. In particular, the coroner, Domenic DaVinci, played by Nicholas Campbell,is extremely well played. None of your typical U.S. serial pap here. Rather a sensitive and vulnerable coroner with his own personal hang ups, a recovering alchoholic, recently divorced, with a teen age daughter, who is trying to make sense of his personal life as well as provide compassionate understanding to those who find their lives down on the seamy side of Vancouver.

Many will already know that Canada treats drug abuse and prostitution quite differently than is the case in the U.S. This well acted series provides ample discussion of the isues surrounding the handling of social ills in Canada. I believe that it is a must see for those who want not only to be entertained but wish to understand the basis behind the more liberal Canadian thinking on these matters."

Claims of "censorship" are off the mark; this is the version

Never the Twain | 07/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll admit my bias upfront. I like this show, and I like what Acorn Media does on DVD. Still, being a skeptic by nature, I did my homework regarding the claims that Acorn's release of "Da Vinci's Inquest" Season One was somehow edited from the Canadian versions. What I found was that the Canadian version that some people are praising (as if it held the cure to cancer) actually clocks in SHORTER than Acorn's release.

I can't speak to where A. Wharton got the 423 minute time quoted in his/her (erroneous) review, but whatever the source was it was clearly wrong. The Canadian version lists a run-time of under 600 minutes, while the copy of the Acorn release I'm looking at clocks in at 611 minutes. That's nearly one minute per episode. Again if any version of the program is cut (or "censored" as some maintain), it would clearly seem to be Canadian one that's missing something.

Another thing that seems to be missing from the Canadian release is closed-captioning. Speaking for myself, a few too many rock concerts in high-school have done a number on my hearing, and I love captioning.

As to the show itself, the reviewer who compared it to "Homicide" really hit the mark. Dominic Da Vinci's comment that he "[speaks] for the dead" very much echoes the attitude of the detectives on "Homicide." Indeed, Da Vinci strikes me as what "Homicide" would have been like had the medical examiner been the main character rather than primarily a supporting role.

Shows like "Law & Order" are entertaining enough, but programs like "Homicide" and "Da Vinci..." go a step beyond that. Where "Law & Order" seldom stretches beyond the generic police procedural drama, "Da Vinci..." makes you feel like you've stepped into a world that is completely concrete. You know that these characters had a life before the episode started and (assuming they're not the victim) will have one that goes on after. This show is something special."

Great show--so where are the other seasons?

thesnowleopard | Scotland | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This may well be the best show out there today. It's a police procedural about a Vancouver coroner, Dominic Da Vinci, and his daily routine. But it's also about his friends and allies: Leary, Shannon and Kosmo in the Homicide Division, Chick the Crime Scene Investigator, Zack the traffic cop, his secretary, Helen. And it's about the dark side of Vancouver. If you loved Homicide: Life on the Street, this is your kind of show. If you love great writing and acting, this is most definitely your kind of show. It has storylines and characters that really hook you in for the long haul. And Nick Campbell (Da Vinci), one of the most celebrated actors in Canada, is backed up by some of the best actors in the business. Even better, though he's in every episode, the other characters get their time in the sun, too. It's not just a one-man show.My main complaint is...where's the rest of it? Season seven just finished. Season eight has been confirmed and a spin-off show is in production. So, why is only season one out on DVD? Some more extras wouldn't hurt, either. I'd happily buy the rest of the seasons as is, and the quality of what you get is fine, but some commentary from the writers and/or actors would be fun, too."

Da Vinci's Inquest is a treasure.

Anne Middleton | 03/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Several months ago, quite by accident, I came across the Da Vinci's Inquest TV show and was instantly hooked. The show is set in Vancouver, British Columbia, and features an ensemble cast of police, pathologists, criminals, and other denizens of the city, headed up by the Vancouver coroner, Dominick DaVinci, who takes his job seriously indeed. As he says, his job is to speak for the dead. Acting, plotting, casting, writing and photography are all excellent. Now the first season is finally available on DVD for all of us who can't often catch the show at the odd hours it is shown in the states. I can't say enough good things about this show! As I said, I'm hooked."