NCIS Season Four DVD Credits:

Region: 1

NCIS Season Four DVD Release Date: 22nd October 2007

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NCIS Season Four DVD Review:

G.U.T.S.

Generic. Universal. Television. System. Now with extra initials! For those readers that aren’t gamers I’ll explain. In the late eighties a man by the name of Steve Jackson created a role-playing system lovingly referred to as GURPS, or Generic Universal Role-playing System. To sum up: GURPS was intended to allow players to enjoy a solid role-playing experience in any genre. As the years have gone by several source books have added to the already diverse package that is GURPS. The same can be said of certain television shows.
The police procedural has long been a staple of American entertainment in all its forms. From the more investigative style of shows like Dragnet to the more action oriented shows like Hunter, the “cop show” has always remained popular with T.V. audiences. Today is no different. Only now we have added new technology into the mix with forensics and DNA and computers. The thing about all of these shows is that one is much like the other. Certainly they range across the spectrum from hardcore investigation to hardcore action, but for each installment along that spectrum, there are six more pretty much just like it. They’re formula. But that formula does work. Just like it does in the Donald P. Bellisario produced NCIS.
True to formula NCIS has a mixed bag of personality types led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, solidly portyraed by Mark Harmon, your prototypical tough guy with a heart of gold whose merest nod of approval elicits squeals of joy from Goth chick turned forensics investigator Abby. We also have our “angry justice seeker who needs to learn temperance” in foreign exchange officer Ziva David. The geek, the sheek, and the doc round out the team along with Lauren Holly playing the tough but vulnerable “captain”, or in this case director. We’ve seen all of this before.
Yet despite this, the show is solid and well written. The acting is compelling and the characters are definitely likeable. Aside from a somewhat stilted first episode where the writers attempt to explore some of Ziva’s Mossad ties, and put her belief system under pressure, the episodes have been top notch and enjoyable. The fourth season begins with Gibbs in retirement on a beach in Mexico with an old partner, still licking his wounds from a beating he took last season. When Ziva’s framed for the murder of two F.B.I. agents Gibbs flies to the rescue. Of course, by episode three Gibbs has returned to active duty through a convenient “mix-up” of his resignation paperwork by the Director. Each of the following episodes does an intelligent job of linking the requisite character development of the modern drama with the investigation of a compelling array of military crimes.
And it’s that military element that I’d say is one of the things that helps this show to be unique among other shows like CSI and The Shield and the host of other Police Dramas. It opens up a plethora of possibilities that the non-military show must stretch to reach. All in all, a good blend of action, investigation and drama with solid if predictable characters, the fourth season of NCIS is enjoyable and entertaining.
The box set of season four stacks up quite nicely as well. A widescreen transfer with digital 5.1 sound, what really makes this shine are the extras. There’s a little something for everyone. If you’re not all about behind the scenes, but absolutely love the cast there is a two part cast round table where they basically get together over dinner and answer viewer questions and shoot the breeze, as well as the Season of Secrets featurette. If you dig the technical side of investigate there’s a short little walkthrough of the modern autopsy led by the inimitable Dr. Mallard complete with clips from the show. And finally, for those more concerned with the behind-the-scenes stuff, season four is packed with info on the production design of the show. It would seem in fact, that the producers chose to focus on that aspect of production for this season, and the featurettes while slightly shallow were still very engaging and moderately informative.
In the end, you’re buying this set for the show, and I’d say if you like police procedurals then you might want to look into NCIS as your next investigative fix. And if you’re into production design, it’s definitely worth renting this season for the featurettes.

The Breakdown:

The Show:
Overall: 4
Writing: 4
Acting: 4
Prod. Design: 4

The Extras:
Overall: 3.75
Amount: 3.5
Quality: 4

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NCIS Season Four DVD review written by: Joe Burns