As a sitcom, Home Improvement didn't stray very far from the standard for the
genre. The series followed the lives of a suburban family in Middle America who
joke their way through a series of situations that are all neatly resolved with
lessons learned at the end. What set Home Improvement apart from countless other
series was the quality of the show's writing and the comedic talents of Tim
Allen. As the bungling host of the do-it-yourself show Tool Time, Allen's
character Tim Taylor managed to turn every project into a disaster.
The eighth season marked Home Improvement's final year, but rather than stick
to the formula until the last episode and end with a sappy farewell, the series'
last season brought many changes to the Taylor family and their friends and
relatives. Most sitcoms end their run with a special final episode, but in most
you can see the characters as carrying out their lives in pretty much the same
way they did during the show's entire run. Not so with Home Improvement which in
its final year sees children leaving home, death, major career changes for Tim
and wife Jill, and moving on to a new life in a new state. Not every episode in
this final season deals with a life-changing event - the series still manages to
take time out for some fun such as a group rafting trip to California and a
prank-filled Halloween episode. Overall though it's hard not to get a little
emotional while making your way through the show's eighth season, which is a
testament to the fact that Home Improvement is a cut above your typical sitcom
fare.
The eighth season DVD includes every episode from that season as well as a
couple of bonuses. The first is a collection of bloopers, but since every
episode ended with some bloopers it doesn't really seem like you're getting
anything new with this. The other bonus feature is a cast reunion special which
is a nice addition to the DVD. After watching the series make its farewell it's
nice to see the cast get together again for a reunion. I don't know if you'd
want to start your experience with Home Improvement with the show's final
season, but if you were a fan of it during its run on television you'll
certainly enjoy returning to the show with its memorable final run.
Final Rating:
