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The 4400 4.5: "Try the Pie" |
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Wednesday, 18 July 2007 |
By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
Now that the introductions are effectively over, the writers turn to plot progression. The result is a transitional episode designed to move forward on some plot threads and set the stage for larger conflicts later in the season. Beyond Tom’s discovery of Jordan’s emerging cult, very little happens to define the episode as a whole.
As anticipated, Tom finds himself caught between his sense of duty and the desire to be with Kyle when he arrives in Evanston, and that struggle only comes to the end of the first round in this episode. Kyle is convinced that his father must take promicin, but he doesn’t want to force the issue. Tom is tempted, but he’s against everything that Jordan Collier stands for. It’s not an easy situation, and one can see how this could tie into the rest of the season arc.
Tom has been compromised by his personal relationship to the 4400 since the very beginning of the series. While that’s never been explored as thoroughly as it could have been, it makes sense for that internal conflict to escalate to a single choice. He’s probably the only person on the planet who knows, with a high degree of certainty, that he would survive the promicin shot, so the probabilities aren’t an issue.
That brings up the question of Kyle and his ability. Kyle is convinced that his father will survive, but he’s basing that on his ability and Isabelle’s translation of the book, which may or may not be valid (especially since the book itself is a matter of debate). That means Kyle is operating on faith, which Jordan is willing to exploit. So would Tom really survive the shot, or is it possible that he might die, proving Kyle wrong? Granted, it’s unlikely for Tom to die, given his leading role in the story, but it would be one hell of a plot twist.
In terms of Jordan, I like his characterization in this episode. He has no problem playing the revolutionary; he’s been playing that kind of role since the first season. But his reluctance to claim a messianic role, even with an apparent shaman proclaiming him a central figure in the creation of a new paradise, brings depth to the character. An intriguing arc for Jordan would be one of self-delusion: starting with the intentions of using a religious movement to gain power for his people and ending with the actual belief that he is a messiah (something foreshadowed in the season premiere).
Back in Seattle, Diana is dealing with Maia and her latest round of visions, and they are not pleasant. In fact, they reflect something that is all too easy to believe. Given the evidence of human history, if something like promicin were discovered, who wouldn’t expect some politician to suggest interment? Here again we have a parallel to some of the concepts from “The X-Men”, solidly based in the continuity of the series. After all, the government had already attempted to control the powered once with the promicin inhibitor.
Without the exploration of the newly-powered early in the season, the political and social climate would be less established and less satisfying. Now it’s easy to imagine a politician using Shawn’s attempt to reframe the public image of the powered as a tool to further his own ambitions. And Shawn could end up being the catalyst for something that damages the 4400 more than ever. Contemplating that slippery slope is one of the highlights of watching “The 4400”, and why each new season is always worth the wait. |
