More and more cable networks are endeavoring to produce original series. Unlike their traditional broadcast competitors these smaller cable stations do not have to try to appeal to the largest most general audience. They can target a smaller but loyal niche group. One of the best networks for employing this paradigm is the USA network and one of their best efforts was the science fiction series, ‘The 4400’. While this series can now be counted among the regrettably growing lists of series that have met their demise long before their time we at least have four seasons to enjoy. Now, the final season is available on DVD thanks to the good folks over at the CBS division at Paramount. The strength of this incredible series is something that science fiction has been doing since its inception; commenting on current social and political issues under the cover of pure entertainment. Many of the topics explored here would have certainly stirred up controversy if presented in a drama or any other genre available but under the guise of Sci-Fi it is only an imaginary world so the writers tend to get away with a biting commentary on our real world and its problems. This was a series with originality, imagination and excellence so naturally it was cancelled. Now fans can complete their collection with the DVD release of the forth season.

In the series 4400 people have been abducted by a faction on the future, given amazing abilities and sent back in time to rejoin and correct the time line. The government saw them as a danger and secretly administered a counter agent to promicin, the neurotransmitter responsible for the 4400 abilities. At the end of the third season promicin was isolated and manufactured in bulk. The government was publicly embarrassed by the suppressor and many of the people involved were forced to resign from their positions. One of the 4400, Jordan Collier (Bill Campbell) has left the 4400 Center he founded and is out to distribute promicin too the general public. The catch is 50% receive abilities and 50% will die. Federal agencies including NTAC are charged with arresting anyone possessing promicin. This season there is a new head of NTAC, Meghan Doyle (Jenni Baird). She has to supervise the apprehension of Collier and sends Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) out to find him. Returning from Europe is Tom’s former partner Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) who has an adopted daughter Maia (Conchita Campbell) a young girl 4400 with the power to see the future. There are now two groups for NTAC to worry about, the original 4400 and the regular people who gain abilities by taking promicin. Tom’s own son Kyle (Chad Faust) took the injections and now has a strange ability that manifest as a beautiful young woman, Cassie Dunleavy (Tristin Leffler) who is there to assist him in protecting and establishing the 4400.

Collier gathers hundreds of original 4400s and the promicin positives and takes over a small part of Seattle. It was once one of the most polluted spots in the country but their abilities clean it up and it is named ‘Paradise City’. NTAC can’t get near it since it is protected by people with defensive and offensive abilities. Collier reinforces his role as a messiah calling for all people with abilities too join him. Kyle joins him as his right hand man. Meanwhile back at the 4400 Center Shawn Farrell (Patrick Flueger) a 4400 with the power to heal, openly opposes Collier. He also tries to run for political office in hopes of bridging the gap between normal people and those with abilities. Also back in the mix is Isabelle Tyler (Megalyn Echikunwoke) who is the daughter of two returnees. She has almost unlimited power which was taken away at the end of season three but is quickly returned here. Many different factions are introduced in this season. One is called ‘The Marked’ who are agents from the future who oppose the use of promicin. They are part of a war going on in the future between the ones in the power, those who sent ‘’The Marked’ back and a rebel group who were responsible for the 4400 and promicin. Eventually a scientist, Kevin Burkhoff (Jeffrey Combs) who found promicin discovers a way to determine if it is safe for a person to take. He is hindered by his psychotic girlfriend Tess Doerner (Summer Glau) who has the power to control the actions of anybody. Maia sees a dark future where the government has become totalitarian implementing draconian measures against anyone who is promicin positive. She sides with Collier against her mother’s wishes in order to help avoid the coming war between the factions.

This series, especially this season, was so rich with themes and subplots that it was the kind of show that would generate discussion immediately after an episode aired. Class struggle is examined between the promicin positive and those people who remained normal. Collier was certain that after a generation everyone would be able to safely take promicin. Of course in his scenario the normals would die off. The war in the future was between the established power class and those who opposed them. Promise City became a ghetto for the promicin positive but was expanding its borders until all of Seattle was theirs. There were also more personal themes included. Tom was caught between the lines dividing the world. He was a stalwart defender of 4400 rights. His son was positive, his nephew Shawn, was a powerful returnee and it was predicted that he would take promicin and live. Tom is constantly trying to balance his responsibilities as an NTAC agent and being a good father and friend. Diana is in a similar situation. She loves her adopted daughter and could have married and stayed in Spain away from the fray but the call of duty was too strong for her. The stories here did include the ‘freak of the week’ featuring a person with ability but it always furthered the overall story line. This kept the stories varied but more importantly on track.

The ending of the forth season did nicely wrap up the story arcs but also left things open for a follow up miniseries if USA decides to listen to the legion of fans out there. This is a set to get and if you don’t already have the other three they would be a very good investment.