Blu-ray Review: Fantastic Set For HBO’s Beloved ‘True Blood: The Complete Fourth Season’

CHICAGO – HBO used to be a company that kind of let the quality of their TV shows speak for themselves. They would release DVD box sets that often included nary a special feature. Bonus material? Look to one of those “lesser” networks. Our shows are bonus enough. With the advent of Blu-ray however and an increasingly competitive collector’s market, HBO has gone in the complete other direction, releasing increasingly impressive TV on Blu-ray sets. The one just launched for their massive hit “True Blood,” the fourth season, is one of the best to date. It’s a shame the actual season is the worst yet for the show because the Blu-ray set is spectacular.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Is there anyone who wasn’t disappointed in the fourth season of “True Blood”? Not only did it contain the worst lead villain to date (Fiona Shaw is a talented actress but she mis-played her role of a possessed witch seeking vampire vengeance in about a dozen ways) but the entire season was cluttered with subplots. Were-Panthers? Really? The show seems more streamlined already in season five but four was a mess.

However, the same cannot be said for the stunning Blu-ray set, which includes not only some of the best HD transfers I’ve seen on the market but a MASSIVE amount of special features and viewing alternatives. The Blu-ray set includes HD discs, DVD discs, and digital copy options. Watch it wherever, whenever, however you want. And set aside HOURS for the special features. Fans are loyal to “True Blood” and it’s always heartening to see a studio treat that fan loyalty with the respect it deserves.

True Blood: Season Four was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 29, 2012
Photo credit: HBO Home Video

Synopsis:
Another supernatural force has come to light in Bon Temps - witchcraft - and life for its residents will never be the same. Sookie finds herself entangled in a love triangle - torn between a vengeful Bill, the new Vampire King of Mississippi, and Eric, who’s not the former Viking he once was. Led by a charismatic witch named Marnie, who threatens to let no one living or dead stand in her way, a powerful coven tempts Lafayette, Tara, and Jesus with otherworldly powers. Jessica tries to adjust to a domestic life, while Jason finds himself alone in werepanther territory. Arlene and Terry come to terms with their highly unusual baby, and Alcide finds himself caught in the clutches of an old flame. As old alliances crumble and new relationships form, Season 4 of True Blood proves that nobody’s safe when there’s magic in the air.

Special Features:
o 14 Character Perspectives: Find Out The Backstory Of What Happened In Bon Temps While Sookie Was Missing In Faerieland, And Get The Inside Scoop On All The Comings And Goings From Your Favorite Characters Including: Andy, Arlene, Crystal, Debbie, Don Bartolo, Godric, Jason, Lafayette, Luna, Maxine, Melinda, Nan, Pam and Tara
o Character Bios / Vampire Histories
o Hints / FYIs
o Flashback / Flash Forward
o True Blood Lines: Uncover Secrets From Relationships Past And Present In This Engaging, Fully Interactive Guide and Archive
o Seamless Play: A Disc-to-Disc Seamless Menu System That Provides A Complete Season Viewing Experience
o Inside The Episodes: Get The Backstories On Each Of The Episodes With Revealing Interviews From The Shows Writers
o True Blood: The Final Touches: Join Alan Ball As He Reveals An Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Glimpse Into the Post Production Process Of True Blood
o Audio Commentaries: Six Commentaries With The Cast And Crew Including Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, Deborah Ann Woll, Sam Trammell, Fiona Shaw, and Many More

[20]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [21] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [20]