The 4400 S1-S2

Having seen reviews of this series, I finally got to see it when my DVD arrived. The story is really compelling and thought provoking. It asks of the viewer the "what if" when 4400 people are returned to the present day after being snatched being some unknown beings. The events surrounding their return start of innocently, but then more and more of the returnees, or 4400s, are exhibiting unexplained psychic skills in varying degrees and levels. My favourite 4400 is undoubtedly Maia, and the actress playing her has a bright acting career ahead. The title music is so cool. I've almost totally memorised it. I am already looking forward to Series 2, and with so many snatched individuals there's spaces for 10 series. Well worth missing out on a night for!!! I give this series 11 out of 10 for effort, story and acting.

The idea is interesting, and it's refreshing that people from future are in game, and not aliens again. And also, music, title sequence and effects are very well done. But story is not believable and neither is acting. I can't believe how unrealistic and incompetent American government and her officials are displayed. Well, except the part about acting all morally righteous, especially with people from other countries (Rwanda). It's a shame, because this could have been a great SF. Have you noticed advertisement?

I really wanted to like the 4400, and for the first few episodes, I did. The premise of abductees returning was intriguing, and in the first few episodes, watching the various "powers" of the returnee's was fun. Sadly, the poor acting of the major characters, especially Joel Gretsch, made what could have been a fun romp into SciFi, a long slow arduous horror show of constant over acting. Then, things turned from bad to worse. The plot lines devised to include the main characters, started to stretch the fabric of credibility. When the main "investigator's" nephew starts to show amazing powers, and eventually becomes the head of the 4400's secretive organization, the governmental agency doesn't balk at one of the most absurd conflicts of interest, which in the real world, would obviously negate his future involvement. He is partnered with female named Diana Skouris, (X file fans, sound like another female partner's name? Dana Scully anyone?) who also has a background in science (yet another Scully coincidence?) and "adopts" one of the 4400, a child who knows the future before it happens, she doesn't get removed from the case either. (Nor, in future episodes, when the investigators and government need to know things, like the location or targets of 4400 terrorist, do they employ let alone discuss the use of the child to help them know terrorist targets) Things get even more bizarre when Joel Gretsch's character marries a 4400. Again, no conflict of interest there. (another oddity, the woman he marries on the show, is the real life wife of Billy Campbell, who is supposedly assassinated on the show, by, surprise, Joel Gretsch's son on the show.) Like I said, the "Fi" just continues to get more bizarre. Its to bad, as many of the 4400 guest stars bring some interesting and refreshing acting and character developments. This show started off with some mystery and great potential, now, it has devolved into a bad soap opera, rife with convoluted relationships, in a poor attempt to include issues which were much better covered in Alien Nation, or X-Men, the natural instinct of people to fear the unknown or those who are different. It might not be too late to save the 4400, if only the writers would change back to the unfulfilled promise of the first few episodes. And a change in the leading man certainly would refresh what has become stale in less then 1 seasons and two episodes of the second.

Man I hope it's not just me, but Season 3 was terrible, and even though Season 4 just started my hopes that it would be better this year have been dashed so far. It's not just me that thinks that is it? The 1st season was great (mini-series included) and even the second was pretty good. But now it just seems to be lost! I don't know what the hell the deal is with it, but it seems like the writers are snoozing or maybe they are off on other more important projects, I don't know. It is a real shame because there is nothing else to watch during the summer. I really wish they would get with program and make it enjoyable to watch again. If this keeps up, I doubt we will see a fifth season.

I enjoyed reading through the comments that users have offered here about the show. I agree with the criticisms of the direction, lack of humor, etc. There was a general feeling of "lack of quality" about the production of the show. We'll see if that improves when this becomes a series next summer. It didn't surprise me that there were a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the mini-series. The big question (where did they come from) was answered. If all the plot lines were brought to conclusion, there would be no good beginning point for the upcoming series. One reviewer commented about the lack of "big things" that the 4400 changed that could affect the future vs. the relatively small scaled things they changed. I actually like that approach. You never know the long term effects of small changes. You know, the butterfly flapping its wings thing. With all of its faults, this series did "grab" me, and I'll be looking forward to its continuation next summer.