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Unit: Season 4 - The Final Season (The)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (7th December 2009). |
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The Show
 “The Unit” (2006-2009) is a show that I had heard a few rumblings about, some faint praise here and there, but I generally knew nothing about the series or its premise. And, so, here I find myself thrust smack into the final death throes of the series with this fourth, and final, season. A little background information, courtesy of the internet, filled me in on some particulars but this was mostly an “in media res” situation; I was going in cold. Aside from some over-zealous patriotism, which does get old, the series plays out like “24” (2001-present) with 5 Jack Bauers instead of just one. There’s action aplenty, with each episode racking up a body count that would’ve made Arnold Schwarzenegger (circa 1985) proud. From what I can gather, each member of The Unit has a specialty with which they dispatch faceless foes on a weekly basis, but they’re all equally adept at killing anyone they desire. I have an appreciation for shows and films that feature someone with highly-attuned skills taking on the enemy like a one man army, but to have a modern-day show that features a squad of these elite soldiers is five times the fun. The Unit is headed up by Brigadier General Thomas Ryan (Robert Patrick), a higher-up in the Army who reports (presumably) directly to the President. Leading his elite squad is Sergeant Major Jonas Blane (Dennis Haysbert), along with Sergeant First Class Bob Brown (Scott Foley), Master Sergeant Mack Gerhardt (Max Martini), Sergeant First Class Charles Grey (Michael Irby) and newcomer (as of season four) Warrant Officer One Bridget Sullivan (Nicole Steinwedell). Together, these men and women operate within this squad whose missions are top-secret. The government denies any knowledge of their existence, and the members’ uniforms and firearms are non-standard issue, so should any of them be caught or captured no one would be able to guess their origin. It’s all very cloak-and-dagger. This fourth season starts up with the members and their families being relocated as they take on a new mission after the vice president is assassinated and the president-elect’s motorcade is attacked. Their wives and children struggle to adapt to their new surroundings, which they were literally thrust into at a moment’s notice, while the men jet-set around the globe taking on scores of terrorists, sex traders or covert agents. Though there is a loosely over-reaching arc to the season, most every episode is self-contained. I think the producers did a great job casting this show, but I especially love the work of Dennis Haysbert. He chews scenery here with a gusto that leaps right off the screen. You can tell he’s having a ball playing this role because he has such a hard time wiping the smile off his face in half his scenes. And I can’t blame the guy. He’s running around the world, firing off hundreds of rounds and doing his part to keep America safe; it sounds like a blast. If I had any complaint, it would be that at times he comes across as a bit too patriotic, too preachy about his love of all things God & country. But that’s only a minor quibble, and probably something to expect given the series’ plotlines. At a time like this Americans love rooting for the good guys wiping out the nefarious terrorists, so a generous smattering of good ol’ patriotism should come as little surprise. The series is the brainchild of producer Eric Haney, a former member of the United States Army’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, more commonly known as Delta Force. He wrote a book in 2002 called “Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit”, and that book was used as the basis for creating this series. Haney produces the show with acclaimed writer David Mamet, who has written several episodes for the series. And it shows because much of the writing is top-notch. Mamet is known for his sharp, witty, often acerbic dialogue, a trademark which shows through in many episodes here. This show could have been a much less streamlined, clumsier beast had someone with Mamet’s chops not been behind the wheel, but with his impeccable writing skills he’s helped to churn out an impressive show. Another addition which helped add to the realistic aesthetic that was lent to “The Unit” is the inclusion of Shawn Ryan, director of FX’s gritty police drama “The Shield” (2002-2008). Ryan knows a thing or two about using the camera almost as a weapon, driving the viewer deep into enemy territory and putting us right in the thick of things. Those tactics helped to make “The Shield” one of the highest-rated shows on cable television, and it’s also helped breathe an additional air of realism into this series. Season four of “The Unit” features 22 episodes spread out across 5 discs. The episode listing is as follows: - “Sacrifice” - “Sudden Flight” - “Sex Trade” - “The Conduit” - “Dancing Lessons” - “Inquisition” - “Into Hell, Part 1” - “Into Hell, Part 2” - “Shadow Riders” - “Misled and Misguided” - “Switchblade” - “Bad Beat” - “The Spear of Destiny” - “The Last Nazi” - “Hero” - “Hill 60” - “Flesh & Blood” - “Best Laid Plans” - “Whiplash” - “Chaos Theory” - “Endgame” - “Unknown Soldier”
Video
“The Unit: Season Four” features a sharp, well-defined 1.78:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image which looks marvelous. Aside from the fact that the series features some heavy grain, which I’m guessing is intentional, the picture we are given looks as cinematic as one could hope for. Facial close-ups reveal an intimate amount of detail, and skin tones appear to be accurately represented. Black levels are inky and deep, though whites are slightly hot and tend to be overblown. Again, more than likely a stylistic choice. The episodes are shot similar to “24” and “The Shield” (as to be expected with Shawn Ryan on board), so with all of the guerilla-style, in-your-face camerawork and movements, the fact that this looks so crisp is a blessing. Colors generally look solid and the palette of the series is fantastic. With no pixellation, DNR or other obvious inherent problems apparent, this is a great image to send the series off.
Audio
If you’re watching a show about Delta Force soldiers squaring off against armies of bad guys, well… you had better be expecting a seriously awesome audio track. Thankfully, the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track mixed at 48kHz/24-bit does little to disappoint. Television shows sure don’t sound like they used to, as this one rattles the house down with jack-hammered, machine gun action filling your system with so much gun fire you’ll swear your own home is under attack. The LFE gets a good workout courtesy of the many bombs and grenades lobbed across the screen. Dialogue never takes a backseat, though, remaining clear and discernible even during a heavy artillery exchange. The surrounds also come into play often, panning surround sounds across all channels to fully immerse viewers within this brutal battlefield. Subtitles are included for English for the hearing impaired, French and Spanish.
Extras
The weakest aspect of the packaging is undoubtedly the extras. We simply get three featurettes and some deleted scenes. Considering the talent involved here, it would have been nice to at least get an audio commentary with Mamet, Ryan and Haney, as I can imagine the amount of information all three participants would have had ready to deliver. DISC ONE: There are no extras on this disc. DISC TWO: A reel of deleted scenes from the episode “Shadow Riders” runs for 4 minutes and 54 seconds. They are not available to watch individually. DISCS THREE & FOUR: There are no extras on these discs. DISC FIVE: “Into Hell: A Brotherhood Divided” is a featurette which runs for 11 minutes and 13 seconds. This is a closer look at the animosity that has been building between members of The Unit, which eventually comes to a head in the episode “Into Hell, Parts 1 & 2”. The producers, cast and writers discuss the events which led up to this point. “Shadow Riders: A Western Come Undone” is a featurette which runs for 7 minutes and 52 seconds. We delve deeper into the episode “Shadow Riders”, which is set in Afghanistan (but shot in Santa Clarita, CA) and resembles a western with the members of The Unit riding on horseback trying to escape the Taliban. “Snake Doctor: A Leader Among Us” is a featurette which runs for 4 minutes and 44 seconds. We get a closer look at Dennis Haysbert’s character Jonas Blane, codename Snake Doctor, and his skills as a leader of The Unit.
Packaging
This 5-disc set is packaged in a deluxe Blu-ray case.
Overall
“The Unit” is a well-written action series with some dramatic heft and a great visual style. As of right now only the fourth season is available on Blu-ray. I hope Fox decides to give the entire series a release in hi-def, hopefully with some worthy extras. The uninitiated may want to wait and see if some kind of “complete series” package is announced, but those who are already fans will want to own this sole season on Blu-ray for the outstanding picture and audio quality.
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