The League scores a touchdown with the Complete Season Three

FX's The League now has its Complete Season Three out on Blu-ray and DVD.  If you have missed this fantasy football-based comedy, with the all-around amazing cast, up 'til now, it's time to start watching, as it has become one of the most original, funniest shows on television. Season three is a great entry point, and after watching every installment on this two disc set, you'll probably be motivated enough to go seek out the other seasons.

As season three begins, Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is still rubbing his victory from last year in everyone's face, being more insufferable than usual. The others plot to pick the draft order behind his back, giving them an unfair advantage, and hoping to allow them to knock Ruxin down a few pegs this year. This sort of back fires, as once that bond of trust is broken, even if Ruxin doesn't figure it out for a long time, the others begin not trusting each other, too, making for a trade-less, frustrating fantasy football league.

In The League, though, Shiva Bowl Champion is not the only title. There is still unfinished business to attend to concerning last year's loser, the Sacko prize winner, Andre (Paul Scheer). For that, the boys turn to former member Rafi (Jason Mantzoukas) and his friend Dirty Randy (Seth Rogen), who help them humiliate Andre with the ultimate prank.

All of this unfair backstabbing may sound mean, but it's not. The heart of The League is a group of friends who care about one another. Sure, they give each other a hard time, as friends do, and sometimes they go a little too far. But their shared love of football, and the good times they have picking their fantasy team and watching the games, are why they stick together. The characters do not have to express their emotions to feel the affection between them, as we see during a near-tragedy at the end of the season.

They do, however, have to be really, really funny, and The Complete Season Three showcases this in many fantastic ways. Whether Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) is "cheating" on his wife, Jenny (Katie Aselton), the sole female member of the group, with an ESPN analyst, or Ruxin is growing unhappy about his attractive au pair (Brie Larson, United States of Tara), whom Pete (Mark Duplass) has his eye on, there are lots of humorous moments. Toss in Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), who is basically a walking joke, especially when inventing an analog social network called "My-face," and you have the recipe for something pretty cool.

Among the best installments of this season are:

• "The Lockout" In which Ruxin is screwed over figuratively, and Andre is screwed over literally (sort of).
• "Bobbum Man" Kevin is afraid of Pete's made-up creature, the Bobbum Man.
• "Carmenjello" Kevin and Jenny search for the perfect paint color, but a defective can means awkward explanations to daughter Ellie (Alina Foley).
• "Thanksgiving" Ruxin's dad (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park) and Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program) join the gang for a turkey with a very interesting and unique stuffing.
• "The Light of Genesis" Ruxin joins a cult that could help him win in fantasy football, while Kevin is worried his Krav Maga teacher (Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse) is attracted to him.
• "The Funeral" Every arc from this season comes to a head with the Shiva and the Sacko on the line.

The League The Complete Season Three is fully packed with bonus features. The best thing is that ten of the year's thirteen episodes are extended on the DVD, providing quite a few more laughs than as aired. There is also a gag reel, deleted scenes, and two featurettes, "Alt Nation" and "Taco Tones." For a thirteen episode comedy, this turns out to be quite a bit.

Check out The League The Complete Season Three, available now, and watch brand new season four episodes Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

The League celebrates "Thanksgiving"

     "Thanksgiving" is in the air on The League this week, as well as the smell of cooking guinea pig when Ellie's (Alina Foley) class pet gets loose and into the turkey. Thanksgiving isn't known as the most sexy of holidays, but The League goes there anyway. Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program), who taught the boys everything they know about sex, comes to visit. Learning that Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) isn't using all his knowledge with Jenny (Katie Aselton), she offers a refresher course. While Jenny would like Kevin to step things up, she doesn't want Andre's sister to do anything more. Even worse is Ruxin Sr. (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, The Fly), who engages in a sorbet act with Andre's sister that cannot be named in decent company.

     The League can be pretty raunchy, and that's part of what makes it so funny. But generally it's the main guys who get invovled with that stuff, and it's usually regulated to talking-only, porn references, or marriage-based monogamy. In "Thanksgiving," it's the guest stars the get naughty, and quite a bit more so than usual. Andre's sister not only wants to retrain Kevin, with Jenny present, or showing Kevin on Jenny, but also sleeps with Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), and makes a play for Peter (Mark Duplass). Heck, she even wants to give her brother (Paul Scheer) some tips! That she is trying to take Ruxin Sr. home only makes her more of a slut. She's very promiscuous. And because she is played by comedian Silverman, also hilarious.

      Ruxin's dad goes more for the creepy factor, like his son. As an added bonus, Goldblum looks the part perfectly. Ruxin (Nick Kroll) thinks he can ditch both family Thanksgivings to stay home and masturbate, but is surprised when his dad showns up at his door with the same idea. Not knowing Ruxin will be home, Ruxin Sr. intends to use his son's house as a hideout. Disturbingly, not only does Ruxin continue with his plans, but it seems Ruxin Sr. likely does the same solo activity, and both in excess, given the reading Ruxin's pedometer shows.

     It's a testament to just how good The League is when it can attract talent the level of Silverman and Goldblum, as well as Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) and Seth Rogen, in previous episodes this season. While hidden away on cable, it's a series that should not be missed. The relationships feel real, and guys are authentic friends who act in a relatable manner. Some of the situations are unrealistic, of course; it's still a sitcom. But at the same time, every actor is fully committed to their role, and can deliver top notch comedy of both the zinger and physical kind. It is no wonder people more well known for their film roles want to play in this sandbox.

     Even with all the sexual tomfoolery, the only thing that really comes close to crossing the line is the cooking of the guinea pig. Escaped from its cage, it crawls into the turkey, which Jenny then places back in the over. Strangely, no one finds fur, even though Andre pulls the name tag out of his mouth. Guinea pigs are eaten in other countries, and if prepared properly, could be excused. However, in this case, as it is a pet, and it being cooked is accidental, it's stomach turning and wrong in a way that shakes the soul. Let's hope Jenny throws the rest of the turkey away.

     Watch The League Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

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