The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)

Let me begin by telling you that I believe "The West Wing" is the best show I have ever seen. I was first introduced to the show when I did my DVD review of the second season, and I was immediately hooked, went out and bought the first season and now have the first four seasons on DVD and can't wait for the rest.

I will, however, make note that I do believe the third season was a bit slow, as was the first two-thirds of the fourth. This is primarily attributed to the fact that not a whole lot happened to move the story forward, but for someone like me that simply enjoys the writing, the acting and the politically charged drama it didn't really matter much. I am also speaking from the perspective as someone whom has never seen even a minute of this show on television, not a single minute. I have chosen to wait and watch "The West Wing" as it is released on DVD therefore offering me approximately 1000 minutes of brand-new, excellent, commercial-free television. You can't ask for more than that.

To give you a brief synopsis of where the fourth season begins and goes, we ended the third season on a bit of a somber note as the agent (Mark Harmon) assigned to protect White House Press Secretary, C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) was shot and murdered in a convenience store hold-up all while President Bartlett (Martin Sheen) is ramping up for his re-election race against Republican Presidential nominee Florida Governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin).

This all sets the stage and provides the back drop for a season of terrorist strikes, romance, political intrigue, assassination, kidnapping and then some, and as the final hours wind down I am upset as I always am that I have to wait even longer just to find out what happens next.

As far as special features go on this set you will be welcomed to two featurettes, one on Stockard Channing's role as the First Lady, the other on the writing of the show, primarily the elegance of the speech writing. On top of that there are three deleted scenes, not really worth it, and then three commentaries on select episodes, two of which appropriately placed on the final two episodes of the season as well as the other in the episode where Bartlett and Ritchie have their one and only debate.

I believe the fourth season (winner of two Emmys) certainly picked up the pace from the third, which was a season that hurt its casual viewership considering not a lot happened and it continued to focus on the fact that President Bartlett had MS rather than moving the story along.

Before I give my final comments Warner finally did one thing with this season that made me really happy, and I hope any and all studios that use the double-side DVD technique will abandon it as Warner Home Video did in this case. The three previous seasons of "The West Wing" were offered as four double-sided DVDs, with the fourth season WHV went to six single-sided DVDs and it is wonderful not to have to be so careful when taking these things out of the packaging.

That said, I am someone that continues to watch the third season simply due to the fact that I love this show. I don't think I need to tell you I think you should buy this season, along with the three seasons prior, let me just tell you that "The West Wing" has some of the best writers and is so well cast that the show never seems to miss a beat, and as the fourth season ends it only promises to get better from here.