“Everwood” was always the wonderful drama on the WB that was humble, but very emotional and gripping. At its cheesiest it was basically bearable to sit through, but most times it was absolutely compelling to watch and enjoy in its scenic and conservative sensibilities. Every thread and character was just magnificent and it’s good that Warner has finally released every season on DVD once and for all allowing folks a chance to see what they may have missed out on. It’s a shame because the third season is where the writers were finally finding their strides and developing some fantastic new sub-plots.
Ephram returns from Juliard after spending the summer with Amy in New York and has left everyone of his friends waiting for him to return. Sadly, Ephram has changed some and there is a distance between him and his group at Everwood. What we learn in the coming episodes after his arrival is pretty tragic and there’s definite melodrama to be had. Not to mention Andy hasn’t revealed to Ephram that his ex-girlfriend Madison is pregnant and what she’s planning to do about Ephram’s child. In this season Brighton finally admits his feelings for the sweet and adorable Hannah, the girl he least expected to fall for.
And to add to an interesting cliffhanger, Andy admits his feelings for his gorgeous neighbor and best friend Nina as her relationship her boyfriend Jake progresses. Scott Wolf enters the scene to create obligatory romantic friction with Nina and soon forms a divide between Andy and Nina as he forms a relationship with her over the course of the season. While Wolf is a strong actor who is likable, his performance as Jake is forgettable, and it becomes apparent from his introduction that he’s just been included to add some tension to a show that was on the verge of being in a rut. On a lighter note, the addition of Hannah in season three creates some of the best storylines of the series by far.
Sarah Drew’s down to Earth portrayal of this mousey but attractive young girl was awkward when she first appears, but she manages to considerably mesh with the entire cast, finding her footing in the second half of the season. Her relationship with Amy and Brighton creates some great moments in the third season. Drew’s performance as this character remains a highlight in a wide array of humble performances and her character is consistently likable and charming. Although it’s tough to choose among a variety of well fleshed out and interesting characters my favorite continues to be Brighton.
Played by “Parks and Recreations” star Chris Pratt, his evolution is quite great as he begins as a bully, develops in to a likable slacker, finds a sense of responsibility with his romance with Hannah, and in season four there’s an interesting development that forces him to take a second look at himself and his direction in life. Meanwhile Amy’s own confrontation with her mother’s battle with cancer adds a tragic undertone as she must decide if she wants to go off to college and leave her to fend for herself. The final episode ends on a considerable cliffhanger that causes Andy and Nina to re-evaluate their feelings for one another and it makes for some great friction in the final season. “Everwood” is such an engrossing and charming little drama series and it’s sad that it was given the axe and never properly paid enough respect after it disappeared from the airwaves. But with the sharp DVD collection, you’ll find, as I did, that it’s still a damn good drama.