The Fourth Season, Volume One

Touched By An Angel is feel-good television series about angels coming down from heaven and interacting in the world of man to correct wrongs in people's life. Monica (Roma Downey) is an angel trainee working as a case worker. Under the guidance of another angel Tess (Della Reese), Monica sets misguided individuals on the right path. However another important aspect to this show is the development of Monica as she tries to understand the human way of life and her role in it. Another key character to this show is Andrew (John Dye). He is an angel of death and he helps the dying in their transition to the afterlife. He is a former case worker whose mentor was Tess. He works alongside Monica on many occasions, sometimes helping prevent unnecessary deaths.

This review covers the first volume of the fourth season, which contains thirteen episodes from the season's first half. This collection of episodes presents entertainment that fans of past seasons will enjoy. However, I felt that it was not quite as strong as past seasons. It starts off with a great episode that was very emotional and powerful, but loses the momentum in the following episodes. Still, this set of episodes will be a great for fans.

The fourth season begins with an emotionally powerful two-part episode "Joe's Return aka The Road Home" that revisits the Greene family (from season three). Joe Greene has been struggling to keep up with life, which includes a substance abuse problem and anger management issues. While on the road, he causes a car accident that causes a man to lose control of the car. The man is with his two sons. The accident leaves the man and his older boy dead. Joe is able to save the younger son and for that effort he is branded as a hero when the police arrive on the scene. Joe faces his guilt and inner demons trying to deal with the fact he killed to people. His life is headed down the toilet and he is taking something else with him. The angels try to steer him in the right path, which is hard because he has so many issues. What is great about this episode is how well the storyline is played out. The sorrow of the supporting characters, the pain of Joe's heartbroken family, and the hope Joe receives when he realizes what the right thing to do is. It was a great way to start the season.

Unfortunately, after the season premiere episode, the following episodes lack the same strength. Some of them are entertaining, but others are downright lackluster. For instance, "Nothing But Net" is an episode that just doesn't work. EZ is an illiterate basketball star with a gambling problem. He only cares about himself and a young boy idolizes him. The angels help point them in the right direction. The episode might have been good, except for the fact that the acting and storyline seemed too far out there. Another episode light on entertainment was "My Dinner With Andrew", which just did not have enough to it. It had the potential to be good, but it wasn't. Andrew, along with Monica and Tess, teach a dying woman to share and care about others by having Andrew go out on a date with her.

Despite the episodes not being quite as strong as the season's opening, there are some decent ones. "The Pact" was a fairly good episode that dealt with several young girls, who are HIV positive. They come to summer camp and decide that they do not want to live not knowing when they will die. They agree to a suicide pact, which is quite sad. The young supporting actresses are good in their roles, although some of the story is on the corny, over-the-top side. Nonetheless, it made for a fairly good episode.

Overall, Touched By An Angel's fourth season, volume one offers some decent episodes that play out in a similar manner to past seasons, but do not quite have the same punch with the exception of the season premiere episode. Regardless, fans of the series will appreciate this show's feel-good nature.

Episode Guide

1. Joe's Return aka The Road Home - Part 1: Monica and Tess are sent to pull Joe Greene from a downward spiral. Immersed in escalating lies and an evident drug problem, Joe compounds the issue by running away and endangering his young son.
2. Joe's Return aka The Road Home - Part 2: Joe Greene compromises his situation by driving his car off the road while under the influence. This second stumble threatens the life of yet another in Joe's path, his son.
3. Great Expectations: When the news of their baby's diagnosis of Down syndrome threatens to tear apart an expectant couple's marriage, Andrew gently guides them through the difficulty. Tess assists, urging acceptance and the perfection of love, not packaging.
4. Nothing But Net: Hero-worship plays havoc when an impressionable youth develops a bond with a troubled Salt Lake Saints point guard. The angels join forces to redirect the path of both people, rescuing them from immediate and future danger.
5. Children of the Night: Tess and Monica work at an inner-city coffee shop, where they meet a group of homeless teens who have lost touch with their families. The agnels help them to regain their trust in both their families and God.
6. Jones vs. God: As a drought tests the fate of a rural farming community in South Dakota, the angels are called upon to defend God. When the town sues God for 'intentional infliction of emotional distress,' Tess, as acting council, reminds the prosecution's witnesses of the blessings they have received.
7. The Pact: The communal gathering breeds desperation at a summer camp for HIV-positive girls. The angels act quickly to stop the girls from completing their suicide pact.
8. Sandcastles: A cynical journalist is forced to face his hidden past as the angels search for the owner of a message in a bottle.
9. My Dinner With Andrew: Substituting for a fellow angel, Andrew unwittingly draws a bidding war at a bachelor auction for charity. The angels serve up an elegant meal and an important life lesson.
10. Charades: Monica and Tess expose the truth of a Hollywood blacklisting scandal when they're sent to aid a powerful, Tinseltown agent.
11. The Comeback: When parental superstition threatens the career of a budding Broadway actress, the angels step in to redirect the faith of both mother and daughter.
12. Venice: Crushed by the accidental death of her husband 35 years earlier, Annie Doyle struggles to cope with the gradual loss of her eyesight. The angels befriend the ostracized woman and lead her to redemption.
13. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: When a developmentally disabled man's brother disappears into a blizzard on Christmas Eve, Monica comes to comfort him be reliving her experience with the famed author Mark Twain.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame color. For the most part, the picture quality is average. The picture has a heavy grain and occasional compression artifacts. Overall it is decent and fits the needs of this feature.

Audio:
The audio track in this release is in English and Spanish 2.0 Dolby digital stereo sound. In terms of sound quality, it's pretty much similar to any other television release. The dialogue remains fairly flat. As well the music tends to feel the same way. Regarding the track's stereo capabilities, there is very little distinction between channels.

This release also support closed captioning.

Extras:
There are no extras included in this set.

Final Thoughts:
Touched By An Angel: The Fourth Season, Volume 1 is the first thirteen episodes from the show's fourth season. The season starts off with a great two-part episode, which is very emotional and powerful. However, the subsequent episodes lack the same momentum and tend to be almost as good, but still lacking something. In the end, this collection will be enjoyed by fans, but not as much as earlier seasons.