The 4400

:

Season 1
  • Network: USA
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 11, 2004
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10

Critic Reviews

  1. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Diane Werts
    Jun 16, 2021
    88
    A grabber from the start, quickly moving beyond the sci-fi label to uncharted drama territory. Its tale - executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola - takes place on Earth and in the present day, which should help attract sci-fi-resistant viewers. Even better, its situations are viscerally relatable, hardly as removed from our daily lives as so many other out-there allegories. [11 July 2004, p.11]
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  2. Los Angeles Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Kronke
    Jun 16, 2021
    80
    The most impressive quality "The 4400" boasts is the fact that, after tonight's episode, there are any number of directions the drama could head. There hasn't been anything this wide-open unpredictable on TV in years, and for that reason alone, it's worth overlooking the premise's flaws and following this wherever it may head. [11 July 2004]
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  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    Jun 16, 2021
    80
    Spooky and intriguing and almost everything that a science fiction series should be.
  5. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Sarah Rodman
    Jun 16, 2021
    75
    If the concept is captivating, the execution, at least in the pilot, leaves something to be desired. [12 July 2004, p.e37]
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  6. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jun 16, 2021
    75
    a promising, unprepossessing five-week series about the flip side of alien abduction. [9 July 2004]
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  7. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: John Leonard
    Jun 16, 2021
    70
    If we have to spend yet another summer in the twilight zone of alien abduction, it might as well have the intriguing twist of The 4400.

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best TV Season of 2004
13
#13 Most Discussed TV Season of 2004
5
#5 Most Shared TV Season of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. remyzerofan
    Feb 26, 2014
    10
    This show is filled with fun, childlike charm. I like to be able to root for the main characters of a show and 4400 made that easy, thanks toThis show is filled with fun, childlike charm. I like to be able to root for the main characters of a show and 4400 made that easy, thanks to great actors, compelling story lines, and just the right amount of mystery. Each of the plot archs were carefully constructed and included the perfect ratio of character development and urgency, so I always felt invested in what was going to happen next, but I didn't worry that the show had cheated me out of an intellectual or emotional experience. I recommend this show.… Full Review »
  2. Tss5078
    Aug 27, 2016
    4
    The 4400 was a science fiction show, that featured time travel, strange powers, government agents, conspiracies, and a whole lot more. After aThe 4400 was a science fiction show, that featured time travel, strange powers, government agents, conspiracies, and a whole lot more. After a very solid, yet writers strike shortened first season, The 4400 looked like it was going to be Heroes meets the X-Files, easily the next big thing in science fiction television. If that wasn't enough to interest fans, the show also had a head start, as its creators weren't newcomers. The 4400 was the brainchild of Rene Echevarria (Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Scott Peters (V, The Outer Limits). The show looked like a can't miss, then came Season 2...

    Seattle Washington, 2004 - It's a seemingly normal night, when a space satellite picks up something unusual. Government agencies are in a panic, as this weird object descends over a mountain lake and emits a bright white light before vanishing. Once it's gone, 4400 people stand on the banks of the lake, 4400, who as it would turn out, have at one time or another been missing since as far back at the 1940s and as recently as six months ago. There's a big to do about what to do with these people, but they are soon released and a new agency is tasked with tracking and monitoring them. A seemingly easy job, until it's discovered that many of them have developed super human abilities.

    The premise of the show is fantastic, on top of that it was created by one of the guys who is behind Star Trek: The Next Generation, basically a God in my eyes, and if that weren't enough it features Joel Gretsch, who is one of the most believable, realistic actors to ever play a federal agent in the history of television. This show had everything going for it, even the ratings were good, so why did they have to go and change things so much!

    Despite good ratings and reviews, people thought the show was too much like the X-files, so they turned the 4400 into this kind of religious cult. Instead of being a mostly episonic show with underling storylines, the show went continuous, spending all of it's time following just a handful of characters. The line between good and bad, blurred, and most times you really couldn't follow who was doing what for whom and why anyone was doing what they were doing. After the first season, there were a couple of good episodes here and there but by season 3, the whole thing had just completely fallen apart.

    I readily admit that I watch far more television than most people and far more than television than any normal person should, so trust me when I tell you, that in all my years of doing this, I have never seen a show go so quickly from as good as the 4400 was, to as bad as it became. It defied all logic, honestly did the actors and network involved in producing the shows not realize that after a while the whole thing just didn't make any sense anymore?

    The bottom line is that the 4400 should have been the next Heroes, X-Files, Lost, Fringe, what have you. It should have been that next big sci-fi show, that had everyone talking. Instead too many chefs ruined the pie and the show literally became unwatchable.    … Full Review »
  3. LeeEverett
    Jun 17, 2016
    10
    Absolutely love it. The show started off very interesting and remained that way throughout all 4 seasons. I was hooked from the first episode.Absolutely love it. The show started off very interesting and remained that way throughout all 4 seasons. I was hooked from the first episode. I never wanted this show to end. Sadly it was left unfinished due to the show's cancellation after season 4. My rating for season 1 is 10/10, I knew from the first episode that I was going to love all the characters. This show is so captivating and sucks you into a fascinating world full of mystery. It made me want to be a 4400! Perfect.… Full Review »
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