Why I love the USA Network: I missed the 9 p.m. showing of this episode due to a family obligation, but here I am, at midnight, watching it anyway. It's like TiVo for people too broke for gadgets. So we started out with Kyle, who is bemused over his dad's new love affair and convinced that he's disappointed Tom with his life choices - far different than the alternate reality surgeon Kyle. Of course, we all know Kyle may not have brain surgery in his future, given his moonlighting as a sniper. But we have more important things to do in this episode than to tiptoe around Kyle's hurt feelings. Like dead people! Today we meet Jean Baker, who kills people. Not on purpose, mind you, but she economically kills everyone in her town - in the blink of an eye. Yikes. And Shawn has to get used to being the 4400's pope. We're sticking with the good vs. evil theme (are the 4400 masterminds some of each?) but this time the show is decidedly biblical in its extremes.
In order to fully exploit the apocalyptic thing begun in the last episode (when we learned that Tom needs a love interest to deal with the chaos and tragedy to come in his own life), Jean Baker has boils on her hands that, when she's emotionally charged, emit spores of death. Evidently, she was emotionally charged last night, 'cause Grants Pass - I mean, Granite Pass - Oregon, is all dead. Jean hitches a ride with a trucker who spouts a little fire and brimstone before expiring. Soon she's convinced that she has been imbued with this killing power in order to purify humanity - and heads straight to downtown Portland, the unemployment office, to be exact (ouch - I live in Portland). Granite Pass must not have internet access, 'cause you can file a claim online now. OK, guess the truth wouldn't make for such good drama, hmmm?

I was a little disappointed when Diana shot Jean (actually, my first thought was that Kyle had snuck in for a reprise of his role killing Jordan Collier). After all, we never get to figure out why she would have been sent back to kill - it makes little sense. What good is it to level the entire mountain town of Granite Pass?

But what I did love about this episode is that, now, I'm falling hook, line and sinker for the Tom-Alana love story. They really make a great couple and it's nice to have this electric relationship in the middle of chaos. I'm not sure about Lily and Richard anymore, now that Isabelle is so evil - and even the mother-daughter love story of Maia and Diana is taking a disappointing turn since Maia is spending all her time with her auntie (and Diana is turning in a fake of Maia's diary - what, this is the first time y'all thought of that?). Tom and Alana are more than the grounding force for their own family, but the spark that will tie the show together in coming episodes. Despite its origins in Star Trek (TNG), it's really working for me.

And that brings up a question: why did those people from the future decide that Tom and Diana were so important? Both have lives which are becoming infiltrated by 4400 members. They're the only non-4400s who are even half so influenced by the gifts of the returnees, and Tom most of all. Why them? What is so interesting about two employees of NTAC?

I suppose I can't close the post without commenting on what will surely be the focus of next week's episode: Kyle. He's not only been profiled by a witness, but he's also finally remembered what he did. So much for brain surgery. Sorry sweetie, I have no idea how your new step-mom is going to help this predicament...