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Episode Recap: "The Great Leap Forward"
Welcome to Promise City: Built on the graves of 9,000 people.
What a sad yet awesome episode. We said goodbye to the Bill Gates look-alike NTAC geek, Danny Farrell, Mrs. Farrell, Isabelle and Penny Johnson’s Rebecca Parish. For whom did I shed the most tears (yes, that was me you heard bawling through the whole episode)? Danny Farrell. He was estranged from his brother for so long because of Shawn’s abilities, and yet his newly acquired ability caused the deaths of at least 9,000 — and he went to all that trouble to make sure it didn’t kill him. Maybe it was only fitting that he had his brother kill him, in some twisted sort of poetic justice. It didn’t make it any less sad. As Shawn put it, he didn’t want to lose his brother and his mother on the same day. At least it’s brought the whole remaining Baldwin/Farrell clan closer — perhaps our only consolation.
And what has become of those who didn’t die? Everyone in Seattle who survived now has an ability, except Diana, because of Kevin Burkhoff’s bizarre experiments on her last year, and apparently Tom, who for some reason still needs to take the shot (maybe one of you guys can fill in that plot hole for me; you’re always so on the ball). Meghan can make flowers out of pens, Garrity can create clones of himself and Marco… well, Marco kind of ripped off Hiro’s power from Heroes. Hey, I said kind of.
But what’s really happened to the Marked? We know that Tom told Jordan how to get the nanites out of him, but we never saw him actually following his advice. How do we know Jordan isn’t already one of the Marked? If he is, then Isabelle sacrificed herself and her future with Kyle for nothing. Plus, if he really is "naming himself dictator of Seattle," as Diana put it, the world couldn’t be in worse shape. Actually, considering his goals are still so nebulous (what does he want beyond a Promicin-positive world? What happens after?), the world is probably in bad shape regardless of whether he’s Marked or not. Then again, Maia did say that the P-positives are in charge now, and she’s never wrong. You know, except for all the times she has been.
I have to say, this show really does bang-up season finales with beyond-amazing music, and this episode’s use of the Pixies’ "Where Is My Mind?" just made me fall a little bit more in love with the producers. I really have to hand it to them, if they don’t get renewed, they delivered a series finale with a lot of closure, but they weren’t lying in saying that should the show come back, there are plenty of jumping-off points. Will Tom take the shot (if he does in fact need to)? What happens to Seattle? What can possibly stop Jordan Collier? Will Maia grow another 70 feet?
But seriously, this was a fantastic episode, regardless of whether it ended the season or the series, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
For more 4400 clips, visit our Online Video Guide.
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Sep 16, 2007 11:42 PM
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All good questions you posted Leah. Tom came in contact with Megan before he took the antidote pills, so I don't know why he wouldn't have been affectd. My other big question is: What happened to Cassie, and for that matter who or what was Cassie?
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Sep 17, 2007 12:16 AM
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That last image of the city sign reading "Welcome to Promise City" was really great.
This episode changed everything forever, and if this show does return, I can't even imagine which direction they will take us.
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Sep 17, 2007 12:41 AM
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As I just recently lost my mother although not in such a bizarre manner tonight's episode was extremely sad for me, you weren't the only one crying. Poor Shawn! He has done nothing but try and bring peace to all the entire season and he ends up in the worst shape losing his entire family. I thought the episode was extremely intriguing and quite sad. They better pick this up for a new season!! If that stupid crap "Psych" can get picked up The 4400 should be a breeze.
See ya next season
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Sep 17, 2007 12:42 AM
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Tom was in "quarantine" in his house the whole time with Meghan. Meghan did not leave the house until after Diana brought news to them that NTAC had had an outbreak and she was immune and not a carrier. By the time Tom left the house he would not have come into contact with any promicin carriers and Danny was on the inhibitor so he was not spreading promicin in the air anymore.
What I wonder is if Shawn helps Jordan get rid of his mark? He never wanted Jordan to give out promicin and now his immediate family is dead because of it. He's got to be angry and since Kyle is the last remaining bit of family he's got he won't take it out on Kyle, but he might take it out on Collier. Besides he was looking at that magazine awfully hard-the one that asked who could stop Jordan now.
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Sep 17, 2007 12:47 AM
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I liked this alot and I think it could work as a season finale or a series finale. I'd be kind of dissapointed if we don't get to see what happens with Tom's new ability, the whole promise city thing and what not but I could live. As for Marco's ability a bit like hiro's but he's only teleporting and thats been done alot before, and I liked how they show'd that was his ability.
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Sep 17, 2007 1:13 AM
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I really wanted Diana to get an ability. The season began with her (in a dream sequence) having the ability to stop time, it would have been great if they would have ending with her having that ability. Since we know every remaining person at NTAC has an ability that is going to be pretty awkward for her.
And doesn't Maia seem to be getting a little mean/sinister? She kind of freaked me out with her agreement that Jordan was right, maybe I'm reading too much into it...but that girls been rebelling all season... she keeps lying to Diana -- going to see her dead parents; sneaking out to promise city...
I can see Tom taking the shot and not getting in trouble - he could pretend he was infected like everyone else; plus he wants to bond with the family he has left...
I wonder if Meghan's power stops at plant life, or if she can change objects into whatever other object she wants to?? And then eventually herself -- a kind of Mystic power...
I think the finale left more questions to ask then it answered & I will be upset if it doesn't get renewed or picked up by Sci-fi, Stargate got picked up by Sci-fi and ran for like 6 more years!!!
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Sep 17, 2007 1:15 AM
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The thing I'm most confused about is, didn't the preview to this episode show Alana coming back?
Interesting how Tom was willing to work with Jordan to take care of The Marked - but I still don't think Jordan's vision is what the 4400 were sent back for.
It seems odd to me that the bit with Maia's "parents' was just dropped withou being explaineed or going anywhere. That seemed like it could have been an interesting road to go down.
Who can stop Jordan Collier - now that Isabelle's gone, probably nobody (well, maybe Tess with a large army of recruits).
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Sep 17, 2007 1:22 AM
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if we're going to talk ripped off, heroes kind of ripped off the 4400.
hey, i said kind of...
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Sep 17, 2007 1:33 AM
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And both shows ripped of the X-Men. Who cares, as long as they are entertaining?
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Sep 17, 2007 6:27 AM
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I hate it whenever people compare the two, they're really two very different shows once you get past the similarities. The 4400 is pretty much X-men mixed with the X-Files.
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Sep 17, 2007 8:08 AM
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Why didn't anyone even consider having Jordan use his ability to remove Danny's? They didn't know Jordan was missing - Danny didn't have to die!
Have they ever really confirmed how someone's ability is chosen? Is it genetics, or does the future decide? It seems like some people are given specific gifts for specific reasons (like the original 4400, or Kyle) but it's never been clear whether others just 'happen' to get a certain ability.
And is there ANY kind of news about next season??? As you can tell, I have WAY too many questions for this to be the end!!
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Sep 17, 2007 8:43 AM
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well The 4400 preceded Heroes by several years, so I don't think they're ripping off the NBC show.
As for Marco's ability, I don't see him as strictly time traveling. I took his ability to be that he can look at a picture and suddenly find himself there. Remember, he was looking at a photo and instantly he was standing in front of what he had been looking at in the picture. That's how I interpretted it.
I hope the show is renewed. I enjoy it.
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Sep 17, 2007 9:12 AM
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I agree that it would be a shame if this served as the series, rather than just season, finale--there are so many places to go with this: Is Maia becoming sinister or just being a teenager? What will be Tom's power? Will Shawn manage to stay sane/good? Will Isabelle's dad return for revenge? What about Alana? (Tom was looking at her picture right at the end.) And will Seattle become Promise City permanently? I could go on...
Please, USA--renew this show or let your sister network SciFi pick it up. We'll be happy to watch it on either channel!
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Sep 17, 2007 9:24 AM
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When did Megan get exposed to promicin? It never showed that. When NTAC was infected, she was talking on the phone with Diana.
I thought it was a great episdoe. I hope that it gets renewed!
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Sep 17, 2007 10:05 AM
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