(S04E07) If you ask me, this season is what Season Three should have been. In Season Two, Maia had visions about a war, about something coming, and then Season Three was a fundamental disappointment. However, it seems that Season Four is going to deliver. Juicy Tidbit: The title of this episode comes from William Blake's poem "Jerusalem." See what you can do with your English degree? " And did the Countenance Divine/Shine forth upon our clouded hills?/And was Jerusalem builded here/Among these dark Satanic mills?" Very nice tie-in to the episode. Poetic even.
Of course, one of the best things about this episode is that it was a Maia episode! And Maia is getting a little teenager attitude. First, she tells off Isabelle, "Somethings are so bad, saying sorry isn't good enough," and then Diana when Diana tries to leave Promise City, "No! It's safer here!" The coup de grace, however, is when she lies to Jordan. "You have to listen to my mom! I just had a vision, right now!" Well, I guess if you've got it, flaunt it.
One of the things I liked about this episode is that, though Maia who has established herself as a trustworthy source, we find out that Jordan Collier is a good guy. Or, at least that he is playing for the right team. Actually, I appreciated this, because I have been wondering. Though, Diana does raise the poignant question: "If Jordan is a good guy, what am I?" Well, ultimately, Diana's daughter is a 4400, so that makes Diana a good guy too. She won't do anything to harm Maia.
These episodes are very good at creating suspense and tension: I keep expecting Tom to take promicin to take Kyle. Though Kyle is a little liar too: The book doesn't say that those 200 people can take the shot safely to my recollection. Kyle is initially horrified that Tom will have to take the shot because of the 50% mortality rate. But he has drunk the Kool Aid, because he is trying to justify genocide by telling Tom that the world is already dying. People have been saying that for a long time, but that doesn't mean that half the world's population wants to die. And isn't Jordan big on choices?
Even if Jordan is the one who is supposed to show the world the face of God, Kyle and Maia sure are starting to sound like kids who have run away and joined a cult. I think Tom (and maybe Diana also) are going to end up taking promicin to be able to cross Jordan's beacons. How do they not know that people with abilities can get past the beacons, like Maia did? Did the specially enhanced soldiers even try? Though, maybe I'm wrong about that, and maybe Maia got in because they are watching the circumference of Promise City and decided to let her in. What do you think?
Didn't you love the gown the woman wore into the filthy lake to do her healing? Do you think she got that out of the Pyramid Collection catalog? What exactly was the point of that little get up? As wacky as it was, it sort of worked in Jordan's little Utopian universe.
I love the fact that Diana is on to Meghan. I agree with the commenter from last week who thinks Meghan (Author note: thanks, Jimmy!) is working for the bad guys. She totally is. And she knows Tom is important, so she is sidling up to him. Wanna bet that she ends up inviting Tom over for dinner, too?
When Diana was walking through and looking at the fruit trees and river in Promise City, I was distinctly reminded of Star Trek II, and the new world the scientists created with The Genesis Project. It may have been man-made, but it was still very real. And I think that is the point of what Jordan Collier is trying to show the world: These might be man-made miracles, but they are real. He and his people really are making improvements. What does a miracle mean, after all? Does it matter where it comes from, as long as it's real?
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-30-2007 @ 9:23AM
Jimmy said...
First, I think you may have mixed up Diana and Meaghan in the 2nd to last paragraph.
I would agree this season is living up to my expectations after the disappointment of last season, which had so much potential with the introduction of grown-up Isabelle and just petered out. I think a lot of that is owed to Billy Campbell's great work as Jordan Collier. He really has been the "savior" -- pun intended -- of this series.
Like you I loved that this was a Maia episode; she's been absent far too much this season. I know it would be an easy crutch to constantly rely on the a little girl who can see the future, but I would still like to see more of her character.
I do have to say all the religious allegory is getting a bit thick, and I think Jordan is being led down a path of destruction. Is this really what the future sent the 4400 back to the past to achieve? The return of God? This whole prophecy thing makes believe Kyle is still being controlled by the future bad guys, maybe even one of the Marked, who's leading Collier down a path that will eventually mean all out war.
Whatever happens this season, this series has really hit its stride.
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 11:37AM
David said...
I love this season conbared to the terrible season 3.
At first I liked crazy kyle, but now, the more he says that god will return and yadda yadda, is driving me insane.
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 11:46AM
K31 said...
Jen, I love your comment about the ‘pure girl’—I was thinking the same thing. To be honest, Kyle is starting to get on my nerves…I don’t think he just ‘drunk the kool aid’ I think he must have an IV hook-up to it. but I bet you in the episodes to come Jordan will have to make a clear cut choice—to either be a ‘good for all’ guy or turn into a power hungry bad guy. I think the writers are definitely setting up the ‘marked’ as the bad guys—I wish the future would take Tom again to talk to him and tell him what the heck is going on!
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 11:55AM
Vito The TiVo said...
Maia was let in by Kyle who was waiting for her per Cassie's off-screen instructions. It goes by fast, don't blame yourself for missing it.
http://www.recapist.com/2007/07/30/the-4400-till-we-have-built-jerusalem
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 1:10PM
Micah said...
Vito The TiVo: i don't think maya was let in by kyle, he just happened to be there waiting for here when she got in. I had the same idea as Jen that only 4400's or people who took the shot can pass through the barrier. Although they didn't say for sure, you can kind of infer it by the fact the jordan says that any people with abilities can join him.
Reply
7-30-2007 @ 11:22PM
Joey Geraci said...
Let me tell you right now, Vito the Tivo, that after reading your little review, I have exactly zero interest in your site. How can people like you even watch television when so much of it is below your oh so lofty standards
Reply
7-31-2007 @ 12:35PM
Ian said...
What this show is really good at is showing people with a strong "belief" and how their being is controlled by that "faith". Whereas a non believer looking as an outsider wonders whether that "belief" is totally missplaced, but can't prove that also.
At the end of the day we still do not know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Many of the players are, I expect, good guys being manipulated.
If you watch really closely the key pople are likely to be those deciding their own destiny, not because someone else is "guiding" them, but because they feel it's the right thing to do. Sean. the healer, seems to be leading in this. Collier an his followers have lofty goals, but one gets the feeling that they are being manipulated.
Megham: Bad
Kyle: Good but manipulated
Collier: Good but manipulated
Sean: Good
Maia: Good but impressionable
Tom: Good (could he be turned b4b becoming the leader?)
Diana: Good (will she saveTom?)
Isabelle: copletely lost on her ultimate direction
Reply
8-15-2007 @ 9:01AM
bailey said...
Didn't you love the gown the woman wore into the filthy lake to do her healing? Do you think she got that out of the Pyramid Collection catalog? What exactly was the point of that little get up?
I figured it was her wedding dress, and that it was tied into the whole "she took the shot after her fiance croaked" thing.
Reply