Lost: The Complete Fourth Season

Genre : DVD ( DVD )
Release : 2008/12/09
Price : $19.99

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Season four of Lost was a fine return to form for the series, which polarized its audience the year before with its focus on The Others and not enough on our original crash victims. That season's finale introduced a new storytelling device--the flash-forward--that's employed to great effect this time around; by showing who actually got off the island (known as the Oceanic Six), the viewer is able to put to bed some longstanding loose ends. As the finale attests, we see that in the future Jack (Matthew Fox) is broken, bearded, and not sober, while Kate (Evangeline Lilly) is estranged from Jack and with another guy (the identity may surprise you). Four others do make it back to their homes, but as the flash-forwards show, it's definitely not the end of their connection to the island. Back in present day, however, the islanders are visited by the denizens of a so-called rescue ship, who have agendas of their own. While Jack works with the newcomers to try to get off the island, Locke (Terry O'Quinn), with a few followers of his own, forms an uneasy alliance with Ben (Michael Emerson) against the suspicious gang. Some episodes featuring the new characters feel like filler, but the evolution of such characters as Sun and Jin (Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim) is this season's strength; plus, the love story of Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Penny (Sonya Walger) provides some of the show's emotional highlights. As is the custom with Lost, bullets fly and characters die (while others may or may not have). Moreover, the fate of Michael (Harold Perrineau), last seen traitorously sailing off to civilization in season two, as well as the flash-forwards of the Oceanic Six, shows you never quite leave the island once you've left. There's a force that pulls them in, and it's a hook that keeps you watching.

Season four was a shorter 13 episodes instead of the usual 22 due to the 2008 writers' strike; nonetheless, the set comes with two discs of extras. One of the best features is "LOST in 8:15," which is a rapid-fire summation of the series thus far in eight minutes, 15 seconds. Narrated by a hilariously droll female, it includes lines such as "Jack meets Kate. Kate stitches up Jack. They bond." and "They see Jack play football with Mr. Friendly. Mr. Friendly throws like a girl." The featurette "The Right to Bear Arms" takes a fun look at the prop masters responsible for supplying the castaways with guns--and keeping track of who has one and who doesn't (best here is Sawyer's (Josh Holloway) assertion that characters often cock their guns just to look cool). Cast members Lilly, Garcia, Yunjin Kim, and Daniel Dae Kim provide a few of the commentaries, and the set even comes with an amusing safety guide for Oceanic Airlines. (Example: "if you notice black smoke emanating from the plane, please alert the captain. It is either a problem with the engines or a mysterious creature.") Finally, for those who bought the standard-def DVD, take a closer look at the front cover after you've removed the O-sleeve; you'll notice the entire cast has been blacked out save for a few: the Oceanic Six. --Ellen A. Kim

Stills from Lost : The Complete Fourth Season (Click for larger image)

This season was during the writer's strike so it's shortened but it is absolutely profound. Actually, I think there are more major events in it than in all of the previous seasons put together. There is a heavy emphasis now on the flash forwards which builds more intrigue than the flash backs (there are still some flash backs though).

As I've said in previous reviews, this show is like a drug. J.J. Abrams does a masterful job of keeping the intrigue and suspense meter on maximum with more twists and turns than a M. Knight Shyamalan movie. There are some definite unexpected events here that may make you rewind a bit to make sure that you saw what you saw. I repeat what I've written in the reviews of the other seasons, I'm glad that I watched this on DVD after the show ended because I'd go nuts waiting week to week and even more nuts waiting for the new seasons with the season finales.

Arrived in great condition and on time. Bought for kids as I became addicted to series. This series is MUCH better to watch seasons closely together as you get more out of each viewing and you remember so much more of what has happened.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PRODUCT IT IS ABOUT 1 SELLERS PRICE.MSK9ER IS ASKING $1999 FOR THIS DVD.A BIT EXUBERANT DON'T YOU THINK?

Lost Season 4 is considerably shorter than the previous seasons of 23-24 episodes. With just 13 episodes, it seems as though you'd be getting less value. But what you actually get is less time wasted (as with Season 3) and more dense episodes that are packed with information. The big change in Season 4 is the extensive use of flash-forwards, so that we actually begin to learn who will eventually make it off the island. It is soon discovered that six people made it back to the real world; this group comes to be known as the Oceanic Six. Just who is in the Oceanic Six is the mystery, as they are revealed one by one as the season progresses. Seeing how these people, Jack in particular, have changed post-crash is one of the highlights of season 4.

Season 4: "The Expanded Experience" is a 6-DVD set. The first four discs are devoted to the episodes, and the last two are for bonus material. There are some interesting bonus features this season, including "The Island Backlot" and "The Freighter Folk". Also included is a "Lost in 8:15" segment to briefly catch up those who are rusty on their Lost facts. "The Oceanic Six: A Conspiracy of Lies" is a fictional documentary that is quite amusing and well-made. "The Right to Bear Arms" is a feature that explains that it is actually someone's job to keep track of which characters have which guns at any given point in time. As usual, there are several cast commentaries, plus one with show creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. I find the commentaries to be less informative than I would have hoped.

The Season 4 packaging remains constant with the first three seasons, although the episode guide booklet is replaced with a less-important but humorous Oceanic safety brochure. But this is a minor complaint in what is otherwise a great DVD set for a great season of Lost.

Some have said this is the best season? I'll still stick with the first, though this one is up there, for sure.