Plot: What’s it about?
Disc One
1. “I Heart NY” – It’s autumn in New York and Carrie’s yearning for some company. She invites herself over to Big’s apartment, finding it filled with shipping boxes. Big tells her that he’s moving to Napa, California where he bought a vineyard. Dazed and confused, Carrie joins him in a glass of wine and a slow dance to Big’s parents’ favorite song, “Moon River.”
2. “A ‘Vogue’ Idea” – Carrie tells Julian that she’s thinking of quitting Vogue. Julian wonders what her dad would say and Carrie reveals that her father left when she was 5 years old. She wonders: How much does a father-figure figure? Meanwhile, mom-to-be Miranda is freaking out about how she’s going to juggle work and motherhood. Charlotte enthusiastically offers to throw Miranda a baby shower and Miranda begrudgingly accepts.
3. “Ring a Ding Ding” – Unable to say goodbye, Carrie turns away as Aidan moves out of her apartment and her life. She finds what she assumes is a “goodbye letter”; in fact, it’s a legal document giving her 30 days to either buy back her apartment or vacate it. At the bank, she’s told that she’s not a “desirable candidate” for a loan.
4. “Change of a Dress” – Carrie is feeling pressured by Aidan – and society at large – to plan her wedding. She admits to Miranda that she isn’t exactly feeling like a blushing bride. Miranda confesses that she isn’t exactly glowing over her pregnancy. She tells Carrie that she “faked” her sonogram – feigning joy when she found out she was having a boy.
5. “All That Glitters…” – Charlotte runs into Anthony and his friend who works for House and Garden magazine and they dance the night away. Carrie makes friends with a cute gay boy named Oliver at the bar. Miranda runs into Max, a junior associate at her firm. He asks her not to tell the partners he’s gay and she asks him not to tell them she’s pregnant…
6. “The Good Fight” – Carrie panics when she finds out that she and Aidan won’t be able to take over the apartment next door for another month. When Aidan proposes cleaning out her closet, she panics even more. As she watches Aidan move her precious Manolos and designer garb and when Pete starts gnawing on one of her stilettos, a heated argument ensues. After much yelling…
Disc Two
7. “Just Say Yes” – Samantha has a drink with her new client, Richard Wright. He proudly tells her that he enjoys sleeping around and is not at all interested in marriage, piquing single-girl Samantha’s interest. Their next encounter finds them in Richard’s private jet headed for the mile-high club.
8. “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” – Charlotte sees a fertility doctor and finds out that she has only a 15 percent chance of conceiving naturally. She bumps into Miranda on the street, tells her the news and walks away from the unhappily pregnant Miranda. Carrie accompanies Miranda to have her abortion. While they’re waiting Miranda becomes increasingly worried that she’s not making the right decision.
9. “Belles of the Balls” – Up at Aidan’s country house, Carrie gets another call from Big, who is so distraught he says he’ll drive up there to talk with her. Aidan fumes when he finds out. Big arrives, gets drunk and has to spend the night. The next day, Carrie tells Big he has to make friends with Aidan. When he goes out to apologize to Aidan, the two end up wrestling in the mud…
10. “Sex and the Country” – When Carrie gets to Aidan’s extra rustic cabin, she immediately laments not being in the city. She realizes that relationships are inevitably a series of compromises and asks: When does the art of compromise become compromising? Unable to stand it anymore, Carrie returns to New York and goes out for a steak with Big.
11. “My Motherboard, My Self” – Miranda has to go to Philadelphia because her Mom has had a heart attack. The next day her Mom dies. Miranda calls Carrie to let her know and trying to be strong fights back tears. Charlotte, who has become a regular Martha Stewart, takes charge of getting the best funeral fruit basket and flower arrangement. Samantha has trouble dealing with the news of the death and can’t bring herself to call Miranda. Instead…
12. “Time and Punishment” – Charlotte stuns the girls by announcing that she’s planning on quitting her gallery job and devoting herself to having a baby and redecorating. Charlotte is angry that the girls, especially Miranda, are judgmental of her decision. She calls Miranda and while on the phone Miranda’s neck goes out. Aidan offers to go check on Miranda and finds her naked on the floor unable to move…
Disc Three
13. “Baby, Talk is Cheap” – Miranda meets a cute guy, aka “Marathon Man,” in her running group and they arrange to go for a run together, which leads to a post-workout workout. Miranda is surprised when Marathon Man puts his tongue where no man has gone before. Charlotte has other things on her mind as she and Trey talk about having a baby.
14. “Ghost Town” – When Miranda bumps into Steve, he announces that he’s opening up his own bar and invites her to the opening. Miranda feels conflicted as she was the one who had encouraged him to be so ambitious when they were in a relationship. Carrie also receives an invitation to the opening of “Scout” and is shocked to read that Aidan is Steve’s “silent partner.”
15. “What’s Sex Got to Do With It?” – Charlotte wonders why she can’t “have the sex AND the relationship” with Trey. She worries that Trey will never ask her to move back in to their apartment, even though their sex life is going so well. After Trey asks Charlotte to “measure his John Thomas,” Charlotte storms out of the apartment. But Trey shows up at Charlotte’s apartment the next day to ask her to move back in with him…
16. “Defining Moments” – Carrie goes barhopping with Big and finds that their relationship as “friends” has never been better. Charlotte and Trey are enjoying themselves as well – having steamy sex in coatrooms and other public places around the city. However, Charlotte starts to wonder where she and Trey are headed. Out on the town again with Big, Carrie is drawn to jazz musician Ray King…
17. “The Real Me” – On the night of the fashion show, Carrie is informed there’s been a wardrobe change and she has to wear a tiny pair of jeweled underwear. She freaks, but all done up and looking fabulous, Samantha assures her that she is a model. Carrie starts her walk down the runway only to fall flat on her face. Faced with a choice, Carrie gets back up and finishes her catwalk to cheers.
18. “The Agony and the ‘Ex’-tacy” – The girls get ready for a Saturday night out at an engagement party, but are dismayed when they see the invitation – it announces that the couple has “Two souls, one thought.” After the party, Charlotte shows up at Trey’s apartment wanting to talk. When she includes “sex life” under their list of problems, Trey tries to convince her otherwise.
Video: How does it look?
As with the previous two seasons of Sex and the City, these are presented in their original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. For a series this new, I really think that these could look a bit better. When I see movies and other television shows (like “Friends”) that look better, it really boggles my mind. Still, there is some artifacting in some dimly lit shots and for the most part the colors are strong. The flesh tones are accurate, though we see the women in so many different settings it’s hard to tell what they “really” look like! Still, a strong presentation throughout makes for a good viewing. Essentially, expect the same as from the last three seasons.
Audio: How does it sound?
While we have become so used to things being “re-mastered” in Dolby Digital 5.1, we tend to overlook the things that don’t really need that “power” to excel. Sex and the City, as with the two previous seasons, is presented in a basic Dolby Surround track. There are no major flaws here, just the audio as you most likely heard it either on the DVD or when it aired on HBO. Still, it’s not a bad thing as split surrounds or discrete effects couldn’t do a whole lot for our four heroines. The dialogue is witty and presented without a single flaw, and the more “umph” of the tracks takes place during the opening credits, but if it’s a “Saving Private Ryan” track you’re looking for you won’t find it here, just some women looking for some love and we can hear every minute of it in good ‘ol Dolby Surround.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Sex and the City has never been high on extras, and this season isn’t entirely different. We do get three audio commentaries and they aren’t really that bad. They comment on things that make you really think, as I have become spoiled by the commentaries for movies, I found that they’re trying just as hard (maybe even harder) to do things right and that there is just as much thought that goes into a television show as a full-length movie. All of the tracks are informative, but only the true fans will give them a listen. I see (hear, rather) myself listening to them throughout the year as I wait yet another year for Season Five to arrive. Each episode also contains a trailer and some DVD-ROM content is included as well.
