THE CLEANER: THE FIRST SEASON

There's an intriguing down-in-the-dumps mystery to The Cleaner that comes this close to saving the show from its holier-than-thou sensibilities. It's a hard ethos to follow (and a reason similar to why Cupid never really found its footing): A recovering addict (Benjamin Bratt) makes a stoic arrangement with the maker that he'll save as many folks as possible who wrestle with the same addiction demons he once did. So as each episode of The Cleaner starts up, we get a view of some poor soul who is nearing rock bottom in her/his own particular way, and then Bratt or one of his 'cleaner' colleagues gets in there and attempts to save the day. 

Yet while this scenario has its fair share of potential to be one of those dramas whose characters dwell on the threshold and must combat their own struggles with darkness as they assist others (while perhaps a bit more teeny-bopper than The Cleaner, images of Supernatural come to mind), The Cleaner ends up being a little too timid for its own good. Bratt turns in a stellar performance, but this first season of the show unfortunately doesn't make good on its premise: It's too touchy-feely to be appropriately gritty, and too grisly to be easily enjoyable.

Video/Audio: It goes without saying, though, that The Cleaner: The First Season showcases some killer video transfers and sound mixes. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation afforded the show's inaugural go-round is rich, full-bodied and clear as a bell. Black levels are impressively consistent and dark, and finely detailed textures come through with pop. And on the audio front, these mixes really boom with intensity, which adds a lovely element of enveloping mood to the episodes here. Things don't spend TOO much time in surround channels, but dialogue sounds crystal-clear, and the show's throbbing musical soundtrack and excellent array of effects come through nicely.

Supplements: First up is a pair of screen-specific audio commentaries on the pilot and Here Comes the Boom, both with Bratt and producers Robert Munic and Jonathan Prince. Not a whole ton of behind-the-scenes information is parlayed on these commentaries, but the casual cameraderie among the three guys comes through in spades. We also get an extended cut of the show's pilot, as well as some featurettes: The Mystery of William Banks (4:30), a look at Bratt's character;  an international promo (4:00) that is merely an EPK-grade montage of the show's early highlights; On Set With Esteban Powell (14:50), which is pretty much a guided tour of some of the show's many sets; and a compilation of interviews with various cast and crew members (10:00).  A set of deleted scenes is also provided, as are two complete performances of songs from the series and a blooper reel.

Final Thoughts: Noble but not imperative, The Cleaner: The First Season has some notable starpower in its corner thanks to Benjamin Bratt, but it needs to find its sea legs if it's going to really make its mark. There's a chance newer seasons may pull it off, but as for now, even with punchy transfers, mixes and bonuses, this DVD box set isn't exactly a must-see. 

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