Elementary: The Fourth Season is another fun ride with some decent mystery storylines mixed in with further character development, and obstacles, for Sherlock and company.
“Elementary”: The Fourth Season
(2015-16)
Genre(s): Drama, Crime
Paramount | NR – 1017 min. – $55.98 | August 23, 2016
Date Published: 09/17/2016 | Author: The Movieman
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THE SEASON — 3.75/5 |
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Season Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes (JONNY LEE MILLER) and Dr. Joan Watson (LUCY LIU) re-ignite their unique chemistry – a relationship that allows them to solve an increasingly complex series of crimes in the Big Apple. But the worm in the Apple makes itself known when Sherlock’s father, Morland Holmes (JOHN NOBLE), arrives in NYC to live full-time. His apparent concern with his son’s increasingly intense behavior and addiction relapse does nothing to temper Sherlock’s suspicions and mistrust regarding his arrival. Quick Hit Review: I’ve enjoyed Elementary from its inception as it was an interesting take on the classic character. And while it can’t hold a candle to the BBC version, Sherlock, in both writing and acting (hard to top either Benedict Cumberbatch or Martin Freeman), Jonny Lee Miller is a nice substitute if not placeholder as Sherlock doesn’t have a consistent schedule (not even sure when the next season will even happen). The stories in this fourth season are pretty good but to change things up we finally get to meet Sherlock’s old man, Morland played by the venerable John Noble who possesses both the charm and intensity for the role. Lucy Liu meanwhile gets a few solid scenes and some more character development taking her away from being Sherlock’s sober coach to basically a full-fledge assistant. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.5/5 |
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Matching seasons 1-3, this 6-disc release comes housed in a standard DVD case which side-slides into a matted, title-embossed, slip cover. Mina, Cassie and Ally (7:14) is a behind-the-scenes featurette on the episode ‘Miss Taken’ about a teenage girl who matches wits with Sherlock. Wag the Dog: Hounded (3:45) delves into the episode which is a modern take of the Hound of the Baskervilles. The Sign of Fourth (19:57) – This is a breakdown of season four of the series and the storylines presented. Villainy! (8:49) looks at the villains in the various episodes this season. Father Holmes (5:25) focuses on the introduction of John Noble joining the series as Morland Holmes. Gag Reel (3:27) Deleted Scenes – ‘Miss Taken’, ‘A Burden of Blood’, ‘Murder Ex Machina’, ‘A Study in Charlotte’, ‘Turn It Upside Down’ |
VIDEO – 4.25/5, AUDIO – 3.75/5
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| Elementary: The Fourth Season sleuths onto DVD presented with a 16×9 enhanced 1.78 aspect ratio widescreen transfer as originally televised. Given some of the darker stories, even the comedy portions are dark in nature, the show never was bright but still looks good.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 track provides for some fine dialogue levels but the track itself is pretty basic, though some depth comes through with the opening title sequence and main theme. |
OVERALL – 3.75/5 |
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Overall, Elementary: The Fourth Season is another fun ride with some decent mystery storylines mixed in with further character development, and obstacles, for Sherlock and company. The DVD released by Paramount offers a so-so selection of bonus material but the video/audio transfers were good. |