In an effort to improve rating and save Body of Proof from cancellation, the third season saw the series undergo a major overhaul, with cast changes and edgier storylines with a bit more action. As the third season begins, Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) is returning to work after a three month break to deal with the death of her professional colleague and confidant, Peter Dunlop (Nicholas Bishop). As if Megan wasn’t dealing with enough, her daughter, Lacey (Mary Mouser), is kidnapped, and a bomb is hidden in a dead body. Things aren’t going to be easy for Megan.

As part of the cast shuffle, both homicide detective Bud Morris (John Caroll Lynch) and his partner Samantha Baker (Sonja Sohn) are gone. Department boss Kate Murphy (Jeri Ryan) is still around, but busy playing politics, as she prepares to run for public office. Given all the changes and loss, it seems appropriate to launch the new season with a case that matches the pall of sadness that hangs over everything. Also, it’s nice to see a series acknowledge all of the obvious changes, rather than pretending nothing happened. What a concept!

Body of ProofAlong with changing the tone of the show, the show tried to explore her personal relationships. With the addition of new detective Tommy Sullivan (Mark Valley), Megan must deal with their previous relationship, which creates a natural distrust. Watching them work out their feelings for each other added the extra drama the show needed to be interesting. In returning to the ongoing backstory of Megan’s father’s death, the writers added a mystery element that brought a real sense of suspense to the shows crime of the week format, without bogging things down.

Dana Delaney is an extremely talented actress, and the third season of Body of Proof was definitely its best. If the series was laid out from the start like it was in the third season, it might have been a ratings hit. There are a lot of crime procedurals out there, and the first two seasons of Body of Proof did nothing to stand out. Unfortunately, by the third season, viewers weren’t interested enough, and the series was canceled.

The final thirteen episodes offer up some great guest stars as icing on the cake: Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), Alan Dale (also Lost), Luke Perry, Joanna Cassidy, Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives), Lorraine Toussaint (Saving Grace), Marissa Ramirez (Blue Bloods), Annie Wersching (24), Christopher McDonald (Harry’s Law), and Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue). Canceled or not, the third season of Body of Proof is worth a look; here’s hoping Dana Delaney is back on TV soon.

This three-disc set has five bonus features, including a gag reel. Other offerings include featurettes on the look of the production, the importance of props, a set tour, and the visual effects that make Los Angeles look like Philadelphia. It’s all pretty standard fare.