Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

An already magnificent series hits its high note...

"Do you know how sometimes you hear a song that you've heard a million times before, and maybe you're even tired of hearing it? But this time, maybe because of something you've been through, or maybe because of something you now understand, you hear that song again. Maybe it's a new version, maybe not. But you realize that there's a fresh world in there to be heard. Yeah... me too."

Like The Wire before it, Treme is a window into another culture; one distinctly American yet one so unique, so alive, so bravely and defiantly poised between tragedy and celebration that there's none like it anywhere else in the world. Creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer have crafted something extraordinary here, and unfortunately something extraordinarily overlooked. The show's ratings were criminally low and no amount of critical acclaim, exuberant word of mouth and awards were able to attract a larger audience. HBO was gracious enough to grant Simon and Overmyer five episodes to wrap the series, though, and the co-creators haven't wasted a single minute of its final bow. While a truncated season is most certainly a disappointment, the season itself is terrific, with all the beautifully penned, wonderfully shot, fully realized joy, heartache and infectious head-nodding, toe-tapping, finger-drumming music that solidified the show's place among HBO's finest. The series finale is especially satisfying, bidding a fond and fitting farewell not only to its characters, but to the city of New Orleans and its people. Treme's ending is no more traditional than its beginning, and we leave those we've followed now for four seasons in the middle of their lives, starting new chapters and plunging headlong into the future, whatever it may bring.

• Yes We Can Can: Batiste (Wendell Pierce) helps a student in a sticky situation.  Lambreaux (Clarke Peters) teaches LaDonna (Khandi Alexander) the true meaning of "Mighty Kootie Fiyo."  Hidalgo (Jon Seda) meets musician turned activist Davis McAlary (Steve Zahn). Sonny (Michiel Huisman) goes to "see a man about a horse" but instead finds trouble.  Manager Marvin Frey (Michael Cerveris) questions Annie's (Lucia Micarelli) ambitions; she questions his intentions.  Delmond (Rob Brown) gigs with the great Ellis Marsalis.  No longer on the Avenue, Desautel (Kim Dickens) is stumped about what to call her new restaurant.  Colson (David Morse) asks to be transferred to a new district.  Sofia (India Ennenga) votes yes to Bernette's new living arrangement, while Bernette (Melissa Leo) bails out a friend. Obama is elected.
• This City: Lambreaux takes Davina (Edwina Findley) on a tour of his old neighborhood.  Violence in the streets finds its way into Batiste's classroom.  Desautel learns the hard way what's in a name; Bernette learns all is not as it should be at Orleans Parish Prison when she meets the parents of a deceased inmate.  Annie takes in a show at One Eyed Jacks and takes home the lead singer.  Delmond turns down a gig to be close to home and family.  Tensions at work translate to tensions at home for Colson and Bernette.  Hidalgo takes McAlary on a dinner date to talk business; LaDonna has a dinner date of her own with Lambreaux.
• Dippermouth Blues: Desautel brings in the New Year with Davis and Jacques; Davis embarks on a mission to bring music back to Rampart St.  Batiste gets a taste of Hollywood South; Annie gets the message "loud and clear" from her manager Marvin Frey.  Delmond is inspired to work on a new piece.  Lambreaux goes for a night out and over does it.  LaDonna takes Alcide and Randall to visit her momma in Baton Rouge.  Bernette wants to proceed with a case against Orleans Parish Prison; Colson wants to tell all that he knows.
• Sunset on Louisianne: Batiste receives bad news in the band room; Bernette receives a surprise but helpful package; Lambreaux receives a blessing. Davis reaches a mid-life milestone; Delmond plays a song for his Daddy; Annie gives in to her manager.  Colson pays a visit to his boys on their home turf; Hidalgo does some digging on McAlary's behalf. L.P. Everett returns to New Orleans and finds he has fans in unexpected places.
• To Miss New Orleans: Davis gets a "job, job"; Colson if offered a transfer. Batiste runs into a couple of old Mardi Gras friends and takes his sons to a Dr. John gig; LaDonna and the boys do Mardi Gras day;  Bernette and Sofia salute Creighton and carry out their Mardi Gras tradition; and L.P. Everett (Chris Coy) experiences his second Mardi Gras in a row.  Annie butts heads with Marvin Frey in the studio.  Hidalgo cashes out but pays it forward.

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season features a 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation every bit as striking as those that have come before it. With five episodes spread comfortably across two BD-50s, there's little to worry over. Compression artifacts don't make an appearance, the only noise to be had is inherent to the source, and banding, aliasing and other ugly unwanteds are nowhere to be found. There's a bit of crush, sure, and darker scenes are somewhat problematic, but nothing is out of sorts. Colors are warm and true to life, with perfectly saturated skintones, restrained primaries, deep black levels and excellent contrast. Moreover, detail doesn't disappoint in the least. Edges are natural, refined and clean. Textures are revealing and nicely resolved. And nothing impedes Ivan Strasburg's cinematography. Treme leaves its mark on Blu-ray with four seasons of beautifully produced and encoded television.

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

HBO's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track doesn't slip back a step, or even an inch. The series' final lossless experience is as full and immersive as those that have gone before it, brimming with bold, rambunctious, steadfast music that sounds so good, so enveloping, that it elevates each episode to new heights. Hyperbole? You've never watched an episode of Treme, or maybe just not on a proper HT system. LFE output is big, blaring and brassy when it wants to be; gentle and sophisticated when more subtlety is required. Likewise, the rear speakers provide convincing ambience in quieter scenes and jazzy, spirited liveliness when parties, parades or live performances erupt. Dialogue is intelligible, perfectly grounded and carefully prioritized as well, with absolutely nothing in the way of mishaps or miscues. The fourth season's lossless track is as remarkable as the series' sound design. What more could you ask for?

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike previous season releases, which have offered more supplemental content, the 2-disc Blu-ray edition of The Complete Fourth Season offers just two audio commentaries: the first for "Yes We Can Can" with creator/executive producer David Simon and writer George Pelecanos, and the second for "To Miss New Orleans" with Simon, executive producer Nina Noble and actor Clarke Peters (Albert Lambreaux). Of course adding "just" prior to two Simon commentaries is a bit misleading as the ever-engaging showrunner is thorough, thoughtful and even poignant here, particularly when it comes to the series finale, which Simon grants a bittersweet send-off.

Note: 'The Complete Series' box set comes bundled with a bonus 15th Blu-ray disc backed by several exclusive musical performances. There's an argument to be made that the extra content should have been available with the 2-disc 'Fourth Season' set, but so it goes.

Treme: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Simon and Overmyer do more in five final episodes -- and do it more effectively -- than most showrunners manage with a full finale season. Treme's last bow is as engrossing as its first three seasons, and its writing and performances might just be sharper and more accomplished than they've ever been. And the ending brings both perfect closure and leaves room for the characters to live lives long after the credits have rolled. The series' fourth season is its finest, and that's saying something. HBO's Blu-ray release and near-flawless AV presentation impresses too, so long as its slight special features aren't a dealbreaker, which they certainly shouldn't be. Fans won't walk away disappointed. And if you aren't a fan yet, there's no time like the present. Start with Season One or drop good money on the 15-disc Complete Series box set and see what all the fuss is about.