Strike Back : The Complete Fourth Season

Wow, the first episode of Season 4 of “Strike Back” is a non-stop action packed thrill ride that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let up. You know how each Bond film features a big opening sequence for about 15 minutes well this isn’t far from that level of excitement but sustained for 46 minutes! The storyline in this one episode has enough substance to it that it would be a complete series plot for lesser shows. It’s hard to believe that I initially dismissed this series as “silly” after viewing the first season and shelved the second season for over a year before watching the DVD. The problem with that inaugural season was the frequent gratuitous nudity and sex scenes punctuated with occasional violence and a paper thin plot. How things changed in Season 2; much better writing, a stronger story, and the toned down soft core porn elements completely rehabilitated “Strike Back” for me. In our fourth outing we find that the teenage daughter of the British ambassador to Thailand is abducted by some goons. The ambassador is in the midst of conducting sensitive talks with the North Koreans and it quickly becomes clear the kidnappers are trying to influence the outcome of the negotiations in a negative way. Our boys Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) along with the Section 20 team are hot on the trail letting nothing get in their way to rescue the victim. There’s a boat chase, motorcycle chase, hand-to-hand combat sequences, and plenty of gun play to keep you glued to the screen. They get the girl back but we find that’s just the start of their troubles. Speaking of trouble; Damien’s illegitimate teenage son (Finn) makes a surprise visit which you know can only complicate matters later on and they do. By the second episode things slow down enough so you can catch your breath. There are some plot holes like what happened to the tracker Richmond put on evil Brit ex-pat Ray in the last episode as they try to keep tabs on him? You’ll watch in wonder during a shootout at a salvage yard why Lt Col Locke driving a bucket loader doesn’t raise the bucket up to shield him and Scott from the hail of bullets coming at them? In the last episode Stonebridge apparently dislocates his right shoulder fighting some tough who we’re told “killed a man in the Octagon” but after a brief rest and acupuncture treatment he’s scaling a high rise with Scott?! At least nobody even gets naked until the episode 3! “Strike Back” like a number of shows for some reason likes to conduct ops against large fortified targets outgunned 5 to 1 in broad daylight. I’m sure it’s easier to film but honestly professionals like these wouldn’t give up the tactical advantage offered by the darkness. On the positive side this show is one of the very few where the guys realistically liberate weapons and ammo from downed enemy fighters to supplement their armament. It’s the smart and obvious thing to do but how many programs over the years have you watched the good guy with a 7 shot pistol take out dudes with machine guns and just step right over them only to run out of ammo a minute later, duh. The ranks of Section 20 have been thinning for some time now with virtually no replacements. We lose Sgt Julia Richmond this season; killed by evil North Korean operative Mei/Lei-Na leaving us with just Locke, Stonebridge, and Scott as well as U.S. DEA Special Agent Martinez. Martinez, who has inexplicably been on loan to the team for so long I forget what her original mission was, has been a valuable butt kicking addition nonetheless. About halfway along we learn that the DEA apparently remembered she was working off the books and is recalling her right when the team needs her most. Things get pretty hard to believe when Scott and Stonebridge infiltrate North Korea with virtually no back up or tech support and manage to blow up a facility weaponizing vanadium for missiles. They do eventually get caught but it’s unlikely they would have gotten as far as they did. Even more remarkable is how they escape and rescue hostage Finn in the bargain. Martinez returns to the U.S. taking danger magnet Finn with her and a Russian babe from previous seasons, ex-FSB agent Nina, teams up with our boys to help out a couple episodes. There’s a needless sex scene with Damien and Nina and really it’s the only big one for the whole season which feels more like an homage to the first season’s frequent carnal moments. There’s a nuclear bomb and Mei/Lei-Na has plans to detonate it during a UN summit in Geneva with just Locke, Scott, and Stonebridge left to stop her. Viewers are treated to a boatload of action; explosions, car chases, and shootouts that just don’t quit. Clearly the showrunners knew this was their last season and they wanted to go out with a bang and wrap the Section 20 saga up in style. Long time fans will not be disappointed in how it all winds up. My advice to newcomers to “Strike Back” would be to skip season 1 and enjoy the following 3 seasons. It appears that a reboot “Strike Back” was attempted with a new cast and reading on line reviews they failed to pull it off.

One of the best shows on television and it had to come from the U.K. and Cinemax. it’s adult themed action. I loved both teams. I’m buying all the seasons on Blu-Ray because with entertainment being so woke nowadays, I’m buying my favorite shows so I can get rid of most of the streaming services.It’s definitely a man’s show. If you miss testosterone in your shows, you’ll love this show.

If you're a fan of the shoot-em up/all action genre of movies, this show is for you. Non-stop action, with a plot that doesn't wrack your brain. Highly recommend.

Love this show. Great product. Good quality videos.

Terrific TV series. It you like adventure, rouque-ish charcters, and military experiences this might be a good show for you.

Awesome season! I was surprised by all the twists and turns in this season...and yes, SADDENED to see the dynamic duo, Stonebridge and Scott, go to ground and disappear.

Awesome show. Makes me want to go back into the military and do cool stuff again.

Great FINALE. Best of all seasons.

One of the best action series ever made for TV. Please note that this is actually Season 5 as apparently Season 1 wasn't shown in America and they started showing the series from Season 2. Therefore all the Cinemax branded sets are numbered differently. i.e. Cinemax Season 1 is actually Season 2, Season 3 is Season 2 and so on...... Although the listing states that these Blu-ray disks are Region A (USA) they appear to actually be "Multi-Region" and play perfectly well in UK Region B players. The final Season was never released on Blu-ray in the UK, only DVD, so if you're in the UK looking for a High-Def version this Cinemax Season 4 is the one you need!

Der Inhalt der einzelnen Staffeln ist bei den bisherigen jeweiligen Rezensionen bereits beschrieben. Es erfolgt hier eine Bewertung der vollständigen Serie.Was soll ich sagen, meiner Frau und mir hat diese Actionserie sehr gut gefallen!Die vier Staffeln mit Sullivan Stapleton („Blindspot“, „300: Rise of an Empire“, „Renegades – Mission of Honor“) in der Rolle des „Damien Scott“ und Philip Winchester („Chicago Justice“, „Law & Order: Special Victims Unit“) in der Rolle des „Michael Stonebridge“, beide Mitglieder der geheimen britischen Anti-Terror-Einheit Section 20, decken eigentlich alles ab, was von einer solchen Serie erwartet wird: Bekämpfung von Terroristen, Bedrohung durch biologische bzw. chemische Massenvernichtungswaffen, atomare Bedrohung, Verrat, Erotik etc.Die Handlungen der einzelnen Folgen und Staffeln spielen fast auf allen Kontinenten. Natürlich ist es unglaubwürdig, dass unsere zwei Helden nahezu alle Schießereien – mal unverletzt oder weniger verletzt – überleben, während ihre Feinde fast in Kompaniestärke ihr Leben lassen und sich auch aus den gefährlichsten Situationen wieder befreien bzw. die brenzligsten Gefahren meistern können.Sofern man hierüber hinwegsehen kann, wird man von der Serie sehr gut unterhalten. Überraschend war, wie viele der Haupt- und Nebencharaktere im Verlauf der Serie den „Serientod“ gestorben sind. Trotz der zum Teil überbordenden Action wird also zumindest etwas realistisch dargestellt, dass nicht alle Protagonisten unverwundbar sind. Insbesondere die Leiter der Anti-Terror-Einheit Section 20, u. a. Rhona Mitra („Doomsday – Tag der Rache“, „The Last Ship“) und Robson Green („Hautnah – Die Methode Hill“) verlieren alle ihr Leben. Letztendlich bleiben zum Ende der vierten Staffel nur „Stonebridge“ und „Scott“ übrig, die mit ihren Motorrädern dem wohlverdienten Happy End entgegenfahren.Überraschend sind auch der gezeigte Gewaltgrad und die sehr freizügigen Erotikszenen in der Serie. Alle DVDs der Staffeln 1 bis 3 tragen durchweg das rote FSK 18 Siegel. Lediglich in der vierten Staffel lässt der Gewaltgrad etwas nach; hier ist „nur“ noch eine DVD mit FSK 18 bewertet.Die letzte Staffel ist auch – aber nicht aus dem gerade genannten Grund – nicht mehr ganz so stark wie die vorherigen drei Staffeln. Nachdem u. a. Bedrohungen durch Nationalisten und (arabische) Terroristen als Stories dienten, durften zum Abschluss der vierten Staffel abtrünnige nordkoreanische Agenten und die durch diese verursachte atomare Bedrohung offenbar nicht fehlen, um alle möglichen „Bösewichte“ abgehandelt zu haben. Hier stirbt zuletzt auch die von Michelle Lukes verkörperte „Julia Richmond“ ihren „Serientod“, was vor allem „Scott“ sehr trifft, da er mit ihr ein Verhältnis hatte und sie wohl auch liebt.Bild und Ton der vier Staffeln auf DVD sind gut bis sehr gut. Interessant sind auch die auf der jeweiligen Staffel enthaltenen kurzen Featurettes. Hier sieht man, dass sich die beiden Hauptdarsteller auch abseits des Film-Drehs sehr gut verstanden haben. Sehr überraschend und interessant ist auch, wie viele der einzelnen, teilweise gefährlichen Action-Szenen Sullivan Stapleton und Philip Winchester selbst absolviert haben.Meine abschließende Bewertung:Staffel 1 bis 3: 5 SterneStaffel 4: 4 SterneWer Actionfilme oder –Serien mag und nicht zu viel Wert auf Realismus oder Logik legt, ist mit den Staffeln 1 bis 4 von „Strike Back“ bestens bedient.

Love this series Strike Back from the UK. Well acted and full of action and suspense. Two soldier, following orders for the UK Section 20, a secretive section of the British Military. Full of action, adventure and spy games. Based on Two Special Operatives, and their team, doing special missions across the globe. It’s a fun and exciting show to watch, and it’s go, go, go from start to finish. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy.

Was für eine coole Serie, schade das sie nun zu ende ist, es machte Spaß mit um die Welt zu reisen . Wenngleich der Schluss nicht endgültig ist...... Bild und Ton ist wie immer erste Sahne .Für Action Fans sehr zu empfehlen.

Ich bin ein Riesenfan von Sullivan Stapleton,und habe schon einige seiner Filme in meiner Sammlung,und hier wird die Geschichte der beiden Soldaten spannend fortgesetzt.