Review of Wife Swap: The Best Of Series 1 & 2 (2 Discs)

Introduction

Featuring the best 6 episodes from both series:

1. Dee & David with Lance & Sonia (Series 1, episode 1)

When your worst nightmares come true you will get the swap from hell.

2. Barry & Michelle with Carol & Pete - (Series 1, episode 2)

This is possibly the most famous `swap` as Barry, you can`t live with him, you can`t live with him tries to woo back the amply endowed Michelle.

3. Dave & Jane with Jason & Nicola - (Series 2, episode 1)

In this episode the `swap` brings a few home truths to two brothers who are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to family life. A quietly dramatic episode.

4. Lizzie & Mark with Emma & Colin - (Series 2, episode 2)

This is a particularly noisy episode as Lizzy feels her marriage threatened by her `swapee`.

5. Belinda & Geoffrey with Jude & Roy - (Series 2, episode 5)

Major confrontations in this one.

6. The househusbands: Nigel & Marina with Darren & Alex - (Series 2, episode 6)

An excellent episode; where the other side of the coin is considered. Perfectionist Nigel cannot believe the standards in Darren`s `spiritual` household.

Video

A widescreen transmission from Channel 4; no problem with the picture.

Audio

Apart from the irritating theme that seems to have been dreamed up by the committee that brought us all the other dreadful themes there are some great songs included as a soundtrack to the series.

Features

Wife Swap Changed Our Marriage

This documentary also shown on Channel 4 follows up the `swaps` from Series 1. Very interesting as a little like `Faking It` we get to see what they `took home` from the experience.

Behind the scenes footage

This is footage not shown on television presumably because it is so personal so they show it on the privacy of a million DVD players!

Interview with crew members

Various members of the production team offer their own recollections and insights into the episodes they are involved in including some very hairy moments in several episodes.

Wife Swap manuals-the manuals which each swapper leaves for their replacement. Quite an insight!

Conclusion

Although it has a certain tabloid attraction like some of its sister programmes it`s not all about shouting and there are insights for all as the closed doors of personal relationships are opened on the screen for all of us to examine.

People volunteer for his programme because they realize at a fairly deep level that something is missing from their lives or they fear that there is something they are doing wrong. In some cases it also results in publicity of the unwanted kind and in others the chance to do something different with their lives.

At its best `Wife Swap` offers quick and easy insight into other people`s families and I do not enjoy the episodes where there is needless noisy conflict. I really don`t like it when the children get involved and that is my problem with this kind of show, the children end up being at the mercy of the regime change and sometimes the rows. The film crews are there to take the heat of the situation but I do find it hard to accept allowing someone else to be a `parent` to your children.

If you enjoyed the series and want to be reminded that your life really is quite nice then watch the best of again and again, and thank your lucky stars that when they were handing out partners you were in the right queue.