The Walking Dead: The Complete Fourth Season

TV's first zombie survival series is equal parts intimate human drama and gory horror spectacle, a show where beloved figures die and every death still matters to the characters (and viewers). As in earlier seasons, this one is split into a pair of eight-episode story arcs. Having made it through an attack by the vengeful “Governor” (David Morrisey), Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Hershel (Scott Wilson), and the other survivors work to transform their renovated prison sanctuary into a sustainable home—at least until new threats send them searching for another place. In flight, the group is splintered, with each installment focusing on individual traveling packs before finally being brought together for a cliffhanger finale that sets up a dramatic battle. Some of the episodes play like short stories that explore personal relationships as well as the moral dilemmas faced by the characters in this hostile world. Horror fans may consider the narrative too bogged down, while drama enthusiasts might be disturbed by the level of violence—but The Walking Dead still has plenty of viewers who appreciate both. Compiling all 16 episodes from the 2013–14 fourth season, extras include episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes (the Blu-ray release also includes two extended episodes and an additional commentary track). Recommended. (S. Axmaker)