Season four of the hit show Lost asks not only "Where is the island?" but "When is the island?" as time-shift continuums, philosophical wonders, and conspiracy theories abound. It's a season that will have fans old and new asking, "What in the...?" while at the same time gasping with joy and wonder, as answers unfold and new mysteries arise. It's at times frustrating, other times fascinating. And it couldn't be more fun.

Whereas new fans may get a bit confused on all that is happening (this 4th season is simply jam-packed with action), seasoned fans will delight in how many mysteries begin to unfold - and how many more dramas are unleashed.

For starters, this is a season of split allegiances and heated arguments for the Oceanic Flight 815 survivors. A freighter arrives offshore, and three of its passengers arrive on the island. At first, this seems like good news, but things on the island aren't always as they seem - and the crash survivors can't agree as to whether the island's newest inhabitants are friends or foes. Some of the crash survivors - led by John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) - go to the Others's compound to escape, and the rest - led by Jack (Matthew Fox) - decide to stay at the beach. Allegiances shift (sometimes, several different times) and the island's survivors - along with the viewers - are consistently asking themselves who can be trusted? Has Locke lost his mind? Is Ben truly evil? Does Jack know what he's doing? Who - or what - is Jacob? Are the new threesome there to help - or do they have a much darker agenda? The fact that we can never be sure who is "good" and who is "bad" is just one of the fun aspects of the show.

Even better, however, is the slow realization of the identities of the actual "Oceanic Six" - or sole six survivors of the island. As the season progresses, we begin to see who joins Kate and Jack (or perhaps more interestingly, who doesn't), as we are fast-forwarded to when the six are off the island and back in the city.

We also get a glimpse at a new concept: a time-shift continuum, where we begin to sense that the island isn't exactly where - or when - we think it may be. In "The Constant," perhaps one of the best episodes of the entire series, we are thrown into somewhat of an alternate universe (almost touching on Star Trek-ish storylines) - and treated to some of the best acting in dramatic television, by Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond Hume).

This 4th season of Lost feels like it's been a long time coming. Sure, a lot of the fun of Lost occurs while being entrenched in  the action and mystery, but at some point viewers need closure and answers - and this season begins to answer those long-answered questions, while leading us down a path where we - after years of holding our breath - can finally exhale. In an era when TV shows seem to hold on way past their prime (a few that come to mind are 24 and Alias), it's satisfying to know that this show was created with the idea of a full five-season story arc in mind - and that we won't be left with any unintentional cliffhangers or a frustrating lack of payoff. It is a show that quite obviously arose from a completed concept - and then has been executed to perfection.

About the Blu-ray Release and Special Features

Lost is one of those shows that gets better on DVD. When you can watch one episode right after the next, there aren't any confusing time lapses - such as what can sometimes occur when watching the show live, week after week. The action is non-stop, and not a single moment is wasted on lazy dialogue or poor characterizations. It is a show that grabs you by the collar and forces you pay attention as it drags you along on one insanely wild ride. And I must say: the entire experience only gets better in high definition; Blu-ray Disc (BD) - with its stunning graphics, amazing sound quality, and oodles of extra special features - is, bar none, the only way to watch this show.

There's a reason why they're billing this release as "The Expanded Experience." One of the best special features on the Lost: Season Four BD release is "More from the Symphony," a behind-the-scenes look at a symphony that the show's composer Michael Giacchino arranged with the local Hawaiian orchestra to perform for live audiences. For me, the featurette perfectly captured an idea I've had for quite some time: that the music of Lost is a character in and of itself. Its often eerie, haunting melodies have become a staple for viewers; just a few notes and you think to yourself, "Uh oh. Here it comes..." The music creates the baseline mood for the show - and it's simply fantastic.

"Lost on Location," a 40-minute documentary on the behind-the-scenes production of the show was also quite interesting, as it detailed the mind-blowing effort involved in creating a season of Lost - including the substantial efforts to set up faraway locales (Korea, Iraq) on their Hawaii set. A short featurette entitled "The Right to Bear Arms" also provided a frank and funny look at one man whose sole responsibility was to track which character had which gun throughout all of the show's seasons.

Other special features include four more short featurettes ("Lost in 8:15," "The Freighter Folk," Offshore Shoot," and Soundtrack of Survival"), four sets of episode Commentaries, Bloopers, 10 minutes of Deleted Scenes, and an entertaining, entirely made up documentary entitled "The Oceanic Six: A Conspiracy of Lies." Special BD exclusive features included a "Season Play" capability so that you can stop and start the show at any time, with no pauses or extra menus involved. Plus, an interactive game called "Course of the Future" will keep uber fans entertained.

Ranging in price from $59.99 to $99.99 (depending on the retailer), Lost: The Complete Fourth Season is one Blu-ray release that is worth every penny – and then some. The special features are incredible; the visuals are crisp beyond words. Plus, at the time of this writing, Lost: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray Disc is on sale for just $49.99 at Amazon.com. Get it while you can.

Lost: The Complete Fourth Season: The Expanded Experience (Blu-ray) starring Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, and Josh Holloway
Touchstone/Disney, Rated PG. Available online at Amazon.com.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Comment

smaller | bigger

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment