Season 4 picks up with the women wrestling with issues close to their hearts. As before old demons rear their ugly heads and a host of new characters are brought into their fold, offering them access to a broader community with diverse issues. This season, the war in Iraq becomes an integral part of Alice's life as she struggles to move on after the death of Dana; Helena tries to find financial independence and come to terms with leaving behind a world of privilege; Phyllis Kroll takes the courageous plunge late in life to come out of the closet; and Bette has to deal with Jodi Lerner, a woman who confronts her head-on about her Type-A personality.