List Price: $39.98You Pay Only: $31.99 You Save: $7.99 (20%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781415708767
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 1415708762
Label: Paramount
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 6
Publisher: Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 10, 2005
Running Time: 1028 minutes
Sales Rank: 4819
Studio: Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: September 25, 2003
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Editorial Review:
Description: After patriarch Will gets a job as the chief of police, the Girardi family moves to the small town of Arcadia from the big city. Middle child Joan isn't happy, and her family, consisting of science nerd Luke, paralyzed former jock Kevin, and their perpetually flustered mother Helen, isn't helping. Joan finds herself talking to God, in the form of random people who give her assignments to help the people around her. Joan keeps following God's assignments, never sure if she's really speaking to him, or just going crazy!
Amazon.com: Once in awhile a show comes along that breaks the mold. Most such programs fail, but Joan of Arcadia set out to do something new, beat the odds, and found an audience. Created by Barbara Hall (Judging Amy), it’s a unique hybrid of My So-Called Life, The Commish, and--well, something different. Unlike CBS predecessor Touched by an Angel, faith creates more questions than answers (and God even has a sense of humor).
Joan (Amber Tamblyn) is an ordinary 16-year-old. Father Will (Joe Mantegna) is the local Arcadia police chief, mother Helen (Mary Steenburgen) is a teacher/administrator, younger brother Luke (Michael Welch) is a fellow student, and older brother Kevin (Jason Ritter, son of John Ritter) is a high school graduate who was paralyzed the year before. He used to be popular and athletic. Now he watches TV and builds models. In the pilot, God speaks to Joan for the first time, as a cute boy, and asks her to get a job. Once she's convinced He's really God, she does. Her action inspires Kevin to get one, too, and his process of rejoining the world begins.
As in Joan Osborne’s theme song, 'One of Us' (featured on two episodes), God will continue to appear to Joan in a variety of guises--even as a dog walker who looks like Russ Tamblyn (Amber's father). He’ll often ask her to do things that make her uncomfortable, but she'll always learn from the experience and some good will always come from it. Unfortunately, she isn't able to talk to anyone about this or they'd think she was crazy, not even friends Grace (Becky Hahlstrom) or Adam (Christopher Marquette). By the season finale, faith will be replaced by doubt, setting the scene for the second season, in which Joan’s faith will be restored. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Best Television show in years
This show is written well, is very thought-provoking and allows the viewer to come to their own conclusions.
The cast is outstanding.
Rating: - An Above Average, Quirky Family Drama
"Joan of Arcadia" is a good show. That seems like such a general statement, but I think its the best way to describe the show. Certain episodes go past good and get to 'great' status, and some don't even scratch good. But overall, it's a good, above-average family show. The characters are flawed but likable, and one can't help but connect with them on some levels, even times, written badly. What I'm talking about is how Luke sees everything in terms of science and Grace sees everything in terms of how "anti-" she can be. At times, it seems as if the writers let one swooping trait define these characters. Other times, the characters burst with eccentricities and life. It's an odd show, how it goes from quality to "meh" a lot, but there is definitely more good than mediocre here.
Other than the characters, which I really like, there is a lot to love in this show. The little details are the best, such as how Adam always calls Joan "Jane," and how they don't shy away from looking at all sides of Kevin's condition. He is confined to a wheelchair, and that is explored in so many different ways, from outright strife to triumphing over farts (you'll see what I mean). Other than the little details this show is filled with, I also love the way the situation of God is handled. The main character, Joan, talks to God and acts on his "advice," so this is obviously a spiritual show, but I wouldn't call it religious. It tackles religion from the point of view of Joan, keeping it respectful ... Read More
Rating: - Joan of Arcadia
Interesting premise for the show.
Acting is good, ideas terrific.
can't wait to get season 2
Rating: - very enjoyable
I bought both season one and two. I never got to see many of the episodes when it was on tv and in watching a repeat now on tv, I missed them. I bought both seasons. I enjoy the series because it involves a number of emotions: its funny, sad, silly. But most of all I enjoy the characters (actors) and the fact that the family communicates well with each other. We need to see more of that and more shows like that.
Rating: - Awesome, awesome show
I started watching this show midway through it's first season at the insistence of a friend. I'm glad I finally "caved" and watched an episode. The show handles some intriguing material in a well-thought-out manner. It might have a religious premise, but it's a show that's far from preachy.
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