Spoiler warning: The following review contains spoilers about the first three seasons of Six Feet Under (and this one, to a lesser extent). If you haven't seen 'em already, keep those eyes squinted.

It wasn't much more than two years ago that I first stumbled upon Six Feet Under on DVD. The odd packaging and striking cover artwork made it stick out on the shelf, but it was the series' excellent reputation that made me actually buy it. Having already been exposed to other unconventional HBO efforts like the groundbreaking Oz and fan favorite The Sopranos, I figured a drama about a family-owned funeral home wasn't that far out in left field.

It took me roughly three days to watch all 13 episodes of Season 1. The series' combination of atmosphere, character development and sharp writing made it easy to get lost in, but it also had that extra something that separates truly great shows from quickly-burning fads. Here was a series that really cared for its characters: for all their faults, missteps and tragedies, you couldn't help but love (or at least understand) the Fisher family and their strange circle of friends and enemies. Each episode interlaced a seemingly random death into the storyline almost seamlessly, forming a satisfying blend of drama, suspense and black comedy that really took a lot of people by surprise.

Of course, life inside a funeral home wasn't all fun and games. The Fisher clan lost Nathaniel Sr. (husband to Ruth and father to Nate, David and Claire) in the opening moments of the pilot episode, ripping us away from a truly complex character before we really even got to know him. Fortunately, Nathaniel Sr. popped up from time to time in spiritual form, offering fatherly advice, sharp criticism and a sneak peek at the great beyond. Still, the core of the stories, right from the beginning, revolved around those who were still with us: from the Fishers themselves to their friends and loved ones, there weren't many stones left unturned. Their unusual lives, both on and off the clock, revealed characters that lived, breathed, and didn't treat death the same way that most folks would. Having grown up around corpses, burial plots and mourning families, it was simply part of the job.

Continuing the trend, Season 2 had the unfortunate task of following up its older brother but still passed with flying colors. Introducing new characters and settings, it proved to be the strongest of the series thus far, offering a perfect blend of new changes and familiar territory. We were introduced to Nate's future wife Lisa, their daughter Maya and Ruth's sometimes-boyfriend Nikolai, but there was also plenty of room for the established characters to grow and blossom. By the time the season ended, Nate lay helpless on a hospital bed awaiting cranial surgery. It set the stage perfectly for a third season, which would surprisingly divide SFU disciples right down the middle.

Complaints arose from faithful fans as Season 3 played out, and these concerns weren't all unwarranted. Whether viewers had become numb to the show's impeccable level of quality or were simply expecting too much, the third outing was underrated but still couldn't quite reach the heights of the first two seasons. After the thought-provoking storyline of "Perfect Circles", Six Feet Under spent the bulk of the season grasping at straws before it finally focused itself during the last handful of episodes. Perhaps Season 3 simply tried to change too much too soon: sure, it kept everyone guessing, but it seemed to sacrifice emotional layers to make room for the drastic changes ahead.

While I've got to give credit to the writers for shaking things up even more, Six Feet Under first showed hints of contempt for its own characters by this point. They'd been put through the wringer already, but the tough times ahead would make the first two seasons seem like a cake walk. Luckily, the season ended strongly enough to keep the momentum going; as a result, viewers were left with a season that played out a bit awkwardly at first...but could easily strengthen with age. All things considered, this "halfway point" in the show's five-year run was right on par with most second parts of a trilogy: a bit uncomfortable in its own skin, but necessary to drive the larger story.

Unfortunately for its central characters---and, to a lesser extent, its viewers---Season 4 takes things a little further down. It's perhaps the darkest of all, often times a near-endless string of downers that would make Job roll over in his grave. That's not to say there aren't a few glimmers of hope, but you won't get many warm fuzzies here. Watch as Nate buries the decayed remains of a loved one and David is kidnapped and held at gunpoint (maybe he accidentally wandered onto the set of 24?). See Frederico's marriage and family life crumble before his eyes! Thrill to George's doomsday prophecies and gradual descent into madness! The writers made sure everyone had a taste of Hell in Season 4, which makes for a ride that's sometimes gripping but not always enjoyable. The show's strength revolves around how the characters cope with tragedy and loss---either by themselves or with one another---but there's just not enough coping time here to even things out.

Six Feet Under really borders on "daytime soap opera" here as well, which wouldn't be as bad if we didn't already know the show was smarter than that. For proof, just watch for a few product placement shots, the guest appearance by (ugh) Nicole Richie---and let's not forget Claire's fumbling attempt at lesbianism, which seems more like an attempt to draw the young male demographic than a genuine attempt at character development. A few of the "deaths" that kick off each episode just barely tie into the main plot, leading me to believe they're being included out of tradition more than anything else. For the first time since I was introduced to Six Feet Under, I watched a few episodes out of "reviewer's obligation"...not because I couldn't wait to see what was next.

Still, I'm being a little hard on this season---after all, it's still better than 90% of what passes for TV these days. There are still plenty of moments that capture the powerful atmosphere seen in the first few seasons, but there aren't as many as I was hoping for. This season just didn't quite grab me like the others did, though it's possible these episodes may be easier to warm up to after repeated viewings. All things considered, it's still a decent package for SFU fans; though it may be the lowest point of the series, it's a piece of the puzzle that you need to see. While I've heard that Season 5 gets the series back on track---which is good, since it would've been a real shame to see this show fizzle out---the fact remains that Six Feet Under: Season Four is passable, but not great.

The 12 episodes included in this collection are "Falling Into Place", "In Case of Rapture", "Parallel Play", "Can I Come Up Now?", "That's My Dog", "Terror Starts at Home", "The Dare", "Coming and Going", "Grinding the Corn", "The Black Forest", "Bomb Shelter" and "Untitled". They're presented two and three at a time, spread across five discs and interlaced with a few bonus features (and the usual nifty packaging). With that said, let's see how this release stacks up, shall we?

Right on par with Season Three, this year's crop of episodes is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks terrific. Flesh tones are natural (dead or alive), black levels are solid and there are no major digital problems to speak of. Long story short: HBO has always done a fine job on their DVD transfers and Six Feet Under is no exception. Audio mixes are available in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, as well as English, Spanish or French 2.0 Surround. This dialogue-driven show doesn't always make use of every channel, but there are plenty of instances where the atmosphere really fills out nicely. English, Spanish and French subtitles are also included.

Also here is a short featurette about The Editing of Six Feet Under (18 minutes, above left), which actually proves to be more interesting than the title implies. Editing is often one of the most overlooked aspects of a finished film or show, and this series has always been tightly paced and well constructed. On the lighter side, there's also an Interview with the Cast (16 minutes, above right) on Bob Costas' show, featuring Peter Krause (Nate), Michael C. Hall (David), Lauren Ambrose (Claire) and Frances Conroy (Ruth). This session is laid back and relaxed, but it's quite strange to hear these guys "out of character"---in more ways than one, it's just more proof of their convincing performances. Next up are a trio of non-anamorphic Deleted Scenes from "Can I Come Up Now?" (3 minutes total); it's easy to see why they were cut, but they're still nice to have on board. Last but not least, there's a short Promo for Volume 2 of the soundtrack, including a remix of the title track. It's not a bad mix of bonus features, but I know HBO can dig deeper. With any luck, they'll save the best for last.

Even if Season 4 was disappointing as a whole, it's mainly because earlier outings set the bar so high. The technical presentation remains strong on this 5-disc release, though it's still a tough sell for $100; after all, the extras aren't as plentiful and consistent as in similarly-priced sets. Despite these drawbacks, Six Feet Under marches on: it's been a long road towards the final curtain, so a few potholes are to be expected along the way. A watchable season, but the creative team has already proven they're more capable than this. Still, it's Recommended for fans of the show.