The 4400

[mrpancake]

I just finished the first season and am totally hooked. I'll probably get to all of it by this weekend so I can watch the new season when it comes on! Totally excited! I can't wait to see what happens next...

[kafka]

Hurrah! I'm so glad. I wish we could get more Greecies into it because it would be so much fun to have online viewing parties. Everyone would get to choose a magical power, and they'd have to drink whenever there was a Scieno dig. (I'd say that they'd have to drink everytime the word NTAC was mentioned but then we'd all be too blotto to type.)

And who would have imagined that Tippi Hedren would be back on television after all these years of not acting? She'll probably have a more steady acting gig than Melanie Griffith has had in years! <meeeeeeowwwwww>

I can't WAIT for the new season. I just hope they don't show too much of the lawyer/advisor chap because he gives me the willies.

[shawnalanne]

kafka said:

... what do you think is the deal with Jordan Collier? I they've brought him (or the character) back to life (Spoilered in case some people, like MrPancake, haven't caught up with all the prior episodes)

His not being dead is what makes me wonder if evil baby is really evil or if it is part of a grander plan. The writers have always done a wonderful job of being ambiguous her true nature since many times when I'm almost convinced that she acted out of spite or possessiveness toward her mom there appears to be a good reason for her actions. The reason I'm still up in the air about her is because of how she hurt her elder sister. But again that could be Isabelle taking the long view again and we don't know all of the reasoning behind it.

I love the writing on this show!

[kafka]

shawnalanne said:

The writers have always done a wonderful job of being ambiguous her true nature since many times when I'm almost convinced that she acted out of spite or possessiveness toward her mom there appears to be a good reason for her actions. The reason I'm still up in the air about her is because of how she hurt her elder sister. But again that could be Isabelle taking the long view again and we don't know all of the reasoning behind it.

Exactly. The sister thing was pure maliciousness, unlike the crazy rednecks.

I've been thinking about the Judeo-Christian symbolism mentioned briefly in the Wikipedia site and I was struck by a few other things:

1- The irony of the Evil Baby thing in light of TomKat. Although the Evil Baby story line had been laid far before the Pillow/Whatever, the possibly evil (scientologist-like) New Messiah thing was extremely ironic by the time the 2nd season had concluded in late August 2005. Also, Isabella is the name of one of CTC's children and given the numerous digs at Scientology, I wonder if that was intentional from the beginning.

2- Going back to the 3 rednecks? You have the 3 wisemen bringing frankincense and myrrh to the new Jesus. But you have the 3 rednecks trying to kill the New (4400) Messiah. Is it because they're corrupted and evil (something underscored by being bigoted rednecks) or are they actually the 3 wise men who tried to save the world from an evil, anti-christ baby? It's as though they ambiguously turned the bible story on it's head. And given Lilly's Immaculate Conception of sorts, there is definitely that thematic possibility of an anti-Jesus.

On a side note, I hope they go back to focusing on the 4400's unusual abilities, more than the relationship b/w the male NTAC agent, his "wife" and that whole story line about time, etc. But since the actress playing the wife is now on as a regular, I don't have much hopes for that. Especially as there is probably no other way to bring in that weird scientific operating room with all the caged people.

[Deleted]

I so got the Scientology digs when watching. It probably helped that it was many months behind the States, and the CTC craziness was in full bloom.

That said, I will totally be watching it when it airs this fall north of the border. Damned Canadian networks not simulcasting. I spend my life avoiding spoilers and having no one to discuss stuff with except my mommy.

[mrpancake]

I finished the first two seasons. Don't ask how much time I spent vegetating watching those. It's embarassing! But, wow! So good! I can't wait for the next season.

[kafka]

mrpancake said:

I finished the first two seasons. Don't ask how much time I spent vegetating watching those. It's embarassing! But, wow! So good! I can't wait for the next season.

It's not embarassing! The 4400 is an amazing show, with multiple Emmy nominations and the prestige of breaking all records for the premiere of a cable series. So be proud of the 4400 love.

Okay, now that you've caught up:

-- What was your favorite freaky, mutant power that you've seen so far? Personally, I always become sad when I think of that chap from "Sex in the City" dying after trying to fix things, but his wouldn't be the power I'd really want. I can't think of which one really would be worth the cost/benefit downside but then I can't remember all the stuff they've showed. I *do* know that I wouldn't want Maia's ability to foretell the future.

--- What did you think about the whole flashback/alternative life/possible Alien message stuff experienced by the NTAC agent (can't remember his name)? I was always freaked out by that operating room with all the people chained up in cells and what that implied for the "aliens"/Others' real plans for people.

--- What did you think of Maia? Some people think she's freaky and creepy, but I actually rather like her a lot. The person whom I hated was the new lawyer/advisor when Jordan Collier (supposedly) died.

Lastly, what are your thoughts on the whole Isabella/Evil Baby/New Messiah With a Plan paradox?

[mrpancake]

-- What was your favorite freaky, mutant power that you've seen so far?

I have to say, I'm a sucker for telekinetic powers. Just being able to move things with your mind would be cool. But given all their crazy powers, that's a lame one to choose. Maia's was cool, and I always thought I'd want that, but after seeing the show I realized how scary it would be to forsee the future. I do like the mind reading one, but only if I could turn it off and on at will and zero-in on one mind at a time so I don't drive myself insane like that one guy.

--- What did you think about the whole flashback/alternative life/possible Alien message stuff experienced by the NTAC agent (can't remember his name)?

The alternate universe thing was SO weird. I was sort of wondering what the hell had happened. To be honest, I'm not sure I would have left that alternate universe. Everyone seemed to have it pretty well in the alternate universe. But it was weird in the sense that I didn't love that episode very much, but I liked it in theory. Like, I liked when they revisited it with him and crazy-accent-woman (name I can't remember) and they mentioned their relationship, but the actual episode which was focused on them wasn't my favorite.

--- What did you think of Maia?

I really like Maia. I think the nature of her power is a bit weird and creepy, but so is the fact that she's a child. TV/Movies love the creepy child with a weird power angle. Interestingly, she doesn't bug me like so many other "weird child" characters in the media. I think she's well-intentioned.

Lastly, what are your thoughts on the whole Isabella/Evil Baby/New Messiah With a Plan paradox?

I'm not so sure what to make of that! I don't think she's evil, I think she's part of the greater plan to save humankind, so I'n pretty sure she's more of the New Messiah more than anything else. But I'm bad at guessing these types of things so I could be totally wrong. I'm going to be interested to see where that storyline goes now that she's....grown?! That was insane and made me so eager for season 3!

It's funny, I am so not into the whole Scientology weirdness blah-blah in the sense that I just don't care about it. I know very little about it, I don't get worked up about it. I think it's a cult and it's weird, but I generally don't give half a shit about it. That being said, I loved all the scientology references about how weird it was. And it was just so painfully obvious that that's what they were singling out with the 4400 club or whatever.

I'm really inarticulate, but yeah, it's been a really interesting show so far.

Oh, and how badly did I feel for the poor woman who killed everyone around her?! God, that's a power I definitely wouldn't want!

[kafka]

mrpancake said:

To be honest, I'm not sure I would have left that alternate universe. Everyone seemed to have it pretty well in the alternate universe. But it was weird in the sense that I didn't love that episode very much, but I liked it in theory. Like, I liked when they revisited it with him and crazy-accent-woman (name I can't remember) and they mentioned their relationship, but the actual episode which was focused on them wasn't my favorite.

Not my favorite either. I know exactly what you mean in describing it. I was very bored with it, although intellectually I was interested in how it advanced the underlying story and theme. But most of the time, when they focused on that chap, I was like "Enough already! Can we go back to the weird freaky powers? What's next on the mutant X-Men-type list? Is someone going to be able to twitch their nose like Samantha? Can we please get to the COOL stuff already?!"

I really like Maia. I think the nature of her power is a bit weird and creepy, but so is the fact that she's a child. TV/Movies love the creepy child with a weird power angle. Interestingly, she doesn't bug me like so many other "weird child" characters in the media. I think she's well-intentioned.

I do too. One of my best friends whom I inveigled into watching this show thought she was creepy and malvolent. He hated her and our conversations got so heated that I made him swear not to mention her to me.

Oh, and how badly did I feel for the poor woman who killed everyone around her?! God, that's a power I definitely wouldn't want!

That was Sherilyn Fenn, who used to be amazingly gorgeous (and is still very eye-catching), and who has played JFK's sister, been on Twin Peaks, 21 Jump Street, Boxing Helena and a ton of other things. I think she's hugely underrated and very, very pretty. But that episode of the 4400? Freaked me out! All those pustulent boils and then all the death surrounding her. Urgh. She was like the Pretty, Curvy version of the Grim Reaper. With BOILS GALORE.

*shudder*

[shawnalanne]

With the new season starting I've decided to order season 2 on netflix so I can roll around in 4400 happiness. ... And to see the episodes I missed to Six Feet Under last year. I need to be able to contribute fully to this conversation.