In the fourth season of the hit sitcom, Grace (Debra Messing) romances Nathan (Woody Harrelson); Will (Eric McCormack) tries to get his parents back together; Jack (Sean Hayes) strengthens ties with his estranged son; and the gang gets an emotional workout during a dysfunctional Thanksgiving. Guest stars include Matt Damon, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Rosie O'Donnell and Parker Posey.
1. The Third Wheel Gets The Grace - Will returns from vacation to discover that Grace's romantic relationship with neighbor Nathan is humming along but Nathan feels neglected when Will and Grace resume their chummy friendship, complete with their own private language and code. Meanwhile, Jack proudly takes his newfound son Elliot shopping for school at Barney's while Rosario and Karen each cruise the merchandise looking for the perfect 'anniversary gift.' - 4.38 stars (Dale-4, David-4.75)
2. Past & Presents - The new lawyer in Will's firm is the same lout who bullied him as a child; Nathan's birthday flusters Grace, who's outdone in the gift department by Karen. 4.63 stars (Dale-4.5, David-4.75)
3. Crouching Father, Hidden Husband - Jack is puffed up with paternal pride as he escorts his long-lost teenaged son Elliot to a junior high school dance but not before he coerces Grace into posing as Elliot's date which only revives her own tortured memories of rejection from school dances many years before. Elsewhere, Karen has great fun at her lawyer Will's expense when she continues to capriciously summon him for bogus "emergencies" that is, until she really needs him. 3.88 stars (Dale-3.75, David-4)
4. Prison Blues - After Stan is arrested for tax evasion, Grace and Karen timidly visit him in prison, and Grace is so moved to help her worried friend that she moves right into Karen's deluxe apartment in the skywhere she becomes a demanding guest who's soon hooked on servants, bubble baths and an extravagant lifestyle. Meanwhile, as Stan's attorney, Will struggles with stagefright when he babbles on during a TV news interview, so Jack convinces him to polish his communication skills by attending an acting class ruled by an imperious teacher. 3.63 (Dale-4, David-3.25)
5. Loose Lips Sink Relationships - In a sneaky ploy to bum a night off from work at Barney's department store, a conniving Jack plays matchmaker and takes advantage of his geeky female supervisor's interest in Willwhile mindful of Will's fantasy of modeling in the store's catalogueand he parlays their mutual desires into a "date," even though his unsuspecting friend doesn't have a clue of her intentions. Elsewhere, Grace goes where no woman should when she compares her previous sexual experience with her boyfriend Nathan's. 3.75 stars (Dale-4, David-3.5)
6. Rules Of Engagement - During an intimate moment, Nathan pops the question of marriage to Grace but she recoils simply because the situation didn't fit her childhood fantasy of a proposaland when she realizes her mistake, she returns the favor, but doesn't get the response she hoped she get. 4 stars.
7. Bed, Bath & Beyond - While a baleful Grace wallows in bed as she grieves over losing her boyfriend Nathan, an enterprising Will tries all his old tricks to spring her from her mattress and back into the real world's whirl. But when Jack and Karen arrive, Will fears that their bizarre efforts to help might actually drive Grace further into her shell -- not to mention therapy. 4.88 stars (Dale-5, David-4.75)
Disc 1: 4.16 stars
Season 4 (Disc 1): 4.16 stars
Collection (Season 1-3): 3.62 stars