Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The 4400: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 22, 2022

Some of the better shows on television in recent years have focused on unexplained disappearances. Consider both Lost and The Leftovers, each focused on strange mass disappearances but, of course, tackling them from radically different perspectives. The 4400 similarly follows suit, looking at how, when, where, why, and who disappeared and were returned, suddenly, and collectively, sometime after their individual vanishing dating back several decades. None of them have aged, none of them understand where they have been, what they have seen, what they have done, or even where they are. And they certainly do not know what the future of their re-integration into society will look like. As the show progresses, more questions are raised, and many are answered. It's not as structurally compelling as Lost nor is it as dramatically rich as The Leftovers, but The 4400 is solid TV that poses an interesting scenario and explores it to (general) satisfaction.

Official synopsis: 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 4400 is sort of like a tale of two shows. On the one hand is the first season, all six episodes of it, which introduces the story, develops the story, and resolves the story with a major reveal that answers the big question and feels like a satisfying conclusion to the experience. Season one stands alone quite well on its own, and its length suggests more of a miniseries rather than a traditional multi-season marathon. Nevertheless, USA ushed forward with additional seasons -- four in total -- to build on the story that made its single biggest splash and gave its single biggest answer at the end of season one. It's a curious experience to say the least, but it surprisingly works as the show grows various tentacles throughout the following three seasons, working to build its characters and its universe to satisfaction. It's not all as great or as interesting as that first blast through season one, but even with some slogging low points the general overall arc through the series run satisfies that itch for an entertaining, and at times even thought-provoking, Sci-Fi experience.

The 4400: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This is a solid 1080p image: not great, but solid. Nothing about the image stands to dazzle or delight, but it offers a well-rounded HD image with generally crisp and satisfying details on faces and clothes. The picture never gets to the essential intimacy and fully realized clarity of the best images, but this was not shot with the best of equipment or under the best of situations. The show is going on two decades in age since it premiered, so things are not quite so adept as more modern content, but essentials more than satisfy. Lower light interiors can look a little flat, but well-lit exteriors are alive and kicking with some seriously good facial detail, clothing textures, and general world details. Colors of course vary based on deliberate temperature and contrast tweaking to support any given scene or sequence's tone, but there's a nice healthy vitality, generally, at work. Depth and accuracy are fairly good but again lacking the absolute precision and refinement found in shows shot with superior technology. As it is and within its confines the show has to work with, all is fairly good. There is some noise to be found in lower light, and some light-to-moderate compression issues here and there, but overall, the image should satisfy the casual fanbase.

The 4400: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paramount brings The 4400 to Blu-ray with a fairly straightforward DTS-HD master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack experience. The track offers some expansion as necessary, but it is mostly content to simply hold fast to the front side, and the front-center at that. Dialogue is the main driver here, and it is presented with suitably commanding front-center presence and clarity. Music stretches to the sides but never with any serious, intensive width. Clarity is fine but not special. Some action effects power through the back and offer good full stage engagement, but again with no such force as to really make the listener's ears perk up or the jaw drop. Bass is never intense but there's just enough at the bottom to keep things honest. The track is not very interesting in the grand scheme of things, but it is up to the task of carrying the show's sonic needs just well enough.

The 4400: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The 4400 ships in four Amaray cases, one for each season. All of them ship inside a standard design and adequately sturdy slip box. Below is a breakdown of what is included and where. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. Individual seasons do not ship with slipcovers.

Season One, Disc One:

• Video Introduction by Series Creator Scott Peters (480i, 1:16): Peters discusses fan response online. Included with the episode "Pilot."
• Audio Commentary: For "Pilot:" Scott Peters and Joel Gretsch.
• Deleted Scenes (480i, 2:51 total runtime): For "Pilot:" Several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Two, Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (480i, 3:02 total runtime): For "Wake-Up Call:" Several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Two, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentary: For "As Fate Would Have It:" Ira Steven Behr, Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, and Craig Sweeny.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "As Fate Would Have It" (2:14 total runtime) and for "Carrier" (0:29 total runtime): Several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Two, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: For "The Fifth Page:" Ira Steven Behr, Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, and Craig Sweeny. For "Mommy's Bosses:" Ira Steven Behr, Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, and Craig Sweeny.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "Hidden" (1:39 total runtime) and for "The Fifth Page" (2:03 total runtime): Several scenes with no identifying markers.
• Creating the Ball of Light (480i, 8:48): Exploring the shows origins in 9/11, the show's production background, working with the network, building the pilot episode, the writing process, revelations, the larger storyline, audience reaction, and more.
• Return of The 4400 (480i, 11:26): Returning to work for the second season, new storylines and narrative progression, "rebooting" the series since the story had essentially been solved at the end of season one, a key character's death, character and story arcs throughout the season, actors and performances, and more.
• A Stitch in Time (480i, 9:40): Discussing the Science Fiction genre and then moving on to a fascinating talk of time travel theories.

Season Three, Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: For "The New World:" Ira Steven Behr. For "Gone, Part 2:" Jacqueline McKenzie, Scott Peters & Joel Gretsch.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "The New World" (0:18 total runtime), for "Gone, Part 1" (1:31 total runtime), and for "Gone, Part 2" (2:27 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Three, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentary: For "The Ballad of Kevin and Tess:" Jacqueline McKenzie, Scott Peters & Joel Gretsch.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "The Home Front" (2:11 total runtime) and for "The Ballad of Kevin and Tess" (2:53 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Three, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentaries: For "Terrible Swift Sword:" Ira Steven Behr. For "Fifty Fifty:" Ira Steven Behr. & Joel Gretsch.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "The Gospel According to Collier" (5:59 total runtime) and for "Fifty Fifty" (1:36 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.
• The Architecture of Series Storytelling (480i, 21:09): Exploring the season three pace, big moments, the show's draw, the series' evolution, the writing process, character development and arcs, and more.
• Character Profiles (480i, 27:41 total runtime): Exploring the key characters individually and in some detail. The final few segments explore specific character relationships. Included are Diana Skouris, Tom Baldwin, Shawn Ferrell, Maia Skouris, Richard Tyler, Marco Pacella, Jordan Collier, Isabelle Tyler, Nina Jarvis, Kevin Burkhoff, Alna Mareva, Matthew Ross, Matthew-Isabelle, Isabelle-Richard, Jordan-Shawn, Diana-Tom, and Tom-Alana.
• POWERs Grid (480i, 4:40): A quick look at the superpowers some of the characters discover and use throughout the series and how the presentation of powers evolved throughout the series.
• TVFX (480i, 12:51): Exploring the complex work of building the series' visual effects.
• The 4400 Gag Reel (480i, 8:24): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• 4 More Questions For... (480i, 5:19): Answering some tough questions about the show.

Season Four, Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "The Wrath of Graham" (3:05 total runtime), for "Fear Itself" (2:55 total runtime), for "The Truth and Nothing But the Truth" (4:15), and for "Try the Pie" (2:41 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Four, Disc Two:

• Audio Commentary: For "Till We Have Built Jerusalem:" Scott Peters.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "The Marked" (2:02 total runtime), for "No Exit" (3:35 total runtime), and for "Daddy's Little Girl" (1:26 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.

Season Four, Disc Three:

• Audio Commentary: For "The Great Leap Forward:" Scott Peters.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): For "Ghost in the Machine" (0:59 total runtime) and for "Tiny Machines" (2:45 total runtime): several scenes with no identifying markers.
• "The Great Leap Forward" Alternate Cut (1080p): Included are the episode's Network Version (43:09) and its Director's Cut (45:56).
• Season IV: Factions at War (480i, 27:06): Show evolution through season four; story and themes; character qualities, evolutions, and relationships; the writing process, the role of Promicin in the series, new content within the series' budget, character abilities, and more.
• Jordan Collier: The Grey Man (480i, 7:49): Exploring whether this key character is "a good guy" or "a bad guy."
• Season IV: Blooper Reel (480i, 3:31): humorous moments from the shoot.
• The 4400: The Ghost Season (480i, 14:38): Exploring the show's history and title, the broad plot dynamics and various plot specifics, influences, audience response, and more.
• Promicin: Ther Moral Choice (480i, 20:45 total runtime): Newscasts about the drug depicted in the show. Included are Viral/Grassroots, Political, and Show Specific.

The 4400: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The 4400 blasts off fast and delivers a terrific experience through its brief first season. It plays very well and answers its questions with satisfying insight into the created universe. Later seasons build on the lore after the big question has been answered. None of it bests season one but it remains a quality Sci-fi show. Paramount's multi-disc Blu-ray set is packed with legacy bonus features and delivers satisfying high definition video and audio. Recommended.