It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

In this weeks, when no decent Sci-Fi in offer I looked for something older. Seen some recommendations for this serial. First episode was really good. Even if there was no detail what was really original, basic premise was it in some way. Good acting, plot what was at some level more social than Sci-Fi. Could say that was more family movie - so main actress adopted one of 4400-s, young girl, there was divorce in progress by main actor ... First season was only 6 episodes. Second and 3th, 4th 13-13-13 episodes. For me, it indicates that it was success, so now some more money getting invested, and they need to write bunch of new episodes, introduce new characters. And yes, right in first couple episodes of S2, some of usual soaping, adding unnecessary side subplots, and like happened. But it was still fine, better than usual. It begun to be really bad when Isabelle started to do some nasty things. All it was so obviously forced - they made many really forced twists, some made really no sense. There was episode called I, Tom Baldwin - that was OK as 1 episode, was actually fun. But they took same idea in last 3-4 episodes, stretched it until last one, and all it was really downfall. Whole idea of promicin was pretty poorly developed. I guess that it was simply cancelled after season 4 - there was no real finale. But that's good - it did not lead anywhere anyway. Watch it if you like nice actresses - there is many of them. Don't expect some serious plot development, instead it, there will be only plenty of deaths - but almost nothing of it will be shown, luckily. After all it, I can only wish to get some 4400-like ability to change my memories, and remember this is good start, good middle, good end serial :-)) 5 from 10 - mostly because S1 .

When THE 4400 THE COMPLETE SERIES arrived for me to watch I was intrigued. Here was a series I remembered hearing about but never watched an episode of that ran for 4 seasons. The premise sounded interesting. Realizing early on that this series had a storyline that carried on from episode to episode I wanted to watch the entire thing before writing about it and with so many other items to watch that meant the binge watching took a while. I'm glad I did but unhappy that I missed this series when it aired.The show opens with a little girl named Maia on a picnic with her family in the 1930s who runs off to gather flowers. Suddenly a light appears in the sky and shines down on her and she disappears. Several other characters are seen disappearing as well. We are then brought to the current time (in this case 2004 when the series aired). A huge asteroid is heading towards Earth and nothing can stop it. Fearing the end is near people are stunned when the asteroid slows, shrinks in size and appears near Mount Rainier, Washington. Agents from NTAC (National Threat Assessment Command) are on hand watching and waiting as a burst of light emanates from the sphere.When the dust clears the asteroid is gone. But on the beach are the 4,400 people who have been missing for years, including Maia. None of them can recall where they have been or what happened to them. NTAC takes them to their local command post in Seattle and begins trying to figure out just where they have been. Was it an alien abduction? Or was it something else? The rights of the 4400 are called into question and soon they are released into the world.The story is told mainly through the eyes and actions of agent Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch), an agent whose son was not taken but was affected by one of these abductions and who has been in a coma for several years. He is partnered with Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie), on loan to NTAC from the CDC. Included among the 4400 is Tom's nephew Shawn (Patrick Flueger) who was with Tom's son the night he was abducted.It doesn't take long for things to happen. As the days progress it appears that members of the 4400 begin to develop powers. Maia has visions of the future. Shawn can heal. Rather than see this as something wonderful the government fears what the potential effects are and want to quarantine the 4400. They're saved when billionaire Jordan Collier (Billy Campbell), a 4400 member himself, constructs a community just for them. Legal maneuverings keep the government at bay. Or do they? The series develops over time and changes as the story progresses from discovery of the 4400 to government paranoia to us versus them to covert conspiracy to savior story. It flows effortlessly and takes its time to unravel the mystery of the 4400, revealing to us just what happened to them and why they were returned to this point and location in time. Who took them, their mission, who each of them are, are all explained before the end of the series. Fortunately this was not left open ended.The characters are well developed and played exceptionally well by all involved. It is their story and the actors portraying them that draw you in and make you care about what happens. Each of them not only has a role here but they do so to the point you find yourself believing they are who they portray and that's the mark of solid acting.The guest stars on this series are top notch as well beginning with Peter Coyote who plays Dennis Ryland, the head of NTAC in Seattle as the series opens and later seen working for a private firm with nefarious intent. Summer Glau is featured in several episodes as a schizophrenic young 4400 member who has the ability to influence people with her mind. My favorite though is Jeffrey Combs, known for his role as Herbert West in THE RE-ANIMATOR, who is seen here as a genetic genius and 4400 member trying to help them all. Fans of that past work will delight in seeing him here holding a syringe filled with a glowing green liquid, what had to have been a homage to his earlier work.Once you start this series and get into what is taking place you'll find yourself binge watching with pleasure. It draws you in, involves you and makes you think about so many different topics. Well made, well thought out and conceptualized to present a bigger picture, it is one series that as I said I wish I'd have found sooner. Now that it's been released as a complete series of discs in a compact case it should be easy for those of us who enjoy shows like this to have access to on our shelf whenever we want to revisit it.

during the first season i have noticed something about the relationship between shawn his brother and nikki.put me to think that shawn's brother will be out of the picture.well i was wrong.in my opinion was a good turnabout that shawn's brother didn't flew out of the picturealso i want to say it's a good thing you didn't setup the scenario for the relationship between shawn and nikkiin my opinion danny acts well the series are lot better with him playing.he is more "efficient" sounds awkward, he is skilledI think it's a good thing you didn't promote that.keep up the good work!

my daughter committed suicide September 28 2008. I will never know why? She took that to her grave. But I will say this to Scott Peters, the author of The 4400. After watching episode 8 of your series I could not help balling my eyes out once again as I often do when those feelings overwhelm me on certain occasions. My daughter left a journal of sorts behind. More like a small book of poems she wrote herself. It never occurred to me "abduction" could have any role in her death. She actually shot herself once in her temple to end her life. She also often talked to me about voices in her head. I always assumed she was slightly Bi-Polar but that was never diagnosed professionally, just my own assumption. In the end of your Episode 8, the little girl from 1955 (which by the way is the year I was born) leaves her diary of sorts on her bed for her newly adopted mother to find. I broke down when they showed the first page of the diary titled "Things I See". It is now June 2014 and it is the first time I have ever seen your series. I am watching on Netflix by the way. In my daughters book there are several pages that are written in "Alien" handwriting and to this day, I have yet to know what they all mean. She told me in 2004 it was her secret code but never mentioned aliens or being abducted or anything ever like that so I never gave it a second thought UNTIL NOW! I don't know where you came up with this story, "The 4400"?? Why do I even think that there could be a connection 6 years after of her death. But I must say this, I am very confused now and will not and cannot rule out "Alien Abduction" at this time. If you (Scott Peters) get a chance to read this, I would like for you to contact me. Maybe I could show you this "Alien Writing" that only my daughter knows what it says. Maybe you could help decipher these pages for me. Thanks