History Main / BetterOnDVD

* It's generally agreed that the Director's Cut of ''Film/Daredevil'' is the best way to watch it.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} [=ThunderCats (2011)=]]]'' has a story so plot-heavy it's prone to ContinuityLockOut. Some episodes don't really ''end'' as much as they just ''stop'', only to pick up right where they left off the next week, which makes the series far easier to digest in larger chunks.

** The "Best of" clip show episodes are zigzagged. Some best-ofs will have full sketches, while others have a mix of full sketches and a FullyAutomatedClipShow (particularly in the "Best Of [Former Cast Member]" sketches, where they show the subject's best celebrity impressions and/or recurring characters).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Not only are they shown on DVD uncut with most of the scenes that were thought to be lost when the show was EditedForSyndication, but the extras have a glut of deleted scenes (some of which, if added, would have either made the episode funnier or would have filled a much-noticed plot hole in the story).[[note]]I say "most of" because several episodes are not as originally broadcast - "Marge Gets a Job" replaces Mrs. Krabappel's line about Bart faking Tourette's Syndrome with a line about Bart faking rabies (a change made after the first broadcast because of complaints received). "New Kids on the Blecch" also has a line change. In the scene where Mr. Burns is whipping Smithers as Smithers is driving a rickshaw, Mr. Burns's line in the premiere episode was "You call yourself a Chinaman?" In all reruns and on DVD, the line is now, "You call yourself Chinese?".[[/note]]

* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'''s full-season DVD's (from seasons one to five) are an inversion, as all episodes are the full, uncut 90-minute version (as opposed to the hour-or-less versions that air in syndication). Any ''SNL'' fan who remembers this era through the NostalgiaFilter will be shaken to realize that even during a good era of ''SNL'', there were a lot of sketches that haven't aged very well or weren't good in the first place.
** The "Best of" clip show episodes, however, are played straight, as a lot of them are shown extended with sketches that the televised version didn't air due to time constraints (along with the special features and outtakes section).
** And inverted again by the "Best of [Performer]" DVD compilations, which often show poorly-edited abridged versions of sketches in lieu of the full sketch, or splice together clips from recurring sketches into a kind of disjointed frankensketch.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has a first season littered with subplots and story arcs that flow better on DVD, with the episodes playing in chronological order with little interruption. Subplots and story arcs from season 2 would flow best on a DVD or Blu-Ray imported from Canada or Australia, or a digital streaming website, since Creator/{{Disney}} unfortunately mucked up the episode order for that season's American [=DVDs=].

* The ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' franchise is much better when viewed on DVD, especially because (via the ''Alien Quadrilogy'' and ''Alien Anthology'' sets) it allowed the production company to include multiple cuts of film film on their own dedicated disc. ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' featured the heretofore-unreleased theatrical cut and special edition (which added a half-hour worth of footage), while ''Film/{{Alien 3}}'' featured an assembly cut kitbashed from the original negatives that runs an hour longer than the theatrical version. The ''Anthology'' set also allowed viewers to access a massive database of additional information, interviews and deleted scenes from any of the discs in the set (via Blu-Ray technology).

* In some cases, details become more prominent on small screens, especially in HD. One example is ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence''. On the Blu Ray, it's much more obvious that [[spoiler: the creatures at the end are robots and not aliens. It's easier to see the bright lights and circuitry inside of them and there are flashing lights on their heads when they talk]]. This apparently wasn't too obvious for people at theatres.

* ''HajimeNoIppo'' is far more satisfying when marathoned, with its character development and intense action. Multiple matches tend to last up to three episodes, but that is far more forgivable than [[DragonBallZ seeing characters do nothing but talk and power up for three episodes.]][[/folder]]

* The version of ''HighlanderEndgame'' aired in theatres had unfinished special effects, and was missing several plot critical scenes, this was all fixed in the DVD and VHS releases.

* Like movies and television, video game series released on an episodic schedule (such as the ''HalfLife Episodes'' series, and Telltale's ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'', ''VideoGame/StrongBadsCoolGameForAttractivePeople'' and ''TalesOfMonkeyIsland'' games) can feel more cohesive when individual episodes are played back-to-back instead of having to wait anywhere between a month and [[ScheduleSlip five years (and counting)]] for a new entry in the series.

* ''{{Superjail}}'', at least the [[ContestedSequel second season]], wound up with a surprisingly comprehensive DVD release. Although said season's quality is highly debated, the amount of extras and the commentaries helped provide more insight and entertainment about the process of making the show. That, and the second season DVD has been the only one to actually use the uncensored copies of the show's episodes (ie: unbleeped swearing, censor boxes removed unless they were intended as part of the gag), while the season 1 and season 3 releases had labels claiming they were uncensored but [[ExecutiveMeddling went with the TV broadcast versions of the episodes]].

* Here's some TechnologyMarchesOn as it relates to any sort of TV series, be it live-action or animated. TV shows are certainly ''cheaper'' and easier to store on DVD. VHS tapes were thick and had moving parts, plus sometimes only had an episode or two on them apiece (remember, you would have to fast-forward to the episode you wanted!). [[CrackIsCheaper Buying a series on VHS would run you well over $100 back in the 1990's]], and often fill up a shelf. DVDs are cheaper to produce, less prone to mechanical failure, and a whole season can fit in a thin box.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has a first season littered with subplots and story arcs that flow better on DVD, with the episodes playing in chronological order with little interruption. Subplots and story arcs from season 2 would flow best on a digital streaming website, since Creator/{{Disney}} unfortunately mucked up the episode order for that season's [=DVDs=].

* '''Before you get to the TV shows, here's a little''' TechnologyMarchesOn. TV shows are certainly ''cheaper'' and easier to store on DVD. VHS tapes were thick and had moving parts, plus sometimes only had an episode or two on them apiece (remember, you would have to fast-forward to the episode you wanted!). [[CrackIsCheaper Buying a series on VHS would run you well over $100 back in the 1990's]], and often fill up a shelf. DVDs are cheaper to produce, less prone to mechanical failure, and a whole season can fit in a thin box.

* ''WesternAnimationStarWarsTheCloneWars'' is also notably better on DVD, since being able to choose the episode you watch plays into the show's anachronic presentation. Alternately, you can figure out and watch the chronological order of the various arcs, making some call-backs and call-forwards much clearer.

[[AC:General]]
* TechnologyMarchesOn. TV shows are certainly ''cheaper'' and easier to store on DVD. VHS tapes were thick and had moving parts, plus sometimes only had an episode or two on them apiece (remember, you would have to fast-forward to the episode you wanted!). [[CrackIsCheaper Buying a series on VHS would run you well over $100 back in the 1990's]], and often fill up a shelf. DVDs are cheaper to produce, less prone to mechanical failure, and a whole season can fit in a thin box.

* ''StarWarsCloneWars'': While the original episodes were only 4 minutes long and had very little plot between them, the DVD releases just strung the episodes together, sans the in-between title sequences and end credits. The whole series flowed like two hour-long movies.
* ''StarWarsTheCloneWars'' is also notably better on DVD, since being able to choose the episode you watch plays into the show's anachronic presentation. Alternately, you can figure out and watch the chronological order of the various arcs, making some call-backs and call-forwards much clearer.

The fact remains that some series do not really work quite as well until you sit down for a marathon with the [=DVD=]s.

[[/folder]]

* In some cases, details become more prominent on small screens, especially in HD. One example is "A.I. - Artificial Intelligence." On the Blu Ray, it's much more obvious that [[spoiler: the creatures at the end are robots and not aliens. It's easier to see the bright lights and circuitry inside of them and there are flashing lights on their heads when they talk]]. This apparently wasn't too obvious for people at theatres.