There has been a rising interest in the world of mediums over the last few years. Charlatans like John Edwards (thankfully, no relation to me) have tapped into people's tragedies by making them believe it is possible to communicate with dead loved ones. Not to come off sounding to cynical, I do have my own set of beliefs when it comes to the supernatural and have little doubt that some form of communication might indeed be possible. Just not from hoaxsters with TV shows. Still, this interest has begun to spill over into the world of episodic television. Just in the last couple of years we've seen shows like "Medium" and "The Ghost Whisperer" draw big ratings, with both readying for further seasons. Last year Paramount released the 1st season of "Ghost Whisperer", and of the two shows, I really wasn't sure which one would have the better chance of success. Of course, this train of though materialized before I ever saw a single episode.

It was all about the casting. Patricia Arquette was cast in the lead of "Medium", while Jennifer Love Hewitt starred in "Ghost Whisperer." I had never been much of a fan of either actress and really doubted that either show would find an audience.

Proving that I can be VERY wrong, both series went on to find great success, even allowing Arquette to win an Emmy. I've sine seen both shows and am surprised to admit I like them. Even though the main premise is fairly similar, the shows are very different. In "Ghost Whisperer", Hewitt stars as Melinda Gordon, a woman with the ability to communicate with the dead. While it is a frightening talent she would probably rather not have, she cannot turn away from those who approach her for help. In most cases, the spirits are held here on Earth by unfinished business and it is up to Melinda to help them 'go into the light' as it were.

Paramount (who is also releasing "Medium") is releasing the 2nd season of "Ghost Whisperer" on DVD this month, and I spent the last couple of days watching the 22 episodes that make up the set. While watching the 1st season last year, I found the series to be oddly compelling, not so much because of Hewitt, but because of the stories that involved the spirits asking for her help. A few come across as a little formulaic, but most are actually quite creative and very emotional. Though some of the episodes are atmospherically scary (after all… there's ghosts…), the series almost seems a little more like "Touched by an Angel" than say, "Supernatural." But that began to change a little towards the end of the season and even more so as we moved through the 2nd.

The end of season one brought the biggest changes in that we found that there was another ghost whisperer whose intent isn't quite as good as Melinda's. He would prefer to draw the lost souls into the dark side. The season also killed off a major character in a catastrophic event that released many souls into the town of Grandview and it was up to Melinda to fight this new character for those lost souls. The 2nd season begins with this battle, which in part carries over throughout several episodes. WE begin to get the idea there are much larger forces at work and that something really bad is coming. The 2nd season shows an evolution into something different than it was before.

The 2nd season also introduces us to a couple of new characters. Camryn Manheim joins the cast as Delia Banks, Melinda's new business partner… well at least in her shop… not the spooky stuff… well… not right away anyhow. She also has a son who happens to find out Melinda's secret early on. Jay Mohr also pops up in a recurring role as a professor who has a keen interest in the occult. From what I've been reading, I believe his character is going to become full time as Melinda's battle against the coming evil heats up.

Paramount's DVD offers up some terrific transfers in their 6-disc set of "Ghost Whisperer", and it is especially evident in the style of the special effects used in the series. There are times that the 'visions' are quietly disturbing, which are touched upon in one of the set's featurettes. Speaking of the featurettes, there is an interview with Kandace Westmore who shows viewers how makeup effects were created for some of the season's ghosts. There is also a lengthy featurette where most of the cast and crew are interviewed about how the 2nd season and its characters evolved. I really liked the Grandview Graveyard, which was an interactive feature that allows viewers to click on the headstones of some of show's ghosts. These headstones take you to a kind of biography of that ghost as told by the writers and producers.

You'll also find a collection of webisodes (which are becoming quite popular in this ridiculously technological world), and a very odd 'speed painting video. Here we see artist Nico di Mattia paint a portrait of Jennifer Love Hewitt at super speed (thanks to the magic of sped up video). The producers also took the time to introduce us to Melinda's wardrobe, which has become quite the topic internet conversation. The show's costume designer, Joseph Porro, describes the style he has created for her… in all her bosom baring glory. Finally, there is a Crystal Ball Mind Game that attempts to 'read' your mind. Oh, I probably should mention that there are several commentaries, which I'll list below.

"Ghost Whisperer" is a much better show than I expected, and considering it's in its 3rd season, audiences are agreeing with me. Paramount has been doing a great job with its DVD releases of its newer series, and is continuing this level of excellence with the 2nd season of "Ghost Whisperer."

Episodes:
Love Never Dies (Commentary by John Gray & Kim Moses)
Love Still Won't Die
Drowned Lives
The Ghost Within
A Grave Matter
The Woman of His Dreams
A Vicious Cycle
The Night We Met
The Curse of the Ninth
Giving Up the Ghost
Cat's Claw
Dead to Rights
Deja Boo
Speed Demon
Mean Ghost (Commentary by Ian Sander)
The Cradle Will Rock
The Walk-in
Children of Ghosts
Delia's First Ghost (Commentary by Kim Moses)
The Collector (Commentary by Ian Sander)
The Prophet
The Gathering

Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 9/18/2007
Region: 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Ghost Whisperer: Season 2 a B.