(S04E12) My favorite line of this episode was when Diana told Tom, "You make a terrible Tom Baldwin." I had noticed during this episode that he wasn't even really trying to be Tom Baldwin anymore-- and I thought that was just more evidence of good acting from Joel Gresch. He was so subtle in the first two transition episodes, and now that transformation is complete. He has erased all traces of the real Tom Baldwin. I was surprised that Mia trusted him, actually.But I suppose she has known him long enough for her not to wonder too much. That is why Diana should talk about what's going on at the office more.
I loved Tess's manipulation of 4400s in Jerusalem City to break Kevin out. And his crack that they hadn't been giving him sunflower seeds. That is just great writing-- taking the time to say the weird things people say in real life. I also loved Tess's enthusiasm when talking to the young girl about her talent: "So, you could make somebody blind or deaf if you wanted to?" Like that was a really special ability to be able to have! Hurray!
Later, Kevin and Tess had a sweet moment, and I was a little peeved that the characters nuzzled heads against each other instead of getting to have a kiss. It's like Tess and Kevin are allowed to have this deep, platonic connection, but it can't be romantic. What? Is there too much ick factor because of the age difference? Well, you guys wrote the script, so either go for it, or don't bother.
It also cracked me up when Diana, Meghan, and Marco told Tom they were talking about real estate and the suburbs, and Tom noted that the little chalk drawing with all of the x's looked a little intense. That was great.
At the same time that they have these bits of comic relief, things are definitely intensifying, particularly as Tom continues to kill people, like Curtis Peck. The ante has been upped: The only way to kill the tiny machines is with a massive dose of radiation that will also kill Tom? Well, we have to apply that to Jordan Collier too. So, does that mean that Tom and Jordan are both destined to die? Are they going to be on the same side now? Are the marked going to continue to allow Isabelle to run around with her powers fully restored, or will they have Jordan neutralize her, pronto? [Disregard the fact that Tom just got shot: that is what Shawn is for.]
Another favorite bit:
Jordan to Isabelle: I thought you had changed.
Isabelle to Jordan: So did I.
Her delivery there was spot on. She invested it with all of the irony and resignation that Isabelle would actually be feeling at this point.
How sick of you of Cassie by now? I wish Kyle could just get rid of her.
Finally, Shawn's dippy brother found out he could have the shot safely, but Kevin said he was an "outlier." Statistically speaking, his brain was off the charts. So, that probably should have been his first clue not to take the shot. But he has always been jealous of Shawn, and for him, it was all about Shawn having an ability while Danny does not. With their mother starting to bleed while they are talking, I am going to have to guess that Danny's ability is sort of the opposite of Shawn's, so perhaps they cancel each other out. Usually the show is well-written enough for me to assume that there is a higher purpose here, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that this is going to lead to something interesting in the long run.
Next week is the season finale, but something tells me they're just getting started.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-10-2007 @ 7:43AM
Lora said...
That was a good episode.
I am beyond tired of Cassie now. I'm surprised she didn't appear when Kyle and Isabelle were in bed to give him instructions there, too. ("No, Kyle, bend her THAT way...")
So, some guy runs through a store knocking over people, and a woman with a gun is chasing him, and none of the customers and workers in the store thought that was odd enough to start running the heck out of there?
Just when Danny couldn't be more annoying... I already read spoilers so I know exactly what's going on, so I'll just say this: His ability isn't the opposite of Shawn's--it's the opposite of Jordan's... (Shawn can actually both heal and harm people through touch, he just chooses not to use the harming one cuz, you know, that's not nice.)
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9-10-2007 @ 8:25AM
RSL said...
Here's my theory. They will fail to "mark" Jordan because... gasp... it's not polonium but promicin that will kill the nanites. And _that_ is why Tom Baldwin will have to take promicin. My money is on Tom not becoming positive though because the promicin doesn't make it into his system but is used up destroying the nanites. Just a hunch. I fully expect that this writing staff has a whole 'nother trick up its sleeve but I've been hammering this one out for a few weeks.
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9-10-2007 @ 8:29AM
Stephen said...
Oh man, now that is a spoiler. It's kinda sad to think that Danny is going to be playing a big role in the future epidsodes. People talk about the cute redhead being annoying, this guy really is obnoxious.
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9-10-2007 @ 9:14AM
Jimmy said...
I have to say, this has been one hell of a season! The best yet. In the first two seasons the writers struggled with the idea where to take the series once we got the revelation the 4400 were sent from the future to save humanity from some horrific upheaval. Things started picking up last season with the introduction of a faction in the future that didn't want their future changed (although last season was hit or miss at best) and it has really come to fruition this year.
It hasn't been perfect. I'm totally turned off by the Jordan-as-Messiah plot and I think Sean and Diana have really gotten short shrift in terms of character development. However, as a whole this season has been the best yet.
You do have to tip your hats to the Marked. Turning Collier into one of them is rather insidious and quite ingenious. However, aren't there hundreds of thousands of people who've taken Promicin? Can Collier and Isabelle really stop that many people before someone starts getting suspicious? The cat's already out of the bag in terms of Isabelle; could Collier really remove Promicin from even a few people without raising suspicions? However, something tells me we shouldn't totally count out Isabelle just yet.
Yeah, I'm also tired of Cassie, but I'm starting to re-think my idea that she's not a 4400 ability. If she was one of the Marked living inside Sean from his previous time as the future bad guy's assassin would she be trying to maneuver Sean into taking over Promise City? If she was one of the Marked wouldn't she know Collier would be back as one of her fellow Marked? Now, I'm not so sure Cassie isn't a 4400 ability.
Next week looks great and I'm already starting to feel the withdrawal of having to wait another year. USA better not cancel this series!
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9-10-2007 @ 12:49PM
Ian said...
Why was Diana so keen to confront "Tom" knowing she would be at risk of injury/being killed? Seemed pointless until she and Meghan have the anti-bots.
Isabelle is only "going along" with "Tom" for now.
We are seeing a clearer picture of the 2 future groups and why the "Tom" character is hellbent on keeping the future "as is". Interesting that Promicom abilities are the onloy way to change the future at the expense of 50% of the present population. There again aren't ONLY around 200 odd people meant to take promicin to change the future? A bit confusing here.
This show morphs well to stirr interest in each ep while maintaining a steady pace over several years of the series. i.e. a good combination of an underlying story and giving writers good freedom for subplots. Also characters are developed in some depth and must be quite fun for actors to showcase their talents.
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9-10-2007 @ 1:51PM
jaerisk said...
well I don't like Cassie's character but the actress is hot. Therfore by default I want more Cassie.
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9-10-2007 @ 3:07PM
Saleem Siddiqui said...
I loved last nights episodes. I am getting a little disturbed by the use of Evil Tom Baldwin. He has always been the male hero image in the show. Then the other option was Jordan Collier as the hero leader, but now he will have Tiny Machines in him.
Interesting was the line about closing a "plot hole" in the story, by killing Curtis Peck. That was a funny ironic line. Whoever agreed to put that in, it was a good line for "Evil Tom"
Check out my mash-up video about the Battle For Promicin, and the Terrorist Jihad.
http://www.hotconflict.com/blog/2007/07/the-4400-are-th.html
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9-10-2007 @ 5:07PM
Ryan said...
If Danny's ability is the opposite of Jordan's (i.e. he introduces promicin into your systems) and if the theory holds that the only way you can get rid of the Marked from people's bodies is to shoot 'em up with some promicin... and...
You get the picture.
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9-10-2007 @ 11:27PM
sanjo said...
Danny produces radium nuclear stuff, He will end up killing the off the little machines in the marked. Shawn will then heal them...
Well thats the way i saw it in when danny took the shot and the end conforms its with the bleeding from the eyes...
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9-11-2007 @ 10:53AM
Ian said...
There is an interesting current versus bad future conflict emerging on this show.
Isabelle, Tom, Kyle and now Jordan also. All these characters have "internal" struggles going on between the inherent personality and the one which the bad future wants to be dominant. In time I suspect that this conflict will become quite a feature in the direction of the show. i.e can the good current personalities prevail, take promicin safely and use their powers to change the course of history? Thus far nobody seems to have made more than a slight dent in history. The series could morph into a struggle for political power at the highest levels in the USA and even worldwide. This show has so many possibilities....
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9-11-2007 @ 1:22PM
Joey Geraci said...
The way Shawn's mother died was exactly like the couple of Promicin deaths they showed earlier in the season. I think it is probably true that he introduced Promicin into somebody's body by touch, I guess. (Or physical nearness, but that would royally suck for the character).
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9-11-2007 @ 2:58PM
darthpragus said...
yeah I tried to comment earlier the way she died looked an awful lot like the way that random girl died earlier in season 3. Plus I think they showed a clip of her death in the recap right before the episode. So it sure seems like she took promicin.
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