4400 (2021 reboot)

Based on: The 4400 TV series by René Echevarria Scott Peters

Developed by: Ariana Jackson

Executive producers: Anna Fricke, Laura Terry, Sunil Nayar, Ariana Jackson

Starring: Brittany Adebumola (Shanice), Ireon Roach (Keisha), Joseph David-Jones (Jharrel), TL Thompson (Andre), Jaye Ladymore as (Claudette), Derrick A. King (Rev. Johnston), Khailah Johnson (LaDonna), Cory Jeacoma (Logan), Amarr Wooten (Hayden), Autumn Best (Mildred)

I'd heard about The 4400 series being pretty good, so when the CW announced it was doing a reboot, I thought that would be a good way to pace myself in slowly without diving into a 4-season series. 

The spinoff was... good? Like, it was fun and interesting, but it was never really compelling. And honestly, I felt that it spent a bit too much time trying to be very, overtly inclusive, and less time on making the story better. 

It definitely had a good plot going. The concept was done well and several plot threads were very interesting. The idea is definitely the most fascinating: 4,400 people appearing in one place from having been displaced throughout time? And they have x-men-like powers? That's cool. 

I think the most glaring flaw was actually more of a technicality. At no time does the show feel like it's about 4,400 people. It should have been called the 44. But that's just kind of an amusing thing to quip about. 

The show was at its best with the plotline about Manny (Calvin Seabrooks), one of the 4400 who only appears in the later half of the season due to his power of invisibility. Apparently he came from the future at some point where he was assigned a mission to spark war between the 4400 and society in order to change the future. This kind of plot--one that intersects with a bigger picture and has the potential for a lot more worldbuilding--is the kind they should have focused on. Unfortunately, it wasn't played up as much as it could've been. 

Another very interesting plot was played up, which surprised me a bit because it was more edgy and potentially violent than the CW usually likes. It seemed that the hotel quarantining the 4400 was also leaking members to a government facility that was using them for testing. There was a whole thing about abusive testing, government secrets, and kidnapping that was super interesting but didn't last as long as it could've. 

I have to say that overall it was still a fun show that kept me going. It could've been written better and I think it would've done well to focus on fewer plots--and honestly, fewer characters. In fact, there's a reason I'm not really focusing on writing about any characters: there were a lot, and none of them really grabbed me. They were all interesting enough to hold my attention while on screen, but none of them had me impassioned or excited about where they were going. 

The reboot hasn't been renewed yet and it's been several months since the show ended. But shows have been renewed after longer periods. I feel sadly neutral about its renewal status, but if it is, I hope they focus on some of the more interesting and edgy things they had going on!