A group of 4400 who disappeared or apparently died mysteriously over the last 50 years, suddenly appear as a group. Their appearance causes havoc as the communities in which they re-enter are not completely receptive—Homeland Security also attempts to study the 4400 to determine where they went…and why they are back.
(2005) Television Review
This
page was created on June 7, 2005
This page was last updated on
September 20, 2005
Created by Scott Peters and René Echevarria
Credited cast:
Joel Gretsch .... Tom Baldwin
Jacqueline McKenzie .... Diana Skouris
Mahershalalhashbaz Ali .... Richard Tyler
Laura Allen .... Lily Moore
Patrick Flueger .... Shawn Farrell
Chad Faust .... Kyle Baldwin
Kaj-Erik Eriksen .... Danny Farrell (2004)
Brooke Nevin .... Nikki Hudson (2004)
Peter Coyote .... Dennis Ryland (2004)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Campbell .... Jordan Collier (2005-)
Conchita Campbell .... Maia Rutledge (2005-)
Rhonda Dent .... Elise Applebaum
Samantha Ferris .... Nina Jarvis (2005-)
Natasha Gregson Wagner .... April Skouris
Regular guests:
Richard Kahan .... Marco Pacella (8 episodes)
Lori Ann Triolo .... Linda Baldwin (5 episodes)
Conchita Campbell .... Maia Rutledge (5 episodes)
Bill Campbell .... Jordan Collier (3 episodes)
Jason Low .... Sid Stradner (3 episodes)
Production Companies
American ZoetropeRenegade 83
Viacom Productions Inc.
Distributors
Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
Space (2004) (Canada) (TV)
USA Network Inc. (2004) (USA) (TV)
Runtime: 43 min
Country: USA
POSTER
AVAILABILITY
ON DVD
The 4400 - The Complete First Season(2004)
During the past century, thousands of people have gone missing. When 4400 of them return all at once unharmed and looking the same as when they disappeared, the government investigates, unsure of how this can be possible. What the government does not know is that the presence of these 4400 will change the human race in many unexpected ways.
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A group of 4400 who disappeared or apparently died mysteriously over the last 50 years, suddenly appear as a group. Their appearance causes havoc as the communities in which they re-enter are not completely receptive—Homeland Security also attempts to study the 4400 to determine where they went…and why they are back.
So….I was right. Collier isn’t dead. He’s not looking too good but he’s not dead!
What did we learn by the end of this second, and less engaging, season? Kyle shows us that sometimes the kid will be alright. Thankfully, in the end, he goes to take responsibility for killing JC, even though he didn’t mean to…AND we know he didn’t kill Collier [so in the end he’ll get off.]
With no help needed from the title, “Mommy’s Bosses,” we find out that we can’t trust the government, or at least, Ryland, but most of us knew that to some degree already.
And we’re left with Isabelle aging twenty years in one instant, after completely flipping Lilly out. Having argued with a co-worker throughout the season on behalf of her goodness, I have to finally concede that she’s up to no good. We’ll see what happens but she may very well be the 4400’s version of the anti-Christ.
Thanks to all who tuned in throughout the season…it seems safe to say we’ll be here again next summer.
Warning: My bored imagination wanders into the ‘what ifs’ of the season finale…read at your own peril. So, I’ve been a slacker and will combine episodes 10 and 11, “Lockdown” and “Fifth Page,” as The 4400 grinds to a close. Needless to say, I am not holding my breath on any big ending here, but my money is on the reappearance/resurrection of Jordan Collier. Oh yeah, and Kyle’s going to let it out that he killed him, but it’s going to be okay because Collier isn’t dead (You have to show me the blood to make me a believer…in Collier anyway.)
Anyway, those who’re reading along know that I perceive the 4400 as running out of steam, killing its potential. We begin to see cracks as Kyle suddenly develops a personality (?) and some remorse comes out. It’s been interesting to watch the dynamic between Kyle and Tom about the ‘assassination.’ I don’t remember my parents encouraging me to cover up my crimes, but it’s a telling commentary on how we as a society cover the consequences of our youth rather than dealing with them.
In “Lockdown,” we saw how absolutely untrustworthy the 4400 Center, specifically Matthew Ross, in its treatment of Isabelle, Lilly and Richard. No kidding Ross is selling a product, and the bottom line is all about the money! Interesting how the Center is the parallel to televangelists, traveling ‘revivals’ that take folks money and leave them with nothing, and more. Truly, the ‘outing’ of false religion gets highlighted (again) against the backdrop of the true faith expressed by some.
And speaking of faith, one of the more exciting characters, Dr. Burkhardt, gets brought back and persuaded into participating because of Shawn. Unfortunately, Shawn becomes the first visible casualty of the NTAC conspiracy more fully expressed in episode 11. Burkhardt’s character pleases me because he becomes an example of science and belief co-existing. Skeptical as he is, I like that he grows to use his whole mind and whole heart.
I’ll steer clear of any governmental critique that I’m sure is tied to the quarantine/full force exhibited by Dennis Ryland (another returnee from earlier episodes.) Baldwin and Skouris find out that the ‘disease’ is really an NTAC-operated plan to inhibit the powers of the 4400. Nice. Here comes another ‘government conspiracy’-related sci-fi show. I think they had a character who believed and a skeptic as well, but I could be wrong. Whatever they’re going for, I’ll reference the Biblical story of the unruly rich kid who died, went to heaven, and tries to send word through Abraham back to his snotty brothers. Here in the present, NTAC is the snotty brothers and they don’t want any help from their future. Why won’t we learn from other’s mistakes?
So the quarantine backfires, Richard stands in for a sickly Shawn, and Lilly ends up running with Isabelle. This show was great as a miniseries or awesome a series of repeated scenario-type shows (new 4400 returnee, new power, new problem), but this really needs to wrap up to some degree. The constant tension between faith and doubt is great but the critic in me wants something meaty.
As patient as I want to be, the second season of the 4400 is starting to get on my nerves. This episode merely felt like prolonging the agony, as I figure the season finale will have to share some info on where Collier went to and what the reason for having Kyle 'kill' him is. Anyway, my thoughts on tonight's episode...
The main story line follows Tom's passionate and frenzied search for Kyle, as the information surfaces about Kyle's involvement in Collier's death. Along the way, Tom gets repeated reminders of his own detachment in Kyle's life: his new 'wife' Alana, Kyle's cousin Danny, and Kyle's professor all seem to know Kyle better than Tom does. When Tom finally catches up to Kyle, the two share their feelings and Tom expresses remorse for his neglect. When the two struggle, Tom refuses to let Kyle go and their separation is resolved.
In very different ways, this scenario shares pictures of parenting to me. In one, Tom represents the busy parent, the overachieving worker bee, who neglects everything that it cares about, and must be jarred out of its semi-conscious state before healing can occur. Completely separate (really separate!), the struggle shows the love that Tom feels, and I believe, the love that God feels for us. He is in complete pursuit of us, blind to the pain, but it is not His apathy that have separated us, it is ours. Like Jacob wrestling, we must greet God just as passionately, and not let Him go.
In other 'moments' from this slim episode, Alana remembers that her 'calling' is to be with Tom during a crisis. Her stability helps him work through his initial panic, and in the end, her love helps Kyle stay alive. Who provides stability for you in these moments of absolute loss?
The 'main' other chain of action is the interaction of Shawn, Danny and Olivia. Danny asks Shawn for permission to take Olivia to a party, Shawn refuses, and Olivia ends up colliding again with her drug addiction. I'm not completely sold on Shawn's selfless efforts here because I think he's into Olivia, but his advice to avoid the party would have saved her some frustration. The dangers of relapsing into any temptation are illustrated here, as well as our human tendency to ignore good advice!
Finally, Maia is predicting away! I assumed she was telling Diane that there was danger simply to keep her making brownies (literally), but it seems that some danger lurks still with Kyle or with the man arrested in his place. One of the more interesting elements of the show is the fortune-telling abilities of Maia-- does her revelation to Diane allow NTAC to avoid death this time or is it still to come?
So, to wrap up, I say to USA's decision-makers, show me something! While I appreciate exceeding last summer's 5 episode stint, I want something meaty. Like so many serial shows before (I have the Pretender specifically in mind), stop dragging me along on a string, and give me something good!
The 4400 tension is ratcheted up again in the seventh episode of Season 2, “Carrier”—which means a season finale can’t be too far away! Shawn has a new ‘advisor’ in Matthew Ross (Garret Dillahunt), who manipulates him into starting a ‘Foundation’ within the Center to heal people instead of taking some time away; Diana Skouris and Tom Baldwin search for a disease-carrying returnee, Jean DeLynn Baker (Sherilyn Fenn); April manipulates Maia’s gifts to make money; and Alana and Kyle Baldwin spend some quality time together. Oh yeah, and the police continue the hunt for Jordan Collier’s killer…
Shawn is sooo easily manipulated in this one, and Lily Moore (Laura Allen) shows some true (selfish) colors her as well. Ross is bad news, and plays the part of ‘believer’ to Shawn, as in ‘the greatest faith in ten years,’ while telling Lily, that he is like her in not believing in the ‘special powers’ of the 4400 returnees. The good result is that the Foundation should serve as a healing center for Shawn to positively impact one sick person a day.
Circling around Baker are Biblical overtones, in conjunction with her ‘pestilence.’ We first encounter this in her conversation with the truck driver who tells her that she shouldn’t go to the 4400 Center for salvation, but that it can only be found in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Possibly good advice, but this guy completely misses the fact that she’s blistering like crazy. She later expresses her beliefs, generally focusing around the book of Revelation, sharing that she has always been ‘toxic.’ Everything she touches literally dies in this episode—and she believes the 4400 future people have sent her on this mission. Baldwin gets points for positive vibes and compassion, as he tries to save her life, and point her to the options she has, the choices that she can make.
April uses Maia and the best part is that Maia figures it out! While April had previously exhibited signs of growing out of her old way of life under the watchful eye of Diana, she reverts back quickly. Starting off with small change, April’s lust for money quickly accelerates and Maia questions her intentions. The side note rule of this episode is kids will not be fooled!
Alana and Kyle make friends, against his skeptical response to the events of the previous episode. Her positive encouragement of who he could be (potentially), corresponds to the Kyle that she had created from Tom’s memories….and represents everything that he still might do. But there’s this nasty ‘murder’ that Kyle committed, and he recognizes his own handiwork on the news, even as he checks out medical schools.
Both Jean DeLynn Baker and Kyle Baldwin are struggling with fate, choices, and the future. Both have people tell them who they could be or who they are, and both make decisions accordingly. Problematically, but ratings appropriate, Kyle makes positive decisions at the same time as other actions intervene—as long as we go along with the 4400 or whatever being in control of his blackouts. Either way, our potential is once again a wonderful topic of discussion—who are you and who could you be?
In the strangest 4400 Episode yet, Tom Baldwin wakes in an alternate reality where no one has ever heard of the 4400 and he has just returned to work after a traumatic hostage situation. C’mon, even the people who haven’t watched the show have heard of the 4400!!!!
Baldwin discovers a strange door in the Jordan Collier (his governor here) Museum of Fine Arts that no one else can see, but that appears to showcase a body on table beneath a white sheet. Captured by Diana and NTAC, Baldwin is encouraged by his ‘wife,’ Alana Mareva (Karina Lombard), to stop talking about the 4400 so that NTAC will let him go. Once they are clear of security, she tells him that she knows she is not his wife, that she is of the 4400, and that they must be in an alternate universe.
Eight-plus years later, Baldwin marries Alana but sees the door again. She begs him to let go of the door because they have stability in their alternate life and success continues to find them there. Baldwin ends up going through the door, regardless of how it will effect his present life—and ends up conversing with those who sent the 4400 (but only through the body of Alana).
The alternate universe is a creation of Alana’s mind where everything is perfect and the relationship is the 4400’s agenda. The future people know that trauma is about to impact Baldwin’s real-world life and that he needed someone he could count on, so they ‘gave’ him Alana. When he asks what if he doesn’t want to leave, but would stay in the easy, perfect world? The future people reply: then they picked the wrong man.
Anyone who has been watching the show KNOWS (gut feeling!) that Baldwin will make the right choice and go back. Faced with the easy, comfortable road, how many of us would choose to take the harder road? The path to a deeper, fuller life never runs through an easy pool but rather a whirling river. Whatever the agenda of the 4400, Baldwin keeps rising to the occasion.
Maia foresees Jordan Collier’s assassination and NTAC springs to action to provide protection. Collier rejects their advice after ‘consulting’ baby Isabelle and ends up being shot, apparently by Kyle Baldwin! The main sidebars to Collier’s assassination are that Shawn is called out by Kimmy as a fake when he claims that he can’t heal everyone, because it would be too draining.
With the death and ‘resurrection’ of Collier, many questions arise. Collier tells Shawn that Isabelle lies—in general or just to him? Did the baby really tell Collier to go through with the celebration, and if so, why? What purpose does Collier’s death serve for Isabelle and does she act on behalf of the 4400? Who orchestrated Collier’s death—someone human-present (possibly Collier himself or those opposed to him) or someone human-future (controlled by the 4400)? If the 4400 are involved, then how do Kyle’s blackouts work and who is really responsible?
The absence of Collier’s body brings even more connection between Jesus and Collier, but his actions are far from pure. Having been ‘really dead,’ based on Shawn’s inability to bring him back, the absence of his body offers the option of ‘conspiracy theory,’ i.e., a body moved or a staged death, or the possibility that Collier came back from death. A woman working at the 4400 runs to tell Shawn and Tom that the body has disappeared, similar to the events of Jesus’ resurrection.
All that is clear when the dust settles is that Shawn has taken over the 4400. He appears to be pure of heart and was groomed by Collier to take over in the event that Collier was no longer able to run the Centers….one question remains: is Collier a mastermind or a martyr?
In “Suffer the Children” (Episode 4 of Season 2), the title refers to the NTAC examination of a teacher who ‘brings out the best in her students’…literally. [One side strand is that Collier meets baby Isabelle again, who he believes previously examined him, judged him and found him wanting, and allows him to live—justifying for him that he is pure of heart. Anybody remember last week???] The other main strand involves Shawn, who goes into the low-income section of town and befriends some homeless youth.
Heather Tobey brings out the best in her students—she looks into their eyes, touches them, and they become masters of the arts. Hmm…Unfortunately, I believe that the light is in everyone and she is unable to find any good in her student, Greg Venner [thanks to the impact of his father, Frank.] If we are all created in God’s image, then there IS good in all of us. I found myself mystified that the creators of the show left us (and at 9:00 p.m. most teenagers are still up) with the understanding that these holy, powerful future people made use of a gift that couldn’t find good in some people! His problem wasn’t even his fault—he was overcoming the ‘sins of his father.’
Shawn ends up healing a drug addict and finds himself surrounded by the homeless who are ailing in various ways. He runs from the situation (Jordan had told him not to heal at all, because if you heal one you have to heal them all) saying that he can’t do it. It reminded me instantly of the times where Jesus healed by merely bumping into someone. What would have happened if Jesus would have run when families put their ill out on the streets?
I still think that Shawn is the “Christ-figure” in the 4400…even if Jordan has the initials J.C., has been found ‘pure of heart,’ and donates money, he still is a creep! So, the gifts continue to ripple the water…and we won’t know for TWO WEEKS what happens next! (We get no July 4th love from USA.)
In “The Weight of the World,” The 4400 introduces us to Trent Applebaum (Robert Picardo), a unlucky telemarketer who finds himself ‘blessed’ with the gift of a metabolism-accelerating protein. By merely drinking after Applebaum, a mobster and his wife experience life-altering weight loss.
In the other strands of the episode, singer Chloe Granger (Noa Tishby) joins Collier after having read his book. Her entrance into the 4400 Center dismays Shawn and saddens Collier’s former flame and current assistant, Devon (Jody Thompson). Richard and Lilly hole up with a fellow 4400 member Eric (Glen Gould), and encounter David and Tara Kendrick (Colin Lawrence and Lucia Walters). Kyle attends a fraternity party and experiences black outs.
Called into investigate Applebaum, Tom and Diane discover that Applebaum hopes to sell his protein to the highest bidder, in the hopes of putting his daughter, Elise (Rhonda Dent), through college. As the millions begin to roll in, the terrible starvation that kicks in begins to take effect. Unfortunately, Elise wants to look thinner too—she is hardly overweight—and the compliments of others don’t matter.
Devon’s devotion to Collier crushes her, as he throws himself completely into his sexual relationship with Chloe; Richard enrages David Kendrick, who accuses him of having been an Uncle Tom, of having bowed and scraped his way into the cockpit in the 1950s; Kyle agrees to let his father help him but doesn’t reveal how he’s been feeling.
As usual, this episode explores how the returnees use their gifts, some for self-gain and others to benefit their communities. With the metabolism protein, Applebaum quickly turns to helping others superficially improve themselves—other outcomes are available. Wonderfully touching on image in multiple strands of the episode, self-image is relevant to Elise and her desire to look ‘good.’ It also becomes evident in David’s confrontation with Richard—what does it mean to really be black, to be strong, to be a man? Devon finds her self-worth in being desired by Collier and even admits to 'worshipping' him. And finally, the expectations of Shawn for Collier continue to fall: Collier doesn’t care about being altruistic, he’s only in it for himself, but Shawn still thinks he could represent himself better. What is our image? How do we decide what to do, act, or be like? Doesn’t it depend on where we came from, if we were created with design or by accident, with purpose or not?
The best part of this show (besides the constant search for how we’ll use our gifts) are the relationships between Richard and Lilly, Tom and Kyle, Diane and Maia, etc. How do we respond to tragedy, triumph, anger, and pain? What makes us work together and what drives us apart? The 4400 are ‘enhanced’ but they are still us. What would you do with your gift?
In “ Voices Carry,” Episode 2 of The 4400 Season 2, Gary Navarro (Sharif Atkins) begins to hear voices….the voices of other peoples’ unspoken thoughts….as one of two main strands in this episode. His reactions to what he hears bring him to the attention of Tom and Diane (Gretsch and McKenzie), and their boss Nina Jarvis (Samantha Ferris). He admits to Tom that he originally was pleased by hearing the thoughts of the pitcher, knowing what he what balls would be thrown…and going 5-for-5 in one game. Now that Gary knows that he can’t control the voices, he is less interested in the gift and wants it to go away. The gift can’t be turned on and off—and that is true of our faith beliefs as well. They don’t just go away but we often would rather live our lives without playing by all the rules.
Meanwhile, Richard (Ali) believes that Isabelle has caused the deaths of the three men in the woods and grows more concerned. Lily (Allen) uses an open cash drawer to relive an unhelpful hotel manager of the money in his register…and Richard fears that they will be caught. Lily thinks that it is fair to take from others because they need the money and life is treating them unfairly but Richard disagrees. Soon, the police come to the hotel and Richard prepare himself to be arrested in place of Lily. They are not the police’s intended prisoners though, but the guilt continues to grow in Richard. What about the situation tears down Lily’s sense of right and wrong, but doesn’t provide the same effects in Richard? No one can live their lives always running—but some of their problems are self-inflicted.
Nina forces Tom to use Gary as a spy inside of Jordan Collier’s ( Campbell) 4400 complex. Soon, the medicine that the NTAC doctors provided Gary is taken away by the complex managers (who tell him the drugs only block his natural gifts and he’s been unfairly conditioned to think he needs them) and the voices grow out of control. When Gary goes to Jordan for help, he is meeting with a criminal, bargaining for the hostile takeover of an island nation off of Africa. The NTAC agents rush the building when Gary is threatened, blowing the operation. Nina refuses to fulfill their end of the agreement: rather than freeing Gary, he is going to be used in further spy operations. Tom’s protests are blown off by Nina, who tells him that he has committed all of the seven deadly sins—just like everybody else. The government is presented as less than ethical—but to some degree, the decisions made around the 4400 resemble Nazism, a police state, or worse.
Richard tears Lily and Isabelle away from a friendly child and his toy. He tells Lily that they can’t trust Isabelle not to react with her powers if she wants to keep the other child’s toy. Lily says that Isabelle has only acted out of love for them—Richard still doubts the positive spin Lily puts on it and is afflicted by temporary chest pains. As viewers, we can’t really pin down Isabelle’s good or bad, but the impact on others is less than positive. I was left wondering what might have been Jesus’ effect on people who hurt his mom and dad or brothers growing up. Isabelle has created food, blown out windows, ‘caused’ heart attacks, murder, and open cash register drawers. It’s one thing to question what impact we might have if we had 4400-style gifts, but who wants their infant striking someone down when they need some warm milk?
SPOILER ALERT: Watch the episodes first!
The second season of the 4400 (“ Wake Up Call”) on USA kick-started with the discovery of Lily, Richard and Isabelle in their rural hideaway by some religious fanatics. I identified Psalm 19:8-10, Proverbs 28:1 as well as these two from Revelations: “[and] a great star fell from heaven, and it fell…on the springs of waters” and “[The] murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone”(8:10, 21:8). Somewhere within the 4400 writing team lies a Biblical criticism but what can we glean from their inclusion of these verses? So far, who would put Lily (Allen) and Richard Tyler (Ali) in the category of murderers, sorcerers, or idolaters, yet here they are categorized as such? With further irony, the 4400 reappeared on earth after the passing of a ‘great star’ (the comet) and they reappeared by ‘springs of water.’ So whose side will the allusions finally fall?
For all accounts, better or worse, Jordan Collier (Campbell) (note his initials) pushes Shawn Farrell (Flueger) into healing, gaining money from the endeavors and gaining temporary respite from the growing effects of Collier’s previous encounter with Isabelle. Collier pushes ahead with a book that claims he can unlock the ‘special power’ of everyone…for a price. His claimed goal: to insure the future and save the planet. When the 4400 Center/foundation is called a cult, Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) remarks that ‘cult is what big religion calls little religion.’ Hmmm…so what defines the norm? Healing for money doesn’t seem entirely altruistic, and neither does unlocking my special powers…. [In random ‘spiritual’ inflection, Collier enters the room and Shawn says, “Speak of the devil” in one scene; in another early scene Shawn ‘calls God’s damnation on Collier.']
On other fronts, Tess Doerner (Glau), one of the 4400 returned to Abenson Psychiatric Hospital, begins effecting the construction of a device she says will allow the people from the future to communicate with her. As Baldwin struggles with his inability to follow through with his part in aiding the 4400 in their mission, he and Diane Skouris (Mckenzie) explore the effects that Doerner has on the rest of the patients, the staff of the hospital, and finally the NTAC staff themselves. The ripple effect motif continues as there IS an impact felt once the ‘communicating tower’ is completed.
Meanwhile, the three religious vigilantes aggressively chase Lily, Richard and Isabelle. Isabelle begins to exhibit the ability to create food and finally to impact the thoughts and actions of the people chasing her family…did I mention that Isabelle is a baby? Are theses actions forced by Isabelle or does she merely challenge the thoughts of the three men? We are not visual witnesses to the first death but the second two….are they the result of the older man’s rage and the younger man’s remorse? Or is Isabelle have some power over life and death, and does she use it for good or evil? If Isabelle does directly impact life and death and with her specific origins unknown, the further questioning is directed toward the wisdom of the people who abducted the 4400…in granting theses powers to an infant! [My further line of thought draws me towards questions about the power over life and death, etc. that Jesus Himself possessed that are undocumented in His early years.]
With the continuing impact of ripple effects both large and small, the ‘unlocking’ of special gifts, the question of mission/destiny and accepting responsibility, and finally, the ‘pre-cognizant’ recognition of future events, the 4400 shows that the show’s opportunities are wide-open. Good and evil do battle in everyday events, and each person is challenged to make a positive impact as best they can in each situation. Baldwin skeptically questions the ‘ball of light, the voice from the sky,’ and their ability to follow instructions…much like questions of everyday life for those of us not in the 4400.
In the first season of the The 4400 miniseries on USA, a group of 4400 who disappeared or apparently died mysteriously over the last 50 years, suddenly appear as a group. Their appearance causes havoc as the communities in which they re-enter are not completely receptive—Homeland Security also attempts to study the 4400 to determine where they went…and why they are back.
Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jaqueline Mckenzie) are the two Homeland Security, specializing in National Threat Assessment Command, who are put on assignment. The catch: Tom’s son Kyle (Chad Faust) has been in a coma since Tom’s nephew, Shawn Ferrell (Patrick Flueger) disappeared, and Shawn has now returned as a member of the 4400.
As the two NTAC agents explore the circumstances, they discover that the 4400 have reappeared with powers beyond those of ‘ordinary’ humans. One man, Carl Morrissey (David Eigenberg) begins a one-man battle against crime in his town; another man returns to his serial killing (with a twist) twenty years after his disappearance; a small girl, Maia Rutledge (Conchita Campbell) shows signs of pre-cognizant behavior, i.e. the ability to predict the future; a twenty-something woman, Lily Moore (Laura Allen) senses danger like “Spidey sense” and is drawn to fellow 4400 member, Richard Tyler (Mahershallhashbaz Ali) igniting a interracial relationship.
Baldwin and Skouris race from conflict-to-conflict around these characters, while dealing with their own battles. Sean has the power to give and take life, estranging him from his brother, Danny (Kaj-Erik Eriksen), and drawing him closer to Danny’s girlfriend. Skouris grows closer to Maia and attempts to protect her from the persecution that the 4400 experience.
The first season accelerated to a climax as the work of Jordan Collier (Billy Campbell), works to unite the 4400 (he seems to make a good amount of money doing this…) and other forces lash out against them. Baldwin breaks Kyle out of containment after Shawn ends his comatose state and they race ahead of the other NTAC officers back to the place that Kyle first became comatose.
((SPOILER ALERT: Kyle is hit by a beam of light and speaks to Tom as the voice of the 4400’s “abductors.” The 4400 were taken by humans to the future for the purpose of saving humanity. Humans had warred and otherwise destroyed themselves and the 4400 were sent back to try to divert the destruction. Tom is told that he is supposed to help the 4400 complete their mission and then the ‘transmission’ is cut short as Kyle is shot by a NTAC officer. He is ‘healed’ but he no longer possesses the ability to speak for the future.))
Is there theological import in this science fiction? Throughout the series, Baldwin and Skouris find that the impacts of the returnees has a ripple effect. While the 4400 are not all positive (one is a serial killer!), but the actions that the 4400 take, using their newfound powers all have a positive effect. By the end of the first season, the answer to who took the 4400 is made clear as well as the why but will the 4400 accept this mission? Tom and Diane are obviously drawn into a compassionate response; Richard and Lily experience good and bad reactions to their mixed racial relationship; Jordan Collier shows himself to be a philanthropist and a jerk; Shawn has the power over life and death. How would you use the power to heal or tell the future? Would you use it for the benefit of the community or for the good of yourself?
I will not post these comments. I welcome your spiritual concerns and prayer needs. I will correspond with you, usually within two weeks.
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The 4400 - The Complete First Season
His reactions to what he hears bring him to the attention of Tom and Diane (Gretsch and McKenzie), and their boss Nina Jarvis (Samantha Ferris). He admits to Tom that he originally was pleased by hearing the thoughts of the pitcher, knowing what he what balls would be thrown…and going 5-for-5 in one game. Now that Gary knows that he can’t control the voices, he is less interested in the gift and wants it to go away. The gift can’t be turned on and off—and that is true of our faith beliefs as well. They don’t just go away but we often would rather live our lives without playing by all the rules.
Meanwhile, Richard (Ali) believes that Isabelle has caused the deaths of the three men in the woods and grows more concerned. Lily (Allen) uses an open cash drawer to relive an unhelpful hotel manager of the money in his register…and Richard fears that they will be caught. Lily thinks that it is fair to take from others because they need the money and life is treating them unfairly but Richard disagrees. Soon, the police come to the hotel and Richard prepare himself to be arrested in place of Lily. They are not the police’s intended prisoners though, but the guilt continues to grow in Richard. What about the situation tears down Lily’s sense of right and wrong, but doesn’t provide the same effects in Richard? No one can live their lives always running—but some of their problems are self-inflicted.
Nina forces Tom to use Gary as a spy inside of Jordan Collier’s ( Campbell) 4400 complex. Soon, the medicine that the NTAC doctors provided Gary is taken away by the complex managers (who tell him the drugs only block his natural gifts and he’s been unfairly conditioned to think he needs them) and the voices grow out of control. When Gary goes to Jordan for help, he is meeting with a criminal, bargaining for the hostile takeover of an island nation off of Africa. The NTAC agents rush the building when Gary is threatened, blowing the operation. Nina refuses to fulfill their end of the agreement: rather than freeing Gary, he is going to be used in further spy operations. Tom’s protests are blown off by Nina, who tells him that he has committed all of the seven deadly sins—just like everybody else. The government is presented as less than ethical—but to some degree, the decisions made around the 4400 resemble Nazism, a police state, or worse.
For all accounts, better or worse, Jordan Collier (Campbell) (note his initials) pushes Shawn Farrell (Flueger) into healing, gaining money from the endeavors and gaining temporary respite from the growing effects of Collier’s previous encounter with Isabelle. Collier pushes ahead with a book that claims he can unlock the ‘special power’ of everyone…for a price. His claimed goal: to insure the future and save the planet. When the 4400 Center/foundation is called a cult, Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) remarks that ‘cult is what big religion calls little religion.’ Hmmm…so what defines the norm? Healing for money doesn’t seem entirely altruistic, and neither does unlocking my special powers…. [In random ‘spiritual’ inflection, Collier enters the room and Shawn says, “Speak of the devil” in one scene; in another early scene Shawn ‘calls God’s damnation on Collier.']
Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jaqueline Mckenzie) are the two Homeland Security, specializing in National Threat Assessment Command, who are put on assignment. The catch: Tom’s son Kyle (Chad Faust) has been in a coma since Tom’s nephew, Shawn Ferrell (Patrick Flueger) disappeared, and Shawn has now returned as a member of the 4400.