207 reviews
The 4400 is in a word - amazing! The acting is excellent and I'm glad it's an ensemble piece. The vulnerability of Shawn as he struggles with his abilities & social life is well captured by Patrick Flueger. Maia (Conchita Campbell) is innocently cryptic. The romance between Richard & Lily is sweet and deals sensitively with racial issues. Tom & Diana learn to care about the returnees as people, not subjects, and certainly prove themselves in the fantastic finale. The remainder of the cast including Kyle (Chad Faust) in a mysterious coma and Jordan (Bill Campbell) as the sinister, self appointed leader of the 4400 are also well cast. The storyline kept me gripped throughout. The music was well chosen, especially "Bye Bye, Baby" in the pilot. I love the title sequence too. The effects are superb. The second season proved to be just as exciting and emotional, as the first. It also introduces Jeffery Combs, my favourite Star Trek actor. It's his best role yet. Each key character gets a storyline of their own, which intercut nicely with the overall arc. For every question answered, there's a new one raised, so you're never bored. This is essentially a show about people, rather than solid sci fi, which is a definite plus. Well worth buying the DVDs. I'm sure Season 3 will be equally fantastic. I can't wait. A+++
Man I hope it's not just me, but Season 3 was terrible, and even though Season 4 just started my hopes that it would be better this year have been dashed so far. It's not just me that thinks that is it? The 1st season was great (mini-series included) and even the second was pretty good. But now it just seems to be lost! I don't know what the hell the deal is with it, but it seems like the writers are snoozing or maybe they are off on other more important projects, I don't know. It is a real shame because there is nothing else to watch during the summer. I really wish they would get with program and make it enjoyable to watch again. If this keeps up, I doubt we will see a fifth season.
- TheEmulator23
- Jun 30, 2007
- Permalink
I hadn't heard of the show before seeing it pop up on my Netflix feed, but it immediately drew my attention with the classification of Time Travel and Sci-Fi. Some of the writing annoyed me a bit. The idea that U.S. government would basically treat it's citizens like it was North Korea or Iran and no one would say a thing was a bit odd. Were none of the writers aware of the constitution? Anyway, aside from that it's a good show. I was a bit concerned that the final season would end at a cliffhanger with no reconciliation in sight like other shows have done when they were canceled, but I think they ended it well. They left the possibility of a restart while also leaving it with a satisfying ending. Sadly they didn't restart the show, but I hear CW is planning a reboot soon. Bottom line, if you like sci-fi with a heavy dose of drama, give it a watch. You won't be disappointed.
The 4400 is a very interesting story that I have not seen before. What happens after a person has been abducted by ETs and returns a number of years later. They find their loved ones dead. The neighborhoods they knew are gone. Their family had assumed they're dead and moved on. What would the readjustment be like? That is the story of this very fascinating miniseries is about. I will be sure to watch the rest of this series to see what happens. I'm sure some people will learn how to cope and some will not. But is there something more sinister going on? The 4400 is the cure for the summer boredom. I wish the networks would stop putting on one idiotic reality show after another and have shows that are at least have some ambition to them. Why does junk like The Simple Life and Fear Factor stay on the air and shows with ambition are banished to cable. That's where the viewers should go. Watch this show.
Watching the 4400 is a bit like going to quiet café for a quick bite to eat and, unexpectedly, having one of the best meals of your life.
Hard to follow, and occasionally borderline kitsch, somehow The 4400 keeps you hooked with the fascinating characters, deep plot and unpredictable turns.
The storyline is highly original. The actors and the characters that they play are highly engaging. It tests some scientific and moral boundaries and makes some other programmes seem like music videos in comparison.
I think it is a sci-fi classic which, like Dune, will be loved by a small hardcore of fans, whilst most will just scratch their heads wondering what it is all about.
Hard to follow, and occasionally borderline kitsch, somehow The 4400 keeps you hooked with the fascinating characters, deep plot and unpredictable turns.
The storyline is highly original. The actors and the characters that they play are highly engaging. It tests some scientific and moral boundaries and makes some other programmes seem like music videos in comparison.
I think it is a sci-fi classic which, like Dune, will be loved by a small hardcore of fans, whilst most will just scratch their heads wondering what it is all about.
Amending my statement as to the greatness of this show, which, I should point out, has been online since '05. Let me reiterate most vehemently: this was by far one of the best shows ever on TV. I think that Heroes is such a corporate fraud of this program. I liked Heroes for a while, but never forget that I knew from the beginning that it was a corporate takeover of the much better 4400. Now I can barely stand it. The plot is all twisted and crazy. The 4400 at least deserves a mini-series followup in which some of those tangled threads are sown up. This is by far one of the best shows ever. Take a look and see. The hero vs. villain plot was really fleshed out in season 4, only to end to abruptly. I know that the writers strike had a part in the shows demise, but still: NBC owns USA and thereby at least could grace us with a replay on SciFi, another NBC holding. They replayed KINGS or whatever its called, and it is no where near this caliber. I say again: mini-series of 4400 to resolve some stuff or else!
- globalfreak-2
- Jan 20, 2005
- Permalink
I've watched every episode of this. After months of uncertainty, The 4400 was cancelled. Possibly a victim of the writers' strike, probably not the only one... but it would be unfair to put all the blame on said union act. Yes, this show definitely had its ups. Yes, there were occasional great episodes, such as the season two finale(which shall remain nameless in this review, to avoid spoilers), and even the rare extraordinary one, such as Life Interrupted. Yes, some of the show was fantastic. Some of the writing was intelligent, realistic. Several points made, themes explored, were very interesting. There was genuinely good and worthwhile science fiction found here. How often do you find that on television? Among the action and the special effects there were parts that were truly impressive. The drama wasn't without accomplished moments. No, this show wasn't all bad. But all the wasted potential is just difficult to overlook. The problem is, the very concept is flawed... it's partially overreaching(twelve episodes per season), and it's also just not limited enough. The obvious gaping plot hole, the logic problem, was never addressed(I cannot reveal what it is here, because it would be a spoiler)... in fact, the show always seemed unwilling to limit itself, for purposes of concise story-telling(and never run out of material... and for an inestimable amount of such, not to mention only having 42 episodes in total, for four seasons, they had far too many episodes that... just weren't all that good). Said storytelling did have something to offer, but not very much. There were too many things that they seemed to never really explain. Plots and ideas were introduced, seldom developed enough, and they either were not concluded, or it was done in an abrupt and unsatisfactory manner. Characters were presented, explored(if even that), and dismissed(another error in that department is arguably taking the Mulder & Scully approach). Acting was hit-and-miss. The symbolism was blatant, sometimes even insulting. It always seemed like it was going somewhere, bigger, smarter, better, and it just never got there. If it had some message, it lost it along the way. The season finales got increasingly more desperate, trying harder and harder to be given a renewal, and to promise viewers more, but continually failed to deliver. They almost never seemed to handle actors being unavailable terribly well, either. In the end, this was a mini-series that got unexpectedly high ratings, so the network decided to capitalize on that(and the lack of (new) Summer programming) by bringing it back as a series... and the producers may not have had enough of a plan. The people behind it maybe just weren't up to the task. The behind the scenes people were of insufficient talent, I suppose. I recommend this to fans of sci-fi and the actors(a certain one, perhaps known more from his horror work, who's done sci-fi before, appears... excellent as always, a bright spot in the show)... just don't expect consistent quality over the run of the series, or for everything to be wrapped up(partially due to the show's cancellation). 6/10
- TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
- Dec 30, 2007
- Permalink
Finished watching this series yesterday, in 2020.
From a film makers perspective and Sci-Fi fan observation, this is one of the best TV series I have seen overall. It's a bit like The X-Files mixed with the TV show Heroes (2006), with a dash of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and Looper (2012). Really unique.
It lasted four seasons and must have been dropped somewhat suddenly, because the last few episodes try to tie it all up real quick, and it ends leaving questions. I could totally see a sequel reboot of it, and they left the possibility open.
I enjoyed it, because it takes common expectations for this genre of film/tv and messes with it so from the very beginning it misdirects you over and over again.
It was fresh and intriguing, not knowing what was going to happen next. An excellent method of revealed storytelling.
The Cinematography is excellent, the story tight, just a really superior piece of film history.
From a film makers perspective and Sci-Fi fan observation, this is one of the best TV series I have seen overall. It's a bit like The X-Files mixed with the TV show Heroes (2006), with a dash of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and Looper (2012). Really unique.
It lasted four seasons and must have been dropped somewhat suddenly, because the last few episodes try to tie it all up real quick, and it ends leaving questions. I could totally see a sequel reboot of it, and they left the possibility open.
I enjoyed it, because it takes common expectations for this genre of film/tv and messes with it so from the very beginning it misdirects you over and over again.
It was fresh and intriguing, not knowing what was going to happen next. An excellent method of revealed storytelling.
The Cinematography is excellent, the story tight, just a really superior piece of film history.
- Randy-Dreammaker
- Feb 16, 2020
- Permalink
This was a great tv show. Very imaginative. Way to many tv shows, just like this show, get canceled. It makes people not want to watch a show until the complete series is finished. There's nothing worse than faithfully following a show that you really enjoy week after week season season then it gets canceled before its time!
- tetoatahiti
- Jul 25, 2021
- Permalink
I like this show, the premise is fun and lots of creative ideas. But the writing especially in the first season is awful, particularly the dialogue. The acting, with a few exceptions (Mahershala Ali) is generaly sub-par. The lighting and camera work is often pretty terrible too, like watching a 90s soap opera. But overall entertaining.
This is an extremely ambitious but well-written and well-acted sci-fi story. The key is that it is not just about weird goings-on but rather, what people might do under weird circumstances. The answers are touching and thought-provoking. There are drawbacks and potential drawbacks. The show is not over yet; we don't know what it will look like when it is over, but so far, very good. I wish they had a larger budget so they did not have to skimp on special effects. But then, like early X-Files episodes--which this most closely resembles, the show relies more on the viewers imagination than on special effects.
The 4400 has to be one of the very best TV shows ever made. The story, the characters all so well written. It is a shame we couldn't get more seasons or episodes of it. The best thing about the show was that flow of story was rational. You don't have moments where characters are doing crazy things. Whatever you're thinking could be the best outcome, the story actually goes in that direction. Makes sense, exciting and engaging. 100% recommended!
- theoneaman
- Jul 4, 2020
- Permalink
Over the years many people just disappeared then one day four thousand, four hundred of them reappeared in a ball of light on the shore of a lake in Washington State. These people are quarantined by a branch of the US Department of Homeland Security known as National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC). It soon emerges that each of them has gained a power. NTAC agents Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris are part of the investigation to find out where The 4400 went and why they returned with these powers. The series concentrates not only on these two NTEC agents but also of a variety of key members of the 4400. Many ordinary people are nervous about having people with powers amongst them; especially after some misuse their powers. One of The 4400, Jordon Collier, becomes a leader to a group of fellow returnees; acting in a Messianic manner he is naturally considered a threat.
This is a decent enough science fiction series. The idea of a group of people suddenly getting powers is hardly new but that isn't really a problem. The series provides both long running plot lines and '4400 of the week' stories which are dealt with within the course of a single episode. There are plenty of good characters and the cast is solid and includes a few 'sci-fi' regulars such as Jeffrey Combs and Summer Glau in secondary roles. The series started well then dipped a bit as we got more single episode stories; it does improve again but sadly it was cancelled before a proper ending... it was a pity the makers weren't given a couple more episodes to at least try to wrap up major plot lines. Overall I'm not sure I'd recommend it; not because there is anything wrong with the show but because it lacks an ending.
This is a decent enough science fiction series. The idea of a group of people suddenly getting powers is hardly new but that isn't really a problem. The series provides both long running plot lines and '4400 of the week' stories which are dealt with within the course of a single episode. There are plenty of good characters and the cast is solid and includes a few 'sci-fi' regulars such as Jeffrey Combs and Summer Glau in secondary roles. The series started well then dipped a bit as we got more single episode stories; it does improve again but sadly it was cancelled before a proper ending... it was a pity the makers weren't given a couple more episodes to at least try to wrap up major plot lines. Overall I'm not sure I'd recommend it; not because there is anything wrong with the show but because it lacks an ending.
WHO, Coming Catastrophe, mass vaccinations, boss of the worlds largest software company etc etc, WEIRD
Just started watching series (currently in S1 E5)....something is off with this show. Is it the writing, the casting, or the acting? Combination?
- davidkwyrick
- Jun 30, 2021
- Permalink
- bigicon2000
- Jan 7, 2019
- Permalink
I am a Persian translator guy and in Iran, i translated the MANIFEST series subtitle from ENG to PER...
now when i watched this tv show, i realized that manifest and 4400 are really look like each other.
Some of 191 passengers from M A (Montego Air) 828 in manifest had this ability called "callings" and some didn't (eg Michaela had callings but Autumn Cox and Fiona Clark they hadn't) and in this tv show "4400" some of them have some abilities and some have nothing.
Some of 191 passengers from M A (Montego Air) 828 in manifest had this ability called "callings" and some didn't (eg Michaela had callings but Autumn Cox and Fiona Clark they hadn't) and in this tv show "4400" some of them have some abilities and some have nothing.
- amirmoosa-84614
- Jan 31, 2022
- Permalink
- dbullock-3
- Jun 4, 2006
- Permalink
To figure out my rating out of 10 on this show is difficult. I'd say 6.5 out of 10.
The concept of the show is very unique. On paper the show is incredible. I could easily see it as an X-men-type of movie franchise. I feel the only two downfalls are that it's so low budget, and it's TV-14.
Some of the actors in it are horrendous. It does have some good ones, and if it not for the concept of show being so good, the acting would've a deal breaker.
IMO For a show/movie to be less than rated R and still be worth watching is rare. Life is rated R, and therefore so should all entertainment...but I'm off track.
This show, if you don't like the first 3 episodes, you probably won't like the show...but with numerous season quite a lot happens along the way. Even with 6.5 out of 10, it's still worth watching if you can get over the budget restraints.
The concept of the show is very unique. On paper the show is incredible. I could easily see it as an X-men-type of movie franchise. I feel the only two downfalls are that it's so low budget, and it's TV-14.
Some of the actors in it are horrendous. It does have some good ones, and if it not for the concept of show being so good, the acting would've a deal breaker.
IMO For a show/movie to be less than rated R and still be worth watching is rare. Life is rated R, and therefore so should all entertainment...but I'm off track.
This show, if you don't like the first 3 episodes, you probably won't like the show...but with numerous season quite a lot happens along the way. Even with 6.5 out of 10, it's still worth watching if you can get over the budget restraints.
- XyphoidProcess
- Feb 24, 2009
- Permalink