(S03E07) After Dennis Ryland's several near-death experiences in the third season premiere, and the peaks we see into Isabelle's cooperation with him in this episode, I'll admit I was beginning to feel hopeless. Ryland seemed all-powerful, able to fend off any manner of 4400 attacks and unstoppably diabolical. The perfect enemy and doppelganger archfiend for Tom.
That feeling kept cropping up throughout the episode, sometimes dully thudding as an undercurrent, sometimes spiking into a painful crescendo. Tom and Alanna were spinning out of control. First she was accused of being a Nova Group member, then we learned she had betrayed Tom's trust (but we all knew she was doing good the whole time, right?). Then it seemed she was headed for several years behind bars ... and Tom and Diana, how would they live with themselves if they gave up Gary Navarro to Mr. Perfect Evil himself?
When Tom and Diana redeem themselves, it's with a crash, both literally and figuratively. And my love for the two of them has been restored, my faith in the abilities of the writers to draw us back in redeemed. Tom goes from feckless loose cannon who'd betray anyone but his partner or his wife to principled man who will send his one true love into fugitive-ville and become Ryland Enemy #1, all for the sake of the 4400.
[Aside: Ryland keeps calling Alana Tom's "girlfriend..." but they were married in their dream life. Did they never get married in "reality"? Why not?]
I'm very troubled by the love triangle between Shawn, Isabelle and Nikki. Nikki seems too naive, Isabelle too uncaring in her dismissive bad "feelings" about the future for her rival. Of course Shawn can't love anyone but Isabelle. That's not a relationship a guy can just "put behind" himself. I mean, you date the angel of death, you're in for it, am I right?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-17-2006 @ 1:51PM
John Howard said...
I don't think you know what doppelganger means.
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7-17-2006 @ 1:57PM
Toby OB said...
I watch Isabelle in action and I feel like I'm seeing the new and improved version of Anthony Fremont, the character played by Bill Mumy in that classic 'Twilight Zone' episode "It's A Good Life"... although a bit subtler and more in control of her powers/emotions.
Every time she sashayed into the room with that attitude that she knew she held all the cards, I kept expecting her to wish Nikki into the corn-field.
This show is pretty good at throwing us twists so that even though we may think we know what might happen, they'll take a different route getting there.
I could see something happening to Nikki which was not instigated by Isabelle; but then Isabelle not doing a thing with her powers in order to help her rival.....
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7-17-2006 @ 2:20PM
Ian said...
The underlying polt and what the 4400 survivors have to "do" is completely missing these days. ALso Tom's role is supposed to be pivotal. I guess he's the guy who finally has to decide the "good" from the "bad". Right now everyone looks sorta gray to me. The only person "secure in who she is" is Isabelle, everyone else is in turmoil. Let's get some action on the central plot please writers....
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7-17-2006 @ 2:39PM
sarah gilbert said...
wrong word choice John! I love that word I just use it incorrectly. it's my, umm, bete noire, my bane, my bugbear...
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7-17-2006 @ 6:44PM
jimmyb said...
can someone tell me when you think ...geese whats his name? is coming back.....you know the guy they shot and killed last year only to be turned into GULLIVER on some island somewhere......
well, even if he comes back....i think isabelle will knock him off right away anyway...she doesnt like to share.... she needs a good time out....
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7-18-2006 @ 9:11AM
Scott H said...
So characters keep disappearing on this show...Kyle, Lily, Jordan (at least we know he'll be back), and now Alanna. Is she off the show? Taking a break to film a movie? It's quite a revolving door. It does add some welcome unpredictability to the show, when you never know who's going to vanish next. Except, of course, Isabelle, who I think we're stuck with for good.
"New and improved" Anthony Fremont? I liked the original much better. I had some sympathy for him. Or maybe it's just that Bill Mumy was a better actor at age 10 than this woman is at age 20-something.
I thought Ryland became too "eeevil" with this show. He started out as a good guy, and I even believed the whole promycin inhibitor thing was done because he thought it was the best way to keep everyone safe. Now he's pretty much twirling a mustache.
It looks like the writers are reversing themselves. The first episode made it look like ENTAC, the group Tom & Diana work for, was going to be the bad guy, and they'd be the heroes fighting from within. Now they're loading up the NSA and Ryland's H(aliburton) Corporation as the new government heavies, leaving Tom & Diana working for the "kinder, gentler" organization. Seems like a big U-turn for 6 shows in.
Finally, I like Nikki just fine, but I was really rooting for Isabelle to kill her. I want Shawn and Richard repulsed and scared s-less of her, and I want her to show exactly who she is. She's got them all wrapped around her pouty little finger. Nothing like a homicidal, jealous 2-year old played by a laughably bad actress!
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