Originally broadcast in 1994, the second series of NYPD Blue was disrupted by the departure of star David Caruso (Detective John Kelly) after just four episodes--apparently under less than amicable circumstances. He was ably replaced as Detective Sipowicz's partner by Jimmy Smits as the smoother Detective Bobby Simone, and the series managed not to miss a beat.

More streamlined and downbeat than its predecessor Hill Street Blues (also created by Steven Bochco), NYPD Blue continued second time around to mix near-the-knuckle detective work in pursuit of New York's scummiest with more character and relationship-based drama. Although it's regrettable that its ethnic-minority characters such as Lieutenant Fancy are increasingly marginalised here, the series is more comfortable, and even has fun with, regular characters such as the nervy Detective Medavoy and his on-off paramour Donna Abandando. Andy Sipowicz's simmering, tough-nosed recovering alcoholic is increasingly and amusingly put to the test in a number of situations, including a murder investigation in a gay bar; being sung to at his own wedding by Nic Turturro's Detective Martinez; and a love scene in the shower in which we experience the dubious pleasure of seeing his bare bum.

New female introductions, such as the strong but sympathetic Detective Lesniak, also helped to shake up the series with a much-needed oestrogen boost. There's also fun to be had in spotting a number of guest appearances by up-and-coming actors destined to make it in their own right such as Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) and Debra Messing (Will and Grace).

On the DVD: NYPD Blue, Series 2 DVD box set contains a number of extras, primarily a one-hour documentary in which the cast and programme-makers discuss the series episode by episode, the self-congratulatory mood only broken by some subtle digs at departing star David Caruso (apparently, he walked straight off the set following his final take into a waiting limo without any farewells). There's also a small piece paying tribute to the music of theme-writer Mike Post and an item covering the relationship between Sipowicz and Assistant DA Sylvia Costas, in whose marriage this series culminates. --David Stubbs

I cannot add anything to the exstatic reviews elsewhere for all these series. I have never seen better police drama than this. But what is it about Steven Bochco series' and Fox? Saint Elsewhere + especially Hill Street Blues collected incredible numbers of Emmies and were groundbreaking productions that changed tv drama forever. Where are they ? One series of St Elsewhere in 3 years, 2 series of Hill Street Blues in 7 years and that's it. NYPD Blue - another groundbreaking drama series again garnering barrel-loads of Emmies. So where are series 5-11 ? No one asks, no one tells us what's going on ? Is it Mr Bochco blocking their publication ? Is it a character ? Given the incredible almost iconic status of these series there can be no commercial reason not to - any studio would clean up bringing these series out. So what is it - censorship ? Is it Fox ? Are these series blocked / censored because unlike almost anything else pumped out of Hollywood about the US dream of middle class beautiful people where everyone's a lawyer or a doctor, these series were about the other 90%, the working people, the street. What life in the US is like today for most of its population. The later series of NYPD Blues attracted a lot of criticism from Geo. Bush's so-called right-wing loony religious hatchetmen who claim, without any sense of irony at Mr Bush's morally and economically bankrupt US, to champion "family values". Too close to the bone for neo-con studios like Mr Murdoch's Fox to take ? I don't know though I'd like to - but for god's sake, these are iconic, masterpieces, milestones in TV drama. Any old rubbish gets out on DVD these days - where are these series? PLEASE SOMEBODY TELL US WHY THEY'RE NOT OUT. AND WHEN THEY WILL BE. The only parallel to not issuing these is the act of vandalism by the BBC in wiping tapes of great 1960s drama and comedy series - Z cars, Softly Softly, Dixon of Dock Green, The Likely Lads - a coincidence again but also all stories of the lives of ordinary people, not escapist lying stereotypical tosh. Coincidence maybe ...anyway just wondering.

I always loved NYPD Blue and I own both the first and second seasons on DVD. I recently finished watching all the episodes, and tried to watch the Special Features as well. There are four Special Features that come with the second season. Two of the features are great, "The Music of Mike Post" and "Wedding Bell Blues." "Season of Change" discusses each and every episode; I found it to be too detailed for my taste. It would have been better to attach each discussion to the individual episodes. "Script-to-Screen Comparison": I couldn't figure out how to get past the instruction page; if anyone has figured this out let us know! (I started a discussion thread on this on the Amazon NYPD Blue forum.)

fantastico! great series, great DVDs. Wish ALL the seasons would come out though, i can't hold on much longer.

This DVD box set is bloody marvellous ! You cant argue with it !

I have watched nypd blue since the first ever episode.Being able to watch them again is a superb bonus.Denis Franz and co.make the programmes so realistic,sometimes you want to laugh and cry at the same time .Having just finished the second series I can't wait for the third to be released to add to the collection.