Chicago Mayor Tom Kane (Kelsey Grammer) tries to redeem himself for his past sins by leaving behind a legacy with the O’Hare Airport expansion and the rebuilding of Lennox Gardens (which was home to rioting 20 years ago).  He hires two new aides, Mona (who Kane becomes obsessed with) and young Ian (who is keeping a big secret from Kane).  Meanwhile, Kane starts to hallucinate more due to the symptoms of his brain disease and he sees his murder aide Ezra Stone talking to him.  He also finds a way to bring his troubled and estranged daughter Emma under house arrest which she doesn’t like being in the same house with her father and mother (who has to recover after an assassination attempt on Kane lands her on the road to physical recovery).   Then you have Illinois state treasurer Ben Zajac who continues to misstep in the governor race against a female state senator along with Kane’s former aide Kitty going to work for the other campaign.   Finally you have Sentinel editor Sam Miller continuing his quest to expose Kane’s secrets and bring him down.   Will Kane be able to bring down the political corruption that served him so well or will other forces like his former friends and his disease bring him down?

 

I liked all the twists that season one has thrown my way.  Kelsey Graham is great as the King Lear-like Chicago mayor, but also you can compare elements of season 2 of BOSS to OTHELLO.  It is interesting to see how the characters evolve and how Tom Kane adjusts his plans for the city to his advantage.   It is sad to know that Starz cancelled BOSS after season 2, but I don’t know if the rumored TV movie will get made to wrap up the storylines of the series.  Tom Kane has to make some tough changes and his decisions could have major consequences if they made a third season and I wonder how much his daughter is like him.  Will she make more questionable moral choices like her father?  How will Zajac be a challenger to Kane’s plans in season 3?   All these questions could remain unanswered and the second season finale audio commentary doesn’t really give any real hints on what they had planned.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio commentaries for LOUDER THAN WORDS, MANIA, and TRUE ENOUGH

 

THE KING AND HIS COURT featurette has interviews with cast and crew as they talk about season 2

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  BOSS Season 2 is as great as season 1.  Too bad that Starz cancelled the series and I hope they make the TV movie to wrap up this storylines of this Shakespearean political drama. 

 

This blu-ray review is (c)12-18-2013 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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