Ballykissangel - Complete Series Five
A warm and dynamic comedy-drama about an Irish village,Ballykissangelblends whimsy, heartbreak, and gorgeous scenery with deft charm. Though the first few series were built around the local priest, in the fifth series the storylines are evenly spread among the entire cast (even as some major characters leave and others arrive). The season is driven by romances: Troubled Niamh (Tina Kellegher,The Snapper) grapples with her love for Sean (Lorcan Cranitch,Dancing at Lughnasa), knowing it spells the end of her marriage to Ambrose (Peter Hanly,Braveheart)--but little does she suspect the form that end will take; and svelte and sexy Orla (Victoria Smurfit,Trial and Retribution) finds a new interest in rangy sailor Connor (Owen Teale,Island at War). Meanwhile, adventures abound, ranging from a hot air balloon race to gangsters seeking stolen caviar to the unexpected appearance of an automatic toilet. The arrival of the Dooley family and new police officer Frankie Sullivan (Catherine Cusack) brings a whole set of new character and new relationships to the village, all explored with the same intelligence and heart that's marked the series from its inception. And of course there's hunky Colin Farrell (Miami Vice) as an earnest young farmer (though his role this season is more peripheral than in the previous series). Newcomers to the show will find themselves hooked by the end of the first episode of this series. Fans ofNorthern Exposureor similar American shows may find a kindred sensibility inBallykissangel.--Bret Fetzer