It's no real surprise that, by Season Six, HBO's series, "Tale from the Crypt," has lost some of its freshness. That's not really a criticism of this classic cable series. Few anthology shows, especially in the sci-fi/horror genre, remain consistent for very long. But all-in-all, the good episodes still outweigh the clunkers, making this three-disc collection worth picking up.

All 15 episodes from the sixth season are included here, and by now, the weekly visit from its pun-spewing host, the Cryptkeeper, is sort of like a visit from an old friend. That is, an old friend who doesn't really have anything new or interesting to say, but you put up with him anyway. As for the stories themselves, there are some really good ones, such as "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime," "Revenge is the Nuts" (filmed once before as part of the old British anthology film of the same title), "Doctor of Horror," "The Assassins," and "In the Groove." The highlight has to be Robert Zemeckis' "You Murderer," one of the entire series' most famous episodes, which ingeniously brings Humphry Bogart & Alfred Hitchcock back (through CGI) for starring roles. While a lot of these stories are the usual tongue-in-cheek horror-fests, some couldn't be labeled horror by any stretch. But that was the same with the original comic books on which they're based. In fact, there's probably more emphasis on black comedy than true horror. What they all do share are the same tried & true revenge & irony plotlines that have made the show so successful, not to mention that it still includes a lot of big-name actors & directors (which was always way above-par for any anthology series). There are some stinkers here, like "Operation Friendship," "The Pit" and "Surprise Party", but the good ones outweigh the bad ones.

The show is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and the overall image isn't bad for episodes that are 13 years old. There's are a few scratches here and there, but nothing all that distracting. The sound quality is merely adequate, offered in Dolby Stereo. There isn't any distortion, but it's nothing to knock your socks off.

The only extra is a "Virtual Comic Book" from the "Whirlpool" episode, which is probably worth checking out once.

Even after six seasons, "Tales from the Crypt" is one of the best anthology shows ever made (though for true, balls-out horror, nothing can top Showtime's "Master of Horror"). Fans and completists will, of course, love this set. Despite not being as consistent as previous seasons (especially 1 & 2), there are enough good episodes (and one true classic) to make Season Six hard for die-hards to resist. First-timers may first want to check out Seasons 1 & 2 to experience the show at its creative peak. For all others, this set is recommended.