Advanced Review: DROP DEAD DIVA – Fourth Season Premiere “Welcome Back”

On June 3, Drop Dead Diva, the popular Lifetime dramedy about a vapid aspiring model killed in a car accident brought back to life as an intelligent plus-size lawyer will return for its fourth season.

As viewers who watched last season will recall, Jane (Brooke Elliott) decided to leave for a “Roman Holiday” in the season finale and as it turns out, her new boyfriend Judge Owen French (Lex Medlin) joined her just as Grayson (Jackson Hurst) showed up at the airport to talk to her about his feelings.

The season premiere opens three weeks later with Jane and Owen seemingly having a blissful vacation together. In fact, Jane sends off a message to all of her friends back in the States sharing what a wonderful time she and Owen are having, making it sound like they have no plans of returning any time soon.

But in a moment of honesty with Owen, Jane admits she is a little homesick to which he is much relieved because as much as he has enjoyed their time together in Italy, he wishes to go home too. As if on cue, Teri (Margaret Cho) – Jane’s assistant – shows up in the café, surprising both of them, and urges Jane to return. It seems the firm is in trouble – Parker (Josh Stamberg) is MIA while trying to search for the son he never knew he had, leaving Kim (Kate Levering) – the new managing partner – in charge. And, worst of all, the firm is in financial trouble.

It seems the firm desperately needs Jane’s help with a murder case involving the first client Jane ever had, Emily Horn (guest star Megyn Price). With a lot of incentives thrown her way, Jane agrees to return to handle the case despite the fact Jane (aka Deb) does not remember Emily, who Jane meet in law school and, of course, was well before Deb took over Jane’s life.

On the homefront, Fred (Ben Feldman) also returns to town, but with a little surprise of his own: a new girlfriend named Ally. This isn’t welcome news to Stacy (April Bowlby), despite the fact she and Fred broke up. I won’t spoil how that whole story works out for the two lovebirds; but suffice it to say, there is a new guardian angel in town named Lucas Daniels (new series regular Carter MacIntyre), who will not only is the firm’s new investor but also Jane and Stacy’s new landlord.

The only disappointing development in the season premiere is when Stacy reaches out to a relationship guru named Nikki Lepree, who Stacy hopes can help her mend her relationship with Fred. Who plays that relationship guru? Reality “star” Kim Kardashian. Yes, you read that correctly, the celebutante – who for some reason is a household name despite the lack of any discernible talent (and yes that is my honest opinion about this woman) – has a multi-episode arch on Drop Dead Diva; and if the storyline concocted between her character Nikki and Stacy is to be believed, they will attempt to open a bakery that specializes in “pakes” (short for pie-cake) – a new dessert that Stacy inadvertently created while trying to deal with her rocky relationship with Fred.

Another side story is that of Grayson, who is trying to come to terms with an off-comment remark made to him by Stacy (in the season finale) that Jane is Deb. He is slowly piecing together the truth – as crazy as it may seem or sound – but Jane is quickly told to nip his thought-process in the bud especially after what happened to Grayson the last time Jane almost told him the truth. I will leave how that whole situation is resolved because it’s better to be seen rather than spoiled.

“Welcome Back” is the season premiere of Drop Dead Diva and it will air on Lifetime this Sunday, June 3 at 9 PM.