Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Now Available on Blu-ray and DVD -- “Glee” The Complete Fourth Season (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this Blu-ray from the vendor, in order to write up an honest review. The views shared are mine and mine alone. 


Synopsis:
"Season Four of the exhilarating Emmy®-winning series* finds Rachel and Kurt in New York City, Finn with a surprising new career, Will and Emma at a crossroads and Sue confronting a shocking situation! Meanwhile, tension mounts as the kids in New Directions head for regionals, facing new challenges. Featuring exciting new cast members, electrifying musical numbers, and superstar guests like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson and Whoopi Goldberg, Glee remains TV’s most enthralling, most topically relevant show!"

*2011: Casting, Comedy Series; Guest Actress, Comedy Series (Gwyneth Paltrow). 2010: Directing, Comedy Series (Ryan Murphy); Guest Actor, Comedy Series (Neil Patrick Harris); Supporting Actress, Comedy Series (Jane Lynch); Sound Mixing, One-Hour Comedy Series. 

Special Features:
Glee Music Jukebox
Glee Premiere Party
Deleted Scenes
Movin' On Up: Glee in NYC
Girls (and Boys) On Film
Glee on Film
The Road to 500

Glee” The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray
Street Date: October 1, 2013
Prebook Date: September 4, 2013
Screen Format: Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Total Run Time: 965 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Glee” The Complete Fourth Season DVD
Street Date: October 1, 2013
Prebook Date: September 4, 2013
Screen Format: Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Total Run Time: 965 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

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My Thoughts:

While never expected, Season 4 will go down in the Glee history books, as the last season we get to enjoy Corey Monteith play Finn Hudso.  My heart broke, and I couldn't help but shed a tear over the summer, when news broke of Corey Monteith's tragic passing.  He is yet another great actor gone too soon. His life was filled with so much promise, as his acting career outside of Glee was taking off.  And, on the show, Finn finally had direction and purpose in his life, as he realized he wanted to be a teacher like Mr. Schue.  

In addition to another stressful Regionals, Season 4 of Glee saw the addition of new characters like Jake Puckerman, Marley Rose, Kitty Wilde, Hunter Clarington and winner and runner up of The Glee Project, Blake Jenner (Ryder Lynn) and Ali Stroker (Betty Pillsbury).  In addition, Wade "Unique Adams and Sam Evans became main characters,and stole the show on many of occasion with their powerful voices. 

I wasn't sure how Glee would be once some of the more popular cast members like Rachel, Kurt, Santana and Finn, graduated.  I wondered how their new lives in NY and outside of McKinley High would play out.  And, how would these new characters shape the series.  Other shows that centered around high school students usually fizzle out when the lead characters graduate and new characters are introduced.  But, I, like so many other Gleeks, knew that if anyone could make this show a success, it was Ryan Murphy, the writer of the show.  And, you know what, he did!  I love the new characters, and love seeing Rachel, Kurt and the others spread their wins and embark on new things. 

Now, with the passing of Finn, things will definitely be different.  All the Gleeks out there kept wishing for a Rachel/Finn happy ending, but this will never be.  Instead, we get to enjoy and remember the work of Corey Monteith, who played Finn, in this new "The Complete Fourth Season" release to blu-ray and DVD, as well as the previous 3 seasons (which I own :-) ).  Out of all the seasons, I have to say that my favorite is season 4.  This season covered Grease songs, saw Rachel singing her heart out in their early episodes to Brittney Spears songs, and the wedding (or not) of Will and Emma.  I was so looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this complete 4th season long before news of Corey Monteith's passing.  But, it was bittersweet watching each and episode that he was featured in, as I and so many other Gleeks out there wait for the special "The Quarterback" tribute episode, that will say goodbye to everyone's favorite Glee character, Finn.

I wasn't expecting to cry watching the 22 episodes that make up season 4 of Glee, especially the ones that includes Cory Monteith.  When Will left to Washington, DC and put Finn in charge, I couldn't help but wonder what would have come of Finn's career as a teacher.  He would have done a great job molding the Glee singers, as Will had done during his time as Glee teacher.  Make sure you check out the deleted scenes section, as there are clips of Finn that never aired in the episodes.  

In addition to deleted scenes, the bonus features included on this new release a Glee Music Jukebox, footage of the Glee Premiere Party and Building New York, which gives a glimpse into how filming of Glee in NY was being done.  Glee fans will want to own this complete 4th season, not just because it was the one season to include Finn Hudson, but because so many great songs and covers were sung, as well as some of the best acting I have seen from the old and new cast members.  I can't wait for season 5 to begin, which will have the Glee cast covering the Beatles before the Finn tribute episode.  It will definitely be a hard season to watch, but like they say on Broadway, "The show must go on."  And, I know the cast and crew of Glee will not let the passing of Cory Monteith be forgotten, and will remember this important character to the show in a fitting way.  Just make sure you have a box of tissues next to you on October 10th, as you will need them.


Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this Blu-ray from the vendor, in order to write up an honest review. The views shared are mine and mine alone.

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