Although writers committed the "cardinal television sin" of having their two main characters consummate their long-held sexual tension, the third season of MOONLIGHTING features many of the show's best-ever episodes ("Atomic Shakespeare", "Big Man on Mulberry Street", "The Straight Poop" and "I Am Curious...Maddie").

This was in my opinion the very height of MOONLIGHTING magic. Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd really knew their characters by this point, and their scenes together crackle with romantic tension and zinzy comedy. Allyce Beasley's role of kooky receptionist Miss DiPesto was expanded; and the introduction of Curtis Armstrong as Herb gave the character of DiPesto her very own love interest.

COMPLETE EPISODE LISTING:

"The Son Also Rises" - Paul Sorvino guest stars as David's estranged father, who plans on remarrying. But a secret from the past could turn his son into the world's worst best man.

"The Man Who Cried Wife" - How do you solve a murder case when the victim won't stay dead? Maddie and David help a man who thinks he's being stalked by the wife he killed in a jealous rage.

"Symphony in Knocked Flat" - Maddie challenges David to treat her to the perfect night out. But their date turns into a disaster that traps them between a Russian boxer and an assassin's bullet.

"Yours, Very Deadly" - Maddie and David race to find a secret admirer whose love letters have turned into threats. Meanwhile, receptionist Agnes DiPesto can't keep her hands off the new temp, Herbert Viola.

"All Creatures Great and...Not So Great" - A priest asks for Blue Moon Investigations' help in violating his holy vows. Will Maddie and David save him from sin or lead him into temptation?

"Big Man on Mulberry Street" - After David admits that he once was married, Maddie seeks the secret of his past - and ex marks the spot. Sandahl Bergman guest stars as the former Mrs Addison.

"Atomic Shakespeare" - They're murdering the classics! Maddie and David take on Shakespeare (and each other) in an outrageous spoof of "The Taming of the Shrew". Colm Meaney makes a guest appearance.

"It's a Wonderful Job" - A desolate Maddie wishes that she had never heard of the Blue Moon Detective Agency, until a guardian angel shows her how everyone's lives would have been different without her.

"The Straight Poop" - In an hysterical parody of behind-the-scenes infotainment, investigative reporter Rona Barrett probes deep into Maddie and David's secret lives!

"Poltergeist III - DiPesto Nothing" - After David and Maddie pass on a haunted house mystery, receptionist Agnes DiPesto tries to crack the case herself. Does she have a ghost of a chance?

"Blonde on Blonde" - When Maddie announces to a shocked David that she is going out on the town in search of a lusty one-night stand, he and Bert frantically shadow her every move to make sure she stays out of trouble.

"Sam and Dave" - When David realises Maddie's romantic fling could be serious, he confronts Prince Charming...and realises he's outclassed. Mark Harmon guest stars as Sam Crawford.

"Maddie's Turn to Cry" - Maddie learns the hard way that two's company and three's a crowd after Sam and David strike up an uneasy friendship.

"I Am Curious...Maddie" - David runs the risk of losing Maddie for good after Sam proposes and Maddie has difficulty thinking up reasons why she shouldn't marry "Mr Perfect".

"To Heiress Human" - As Maddie and David's relationship takes a turn for the weird, they tackle a million-dollar question. Is an heiress being asked to marry for love...or money?

I bought this dvd for one particular episode titled, "Atomic Shakespeare" but as I went through them, it just reminded me of how funny this show was! All the terrific banter back and forth made this purchase worth it. I plan on having the whole series soon. :)

Okay, remember when we were in school (or still are?) and you'd "half-azz" a paper, and BS your way through it, and finally turn it in. Remember what would would happen? You'd get a "lousy grade" maybe a C, if you were lucky. Didn't matter how well certain parts were, which may have been stupendous!

Well, that's how I felt watching this season. Sure it was the best, and "smashing" in many parts. Yes, the storylines were brilliant! But, it had only around 16 episodes! Come on! And at least 4 of them started off with joke premises of the show being delayed for weeks and weeks. I think around two, near the end, actually had footage from prior shows, adding up to five minutes per episode (some even being repeat footage, from the "repeat footage" of the prior show!) Ridiculous!!!

Sorry, I demand my money's worth! I won't give 5 stars to shoddy, incomplete seasons! Shame on those who will give lousy star ratings to DVD sets like WKRP in Cincinattie for the changed music, but then let this one slide under the radar! This was a shoddy season, and was incomplete! Deserves less than a 5 star perfect rating, and you know it!!!

MC White said: Excellent in many parts, but incomplete overall!

Season 3 of Moonlighting arguably contains the best episode of the best season of the best TV show from the 1980s.

All the sexual tension that Moonlighting rode on was on display in The Atomic Shakespeare episode. Considering the real life tension between the stars, the episode practically wrote itself. The wit of Moonlighting combined with the greatest writer of the English language make it the best 50 minutes of TV ever broadcast.

But Atomic Shakespeare is only the best of the best. It's a Wonderful Job is my favorite take of the many parodies of the classic Capra movie. Big Man on Mulberry Street contains a dazzling dance/dream sequence directed by the great Stanley Donen. Throw in the usual strong Moonlighting episodes (see Cybill Shepherd with her feet sticking out of a mail cart in Yours Very Deadly) and you have a must have DVD.

The last two seasons were not as strong for a variety of reasons but you can't go wrong with season 3. Atomic Shakespeare alone is worth the cost. Throw in the other episodes and you would have a hard time persuading me that any season on commercial TV was better.

This particular show is worth the cost of the entire CD. Brilliantly done with great wit.