Chapters. (Season 4)

*Chapters.* Season 4 (alternatively titled *C4*) is the fourth season of Mike Barkhoff's web series Chapters. The season premiered February 2nd, 2023, following a hiatus for the series, as it took 2022 off.

The season follows Chapters. (Season 3), the highest acclaimed season yet. The season was first announced in Living Free's third episode, Business Call, and then further discussed by Barking Vans following the launch of Drakoloid Adult Zone on Twitter and YouTube Live Stream chat rooms. In September 2022, official promotional art for the season was released, promising the series return in 2023. In December, the fourth season's release date was confirmed for February. Alongside the announcement, it was revealed the season will have fourteen episodes and will release weekly. In January 2023, Live Free released the season's official title and episode listing. The season has opened to rave reviews, being described as the most original yet.

## Episodes

Shoe Rack

Greenbrier

Die

Oz

Ms

Broken Clocks

Globe

In The Air Part II

Raging Bull

Reversa

FM

Celluloid

Palisades

Thus

## Production

Though very little has been revealed about the season's story, the basic premise to the production has been discussed. Barkhoff has spoken about how he filmed this season at the same time as Living Free (Season 3). He also spoke about how both seasons of both shows were done "much differently" than how he typically does series and films, revealing that rather than every episode having a script they had "basic plot thesis statements" that he'd written. This made Barkhoff have free reign over dialogue and where the story went, as opposed to being "shelved into a corner" throughout the entirety of the episode.

Barkhoff's reasoning for doing this was to make the two season's feel individuated from his other work, and also to challenge himself artistically.

In January 2023, alongside the season's official title release and the episode list, Barkhoff made note of how this season he is most proud of as it is the one that relates closest to "The Twilight Zone," a major influence behind the series.

## Reception

The fourth season of Chapters. has been met with laud from an online community and critics, in particular for it's heavy messages and themes relayed in simplistic forms. One commentor declared "Seasons 2 and 3 were just great, but Season 4 shines because it is such an uncurated and simple minded pace. That sounds disrespectful, but the season feels like it's alive, and the stories pumped through it's veins are all the better for it".

In particular, episodes Raging Bull, Shoe Rack, FM, Palisades and Ms have been regarded as the strongest in terms of themes and stylistic approach. All five have been complimented for showcasing their narrative alongside simplistic undertones. The latter two saw the highest spikes in viewership for the season, a season that otherwise was plagued by a much less than expected viewer base.

The episode Oz was met with acclaim for it's commentary on artistry, while a similar feat was given to In The Air Part II. Summing up the season, Clarke Accloades wrote "This is likely Chapters. at it's peak due to it's creation and execution. Something that easily could've been a downfall [- unscripted episodes -] is what makes this season one of the most memorable and impactful. It accomplishes two things Barkhoff has set out to do. The first, it feels like the visual equivalent to a classic album. And the second, it sure as hell managed to gather enough original ideas that these fourteen episodes are comparable to the greatest of "The Twilight Zone".