Flintstones Complete Series

When it comes to The Flintstones, the animated, stone age Honeymooners, if you will, little introduction is necessary, and even a straightforward release of the show would suffice. However, ensuring the cultural phenomenon remains intact and is treated to the special loving care it deserves, Warner has released the series in an incredibly enticing set featuring all 166 episodes on 24 discs. Having stepped everything up tenfold, the series comes complete in a startling prehistoric-shaped television set that opens to reveal two full-colour booklets of discs divided into seasons one through three and four through six, respectively. Foregoing the shiny exterior though, The Complete Series has plenty of function to equal its fashion, updating image quality to digital standards and fleshing out the set with a variety of extras, including documentaries on the impact of the program, "How To Draw" instructions, spotlights on unforgettable character extras such as the Gruesomes/the Great Gazoo and the show's pilot. All are as entertaining as the original half-hour episodes we've unwittingly memorized over the decades - the constant feuding between Fred and Barney, Fred's brief stint as teen idol Hi-Fye, Dino's Lassie-esque television stardom, etc. While later seasons/instalments do devolve into something that attempts to ride the line between appealing to children and adults simultaneous, sometimes via cheesy schlock, they are still incredibly well-done, even if they lack the grit and wryness of the earlier years. The Flintstones was one of few quality programs that has stood the test of time and continues to appeal to new generations. With an all-encompassing package such as The Complete series, it is now even easier for age groups to bridge the gap via the hilarity, ethos and joy of the quintessential "modern stone-age family."