Customer Reviews

Ugly Betty: The Complete Fourth and Final Season

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So, this week I had to say goodbye to a very good friend. Ugly Betty, we (ALL your fans) will REALLY miss you. I definitely plan on buying all the seasons, maybe starting from the first one and working my way through it again. My one hope is that if enough people buy these seasons the ABC execs or some other station will bring back Ugly Betty. (Hey, it happened to Family Guy!!) This was a very good show that never failed to make me laugh or get drawn into the characters dilemmas. And how will I survive without Mark and Amanda, the best sidekicks ever?!?!? What a great set of characters and great actors to portray them. Not to mention the fantastic writers of the show who brought it all together! If you are looking for a show that guys and girls can get into, this is your pick. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

It was Thursday night in September. The weather was nice, not too cold, not too warm. TV on the other hand, well, at that point its Thursday line-up had a lot to be desired. So I turned on Wheel of Fortune to see if the woman who was up $10,000 would hit the bankrupt slot or guess that the answer was "Granny's Homemade Apple Pie." Usually I would flip through the channels during commercial breaks, but like I said there was nothing else on. And then I saw a commercial that caught my attention. Popping up on the screen of my television was a 20-some odd girl with big blue braces, red glasses, and frizzy hair. "Ugly Betty! The world premiere at 8/7 central!" the narrator declared. And I decided to watch. 9 months 11 months later I found myself purchasing Ugly Betty - The Complete First Season and then 14 months later I purchased Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season and then a year and a half later I purchased Ugly Betty: Season 3 and then I found myself watching season season 4.

And it wasn't too long before I found myself reading on Wikipedia that the brilliant, award-winning show was cancelled by ABC. Once again, ABC cancelled a great show. At least we got four seasons out of this one. But before I continue I just have to put this out there, SPOILER ALERT! In season 4 we open up with Betty getting her braces removed, but of course it was just a dream. We see her getting her new job has a junior-editor. We see her getting back together with Matt (with whom she broke up with in the season 3 finale). And as we go on further into the season seeing her house burn down. I wouldn't be able to tell you how the series ends. The reason for this is simply because, even after owning the DVD for two months, I cannot watch the series finale, and see this great show end.

But, spoilers aside, I own the DVD* and am able to tell you about it. The DVD comes in a small, average DVD package with a sleeve over it. This annoys me a little, because the past DVD releases came in large sandwich-style packaging which I liked. The past releases also had more discs, even season 2's little amount of episodes(18 because of the WGA Strike) came in a five disc set, whereas this 20-episode, final season comes in a small 4-disc set with 5 episodes crammed on each disc.

The special features include commentary with Marc Indelicato and Micheal Urie on one episode (not the finale), the featurette "Betty Goes Bahamas," "Mode After Hours" webisodes, bloopers, and deleted scenes.

All-in-all, "Betty" was a great show and will always deserve 5 stars, sandwich packaging or not. I recommend this release for any "Betty" fan who wants to get Ugly one last time.

*The information about the DVD was published on October 28th, 2010, months after I purchased and received the DVD

Where Do I Begin? Yes, Like "love story" I love love love "Ugly Betty"! Now I am not to taken by many tv shows, most I find annoying or Silly or dreadful....When a freind suggested I watch "Ugly" 4 years ago I thought "sure"..ok.....I did Like Vanessa Williams but hardly thought that be enough to make me enjoy the show.
Well, I was wrong....
I had the show on in the background (as most of my Tv watching) and by 15 mintues I was dead center in front of the Tv and was laughing and crying and Loving every single of this show. That Love Affair would go on to the end, and While I could pin point a few "flaws" in some plots I never lost my love for "Betty". I am still bitter that ABC moved it around and alas the show ended sooner than it Should Have.
Anyway here in all it's glory is Season 4, maybe the best season since the first. While I am said the only show I really loved won't be back in the fall, I am very happy that I had 4 wonderful years.

I regret that I've only gotten around to seeing the last season of Ugly Betty just now. I've been a fan of the show since I saw the first episode and during the last season I was quite busy with work and wasn't able to enjoy the final season of one of my favorite TV shows of recent years. While bigger shows (that I also enjoyed such as Lost and 24) may have gotten bigger fanfare in their exits from the small screen, I think Betty's final bow was as poignant and touching as any finale I've seen.

I was saddened to hear that the show was ending but perhaps it was the right time for the show. The last season ended on a high note. They tied up some loose ends, allowed us to see some of Betty's old flames (Henry and Gio) and allowed Hilda to finally find true love (with CSI Miami's Adam Rodriquez). Rather than rely on huge stars to pepper the final season (like Shakira, who was in an episode) they instead gave us the things that we've come to love about Ugly Betty---the great Wilomena one liners, the crazy antics of Marc and Amanda, the dedication of the Suarez family and the true spirit of Betty. What most of us loved about Betty was her determination to succeed and her belief in her dreams; something I think most of us can relate to. While along there way there was lots of outlandish comic soap opera-esque moments, there were also scenes and storylines that were well done and life affirming. The storyline with Justin and his coming out were very sweet and sent a positive message to gay teenagers who may be struggling with the same questions and worries in their own lives. And the Suarez clan's support and love for their gay teenager is an example as well to family members who find that they have a gay teen or family member. One of the most memomorable scenes of the final 4 or 5 episodes has Justin coming out to his family by dancing with his boyfriend at his mom's wedding. Its a subtle, lovely scene that is one of the best of the entire series. It was also great to see a show that gave voice to the latin community and presented latinos in the limelight for a change.

I'll miss the wicked schemes of Wilomena, portrayed to a tee by the talented Vanessa Williams, Marc and Amanda's unyielding catty remarks and the charm of America Ferrera, for whom without the series would have never been a success. Her turn as Betty was someone who we could all identify with and root for and her gradual transformation revealed the beauty of the woman inside. Betty never gave up on her goals or herself and made the choices that were right for her, a positive role model for young women. She may have become more aware of fashion but she never abandoned who she truly was.

I'll definitely add this final season to my dvd collection. I'm glad we got to know Betty.....and I'm glad that at the end of the show, they dropped the "ugly" from the title as the final scene faded to black. Betty may not have been a fashionista to begin with but she was beautiful on the inside. Highly recommended!

I had been a hot and cold fan of the series, and only returned at the start of this last season.

If you are/were a fan, the story of Betty moved beyond the PRADA/TELENOVIA concept beautifully in my opinion. The actors are pitch perfect, and I believe the dialogue zings better than WILL AND GRACE,to drag in a comparative show. The images of women, women of color, gays, Latinos, Latinas, teenagers, all wrapped in New Yawk and Manhatten Madness is very very satisfying.

I got all the seasons, and have strung out finishing off Season Last/Four, and the bonus material, because its hard to say goodbye to Betty and her dreams to become her own woman, on her own terms (this is supposed to be tv fodder)....I will miss her family, her loves, her co-workders. Erica Kane move on out, 'cause Wilhemena rocks this almost-night time soap, and Mandy and Mark deserved their own show.

Great wrap up, from a devoted fan, waiting for a movie version, this series can catch you up and wrap you up in going for your dreams, dreaming big, acting big and accepting who you are in a fun, bitchy, campy, poncho-wearing, braces off way.

**NOTE: REVIEW MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS**

"Ugly Betty" was a fun ride while it lasted, but it ended at the right time. Things were starting to get a little static this season, and I found myself watching more out of habit than desire.

Despite the fact that our heroine is finally climbing the corporate ladder, the series itself seems stuck in a rut this season.

"Ugly Betty" always impressed me with its guest casting, but this year's guest stars, such as Lynn Redgrave in her last role, and the sadly underused Judy Gold, seem wasted, their roles underwritten.

Kristen Johnston and RuPaul both appear, looking emaciated. Kristen's part was at least bigger as she plays a former Mode receptionist of undeterminable age, who wants to get into Mark's pants.

Some of the storylines this year were either too dull or too far-fetched.

I didn't care for the whole Daniel-is-seduced-by-a-cult plot. The scene where Matt distracts the security guards so that the ladies can rescue Daniel looked as though they were re-enacting an episode of "Josie and the Pussycats" the cartoonish way Betty, Claire and Amanda all ascended the stairs in unison.

The show only begins to get interesting around Episode 7 when both Betty and Hilda buy the pregnancy tests.

Even the road trip to the Bahamas does nothing to inject some sizzle, as it's a case of too-little-too-late. The later trek to London where Betty drags Hilda and Amanda along for a bachelorette party fares much better, due to the welcome and surprise return of Christina and Gio.

The writers keep tricking us into thinking Justin is going to confide in Mark about being in love with a boy from his acting class. The scene where they finally kiss is very well done.

The scripts get better as the season progresses and the last four shows are highly entertaining!

The show pays homage to "Dynasty" in a fun catfight sequence between Wilhemina and Claire.

Which reminds me; the old warhorses of Mode both look more glamorous this season than they ever have. Vanessa Williams begins the season looking fantastic, like a 1940s movie goddess, and I swear Judith Light looks 20 years younger than she did in Season One.

Speaking of looks, this being the final year of the series, Betty makes a gradual progression from ugly duckling to beautiful swan.

She loses the bangs, starts dressing the part of a Mode editor, and as the final four episodes wind down, her braces come off.

The series finale begins with a funeral. Betty must decide whether to rekindle a former relationship or move on to a new exciting endeavour.

The show comes to a satisfying conclusion that nicely ties up the fates of its characters.

Though Season Four wasn't as easy to get through, those who have invested four years in the show should definitely follow it through to the end. I'm glad I did and "Ugly Betty" will always be among my Top Ten shows of 2000-2009.

I really do love all the seasons (I purchased all 4 seasons from Amazon.com) and was saddened when they were canceled after 4 seasons. The writers did an awesome job with the last show of the series. Ugly Betty was a terrific show with terrific actors and writers. Good Bye Betty -- I'm going to miss you, your family, friends and enemies. =(

First I would like to say that Ugly Betty is probably the only tv show that I really loved. I love these characters and I love the atmosphere that they're in. And even if the show took a little dip in quality in season 3, it's still as lovable and heartwarming as it always has been. Now, the show that changed the face of television is now coming to an end. In this fourth and final season, we find Betty now getting closer and closer to her dreams as everything concludes where all plots are resolved and characters get their just desserts. The show ended at the perfect time and I'm glad that I found a truely great show to entertain me every Thursday and Friday night for 4 years. We could all learn something from Betty. Even though it kills me to see her go, she'll always have a certain place in my heart. The only thing I would have inproved on is the last episode. They didn't give it the proper treatment it deserved and it could have been better, but other then that, a great show and even better box-set.

A show that started strong but bad choices by ABC eventually got it axed this season. UB was one of those shows that did a fine job of mixing and overlapping vanity and virtue, as well as being one of those rare and successful shows that focused on a functional Latino Family. I will miss UB but I have to say that some of the episodes were below their usual par. At one point there seemed to be a jump in a few stories all of a sudden, too, but rather than blame the writers I blame ABC for trying to push this along and force the story to come to a fast close. It was nice to see some of the old characters return (especially Gio) and I liked how they ended with two certain main characters NOT getting together. The show ended with dignity and hope and those were certainly some of the themes of Ugly Betty. I shall miss this show. WHEN WATCHED: July to September 2010 (I took a long time watching the last episode because I feared they would ruin it but they did not); MY GRADE: B minus to B for fans (C plus to B minus for non fans).

I wish this wasn't the final season - such a good show. The DVD series is good quality - and worth the purchase. You'll enjoy it!