Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The fourth and final season of the WB Channel series Everwood, finds many of the residents of the small Rocky Mountain community moving in a new direction, as the series comes to a close. The ending of the series is almost a bit anti-climactic in a season filled with life changing events for many of the townspeople including a wedding, rehabilitation for addiction to pain medication, romantic break-ups and reconciliations, helping a friend admit feelings of sexual confusion, an unsuccessful suicide attempt, and the death of one of the main characters.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the series, it focuses on a renown Manhattan neurosurgeon, Dr. Andy Brown, (Treat Williams) who relocates to a small town in Colorado with his teenage son Ephram (Gregory Smith) and young daughter Delia (Vivien Cardone) after his wife is suddenly killed in an automobile accident. The first two seasons are primarily focused on the adjustment of the Browns to the slower paced, more intimate atmosphere in a smaller close-knit community, while season three deals with various romantic entanglements and growing pains for several of the key characters. The final season is primarily a season of reconciliation, finding many of the characters coming to terms with who they are and where they are headed in life.

Ephram returns home after several months in Europe, where he fled after finding that Andy had neglected to tell him about a child he fathered with his former girlfriend; driving a wedge into their already tenuous relationship. The distance factor resulted in estrangement in Ephram's on-again off-again romance with the daughter of Andy's professional rival, Amy Abbott, (Emily Van Camp). Amy's hunky but emotionally shallow brother, Bright, (Chris Pratt) has finally matured enough to notice Amy's straight laced friend, Hannah, (Sarah Drew) and the town's third physician Dr. Jake Hartman, (Scott Wolf) has moved in with Andy's neighbor and confidant, Nina Feeney. (Stephanie Niznik) The real drama begins when Andy declares his love for Nina just as her relationship with Jake deepens, Ephram attempts to find direction for his life after giving up his dream of attending Julliard and attempts to mentor a troubled piano prodigy, while keeping Amy at arm's length, Bright and Hannah struggle to keep their relationship romantic and platonic, Jake deals with mood swings brought on by abuse of pain medication, and Delia searches for a Rabbi to connect with her religious heritage and to perform her Bat Mitzvah.

All of the drama comes to head in the final two-part season finale, Foreverwood, as the series rushes headlong to its conclusion. Unfortunately the final two episodes end a bit too predictably and seem rather rushed. However, the set includes an alternate 10 minute season finale that brings a bit more closure to the series.

The emphasis on season four is the evolution of the relationships of many of the characters, primarily Andy and Ephram's often contentious relationship, as they finally come to a mutual understanding and appreciation of one another. Ephram and Amy eventually discover the enduring quality of their love and friendship, and Andy finally admits the depth of his feelings for Nina. Somewhat to its detriment, there is a lot less emphasis on medical drama, and bit too much emphasis, at times, on the emotional turmoil of the characters, which can be a bit overwhelming at times.

The final season consists of 22 episodes on 5 discs. The visuals quality of the DVD is a bit of a letdown, especially considering the spectacular scenery of the setting. However, the acting, writing, and true-to-life characters and life situations are the strength of the series.

Overall, I did not feel that the final season was Everwood's strongest, due to the almost overwhelming amount of drama, overly predictable ending, and the final episodes, that seemed a little rushed. Still, I would rate the overall series a couple of notches below Friday Night Lights, as one of television's best family dramas of the past ten years. The series is filled with many wistful, heartwarming, moments  likeable, well-developed, characters who grow and develop naturally over the course of the series, and an immedicacy and nostalgic poignancy not normally found in a weekly television series. It is a rare series that will leave a lasting impression on its audience, and will forever be cherished by its fans.

Many thanks to Sue for promptly adding this to the database

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older