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Episode Recap: "Ghost in the Machine"
For most of the episode, I was really feeling sorry for Diana, since she was being betrayed by just about everyone she cared for. Then Drew Imroff blew his brains out. Not only did this guy lose most of his fortune and have his company’s reputation ruined, but his Marked buddies decided this made him too much of a liability. What’s that saying? True friends stab you in the front?
Their plan is to implant Drew’s personality into Jordan Collier — not exactly a low-security candidate. I’m not sure about the long-term viability of the plan, but then again the Marked know how the future turns out, and I don’t, so I’m not going to judge. On the other hand, based on what we’ve seen in the last two episodes, it might be a moral step up for Jordan to be someone else for a while, as he presumably won’t be intent on seeing half of the planet die. Of course, considering the Marked hate P-positives, maybe it’s trading one side of this genocide for the other.
On a disheartening note, it doesn’t look like a Marked personality can be removed without killing the host, and it may not be possible to get the real Tom Baldwin back, despite what Diana and Meghan want. The good news is that at least they now know that he’s not really Tom, no matter how many medical scans he brandishes saying he is.
I don’t think the Marked are as smart as they think they are, giving Isabelle back her powers. Just because she personally can’t attack them now, doesn’t mean she can’t send one of the Promise City dwellers to do so. It doesn’t seem that the Marked have any special powers (other than being creepy in an, "I’m watching you sleep," Lifetime-movie kind of way), so it would seem a simple thing for, say, the guy who induces terrible headaches to kill them, especially now that Isabelle knows the identity of at least one of them. OK, so it’s her boyfriend’s father’s body, but it isn’t him.
There’s no new episode next week, so we have a couple of weeks to breathe before the last two episodes of the season air. You guys always have the best insights into the more conspiratorial aspects of the mythology, so I’m going to leave the theorizing to you. Here are a couple of things I’ve been pondering lately: Is Kyle really a true believer? His conversations with Cassie prove him more skeptical than he lets on, but he does seem to follow Jordan blindly. Will that change if/when Jordan becomes a member of the Marked? Where does Maia fit in with all of this? We haven’t heard much about the future from her lately. Finally, on which side of the aisle do you think Isabelle will end up? Is there even a "good" side to be on?
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Aug 26, 2007 10:49 PM
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I'm wondering if it's even possible for a 4400 to be "marked". If it was, you'd think they'd have done it before. A "marked" Tess would be very useful, especially the new schizphrenia-free version.
Speaking of Tess, I think she's going to mess up Evil Tom's plans. Shawn has already mentioned getting in contact with her. She's pretty much unstoppable - I doubt even the Marked could resist her suggestions.
I loved all the Micro$oft references in this episode, especially the line about Steve Jobs being on Drew's list of enemies. Then there was the guy reaching out from his hospital bed to wreak his revenge for Ubient being built on software that Drew bought from him for next to nothing - which is exactly how Bill Gates bult an empire on MS-DOS.
Evil Tom needed to make a better choice when he stole a vehicle to take out the utility pole, The SUV was a no-brainer - he needed something heavy with a big engine and a solid front end - but he should have grabbed something with an airbag, then he wouldn't have the bumps and scrapes that made Diana suspicious.
My big questions: How much did Evil Tom overhear between Diana and Meghan? What's the deal with Maia's "parants"? Does Isabelle have her powers back?
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Aug 27, 2007 12:03 AM
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I don't think that it is required to kill a marked person to remove the other personality. I think that they killed Drew to prevent the real personality from telling people about the "Marked". I also wonder about Maia, she usually see things coming but she hasn't seen anything in a long time. Could it be that puberty blocks her power? Finally, I am wondering about Kyle's power - Cassie. I am very suspicious that he really doesn't have a power and that someone is sending these messages to him.
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Aug 27, 2007 8:32 AM
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This is purely speculation. But I am thinking that Tom is gonna have an inner battle with himself and his Marked self. He will then take Shawn's test and find out he would die if he takes it. But will have to take promicin to purge his marked self, and Shawn will bring him back to life.
Also, the chick from "Traveler" really came out of nowhere. Wonder what that is gonna be a setup for.
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Aug 27, 2007 9:39 AM
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Sorry if this is repeating, I love last night episode and I just really wanted to comment.
Okay, I believe that they are probably lying to Isabelle about the deterrent and probably when it comes to either Sean or Kyle's life over her own at some point, she will use her powers against one of the Marked in what she will believe is a final heroic gesture and expect to die, but she won't.
And once again, I feel bad for Kyle, he is so a pawn of the Marked (which now all makes perfect sense). Here is my slightly altered theory, the future (the good future who I believe in this time is represented by Kevin and Sean) used Kyle as its messenger (and that probably is who they wanted to lead any sort of 4400 movement, not Jordan) and then that pathway in his head allowed the Marked to try and influence him. They zombie controlled him into killing Jordan, but couldn't overtake him like they have with Tom. Kyle probably unnecessarily took the Promicin shot and that allowed the Marked to fool him with Cassie. They can't completely overtake him though because he is at the outset the "good" future's tool. And if a very sad star-crossed lovers story line, if Isabelle has any real dormant orders, they were probably given to her in utero and she flailed out at those who are dangerous (Jordan and Sean), but she has never faced Kyle when she is knee deep in power mode. At that point, wouldn't it be sad that her mission is to destroy the 4400, but it really means destroying Kyle. And when she is normal, that is just such a sweet coupling. I guess I worry about that last part being far too Terminator-esque.
And I am glad Sean finally has gotten a fight fire with fire attitude!! If you can't reason with an ego maniacal lunatic, well, go around him and use the person who can make anyone do anything against their will. I am concerned that Summer Glau might already be in production for..the Bionic Woman? I forget what show she is going to be on. But I figure, Lassiter on Psych plays the sheriff of Neuburn on Jericho and I am sure others might be able to point out other actors that are taking advantage of this rise of summer series if they don't play a main part on their regular season show.
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Aug 27, 2007 10:35 AM
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One more thing, I didn't so much feel sorry about the Tom/Diana thing, but I felt conflicted over the Myah and her biological parents thing. With the Tom thing, I was happy they weren't going to drag it out and I am glad she is such a smart character. But the Myah thing, is that actually Lindsay's power or is it that kid who was making Lily appear last week? I was vaguely happy for Myah, but I can't see how this is good for her in the long run, you know, because they have been dead for sixty years and she is twelve.
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Aug 27, 2007 10:37 AM
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I really think that Sean will end up being the person to save the world. So far he is the only one to make any real sense in this whole thing.
I feel bad about Meghan. Many people thought that she was involved in the Marked - and she now is thanks to Tom. It's hard to not feel sorry for Tom though - he kept telling people that the Marked were after him and no one would listen!
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Aug 27, 2007 11:38 AM
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This series got off to a slow start this season, but I think it has steadily improved. This episode, and the last few, have been more interesting and seem to be moving the story forward. I'm excited to see how it plays out in the last two episodes.
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Aug 27, 2007 12:04 PM
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Is it me, or does anybody else think this episode should have been titled "Ghost of the X-Files"?? Last couple of weeks, I'm starting to lose the thread of who is "good" future, who is "bad" future, and which faction caused what to happen in the past/future. At this point I forget what the original purpose was of the 4400s being returned with special abilities! Save the cheerleader, save the world? Oops, wrong show. 
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Aug 27, 2007 1:16 PM
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I have to agree that this season has finally hit its stride -- just as it is coming to an end (please, USA, pick up the series for TWENTY episodes next season -- 13 is not enough!). This week's episode was not as good as last week's ep with Tom "becoming" his Marked persona, but I am dying to see how Jordan Collier becomes one of the Marked (I thought they couldn't be Marked if they have Promicin in their system.)
Rob, I think you are exactly right about Kyle. Cassie is not his "ability," but merely a projection (like Lily and Maia's parents) caused most likely by somebody in the Jordan Collier camp. Personally, I think Kyle's real ability will come to fruition soon, and when that happens, he will turn on Jordan and Promise City.
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Aug 27, 2007 1:17 PM
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I think Kyle is going to be ghe key to which way things fall. At some point he's going to have do realize that blood is thicker than promicin, and help Shawn save Tom.
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Aug 27, 2007 2:00 PM
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Do we know for sure that if they have promician they can't be marked?
If so its such a shame that they didn't force Tom to take the shot after all...Would saved a whole lot of heartache
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Aug 28, 2007 1:50 PM
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anyone realize the title of this episode is the exact same title of a KYLE XY episode from a few weeks ago? when i looking at the episodes i thought there was some mix up or something... lol.... just wanted to pt it out... =P
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Aug 29, 2007 8:26 PM
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I noticed that too, angelicslayer.
I also thought they said that promician positives can't be marked, but I could be remembering wrong. I must be wrong otherwise why else would Tom say they were going to take over Jordan? I always thought that they would have to inject Tom with promician in order to get rid of the marked, which would explain how he ended up on the list.
I have doubted who Cassie was for a long time. Some of the stuff she tells Kyle is just way too suspicious. Why would it be part of the plan to let Richard take Isabelle? Unless they thought by reversing the aging she wouldn't go all evil. I just think she's learned so much now that she isn't going to turn against the people who care about her, namely Kyle.
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Aug 30, 2007 7:38 AM
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