There are plenty of laughs this season, along with lots of ups and downs as well. Joan is satisfied with her relationship with Ellis, but when a chance meeting in the rain puts her together with Brock (Malik Yoba), who also happens to be Ellis' agent, she and Brock fall hard for one another. Brock is Joan's soulmate and they break the news to Ellis and decide to be together, only for Joan to discover that Brock doesn't want kids, which breaks her heart and ends their relationship. Joan finds herself in a funk and decides to quit the law firm, taking a job at a fast food joint, to hilarious results.
After William (Reginald C. Hayes) listens to a street psychic who tells him to pursue a woman he sees at the bus stop, William falls for Donna but she thinks he's just a crazy stalker. When she finally gives him a chance, all she sees is that William is in love with Joan, but he just can't see it. After making senior partner, he starts to reprioritize and realizes his true feelings, admitting this to Joan; but will this change their relationship forever?
Lynn (Persia White) floats along happily, mooching off her friends and enjoying life with Sivad, but her patience with his vow of celibacy is wearing thin. When they finally part ways, she moves in with Maya (Golden Brooks), who needed the extra cash to pay for the hike in her tuition. Eventually, Lynn gets made apartment manager and ends up with all of Maya's old furniture when Maya's pro athlete/fellow student boyfriend buys her all new stuff. But this relationship fizzles out quickly when Maya relaizes she is nothing more than a trophy. After spending all of her spare time (between studying and raising Jabbari) reading self-help books, Maya decides to turn one of her school essays into a real book called "Hell Yes!" But when a publisher comes knocking on her door with a book deal, only to want to change the book and "take the black out of it," Maya stands up to her editor and gets her editor on her side.
Meanwhile, Lynn finds her soulmate in Lenny, who is like her in every way. Could they be brother and sister? This causes Lynn to once again reconnect with her bipolar mom, Sandy, and she finds out her father's true identity. But when she finally decides to confront him, she can't admit who she is to him and walks away, leaving him thinking she's a census taker.
Toni, in her ever-selfish ways, finds herself pushing Todd further and further away. First, she finds out he is heavily in debt and decides to have the marraige annulled. Then, once she realizes she loves him, they vow to work things out. But little things like Toni buying a Valentine's Day gift for Joan and not Todd, and Toni telling her therapist that Joan would be her choice on a deserted island leaves Todd feeling like second banana in her life. When Todd is offered a job in New York that could get them out of debt, Toni says go for it, but when he does and says he doesn't want her to come, she is devastated. She puts on a happy front for her friends, even as Todd won't return her calls, but when Joan confronts her and they decide to go to New York to win him back, things get ugly. The season finale is quite intense as, once again, it is directed by Salim Akil (husband of writer Mara Brock Akil). The season finales helmed by Salim Akil always have a much darker tone to them and this one is no different. Toni drops a bombshell on Todd in New York. Will he take her back or leave her a crying mess?
The only disappointing thing about Girlfriends: The Fourth Season is the fact that it had no special features, but really, the season is so terrific that I didn't care all that much. Girlfriends has easily become my absolute favorite comedy and I can't wait to see what the next season brings. In fact, I must admit, I had to go see what happens on TV.com. If you've never seen the show, you may feel a tiny bit lost coming in on Season 4, but it won't matter. The show is still absolutely hysterical and the characters are loveable, so if you enjoy clever comedy, check this show out.
