With the fourth season of JAG: Judge Advocate General, viewers get
a real sense of who the characters are.
Originally running in 1998-1999, the fourth year is consistently good in
both storyline and acting, and rarely loses steam in any of the 24 episodes.
The six-disc boxed set begins with Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb (David
James Elliott) and his comely colleague Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac"
MacKenzie Mac (Catherine Bell) searching for his father in Russia. The
season ends with Harm possibly giving up his military legal career to return
to his first love as a naval fighter pilot.
But before the cliffhanger, Harm helps to clear Mac's name against charges
that she killed her ex-husband, bumbling Bud (Patrick Labyroteaux) and
his wife Harriet (Karri Turner) welcome their baby into the world, and
Admiral Albert Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) deals with the kidnapping of
his daughter.
In many ways JAG evokes memories of older whodunit series that relied
on charm and humor as much as drama (and gross-out medical examinations)
to keep its audience captivated. Elliott and Bell provide pleasing eye
candy along with enough flirty chemistry that viewers root for the couple
to get together.
And Labyorteaux has transitioned well from a child actor into a very funny
thespian with superb comic timing.
While the plots occasionally can be out there, the series serves up feel-good
stories without excessive patriotism or preaching.
There's not much in the way of special features, other than a so-so gag
reel. But fans of the series won't be disappointed by this set, which tackles
political issues as well as matters of the heart. |