People have been disappearing throughout time, abducted by a strange light from the sky. Then one night in the Pacific Northwest, 4400 people are returned to Earth in a ball of light, not having aged a bit. After spending some time in government sanctioned quarantine the returnees are set free to resume their lives.
A special task force is created to look after the 4400, as they are aptly named by the media. It isn’t long until the returnees begin to exhibit powers like telepathy, healing, and superhuman strength. The question is who took these people, and why have they returned with these powers?
The Show
As the seasons unfold these questions begin to get answered, but more questions are piled on top. The 4400 started out as a mini-series, and after its successful run it was renewed to become a USA network series. It was widely successful as a summer program on cable television. It ran for four seasons with each season digging deeper into the truths about the 4400. But then it was canceled. The network axe was swift and unrelenting, which caused a great show to be finished before its time was up. This cancellation frustrated loyal fans who wanted resolution to the stories and characters they loved.
So, it almost seems a shame to bring out a complete DVD set for a series that had no real end. Why should anyone waste their time watching something they know won’t be fully resolved? I guess my answer to that is because the four seasons that The 4400 did run comprised some of the best sci-fi television ever.
The 4400 was an engaging human drama. It had rich characters, and involving storylines. It didn’t rely solely on the special powers the returnees had; rather it tried to uncover their reason and importance.
To some degree it is explained within the first few episodes that the 4400 were sent back to change the world. As the plot evolves, agents Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris begin to understand who and why these people were taken. Tom’s son Kyle and nephew Shawn are at the center of the plot, while Diana adopts Mia, a young girl who can predict the future. The two agents find themselves connected to the 4400 more than they ever thought would happen.
Article comments