The 4400: The Complete Series
4400 DVDs
Buy The 4400: The Complete Series
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Paramount
EAN: 0097361390345
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Paramount
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 15
Publisher: Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Running Time: 1938 minutes
Sales Rank: 8291
Studio: Paramount
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Editorial Review:
Album Description:
When 4400 alien abductees return to earth just as mysteriously as
they vanished, the Department of Homeland Security demands answers.
But even more pressing than the concerns of the government are the
experiences of the victims as they readjust to life on earth. Upon
their return, these formerly missing persons lose all memory of what
happened to them. Though they can't remember where they've been,
they are haunted by the knowledge that their experiences have
changed them. Operating in a cloud of unknowns, the victims start to
go through mysterious changes, gaining powers that they can't always
control. This collection presents all four seasons of the sci-fi
series.
Amazon.com:
Season One
The 4400, which began as a five-week miniseries on the USA Network,
is built around a deceptively simple, dramatically rich premise.
What if all the people, who had ever been abducted by aliens, were
suddenly returned to Earth? What would happen? Although they look
exactly as they did when they left, they have no knowledge of where
they were or why they were taken. Now some even have special powers,
like clairvoyance. As with ABC's Lost, which centers on the
survivors of a plane crash, The 4400 features a large cast of
characters and a host of mysteries to be solved. If the special
effects, which are kept to a minimum, can be a little cheesy at
times, the concept--and the skillful execution of the
concept--easily makes up for it. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola's
American Zoetrope and created by Scott Peters (The Outer Limits),
The 4400 is set in Seattle, where the 4400 are returned. The
principal characters include Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote of E.T.),
the local supervisor of Homeland Security. He's joined by agents Tom
Baldwin (Joel Gretsch of Taken), whose nephew was one of the
returnees, and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie of Romper Stomper),
who takes in one of the youngest returnees.
Guest stars include Michael Moriarty (Law and Order) in "Pilot" and
Lee Tergeson (Oz) in "Becoming." Billy Campbell (Once and Again)
also appears in several episodes as Jordan Collier, a real-estate
magnate and returnee who becomes an advocate for others like
himself, many of whom are having problems adjusting to a changed
world. Like Lost, one of the biggest success stories of 2004, The
4400 debuted to strong ratings and was renewed for a full season.
--Kathleen C. Fennessy
Season Two
A year has passed since 4400 abductees were returned to Earth (and
six months since the original series ended). Richard (Mahershalalhashbaz
Ali), Lily (Laura Allen), and Isabelle are on the run from Jordan
Collier (Billy Campbell) and others who would attempt to harm their
child. Shawn (Patrick Flueger) has moved into Collier's cult-like
4400 Center. Then there are NTAC (National Threat Assessment
Command) agents Diana (Jacqueline McKenzie) and Tom (Joel Gretsch).
The former has officially adopted Maia (Conchita Campbell), while
the latter is reunited with formerly comatose son Kyle (Chad Faust),
Shawn's best friend. Almost everyone, returnees and otherwise, is
changing. Jordan, for instance, is having more seizures (as a result
of his first encounter with the eerie Isabelle), while Kyle is
having blackouts. Along the way, new characters are introduced, like
mute mental patient Kevin (Jeffrey Combs, Re-Animator), who regains
the ability to talk, thanks to Tess (Summer Glau, Serenity), the
only returnee who can recall what happened to her. Others include
Diana's sister April (Natasha Gregson Wagner), Jordan’s pal Matthew
(Garret Dillahunt, Deadwood), and former NTAC supervisor Dennis
Ryland (Peter Coyote), who returns to the fold. Guest stars include
E.R.'s Sharif Atkins ("Voices Carry"), Star Trek: Voyager's Robert
Picardo ("Weight of the World"), and Twin Peaks' Sherilyn Fenn
("Carrier"). The season will end much as the miniseries began, with
the 4400 being released from another quarantine, setting the scene
for the next year. Although the first set was a barebones release,
the second features commentary from McKenzie, Gretsch, writer Craig
Sweeny, and writer/producer Ira Steven Behr. --Kathleen C Fennessy
Season Three
Season two of The 4400 ended not with one, but two shockers. First,
baby Isabelle turned into a 20-year-old overnight (now played by
Megalyn Echikunwoke). Then, it was revealed that Jordan Collier
(Billy Campbell), who was believed dead, is still alive. The third
year begins with more surprises. While Isabelle was aging, so was
her mother, Lily (Tippi Hedren, replacing Laura Allen), who
fast-forwards several decades. Suffice to say, her husband, Richard
(Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), is not pleased. Also, the Nova Group, a
splinter organization within the 4400, has started to eliminate
those they perceive as their enemies—including their own. The 4400's
third season was widely considered its weakest, but solid ratings
justified a fourth. The pace doesn't pick up until Jordan's
return--in real life, Campbell took off 13 months to sail the
world--but the concept and the characters remain intriguing. For
instance, Shawn (Patrick Flueger), head of the 4400 Center, embarks
on a relationship with Isabelle, while his uncle, NTAC agent Tom
(Joel Gretsch), gets bad news about wife Alana (Karina Lombard) and
good news about son Kyle (Chad Faust). Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote),
meanwhile, moves from the NTAC into the private sector where he
continues to micro-manage the 4400.
Recurring characters include Gary Navarro (Sharif Atkins), who joins
the Nova Group, Dr. Burkoff (Jeffrey Combs), who injects himself
with promicin--the mysterious substance associated with the
4400--and the sympathetic Tess (Summer Glau), who assists in his
attempt to see if he can develop similar powers. Guest stars include
Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact) as a woman with a special
interest in Diana's adopted daughter Maia ("Gone") and Brian Dennehy
(Cocoon) as Tom's father ("Blink"). As with season two, three
features commentary from the cast and crew plus a trio of
featurettes. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Season Four
There's nothing like a psych-out to shake things up. In The 4400's
fourth season opener, everyone has taken the medicine Jordan Collier
(Billy Campbell) distributed in year three, and all's right with the
world. Then he wakes up from his dream. In truth, promicin helps
some and harms others. Soon, Shawn (Patrick Flueger) emerges from
his coma and Isabelle (Megalyn Echikunwoke), who tried to kill him,
escapes from prison. As for NTAC, agents Tom (Joel Gretsch) still
mourns the missing Alana, while Diana (Jacqueline McKenzie) returns
to work when she finds out her sister, April (Natasha Gregson
Wagner), has taken the shot. As the season continues, promicin-related
strangeness accelerates, like the outcast (Cameron Bright) who
becomes a messiah--and insists his followers only listen to TV on
the radio--or the librarian (Constance Towers) who can astral
project. An attractive new NTAC supervisor, Meghan Doyle (Jenni
Baird), joins Tom and Diana to monitor the positives and those they
affect, including Tom's son, Kyle (Chad Faust), who helps Collier
establish Seattle's Promise City, an all-positive community. As
ever, shades of grey dominate, and anyone can change at any time.
Even an NTAC agent can become one of the Marked.
The fourth year ends with a viral outbreak, followed by the death of
a key character. For the most part, though, the conclusion holds out
hope for relations between the positives and the rest of the
population--if they can stop the Marked in time. Because the USA
Network chose not to renew the show, some questions may never be
answered. Fortunately, The 4400 went out with both humor and heart.
Extra features include deleted scenes, featurettes, a blooper reel,
and commentary from creator Scott Peters on "Till We Have Built
Jerusalem" and the director's cut of finalé "The Great Leap
Forward." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
