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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...
Even though sexual humor is kind of cliche, I still laughed when April showed off her ability by asking Diana and Tom both very personal questions, particularly because the actors were so skilled in their performances when they answered her. And then Tom's line, "You can come." Very nice. (Am I the only one who still sort of wants to see Tom and Diana get together? Yes? Okay, just checking.)
I wasn't sure in previous episodes why they had the whole April storyline to begin with this season. I thought it was a contrived way to get Diana back to Seattle, but I was satisfied tonight with Diana coming to terms with the fact that she doesn't want to give up her career. She tried to make a go of family life without career, but she is drawn to life at NTAC, and this season in particular seems to be heading toward End Times, the ultimate battle between good and evil. Really, who would want to miss that if you have had a career like she has had? Maia has said they will get married, and they say, "And Maia is never wrong." Is that true though? Have things ever changed to make one of her visions not come true? I also review The Dead Zone, where that happens all the time, but I don't think Maia has been wrong yet. I may be confusing the two shows though.
What do you think of the show's religous overtones? And this document that Kyle and Isabelle are translating? The chosen ones? A list of 200 people who have to take promicin, including Tom? I think Tom's ability will turn out to be that he can go back and get Alana somehow. I seriously doubt they are plotting to kill him. And I think Alana not only wrote the document, but started the cult, and made that list. The cult was started 85 years ago, and that is years after Alana posed for the portrait from the museum-- but she would have still been alive, I think.
The show has some really disturbing themes too, that are an interesting commentary not only on our culture, but also on religion. There will be need for sacrifice, and to take the promicin to be chosen-- even though it has a fifty percent fatality rate. Wow. Would you take it? I may have before I had kids, but how could I do that to them now? (I love the disclaimer on the website: Please be aware that promicin is not a real substance.) Okay, okay, I know it's not real. But would you take it?
As much as I like Kyle, I don't think Jordan Collier is a Messiah, so I guess that puts me on NTAC's and Shawn's side. This divide between Kyle and Shawn is very interesting too-- they are sort of the Cain and Abel, brothers but not brothers, who will be pitched against each other in sort of a civil war. (I still don't get Kyle's talent, by the way). Shawn is very Christlike too, though, with healing by laying on of hands. So, is he the real Messiah? Or is all of this just really, uncomfortably, traipsing toward blasphemy?
I love the fact that none of the abilities is uncomplicated and that none of the abilities change who people are or make their lives significantly better. There is an undercurrent of warning there. The promicin might seem really cool, but you'll still be a screw up, even if you get a really cool ability. You'll just sort of be like Kool Aid with Vitamin C: It may have vitamins in it, but it still isn't good for you. If that is the case, then are people on promicin really the Chosen ones? Are they going to change or transform the world? Or is this all just a very seductive and sinister plot? Who is the devil here?
Speaking of devils, what do you think of the new and improved Isabelle? Wow, strip of her abilities, and she's sort of nice. I don't know what to make of that. The jury's still out on Isabelle (though, it must be nice for the actress not to have to play sheer, unadulterated evil all the time).
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