DVD Review: LOST The Complete Fourth Season
JJ Abrams' Continuing Gripping Series is Released on DVD
Jan 5, 2009
(Author's Note: If you, Gentle Reader, have not seen or sampled the first three seasons of Lost, or think this show is composed of standalone episodes, please go find seasons 1 through 3, and enjoy them first, otherwise this article will make as much sense as a ten-hour long discourse on String Theory -- D.M.)Generalized Synopsis of Lost: The Complete Fourth Season
As Season Three had wrapped up, there had been talk of a possible freighter nearby the island which had been allegedly sent by Penny Whitmore, who is the love interest of island castaway Desmond Hume (Ian Henry Cusick). Said ship could possibly be the way home for all who remain on the island, much to the opposition of the leader of the Others, Benjamin Linus (Michael Emmerson).
By that season finale, the audience discovers that the freighter isn't Penny's, via a radio message discovered by Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan). Charlie ended up giving his life to convey this message to Desmond, before drowning.
One member of the freighter's team of alleged rescuers, Naomi (Marsha Thomason), had managed to parachute onto the island, so to confirm wether there were any Oceanic survivors. Just as she finally made contact with the boat to bring in the chopper, she was shot dead by John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), who insists very much like Ben Linus, that no one is supposed to leave the island.
As Season Four begins, we witness the aftermath of these events.
Through an innovative process of flash-forwards (unlike the familiar flashbacks from the first three seasons), we see what happened to a key number of castaways, once they were rescued from the island. The media in the present calls them the "Oceanic Six", representing the six passengers who were found and rescued at sea. Cleverly, the season goes about explaining who they are, why they specifically got rescued, and why the others did not.
As Season Four begins, the passenger survivors encounter some of the freighter's crew, namely scientist Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies), Charlotte Lewis (Rebecca Mader), and Miles Straume (Ken Leung). Each came to the island looking for answers, however they make the survivors believe they are maily there to rescue them. As the episodes progress, we learn more about them, and their involvement in the overall endgame each has towards the island and its secrets.
Helicopter pilot Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey) is also on the island, and operates as a means to and from the island to the freighter, which sits miles out into the sea. Though he has less of a stake in the matter, he is willing to help the castaways find a way home.
Lo and behold, there's a villain in the midst, in the form of Martin Keamy (Canadian actor Kevin Durand), a mercenary on the freighter who had specific orders to locate Benjamin Linus. The reasons behind this are revealed, however for the sake of preventing spoilers, let us not speak as to why.
Overall Analysis of Lost: The Complete Fourth Season
First, let it be said that it was refreshing to have the future become the present, i.e. moving past the island rescue, and focus on each Oceanic Six member and how they cope with the real world again, post rescue. Also, this allowed the flashbacks to become a follow-up of what was deemed as the present, in the past three seasons. Without confusing the audience that much further, this nice editing trick not only brought new life to an already complex puzzle, but it also delivered on an early promise to have the cast off the island.
To explore the backstories of all parties involved not only makes for good television, but keeps the audience riveted. Despite having been bombarded with much backstory of the over 20-plus characters ongoing in this tale, it's still fun to learn more about them, like long lost friends who have been out of touch.
Season Four is arguably the best season so far, and doesn't dissapoint. Though shortened by the Writer's Strike, it still managed to stuff as much additional info into it's 14 episode stint. The producers have already confirmed that the show will end at 6 seasons, however this doesn't slow down the pace in any way.
Much kudos go to Michael Emmerson, who plays the ambiguous villain Ben Linus. Though many would deem him to be a very complex secondary character, Linus has become a very challenging character, full of layers and intricacies, like a nesting doll. Just when you think the cards are all on the table, Benjamin Linus finds a way to surprise once again. There is hope to have this actor win an eventual Emmy, should the fates intervene.
Lost Season Four Extras
This season box set has some decent extras, namely extensive behind the scenes making of footage, some in-depth looks into how the creative team manages to turn Hawaii locations into worldwide locales, and the very pleasant blooper reel, which shows how much fun the cast really has.
8 out of 10 for managing to keep a series fresh going into a fourth season, and in keeping viewers positively hooked
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