(S04E13) Well, the title of this episode wasn't kidding. It was indeed a giant leap forward for the episode. I was really looking forward to this finale because a) it was such a great season and b) because there were some excellent predictions last week and I wanted to see whether they came true. SPOILER ALERT: Some of them did, and some of them didn't. But seriously, if you haven't seen the episode yet, go watch it first and then come back. We'll wait. I'll knit or something.Promicin-related stories
The 4400: The Great Leap Forward (Season Finale)
(S04E13) Well, the title of this episode wasn't kidding. It was indeed a giant leap forward for the episode. I was really looking forward to this finale because a) it was such a great season and b) because there were some excellent predictions last week and I wanted to see whether they came true. SPOILER ALERT: Some of them did, and some of them didn't. But seriously, if you haven't seen the episode yet, go watch it first and then come back. We'll wait. I'll knit or something.Continue reading The 4400: The Great Leap Forward (Season Finale)
The 4400: Tiny Machines
(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.Continue reading The 4400: Tiny Machines
The 4400: Ghost in the Machine
(S04E11) Even though I thought this episode was more of a filler episode than anything else, it was still a solid episode with solid performances, particularly, once again from Joel Gretsch (Tom Baldwin). It also certainly laid the scene for a promising season finale (to come in two weeks, after the US Open). It was great to see more of Maia in this episode, though it is startling to see how grownup she is now. Last season, we had more Diana storylines, with her sister and then her romance with Ben. This season hasn't given her very much to do, but Jacqueline McKenzie maintains her role with stalwart integrity. We also get the distinct impression that her relationship with Ben is now dead in the water.Continue reading The 4400: Ghost in the Machine
The 4400: The Marked
(S04E06) After last week's review, I had some really great and interesting email conversations with some of the commenters here. And decided that it's not the fact that The 4400 is having religion as plot lines that bothers me-- it's Jordan's fundamental hypocrisy that bothers me. Jordan claims to be good and to give people choices, but he doesn't think twice about having his goon squad use their abilities to harm people (he brought Tom to his knees in "Try the Pie"), with promises of more harm to come. Do you really think Jordan had nothing to do with Hewitt's stroke? And what was the point of it anyway when they know that Shawn heals people? And that looked very impressive when Shawn told Hewitt not to thank him, just to "Change." Uh, yeah, because that is so easy. But on the whole, I loved this episode and I have really enjoyed this season tremendously so far.
Continue reading The 4400: The Marked
The 4400: The Truth and Nothing but the Truth
(S04E04) I'm sorry I wasn't here to review last week's episode, but I was in a minivan driving to Indiana when the episode aired, and I didn't get to see it until today. But that episode and tonight's confirmed something for me: This season started out well and has continued so far. Even though two of my favorite characters weren't on this episode, I still thought this episode was strong. Tonight's episode was a great blend of the comic and the serious. I was a little disappointed that they resolved the April storyline so quickly, though I am hopeful that maybe Natasha Gregson Wagner may become a more regular feature of the show. With her ability, they could practically build an entire show around her. They could call it The Closer. Oh, wait...
Continue reading The 4400: The Truth and Nothing but the Truth
The 4400: Fear Itself
(S04E02) I don't really have any typical phobias like claustrophobia, spiders, snakes, or clowns. So, I am curious about what effect Brandon's ability would have on me. I don't think I would really want to find out. I had some mixed feelings about the end of this episode, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. So, let's start at the beginning.Continue reading The 4400: Fear Itself
The 4400: The Wrath of Graham (season premiere)
(S04E01) I heard last year that the reason Jordan Collier wasn't around very much was because actor Billy Campbell was making a movie overseas and couldn't come back for filming. I don't know whether that is true or a rumor, but whatever the reason, I am glad that he is back. I thought last season was a little mixed in terms of quality, but I think this season premiere was strong. I am really looking forward to this season. Do you think the opening dream sequence was a forecast of abilities to come? Did you see how Tom's keys flew off the counter into his hands, and Diana was able to stop time around her when Tom and Kyle were late? I knew it was a dream sequence, not just because Tom and Kyle were friendly and everybody had new abilities, but also because everyone present at Jordan's rally was wearing black, white, or gray. I love that -- it was subtle, but there if you were looking for it (and I was).
Continue reading The 4400: The Wrath of Graham (season premiere)
The 4400: Blink
(S03E08) A friend and I were talking about a third woman, one who's involved with a volunteer organization. "I want my donation to be therapy for her!" said the friend. This week's episode of The 4400 opens that delicious possibility: the ability to force therapy onto someone. Oh, were it only true! I totally would have stolen that lady's herbs, too.
As it turns out, the therapy isn't always beneficent. Three people commit suicide at the opening of the show, haunted too cruelly by figures from their past. This sends Tom and Diana into a quest to find the source of the hallucinations -- a brand-new street drug called "Blink" -- and quash their own demons, personified by Tom's dead father and Diana's old fiancé.
Speaking of fiancés. The plot took its most delicious turn yet.
Men of a Certain Age -- An early look
The TV Squad Podcast: Surprising shows, decade-end lists, and the Commenter of the Week!
Five changes Comcast should make to NBC
