+++Warning, this contains minor spoilerish material from prior seasons, but no major giveaways from the fourth season.+++
The big serial plot point for season four is a mystery that is clearly based on the real-life DB Cooper case that was never solved. In this version, a guy named Drew Thomson jumped out of a plane with a defective parachute and a bunch of drugs. Raylan, while searching his father's house, comes to learn that the official version of events may not be true, and has to try to get the truth out of Arlo. The other big arc this year is Boyd's criminal empire expanding, and Ava (played by Joelle Carter) going all-in on being bad, basically running a prostitution ring for Boyd. Her character has probably developed the most over the course of the four seasons from where she was in the pilot to what she has become, and Carter does a great job with the character. There are a couple of good cast additions this season, including the wonderful Patton Oswalt who plays "Constable Bob" who is a volunteer cop whom everyone thinks is a joke, and Ron Eldard as Colton "Colt" Rhodes who is an old friend of Boyd's.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the series looks and sounds great in the HD format as it has from season one. The bonus material is spread across the three discs. There are a few shorter (7-10 minutes) behind-the-scenes and character features, and a short gag reel. Then, there are a couple of longer features, one specific to the season finale that runs about 14 minutes and one on the second to the last episode of the season that runs about 40 minutes. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you have some but not as much as in prior seasons.
Overall, the series continues to be written very well, and the acting is top-notch. The show does a good job balancing the large ensemble cast so that all the characters (and actors) get something even though Olyphant, Goggins, and Carter do most of the heavy lifting. I think it was wise of the show to mix the plot up from the "big bad" format that the first few seasons used, and have a few separate storylines that all crossed over with each other at some point. It made the show feel fresh and not just a recycled version of the prior seasons. It is still violent and does have some sex (and as much nudity as is allowed on basic cable) and some swearing (basically everything but f-bombs). So, if that turns you off to a show you should skip it, and it is definitely not for younger kids. But, if you are a fan of well-acted crime dramas, then this is a great one, with the proviso that it is a good idea to watch the prior seasons first. The series will not be as good if you try to jump into it in the middle.
The big serial plot point for season four is a mystery that is clearly based on the real-life DB Cooper case that was never solved. In this version, a guy named Drew Thomson jumped out of a plane with a defective parachute and a bunch of drugs. Raylan, while searching his father's house, comes to learn that the official version of events may not be true, and has to try to get the truth out of Arlo. The other big arc this year is Boyd's criminal empire expanding, and Ava (played by Joelle Carter) going all-in on being bad, basically running a prostitution ring for Boyd. Her character has probably developed the most over the course of the four seasons from where she was in the pilot to what she has become, and Carter does a great job with the character. There are a couple of good cast additions this season, including the wonderful Patton Oswalt who plays "Constable Bob" who is a volunteer cop whom everyone thinks is a joke, and Ron Eldard as Colton "Colt" Rhodes who is an old friend of Boyd's.
For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the series looks and sounds great in the HD format as it has from season one. The bonus material is spread across the three discs. There are a few shorter (7-10 minutes) behind-the-scenes and character features, and a short gag reel. Then, there are a couple of longer features, one specific to the season finale that runs about 14 minutes and one on the second to the last episode of the season that runs about 40 minutes. So, if you like watching the bonus material, you have some but not as much as in prior seasons.
Overall, the series continues to be written very well, and the acting is top-notch. The show does a good job balancing the large ensemble cast so that all the characters (and actors) get something even though Olyphant, Goggins, and Carter do most of the heavy lifting. I think it was wise of the show to mix the plot up from the "big bad" format that the first few seasons used, and have a few separate storylines that all crossed over with each other at some point. It made the show feel fresh and not just a recycled version of the prior seasons. It is still violent and does have some sex (and as much nudity as is allowed on basic cable) and some swearing (basically everything but f-bombs). So, if that turns you off to a show you should skip it, and it is definitely not for younger kids. But, if you are a fan of well-acted crime dramas, then this is a great one, with the proviso that it is a good idea to watch the prior seasons first. The series will not be as good if you try to jump into it in the middle.
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