The Show

Since the TV revolution began on DVD I have found myself realizing that I have missed a lot of quality television. There has been some great drama over the past ten years, so much so that today you simply have to pick and choose what to watch. That can be very difficult in the DVR era. Heck, I don’t even own one and I have no less than four different television series’ sitting in a pile by my DVD player. JAG is one of those shows I chose not to watch, but looking back now I realize it was pretty impressive. The Fourth Season upholds its standards and provides consistent, entertaining drama.

JAG stands for Judge Advocate General and the show revolves around a team of military lawyers who investigate and bring to court cases dealing with the Navy and Marines. It is like CSI and Law & Order coupled in military garb. The leads of the series are former fighter pilot Commander Harmon “Harm” Rabb, Jr. (David James Elliot) and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie (Catherine Bell). Like many televisions pairs, the duo have plenty of chemistry and a knack for finding themselves in sticky situations. Some of the plots from Season Four include: defending an ensign accused of raping a Japanese girl; a Navy officer accused of stealing missiles; the aftermath of a terrorist being gunned down on national TV; assisting the government in a hearing about the use of sarin gas in the Gulf War; a group of sailors who beat a bar owner after accusing him of raping a female shipmate; and investigation of a nuclear sub that has far too many accidents. The season concludes with an arc that finds Harm contemplating an eye surgery that would allow him to fly again.

JAG: The Fourth Season has great cases week after week, but like many legal shows, it lacks gripping arcs that would make you watch two or three episodes at a time. It is a show that lends itself to being watch casually, unlike Lost or other series’ that are like crack coming through the TV.

The six disc set contains all 24 episodes from the fourth season. Disc One has: “Gypsy Eyes,” “Embassy,” “Innocence,” and “Going After Francesca.”

Disc Two has: “The Martin Baker Fan Club,” “Act of Terror,” “Angels 30,” and “Mr. Rabb Goes to Washington.”

Disc Three has: “People vs. Mac,” “The Black Jet,” “Jaggle Bells,” and “Dungaree Justice.”

Disc Four has: “War Stories,” “Webb of Lies,” “River’s Run,” and “Silent Service.”

Disc Five has: “Nobody’s Child,” “Shakedown,” “The Adversaries,” and “Second Sight.”

Lastly, Disc Six has: “Wilderness of Mirrors,” “Soul Searching,” “Yeah, Baby,” and “Goodbyes.”

The DVD

The video is presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame. Some minor specks on the print show up along with some grain but the colors and flesh tones are accurate. The level of detail is fine as well. It is a definite improvement over the original broadcast, but a step or two below some of the newer TV sets being released.

The episodes are offered in English Dolby Digital Stereo with English Closed Captions. The stereo track isn’t booming, but the audio elements are clear and balanced.

The Extras

The only special feature is a Gag Reel, which these days is a very paltry offering in the extras department. Do people still watch these?

Final Thoughts

JAG: The Fourth Season provides consistent, quality drama. However, it seems to be one of those shows that you can enjoy fully while watching but forget about ten minutes later. – Jeff Ritchie