For a while it seemed that Lost was going to fade away into the ether of exciting and relevant television that had become tired and aimless (see The X-Files for a prime example of this phenomenon). The first two seasons of Lost were highly popular and acclaimed, but by season three most fans and critics seemed ready to put the show out to pasture. It was moving too slow. There were too many questions and not enough answers. People just stopped caring. But then the show's creators took a major gamble and set the stakes high by reinventing the series with the finale of season three. Suddenly, the show had regained its focus and had a new sense or purpose. Couple that with the announcement that the show would be ending in 2010 following three shortened seasons that would pull everything together and Lost was back in a major way. Most series usually run out of creative steam and then fumble around to find an ending that will satisfy fans. But here was a series that had laid out a blueprint of when and how it was going to end. This bold move was just what the show needed to recapture it's spark and to cement its place in television history. For better or worse, Lost was going to end things on it's terms.
The new shot of creative energy is apparent throughout the fourth season. The episodes are lean and economical in their storytelling. The pacing is faster than in the past and there is an inevitable sense of doom hanging over the series like a cloud. Somehow you get the sense that when Lost finally ends, it's not going to be on a feel good high.
Season 4 integrates the new flash forward story device that was introduced in the finale of Season 3. As the season progresses we flash forward to learn what members of Oceanic 815 (known as the Oceanic 6) made it off the island and what problems they have run into since their rescue. Meanwhile, in the present, we slowly learn how the things played out and why some did not leave the island. New characters are introduced: Danile Faraday, Miles Strom, Charlotte Lewis and Frank Lapidis consist of a crew sent to extract Ben from the island. Why? It turns out that the island is of interest to another party as well. New alliances are formed as Jack and Locke go their separate ways after disagreeing about the true intent of their potential rescuers. Meanwhile, Desmond is featured in another excellent episode, "The Constant" which may be one of the series' finest hours. The episode not only holds pitvotal information that may be a key to the entire sereies, but it also is emotionally satisfying since it focuses on his tortured romance with Penny.
Everything leads to a finale, that while not quite as shocking as "Through the Looking Glass", still delivers the goods and sets the table for the head spinning time travel antics of season 5. All of this from a series that was nearly left for dead. The end is drawing near on Lost and you can feel the forces gathering for what should be one heck of a finish. If season 4 is any indication, that finish is going to hit like a ton of bricks. |
THE SEASON
A lot of TV shows suffered from the writer's strike last season. Some, like Scrubs, had awful shortened seasons that seemingly cried out, "I give up!" Others, like Lost, went with the flow, and managed to deliver not only what fans expected (even if it was slightly different than originally planned), but some of the best work yet in the franchise.
Before the fourth season of Lost began, it was announced that the show would end after six seasons, with a definitive ending. (Or so they claim!) This timetable put the entire series of Lost into a scheduled progression, which the strike threw off. The result? Lost lost several episodes in the fourth season, but the talent of the writing staff managed to put out a slightly shortened season that still hit all the major points needed for the show to progress, even if we did lose out on some extra character progression and events.
The fourth season of Lost was big for more than being the first filmed with a set-in-stone finale in sight. At the end of season 3, Jack has a flash-forward, going against the previous structure (and identity) of the show. This continues in season 4, as characters no longer flash-back to their past and what they did before they got to the island, but flash-forward to (in some cases) life after the island.
This may seem like a cop-out in showing who will make it off and soliciting fan feedback, but in reality it actually greatly changed things. Why? Because some people don't make it off the island. Now, the story of Lost isn't the same ol' "How do they got off the island? Do they get off the island?" routine from the last three years, but instead, "Why does so-and-so not make it?" Do they stay around? Do they die? Does the group split even further, resulting in some escaping while they leave others behind? Suddenly, Lost regains a whole lot of depth that went missing after the relatively tame second year.
The story itself picks up right where season 3 left off, with the gang making contact freight ship crew just offshore, and a helicopter sent to pick them up. Obviously, things don't go according to plan as the freighters have their own agenda.
The usual twists and turns (and new character introductions) that fans expect from the series are in full force in season 4. Even though the post-strike episodes feel a bit more rushed and more compacted with events than the pre-strike ones, they still feel like Lost and manage to pacify fans, which is something many shows couldn't do in the WGA strike period. My only complaint about the season is that, compared to the previous three, the finale isn't nearly as big of a revelation. Then again, maybe that's part of a new direction for Lost, too.
THE BLU-RAY DISC
Lost Season 4 is called "the expanded experience" on the case, even though it's basically exactly what you saw on TV. That's not the only puzzling feature of the package, either. One of the Blu-ray specific features, SeasonPlay, allows you to keep track of where you are in the season and go directly back to that point. (Since, you know, Blu-rays don't save virtual bookmarks like DVDs.) Unfortunately, it rarely seemed to work as-intended. Another puzzling item is the episode selection menu. Pick that, and it asks you to select which disc you have in. But... shouldn't it be able to tell? The best part is if you accidentally pick the wrong one, it tells you to insert the right disc. Odd.
Those issues aside, Lost season 4 on Blu-ray is fantastic, and a great example for TV show releases in the future. Presented in 1080p instead of the HD broadcast's 720p quality, Lost on Blu-ray is noticeably better than Lost on TV; even on the HD channels. Colors are bright, the jungles of Hawaii (err-the "island") look fantastic, and the blacks are deep and foreboding. The show also offers one of those awesome-but-oh-so-rare 3D-like effects during the jungle scenes, where the picture is so clear you almost feel like you're there.
If I have one complaint, it's that the transfer may be too clear. Plenty of times, you can see makeup and such on the faces of the actors due to the high clarity. On one hand, it's a testament to the quality of the transfer. On the other, nothing takes you out of the moment and scene faster than noticing Jack has some foundation on his cheek.
The PCM 5.1 audio is also a great improvement over broadcast quality. Which is impressive, considering the broadcast quality of Lost's audio is already above just about all TV Blu-ray releases. Presented with full surround and in several languages, the score, ambient sounds of the island, and action of the occasional action break are very clear, bump quite well, and will please even the most hardcore of audiophiles.
The extra's list, like the previous seasons, is full of hours of goodies. Audio commentary on several episodes, a witty 8:15 recap of the previous Lost seasons, Lost on Location, Lost in Hawaii, the Right to Bear Arms, and the regular bloopers, outtakes, and deleted scenes make the bulk of the featurrettes list.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray version are SeasonPlay, which I've already mentioned, excerpts from a live performance of the fantastic Lost score by the Honolulu Symphony Pops Orchestra, and, my favorite feature, Course of the Future. Course of the Future combines the flash-forwards from season 4, and makes them-effectively-one future episode. While on the standard DVD release, on Blu-ray fans can follow specific characters, finding out what (so far) will happen with some of their favorites. Combined all of the flash forwards fill up an entire episode's timeslot, so it's quite an entertaining watch. Footage you've already seen? Sure. But fun to watch again without any switching back-and-forth between time periods? You bet.
FINAL WORD
Lost Season 4 on Blu-ray is, as I've already said, a pinnacle and shining example for TV on Blu-ray. The show's producers know how to film for the format, and it shows. An awesome video and audio transfer, some nice Easter eggs, and more make up the best Lost season 4 package available. While I would have loved to see more Blu-ray specific features, just having all the extras from the DVD in high-def format is enough of a bonus.
If you're a fan of Lost, buy this season on Blu-ray. And, if you're new to the series, season 4 is perfectly able to serve as a starting point thanks to the new flash-forward dynamic. So if your friend/loved one is watching it, feel free to jump in. Just expect to be hooked on the show like most of America, and join the long list with those of us asking for a Blu-ray release of the first two seasons to add to our collection.
The Show: 5/5
The Disc: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5 |
"The Beginning of the End"