My review of "Daddy's Little Girl" written by Ira Steven Behr and Amy Berg

This episode's return to form for the series was perhaps due to the involvement of Ira Steven Behr. Even more superficial elements like the special effects of Richard moving objects and people looked great. I enjoyed that moment of dread from Garrity as he realized that Richard was about to fling him away as he'd seen him do before on surveillance video.

Improved story pacing.

The pacing of the scenes felt so much better than most of the episodes so far this season, except for perhaps "Till We Have Built Jerusalem" and "The Marked". This was especially observable in the subplot with Tess Doerner and Kevin Burkoff. What could easily have been edited down to the basics, according to the style of earlier episodes this season, instead was allowed to breathe. It illustrated quite nicely the threat Tess posed and how Kevin was coping with much more dramatic and suspenseful effect. As a result, this subplot had a naturalness, texture, and believability that sometimes is sacrificed by rushing similarly well-written subplots; many of the otherwise excellent scenes having to do with Shawn and Kyle's developments have occasionally felt this way in episodes up to "Till We Have Built Jerusalem."

Tess and Kevin's great subplot, and the acceptance of her mental illness.

The idea of Tess herself causing so much harm was a surprisingly great idea. Once again, the show has demonstrated its ability to write complex characters and "heroes" who have faults and can do the wrong thing, intentionally or not. The character of Tess is so fresh because it allows a rare depiction of people normally relegated to the margins in drama, let alone sci-fi, rather than treated as vital participants. By not having her problems taken away – at least not so early on in the series – the writers allowed her to still be portrayed as a contributing member of society, despite her mental illness. That was quite an interesting and respectful thing for them to do in depicting a member of the mentally-handicapped community. You don't have to be perfectly healthy to be a human being. Life for the disadvantaged goes on.

Similar sensitivity toward portraying the homeless.

In a similar way, Ira Steven Behr has a history of showing respect toward people on the fringe of society (whether politically or socially), including the homeless. In Star Trek Deep Space Nine's somewhat dull "Past Tense", Mr. Behr and fellow 4400 writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe sought to bring some understanding about the plight of homelessness at a time when they were appalled at such problems in modern-day Los Angeles. Many shows tend to use homeless people as reluctant or not-so-reluctant criminals; I remember a Hulk TV special in the late 80s in which, at the height of popularity of a Republican Party that criminalized the poor. Bruce Banner tells a young homeless man asking for change that he should get a job; in return, the homeless man later attacks Banner and faces justice in the form of the Hulk's wrath. This is not to say homeless people are automatically angels, but, like any human being, their desperate circumstances generally explain the resort to violence if this does occur among them at all. Most are peaceful. On The 4400, Ira Behr had Jordan Collier live among them and trust them in implementing the crucial first steps of his revolution; they were in charge of the distribution of promicin as well as carefully warning recipients of the shots' lethal risks. This showed them possessing work ethic and caring, instead of the bumbling, uncaring, selfish traits other shows tend to overemphasize.

In the case of Tess, we're allowed to see how a perfectly decent person can be turned into a threat against society due to her illness, and it humanizes the problem of schizophrenia; even though one shot up Capitol Hill in 2000 and another may have been responsible for the Virginia Tech killings earlier this spring, the debilitating problem is not really who they are. Mostly, though, it was a nice bit of drama – not always exciting, but very good and somewhat touching.

Okay drama between Meghan and Tom.

The drama between Meghan and Tom was alright, but I can't help feeling it was slightly forced. However, that's inevitable, given Ira Behr's comments before the season aired about her being a love interest. I just can't help but feel that, while this kind of romantic drama is acceptable, it's just not why I watch the show. While it's not that interesting, I'll accept it as a necessary set-up to create better character dynamics -- as the two's professional and personal lives become entangled in their romance. However, Meghan really needs to be more clearly defined away from Tom. Ira Behr did an excellent job

I'm not sure Tom is "a pending puppet", I'm not sure it's the "marked". There was a strict number of them, with no way of communicating with the future, and nothing indicating there could be more of them.

Not saying it's nothing, but it might not be "the marked" either...

I don't think Cassie is from the future, but she's not a "regular" ability for sure, but no other ability has a will of its own!

http://88.191.26.34/i_watch_tv/2007/08/14/the-4400-daddys-little-girl/

Oops. Meant to say when Richard de-powered her with the shot.

"I think Kevin's research will reveal that Isabelle isn't allergic to promicin."

I'm guessing that she was allergic, but her recent age regression may have purged what Jordan did to her from her system.

I think Kevin's research will reveal that Isabelle isn't allergic to promicin.

Maybe now that Isabelle's regressed her body might produce promicin itself again.

Tom's disappearing reappearing mole will be interesting.

Really enjoying this season!

Rodney: Yes you're right about the building. It's also been used in Smallville and Stargate.

Two quickies.. Richard is back and he looks like he's been working out! He was always one of my favorite cast members. I find that Mr. M (what a name!) seemed to carry himself with a distinguished air amongst the other cast members. His portrayal of Richard has been great.

It's killing me that Tom is a pending puppet. This "marked" business is killing me. Tom is such a wounded guy and now, despite his best efforts, he's going down the path of becoming one of the enemies he's fighting. Very painful!!

Oh, one more.. Despite the obvious progression through the season, I'm loving the Tom/Megan storyline. He needs a "really good friend".

This is kind of a random place for this comment, but I think the 4400 Center on The 4400 is the same building as Madacorp on Kyle XY, at least the exterior and circular lobby...

I'm not so sure that Kyle's ability is someone from the future, since anyone from the future seems to only be able to communicate if they are in a host body. Since Tom couldn't see her I believe that it is his ability.

I do agree that Meghan is up to something. I find it difficult for Tom to start anew with another woman when Alana hasn't really been gone that long. In Toms mind, he spent over two decades with her. Maybe she has some kind of pheromone power.

I agree with PixelSlave- I definitely think that uncovering who can take Promicin and who cannot will be so polarizing that it could create a scary new kind of class system. In a world where the effect of Promicin is known, what should happen to those people that won't live if they take it? How would the world treat people who are not inherently special enough to tolerate Promicin and have abilities? I think the outcome of Kevin's research could be a VERY interesting plot device.

I don't know about the show's storyline, but in reality, if Kevin really can tell whether someone will die taking promicin or not is going to create more problems. If no one knew whether he/she would be dead taking promicin, then everyone thinks that at least they have a chance to gain an ability. With Kevin's research, the only thing it will lead to is a polarization of the two camps -- one group that can have ability, and another that will definitely not. There's no middle ground, no gray area. People can't lie to themselves that they may still have a chance.