Army Wives (Season 4)

Army Wives (Season 4)
Starring: Kim Delaney, Catherine Bell, Brigid Brannaugh, Sally Pressman, Sterling Brown, Brian McNamara
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

For Frank (Terry Serpico) and Denise Sherwood (Catherine Bell), their son returning from combat was supposed to be a joyous event. But Jeremy is suffering from PTSD; his best friend was killed in combat and Jeremy blames himself. Contemplating ending his life, Jeremy arms himself and while Dad is able to get the gun away, it is apparent that Jeremy needs help…only he doesn’t feel deserving of it.

The group of “Army Wives” rallies together. General Michael Holden (Brian McNamara) and Claudia Joy Holden (Kim Delaney) head to the hospital to support their dear friends; Dr. Roland Burton (Sterling Brown) steps in as Jeremy’s psychiatrist, despite the fact that his wife, Joan, is in a hospital overseas for injuries she sustained in combat. Roland knows, just as the Holden’s do, that when a friend needs each other, you put your life aside and help. You tell it how it is, you say what you know, and you hope in some small part to make it better.

Chase Moran (Jeremy Davidson) is in need of such assistance. Pamela (Brigid Brannaugh) and he had a huge fight the night before. Pamela has had enough of being the only parent raising their children. Taking the kids, Pamela left and Chase is desperate to find her. Going to Roxie (Sally Pressman) and Trevor LeBlanc (Drew Fuller) for any leads, he comes up empty.

With all of the sadness and anxiety going on, it is no wonder that Roxie does not want to reveal the joyous news of her pregnancy to anyone. Or why Claudia Joy doesn’t want to drum up her nomination to receive the Spencer Award (an award bestowed to those who best assist army families.) The timing just doesn’t seem right….for any of it.

Lifetime Network has a lasting fan base when it comes to this show; real life Army families appreciate the way they are portrayed. Indeed, it is nice that the focus of “Army Wives” is not on the political correctness of war and the military. Rather, it shows what the soldiers go through. Season 4 continues to have examples of deployment, PTSD, life in “theater” (as active duty is called), injuries, hardships and yet, the storylines never grow old. Perhaps it could be due to the fact that the issues always befall someone different, or maybe because the plot lines are realistic we find ourselves drawn in.

My favorite episode of this season would be “Army Strong.” During the course of the episode, we find the majority of the military characters—three out of four husbands…and one son—being deployed to Afghanistan. Watching all of the families say good-bye is heart wrenching; I can never watch it without crying. The worst episode has to be “Murder in Charleston.” A spinoff for Pamela was considered when season 4 was shooting, so this episode was the “test run.” It appears out of place and yet, it cannot be skipped. There are a few key storylines that will play heavily in the season finale. Still, the episode drives me up the wall.

However, content does not drive the viewer crazy as much this season. The biggest issue does lie in the sexual innuendo, much as it has in years past. The comments and situations range from the subtle (in the form of flirtatious comments and kisses) to the not so subtle (bed sheets being in disarray, couples in stages of undress, etc.) Thankfully, movement or “unnecessary” skin is not present this season. Language can consist of basic profanities. Violent content is more implied; after all, this television series is about soldiers going off to war. We do have some conflict and there can be a little blood, but nothing too graphic or extreme. Army Wives is more focused on the people involved rather than the events involved.

Personally, this show is just as addictive four seasons in as when it first premiered. You can’t help finding a character that you like. There is someone for every individual, as the personalities are very diverse on this show. Thankfully, the themes are not so diverse—love of country, love of the soldiers in combat, love of friendship….it is in these things that Army Wives has been able to connect people to the show. I, myself, am one of them.