THE MISSING HAVE RETURNED. When a comet hurtles toward Earth, what the world thinks will be the end of civilization turns into the beginning of an incredible conspiracy. In one instant, 4400 missing people reappear in a flash of light and Homeland Security’s new mission is to uncover how and why. Emmy-nominated The 4400 – The Complete Series follows the mysterious returnees and the National Threat Assessment Command, the task force assigned to investigate them. Led by NTAC director Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote), agents Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) delve deeper into the inexplicable event and its supernatural consequences. As the drama unfolds, some of the returnees begin to exhibit supernatural powers, and the government must determine the source and purpose behind it all. The stellar cast includes Academy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Mahershala Ali, Patrick Flueger, and Billy Campbell. Society, humanity, and the metaphysical collide in four seasons of the science fiction hit that turns ordinary life into a phenomenal mystery.
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Video Quality
The 4400: The Complete Series arrives on Blu-Ray with a pleasing AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This release brings all four seasons together for the first time in high definition with 45 episodes on 11 discs. It is a bit unexpected to find this one available to own in high definition, but we are very happy the series was given this treatment. The show is nearing 20 years old so certain elements are no longer in top form or cutting edge, yet the increased resolution showcases this series well. The level of detail within this presentation is nothing to write home about, but there are plenty of subtle details in the production design and clothing that are easily identifiable compared to the old DVD set.
The series sidesteps being garishly lit by choosing instead to find deep nuances within the hues on screen. Black levels are fair but they succumb to crush occasionally and come up short when it comes to detail in shadows. The highlights do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. There are no substantial instances of aliasing or compression artifacts throughout, but they do show up from time to time. We have some of the older DVD releases of the series, and the jump in quality is significant. This Blu-Ray presentation will not dazzle, but it does allow the series to look the best it ever has.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray set comes with an acceptable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings the appropriate sense of urgency to this thriller. The array of environmental sounds of the various locales engages the surround speakers in a welcome manner. Every storyline takes you to a place with distinct sounds that are realized thoughtfully in the mix. This includes ambient noises precisely placed in the rear channels. Dialogue is a prominent facet of the show, and it always comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. The propulsive score is used to create a breathless atmosphere that fills the room during appropriate moments. The audio track holds up well enough from the first episode to the last. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
Season One
- Audio Commentary
- Pilot: Creator Scott Peters and actor Joel Gretsch
- Video Introduction by Series Creator Scott Peters: A minute-long introduction in which the creator thanks the fans for supporting the show.
- Deleted Scenes: There are three minutes of unused material provided here which includes some moments that were cut for time.
Season Two
- Audio Commentaries
- As Fate Would Have It: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr; actors Jacqueline McKenzie and Joel Gretsch; and writer Craig Sweeny
- The Fifth Page: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr; actors Jacqueline McKenzie and Joel Gretsch; and writer Craig Sweeny
- Mommy’s Bosses: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr; actors Jacqueline McKenzie and Joel Gretsch; and writer Craig Sweeny
- Deleted Scenes: There are ten minutes of unused material provided here which includes some moments that were cut for time.
- Creating The Ball of Light: A nine-minute featurette that takes a look at the origins of the show, the production background, the writing process, building out a larger storyline, working with the production company, the audience response, and more.
- Return of The 4400: A nearly 12-minute piece that takes a look at the sophomore season of the series, the development of a new story arc after answering so many questions during the first season, the performances of various actors, and more.
- A Stitch In Time: A ten-minute featurette that explores the concept of time travel and how it is used within this series.
Season Three
- Audio Commentaries
- The New World: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr
- Gone, Part 2: Creator Scott Peters; actors Jacqueline McKenzie and Joel Gretsch
- The Ballad of Kevin and Tess: Creator Scott Peters; actors Jacqueline McKenzie and Joel Gretsch
- Terrible Swift Sword: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr
- Fifty Fifty: Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr
- Deleted Scenes: There are 18 minutes of unused material provided here which includes some moments that were cut for time.
- The Architecture of Series Storytelling: A 21-minute look at the developments of the third season, the quick deployment of big moments, the evolution of the narrative, various character arcs, and more.
- Character Profiles: There are 17 character profiles provided totaling 28 minutes which gives some insights into various characters and their dynamics with one another.
- POWERs Grid: A five-minute look at some of the powers manifested by the characters.
- TVFX: A 13-minute look at the development of the visual effects for the series.
- The 4400 Gag Reel: A nearly nine-minute collection of humorous moments, laughing fits, goofing around, and more.
- 4 More Questions For…: A five-minute piece in which various performers answer pivotal questions about the series.
Season Four
- Audio Commentaries
- Till We Have Built Jerusalem: Creator Scott Peters
- The Great Leap Forward: Creator Scott Peters
- Deleted Scenes: There are 24 minutes of unused material provided here which includes some moments that were cut for time.
- The Great Leap Forward: The series finale is provided with the Network Version (43:09) and the Director’s Cut (45:56).
- Season IV – Factions at War: A 27-minute featurette that explores the big shifts in the fourth season, the character arcs, new abilities, significant plot developments, and more.
- Jordan Collier – The Grey Man: An eight-minute look at the moral complexity of a series standout.
- Season IV – Blooper Reel: A nearly four-minute collection of humorous moments, laughing fits, goofing around, and more.
- The 4400 – The Ghost Season: A 15-minute exploration of the series, its title, broad plot developments, and more.
- Promicin – The Moral Choice: A three-part, 21-minute news report on the drug featured in the show.
Final Thoughts
The 4400 is a fairly engaging sci-fi narrative that never lives up to the greatest genre shows on television, but those who do invest in it will stay ensnared in its storytelling prowess until the final moments. The decision to reveal so many answers within the first season could have taken this one out in the long term, but the creative team explored new threads that paid off for them. The performances are not breaking any new ground, but they get the job done for what is asked of it. CBS Home Entertainment has released a complete series Blu-Ray set featuring a very good A/V presentation and an expansive selection of special features. If you are a sci-fi fan who finds the premise intriguing, you should give it a chance. Recommended
The 4400: The Complete Series can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: CBS Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.