Amazon.co.uk Review
Season two of
The 4400 ended not with one, but two shockers. First, baby Isabelle turned into a 20-year-old overnight (now played by Megalyn Echikunwoke). Then, it was revealed that Jordan Collier (Billy Campbell), who was believed dead, is still alive. The third year begins with more surprises. While Isabelle was aging, so was her mother, Lily (Tippi Hedren, replacing Laura Allen), who fast-forwards several decades. Suffice to say, her husband, Richard (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), is not pleased. Also, the Nova Group, a splinter organisation within the 4400, has started to eliminate those they perceive as their enemiesincluding their own.
The 4400's third season was widely considered its weakest, but solid ratings justified a fourth. The pace doesn't pick up until Jordan's return--in real life, Campbell took off 13 months to sail the world--but the concept and the characters remain intriguing. For instance, Shawn (Patrick Flueger), head of the 4400 Center, embarks on a relationship with Isabelle, while his uncle, NTAC agent Tom (Joel Gretsch), gets bad news about wife Alana (Karina Lombard) and good news about son Kyle (Chad Faust). Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote), meanwhile, moves from the NTAC into the private sector where he continues to micro-manage the 4400.
Recurring characters include Gary Navarro (Sharif Atkins), who joins the Nova Group, Dr. Burkoff (Jeffrey Combs), who injects himself with promicin--the mysterious substance associated with the 4400--and the sympathetic Tess (Summer Glau), who assists in his attempt to see if he can develop similar powers. Guest stars include Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact) as a woman with a special interest in Diana's adopted daughter Maia ("Gone") and Brian Dennehy (Cocoon) as Tom's father ("Blink"). As with season two, three features commentary from the cast and crew plus a trio of featurettes. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Synopsis
When 4400 alien abductees return to earth just as mysteriously as they vanished, the Department of Homeland Security demands answers. But even more pressing than the concerns of the government are the experiences of the victims as they readjust to life on earth. Upon their return, these formerly missing persons lose all memory of what happened to them. Though they can't remember where they've been, they are haunted by the knowledge that their experiences have changed them. Operating in a cloud of unknowns, the victims start to go through mysterious changes, gaining powers that they can't always control. A moody, innovative take on sci-fi television drama, THE 4400 continues with this collection of all 11 episodes of the show's third series.