British TV thrillers, PBS profiles are among new releases on DVD

These newly released TV DVDs are dominated by some top-notch British TV thrillers.

"Wish Me Luck: Series 1" (Acorn, 1988, two discs, $39.99). A stirring and extremely well-constructed English drama, this one explores the sacrifices made by civilian women during World War II after they were called upon to become double agents in occupied France.

The primary focus is on Liz (Katte Buffrey), the controlled upper-class wife of an overseas soldier and mother of a young child, and half-Jewish working-class Matty (Suzanna Hamilton), a wild card with a temper. The first two episodes develop the characters, show them being recruited and get them into France. Subsequent episodes follow their tense efforts to acquire information — until Matty is discovered and arrested for interrogation.

Extras: full frame, eight episodes, text essay of the real WWII operation, photo gallery, trailers

"Armchair Thriller: Set 2" (Acorn, 1978-81, four discs, $49.99). There are three six-episode miniseries in this second set from the British anthology program — "The Circe Complex," about a jailed jewel thief who won't tell where the loot is, so his wife teams up with others to find it; "Quiet as a Nun," with a TV reporter looking into the death of a friend, a nun who apparently starved to death in a convent; and "The Chelsea Murders," with detectives in a race with a journalist to find a serial killer who taunts police.

The set also includes a feature-length, edited version of "The Chelsea Murders," which aired as a TV movie.

Extras: full frame, three mysteries, 18 episodes, one TV movie, trailers

"The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Collection" (Acorn, 1994-2000, 11 discs, $99.99). The writings of Ruth Rendell were adapted for British TV in a mystery-thriller series that ran from 1987-2000 (the 17 shows collected in this set were originally released in four earlier sets).

There are lots of familiar British character actors here, along with some who have gone on to bigger things, including Emily Mortimer, Idris Elba and recent Oscar nominee Colin Firth.

Extras: full frame, 17 mysteries, 30 episodes, featurette, text biography of Rendell, text filmographies, trailers

"Breaking Bad: The Complete Second Season" (Sony, 2009, four discs, $39.95). Well made but very dark drama (with jet-black comedy) stars Bryan Cranston in a bravura performance as a schoolteacher who finds he has cancer, so he goes into the crystal meth business. In the spirit of such gritty, downbeat shows as "The Shield."