This is the best episode of the series. Mostly because it deals with the set up and the concepts
of what it would be like to be abducted by aliens, and what it would be like to come home again.
The basic premise has a little something for everybody. Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
meets X-Men meets X-Files. Most interesting to me was the relationships. Especially those
between Richard and Lily, which is heartwarming, and between Shawn and his suspicious
uncle, which is heartbreaking.
MY SCORE: 10
Improved Carl Morrissey
In the second episode, we follow the Homeland Security agents, Tom and Diana, as they try to
unravel the mystery of the dkdkdk Park Vigilante. They soon find Carl Morrissey, a
supermarket employee who disappeared for 18 months. Carl seems driven to clean up the
park, which has become a haven for gangs and drug dealers in his absence, and he's
apparently be granted super strength and agility to make his neighborhood safe again.
Meanwhile, Richard and Lily deepen their relationship, and Shawn continues to struggle with
how his new found healing ability relates to his cousin Kyle's condition.
This episode is not as good as the first. Mostly because it delves too deeply into the
Homeland Security aspect of the story. Like the X-Files, it looks like they are aiming for a
"4400 of the Week" scenario, when it would be more interesting to explore the X-Men like
aspects of the continuing cast.
I ask the question, what is more inherently interesting, The 4400, or the investigators of the
4400? If you said the 4400, then your answer matches mine.
The bottom line for me is that this story did not involve me in Carl Morrissy's dilemma, and that
to me was it's greatest weakness.
MY SCORE: 7
This episode continues to explore the Federal Agent aspects of the 4400 story. This time,
however, the agents are investigating a serial killer, who disappeared in 1983 and has
re-emerged. Only this time, he's been enhanced.
Meanwhile, the names and addresses of all the returnees are leaked to the web, causing
even more hardship for the 4400. And Shawn has a revelation about the night that he was
taken, and why Kyle fell into a coma. The episode ends with Shawn using his ability to finally
wake Kyle up.
Becoming is a big step up from the Carl Morrisey episode. Mostly because of the mystery it
raises of why the abductors would take someone as innocent as Maia on one hand, and as
evil as the serial killer on the other.
But the strength of the series remains the relationships between the recurring characters.
Richard/Lily and Shawn to his family, particularly to Kyle. We're also introduced to an
intriguing new character. Multi-millionaire Returnee, Jordan Collier, who right from the get go
seems just a little skeevy.
MY SCORE: 8
Things heat up even further for the 4400, now that their names and addresses have been
released on the internet. A series of explosions kill one member, and almost kill Richard and Lily.
Jordan Collier is also pursuing setting up a gated community, as a haven for the 4400. And he
has enticed Richard and Lily to join him. Jordan seems particularly interested in Lily, and in her
unborn child.
Finally, now that Kyle has reawakened, he does not seem at all like the boy Tom remembers.
And Shawn finally makes a move to resolve the love triangle with neighbor Nikki and his brother
Danny. (i.e he and Nikki drive out to Mount Rainer, and the "do it". )
This is a second excellent episode in a row. It puts the focus back on the recurring cast, and
introduces a great new villain in the person of Jordan Collier. Richard and Lily are wonderful in
this episode. I was also heart broken by the way Kyle blew off Shawn, leading him to a turn to
Nikki as his one source of comfort and solace. However, overall, I did not care for the
Shawn/Nikki/Danny love triangle. Clearly the triangle existed only to put a wedge between Shawn
and his family. And neither Danny or Nikki ever came off as particularly sympathetic, so who really
cared who ended up with whom?
MY SCORE: 8
This episode tries to resolve the main story threads, but leaves such major cliffhangers that it's
hard to call it a "finale."
Kyle who was possessed by a human from the future which is why he was in a com, reveals to
Tom that the 4400 were kidnapped and taken into the future in order to prevent a coming
catastrophe which will destroy mankind.
Shawn's conflict with his brother Danny comes to a head when Danny finds out that Shawn and
Nikki are "together" nudge nudge wink wink. Shawn accidentally uses his 'whammy" power on
Danny, when Danny attacks him in a rage. Shawn concludes that he can't live at home and turns
to Jordan Collier.
Richard and Lily, however see finally see through Jordan's overbearing interest in them, and head
for the hills after he confronts them and declares that the baby "belongs with me".
Very frustratingly, the series ends with a shot of Richard and Lily in hiding six months after leaving
Collier. As Lily goes into labor, the trees bend toward their car as they speed away to deliver the
mystery baby.
Bummer of an ending.
Analysis
I was frankly, annoyed by the abruptness of this ending, and by the cliffhangers with Richard, Lily
and Shawn. The explanation that FutureManKyle gives to his father felt terribly rushed and under
explained. And because Tom had been such a butthead for much of the series, having his wish
granted to get Kyle back healthy at the end, wasn't very satisfying. Much more satisfying would
have been a resolution between Tom and Shawn.
MY SCORE: 6
