I was left waiting for this one for almost two and a half years but finally season four of the brilliant American adaptation of The Office is here at last, in superior PAL format without the need for importing a Dutch copy! Why it took so long, I've no idea and hopefully seasons five, six and beyond won't take as long to be released.
Sadly, there's fewer episodes that usual here thanks to the 2007 writer's strike but they make up with five double episodes. Season four does have one of the weakest episodes of the entire run (the Steve Carrell-penned "Survivor Man") but sucky Office episodes are like sucky pizza - even when it's bad, it's still pretty good.
Amongst the classics are Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For The Cure from "Fun Run", Michael, Dwight and a reluctant Jim declaring war on ex-Scranton employee Karen Fillipelli's Dunder Mifflin Utica branch ("Branch Wars"), Michael proving where his loyalties lie ("The Deposition"), the astonishing transformation of Ryan ("Dunder Mifflin Infinity", "Night Out", "Goodbye, Toby"), Michael's financial problems and stint at a call centre ("Money"), Pam's return to her high school ("Job Fair"), Michael's torrid, non-existent relationship with a dead woman he sees in a catalogue ("Chair Model"), the ongoing love triangle between Dwight, Angela and Andy ("Dinner Party", "Did I Stutter?", "Goodbye, Toby"), and the arrival of the lovely Holly Flax and departure of Michael's despised Toby Flenderson ("Goodbye, Toby").
However, the highlight of the season has to be the all-time classic episode "Dinner Party". From Michael's cunning trick to get Jim & Pam to agree to attend, Jan's candles ('Serenity By Jan'), Michael's tiny plasma screen TV, Michael & Jan's sleeping arrangements, Jan's former assistant Hunter's music CD, Dwight's 'date' for the evening, Michael attempting to convince Jim and Andy to invest in Serenity By Jan (and Andy's enthusiasm in doing so) and Jan's excruciating public meltdown, this is classic Office all the way!
Highest recommendation possible but PLEASE get future seasons out for the UK market quicker! We're already halfway through season six in US broadcast terms!