4400 3.4: "Gone: Part I"
Written by Bruce Miller
Directed by Morgan Beggs
Thus far, the season is designed to prove out the claim by the producers that the third season will focus more on the mythology. The first two episodes were one big story, there was one connected stand-alone episode, and now we’re into another two-episode arc. That’s a huge chunk of the first half of the season, so they’re not playing games.
It’s notoriously hard to review the first part of any two-episode story without seeing the resolution ahead of time, so I won’t be dwelling on too many items of speculation. There’s every reason to think that “Gone: Part II” will answer the big questions raised in this episode, especially in terms of the true purpose of Maia’s abduction.
The abduction itself, and the reasons given for the “adjustment” to the plans of the “future humanity”, bring up an interesting point. As I’ve noted in the past, Dr. Burkhoff’s recent experiments with the modified promycin could begin a progression that leads to the catastrophe requiring the 4400 in the first place. Just based on the information provided before this episode, one is left to wonder if the “future humanity” missed the obvious. Could the 4400 themselves be the source of the catastrophe, in some kind of self-fulfilling time paradox? (As a minor point of speculation, one could wonder if this “adjustment” is, in fact, a trigger point.)
One of the interesting aspects of the episode is the long-range effect of this future technology. If the “future humanity” chooses to intercede in the complex conflicts of the “present”, it adds a wild card into the mix. One would imagine that the current crisis will resolve itself by the end of the second half of the story, but is that necessarily the case? Wouldn’t this be one way to alter the status quo? The question is whether or not anyone would be aware that the timeline had changed. It’s bad enough when everyone has to worry about the Nova Group and interpersonal politics; it’s a lot worse when agents from the future can act against all of them without interference.
The internal politics at the 4400 Center are getting painful, but it a good way. Richard has always been there to help Sean, especially at the end of the second season, so there’s reason to believe that his motives are sincere. Matthew, on the other hand, clearly has an agenda, even if it’s still not clear. I got the feeling from “The New World” that he was acting against Jordan Collier’s interests, but he also seems to be working against the Nova Group. Whatever the case, it’s clear that he has some goal in mind.
If we continue with the “X-Men” analogy, it seems as though Matthew is unleashing a hint of the “Dark Phoenix” within Isabelle. I like the fact that Isabelle continues to wear green as a signature color; it fits into the idea that she is the “Phoenix”-analogue. Watch for her to start wearing red and black as her personality shifts into a more violent mode. I fully expect that Sean and Richard power-sharing will be enormously complicated by Sean’s relationship with Isabelle, and that the relationship will also factor into her turn towards violence, if it does indeed happen. But the main point is this: Isabelle’s lack of proper maturation leaves her vulnerable to extreme shifts in mood, and also without a clearly defined sense of morality.
It’s always fun to see how Tom and Diana are caught between the demands of their position at NTAC and their relationship to the 4400. NTAC is always worried about the possibility that they will be compromised by their personal connections and allegiances, and some among the 4400 see them as snakes in the grass. I continue to think that extreme elements on both sides are losing sight of the utility of such natural diplomats.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Recent episodes are related to “The 4400”, so it might be something of interest . Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Morgan Beggs
Thus far, the season is designed to prove out the claim by the producers that the third season will focus more on the mythology. The first two episodes were one big story, there was one connected stand-alone episode, and now we’re into another two-episode arc. That’s a huge chunk of the first half of the season, so they’re not playing games.
It’s notoriously hard to review the first part of any two-episode story without seeing the resolution ahead of time, so I won’t be dwelling on too many items of speculation. There’s every reason to think that “Gone: Part II” will answer the big questions raised in this episode, especially in terms of the true purpose of Maia’s abduction.
The abduction itself, and the reasons given for the “adjustment” to the plans of the “future humanity”, bring up an interesting point. As I’ve noted in the past, Dr. Burkhoff’s recent experiments with the modified promycin could begin a progression that leads to the catastrophe requiring the 4400 in the first place. Just based on the information provided before this episode, one is left to wonder if the “future humanity” missed the obvious. Could the 4400 themselves be the source of the catastrophe, in some kind of self-fulfilling time paradox? (As a minor point of speculation, one could wonder if this “adjustment” is, in fact, a trigger point.)
One of the interesting aspects of the episode is the long-range effect of this future technology. If the “future humanity” chooses to intercede in the complex conflicts of the “present”, it adds a wild card into the mix. One would imagine that the current crisis will resolve itself by the end of the second half of the story, but is that necessarily the case? Wouldn’t this be one way to alter the status quo? The question is whether or not anyone would be aware that the timeline had changed. It’s bad enough when everyone has to worry about the Nova Group and interpersonal politics; it’s a lot worse when agents from the future can act against all of them without interference.
The internal politics at the 4400 Center are getting painful, but it a good way. Richard has always been there to help Sean, especially at the end of the second season, so there’s reason to believe that his motives are sincere. Matthew, on the other hand, clearly has an agenda, even if it’s still not clear. I got the feeling from “The New World” that he was acting against Jordan Collier’s interests, but he also seems to be working against the Nova Group. Whatever the case, it’s clear that he has some goal in mind.
If we continue with the “X-Men” analogy, it seems as though Matthew is unleashing a hint of the “Dark Phoenix” within Isabelle. I like the fact that Isabelle continues to wear green as a signature color; it fits into the idea that she is the “Phoenix”-analogue. Watch for her to start wearing red and black as her personality shifts into a more violent mode. I fully expect that Sean and Richard power-sharing will be enormously complicated by Sean’s relationship with Isabelle, and that the relationship will also factor into her turn towards violence, if it does indeed happen. But the main point is this: Isabelle’s lack of proper maturation leaves her vulnerable to extreme shifts in mood, and also without a clearly defined sense of morality.
It’s always fun to see how Tom and Diana are caught between the demands of their position at NTAC and their relationship to the 4400. NTAC is always worried about the possibility that they will be compromised by their personal connections and allegiances, and some among the 4400 see them as snakes in the grass. I continue to think that extreme elements on both sides are losing sight of the utility of such natural diplomats.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Recent episodes are related to “The 4400”, so it might be something of interest . Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 16:02
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