HBO has quite a history of delivering fantastic Blu-ray presentations, and it continues the trend here. Be prepared for reference-quality video throughout all 12 season-one episodes in the clothing, sets, and flesh tones. The 1920s costume design is absolutely fantastic, and if you're a fan of period pieces, this is right up your alley. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track is just as impressive and certainly holds its own with its rich atmosphere and crystal-clear dialog reproduction. While it took me a couple of episodes to get into the series, it ranks up there with some of the best I've seen from HBO and is definitely worth a look on Blu-ray.

Nucky Thompson

• Disc 1, Episode 1, Chapter 2, 00:05:24
• Detail, color saturation
• As Thompson is delivering his speech to a gaggle of women, check out the detail in his suit and how his blue tie and red carnation leap off the screen.

Funeral procession

• Disc 1, Episode 2, Chapter 2, 00:01:59
• Detail
• As the camera pans down to the funeral procession, relish the detail in the elaborate facade of the church, the flecks of falling snow, and how each distinct face in the crowd is crystal clear.

Boardwalk

• Disc 2, Episode 4, Chapter 7, 00:44:27
• Detail, environmental ambience
• The set design in this series is outstanding. Check out the level of detail in the Atlantic City boardwalk. You can read the individual shop signs and clearly see every plank on the raised walkway. Also, listen to the organ music as it fills the soundstage and how the crowd noise places you right in the middle of the action.

Release Date: January 10, 2012
Studio: HBO