By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
This episode begins the turn from the complication phase of the season arc towards resolution, and as one would expect, a number of issues come to the forefront. Richard’s return to the series is a major development, considering the effect on Isabelle, and the developments regarding Kevin and Tom appear to be important.
Richard’s plan to “de-age” Isabelle reveals something of a psychotic break on his part, since he’s acting more out of self-gratification than any concerns for his daughter. Until the end, he has little or no regard for her rights or feelings as an individual, and one could argue that her ability to make a clear decision had already been compromised in the end. Her current status is unlikely to hold, but it does open the door to some interesting changes for her character (quite possibly, the end of her allergy to promicin).
Richard also reveals something unseen to this point: a group of original 4400 independent of Jordan’s crusade and Shawn’s political movement. It makes sense that there would be a segment of the powered population eager to stay out of the limelight in every respect, but Richard’s actions could force that underground out of hiding. They may represent a wild card as events build to an inevitable clash at the end of the season.
Of course, the nature of that clash is still to be seen, and things will definitely change if Kevin’s research holds true. This episode poses the indirect argument that Tess and her mental health has prevented Kevin from making much progress. (Speaking of which, Summer Glau is growing up very well!) Kevin’s research may save thousands of lives, but it will also clearly identify a division within the human race: those who can gain power, those who cannot.
This could give scope to the future conflict at the heart of the series’ mythology. We know that the 4400 were originally developed by an oppressed group in the future, those kept out of power by a select “elite” ruling over the remnants of human civilization. These Future Elite were also the ones who seeded the past with “the marked”, working against the alterations to the timeline introduced by the 4400 and Jordan Collier. Could the Future Elite be those who, in the end, were unable to take promicin and therefore did everything possible to ensure that the powered were kept under control (or eliminated)?
This brings Tom directly into the conflict beyond his interest in Kyle’s situation. Evidence continues to mount that he has been “marked”, and that could place him in violent opposition to Jordan Collier, Shawn, and Kevin. The Future Elite might also see Richard and his current activities as a threat. His fragile relationships are already begging for trouble (especially his affair with Meghan); bring forced to act against his personal and professional interests could rip him apart. That gives the audience someone to identify with through all the changes, which is always an important consideration. |
