DVD Review: "Everwood: The Complete Fourth Season"

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The final season of the series set in a welcoming town in the Rockies is all about finding oneself… and each-other. Here, in this 5-Disc, 22-Episode Season Four, the unforgettable people of Everwood test the ties that bind them together in joy and tears, friendship and love.

Drawn by his feelings for Amy, Ephram returns home and mentors a troubled piano prodigy. When Nina choses Jake over him, Andy struggles to remain friends with the woman he loves. Bright and Hannah make their unlikely romance work.

The Abbots open up their arms to a new child. Intriguing characters arrive and beloved characters depart. Say goodbye to the place and the people that won your heart – and discover how everything turned out.

FILM: Fans of the series “Everwood” have reason to celebrate as the fourth and final season of the drama finally arrives on DVD after five years.

Starring Treat Williams, “Everwood” tells the story of Dr. Andrew Brown, who leaves his neurosurgery practice in New York and moves his children to the small town of Everwood, Co in order to connect with them after the death of his wife.

Drama ensues, relationships are built and destroyed, people say things they don’t mean then have to take them back, etc... “Everwood” is not a bad show, but it does nothing to set itself apart from the dearth of “Family Dramas” that have plastered primetime in the last decade (entire networks have been built on these kinds of show, such as, *cough* ABCFamily *cough*).

Granted, the writing here is very good, and it is easy to be drawn into the storyline even starting three seasons in. The performances, anchored by the great Treat Williams, are all on par, carrying the story along. This could have been a classic series had there been anything original to lift it above all the other, eerily similar dramas on air today.

VIDEO: The video is on par with most TV dramas, but don't expect anything spectacular.

AUDIO: You can hear the dialogue and sound effect, so what more do you need for this?

SPECIAL FEATURES: Warner Bros. has added over 40 minutes of unaired scenes, including a 10-minute alternate finale. Fans of the show should really be excited because a lot of this footage seems to flesh out some of the story points of the season, especially after five years! A nice addition to the disc!

OVERALL: For fans of the show who have season 1-3, this is a no-brainer! As for anyone who has not visited the sleepy town of Everwood, I’d suggest taking an alternate route.

WEBSITE TO BUY: WBShop

Comments

[Michael]

Hi Danny,

Thanks for the review you posted. I came late to Everwood and by that I mean the series had been canceled for a couple of years. As the series went along, it matured as did it's young leads. While I consider Everwood a show that can be endearing and sweet, it's not without it's dark moments (abortion, pregnancy, drug use, physical abuse, etc) and it's certainly not even remotely on par with treacly shows like 7th Heaven, Full House, and it's ilk.

The problem I have with your review is that without watching season's 1-3, it's unfair to judge a show where characters actions, personalities, and problems have been created and informed by events that have been happening in the 67 episodes that you failed to watch before diving into the show. It would be like jumping into season 6 of LOST and understand what is going on.

Of course you need to be emotionally invested in a show's characters and their dreams and desires. I'm sorry but I simply cannot give full credit and respect to a review that discounts 67 preview episodes and what it has meant to what is happening in season 4.

Most other reviewers who were reviewing a show far into it's run go back and catch up so as to give the season a fair review. I know, I know, any season should be able to stand on it's own merits, but that's all fine if you know why the characters are where they are.

Obviously my point is that before reviewing a dvd of a show, make sure to go back and watch previous season(s). For my money, Everwood may not be up there at the top of the mountain with My-So-Called-Life, but it's not too far from the summit.