DVD REVIEW

The 4400 - The Complete Fourth Season

Paramount Home Entertainment || Not Rated || May 6, 2008

Synopsis

The 4400: The Fourth Season continues the incredible story of 4400 people who were suddenly abducted and later mysteriously returned to Earth.  Though they have no memory of their otherworldly experiences, some now possess special powers, both good and bad.


Critique

The (unintentional?) final season of The 4400 is possibly the best of the series.  The story of the 4400 takes a giant leap forward, and we finally get some vague hints at where things might end up.  None of this will go anywhere now, of course, as the series is now off the air, but the fourth season has an energy that hasn’t been seen since the original mini-series.

“The Wrath of Graham” is the season opener, and it’s a good one.  The Graham of the title is a friendless, outcast high school boy, the invisible kid at his school.  He is an unremarkable C-student who finds that he has the power to control people’s minds.

Graham’s King of Seattle act mirrors the arc of the whole season.  He carries it all the way to City Hall, and he is the man – or boy – until Jordan Collier comes out of hiding to put the uprising to rest.  Collier saps Graham of his power, telling his followers, simply, “Go on with your lives.”  Season four will end in the same place, with Collier in the lead, but there are some differences.  Graham forces people to follow him, while Jordan never forces anyone to do anything.  Graham is a false prophet; Jordan leads by force of personality.

There are great one-off episodes this season that also advance the overall series story.  We aren’t locked into one story; the scope has been broadened, and we are clearly moving forward.

“The Marked” is easily my favorite episode of the season, and it’s in my top five for the entire series.  Curtis Peck is an Ed Woodish filmmaker who reveals secrets about the 400 every time he sits down to write a script.  The episode introduces us to a new threat: The Marked.  The Marked is a group of elites out to destroy the 4400, to keep the future just the way it is.

“The Marked” is endlessly entertaining – Peck’s schlockfest films are a hoot – and it spins the series in a new direction.  The Marked represent a new, diabolical enemy, and their presence will become more pronounced as the season continues.

The other big story in season four is Jordan Collier’s seizure of a patch of Seattle he dubs “Promise City”.  He lays down the gauntlet, and when NTAC tries to move in, Collier responds by moving his perimeter outward.  Jordan has always been a great anti-hero, and he reaches his zenith in this season.  He has some great moments.

Another actor with some great moments is Joel Gretsch, who plays Tom Baldwin.  Baldwin has basically been a nice guy for most of the series, but in season four he gets to be a bad guy when he is taken over by The Marked.  Anyone who saw Gretsch in Taken (honestly, the only other thing I can think of him in) knows he can play maniacal as well as anyone.

The 4400 has always been a show that has mirrored what is going on in the world.  The creators of the show said that the idea started out as a “9/11 type event” – an unprecedented occurrence – that would change the world.  They continue that here, as Seattle is left in virtual ruins by the end, 9000 people confirmed dead and the city in shambles.  That kind of chaos, sadly, has become commonplace this last decade, and this show is one of the better comments on where we are as a society.

Speaking of the end, I love how the final montage is set to “Where Is My Mind?” by the Pixies.  That song was made famous by Fight Club, and it plays during the final scene, when Edward Norton watches buildings collapse and his world changes right before his eyes.  That is essentially what is happening at the end of the series: the lives of everyone we have come to know are changing right before their eyes.

The 4400 could have easily gone another season, and I with they would have been allowed to.  The end of season four isn’t exactly a cliffhanger, but it does give the impression there was more to come.  One more season, even an abbreviated one, would have given the show a proper ending.  As it stands, the gets a fair ending.  We have a conclusion, a conclusion with room for endless speculation and leaves us wanting more.  Maybe that’s the best kind of ending after all.


Video

The 4400 is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  As always, the presentation is excellent.  The color levels are sharp and well balanced.  This might be TV, but it has a very cinematic look.


Audio

This set is presented in 5.1 Dolby surround, with options in Stereo surround and a Spanish monaural track.  The levels are sharp and well balanced, and everything from the quiet moments to the more action packed scenes is well translated.


Special Features

Deleted Scenes: the first three discs have deleted scenes.  These are mildly interesting.

“Till We Have Built Jerusalem” Audio Commentary With Creator, Episode Director and Executive Producer Scott Peters: this is an interesting commentary.  Peters talks about shooting the episode, the story, and its place in context of the season.

“The Great Lead Forward” (Director’s Cut): an extended cut of the final episode of the series.  This is presented with an optional commentary by episode director Scott Peters.

Season IV: Factions At War: a behind-the-scenes look at the season, as told by the cast and crew.

Jordan Collier: The Grey Man: a look at the ambiguities of the show’s central character.  This is a good piece.

Season IV Blooper Reel: just that.


Final Thoughts

The 4400’s final season is great television.  The writing and performances are stellar, and the show – which could have gone another season – ends on a strong note.  The audio-visual presentation is great, as is the bonus material.

VERDICT: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

Subscribe to DVD Reviews Feed

 

Review posted on Jul 1, 2008 | Share this article | Top of Page

Copyright © 1999-infinity MovieFreak.com