Shawn's brother Danny develops the ability to transmit promicin as an virus (he dies). 9000 people dead. most of Seattle develops the 4400 ability. Utter chaos on the street all of ntac is effected except Diana who is has natural resistance. Jordan is kidnapped by the marked who is working with tom who is also affected by the marked. Isabelle (regains her power) saves the day by saving both tom and Jordan from the marked. city is policed by the 4400 with no one else save the city. Jordan declares his claim over the city as the promised land. Seattle is blockaded as health risk by federal authorities. The promcin positives take over the city as their own.
6 Reviews
One of the Best Episodes in the Series
the_trees_can_hear_you17 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
"The Great Leap Forward" was a triumph for the writers of "4400." Not only does it close up most of the loose ends (with the exception of Richard Tyler's location, which will surely be revealed next season) but it goes back to the simple family dynamic of the show that lives beyond all the sci-fi drama.
Danny Ferral, after taking the shot, gains the ability to spread promicin throughout the city like a virus. Half of Seatle dies, half gains abilities (there's also a small amount that avoided either outcome by taking a vitamin which produces promicin resistance, but it's unclear what their role next season will be). Among the dead are Susan Ferral (mother of Shawn and Danny) burdening Danny with the guilt of killing not only half the city, but his own mother.
The promicin inhibitor makes Danny sicker and sicker until he asks his brother to make the pain go away. Shawn is reluctant, but eventually kills his brother in mercy. This is one of the most powerful scenes I've seen on "4400" since the death of Lily Tyler.
Another powerful and wonderfully sad scene was the death of Isabelle Tyler whom, after refusing to kill Kyle Bawldwin, was killed by the marked. As she dies in the arms of Tom Bawldwin and Jordan Collier her last words are "make this world better than it is." All in all it's a beautiful and touching episode that conveys death and new beginnings exquisitely, as well as leaving many questions unanswered: How will these new abilities effect people? Will Shawn still be running the center? Will Tom take the shot? I guess we'll have to wait to Season Five to find out. I know I'll stay tuned!
Danny Ferral, after taking the shot, gains the ability to spread promicin throughout the city like a virus. Half of Seatle dies, half gains abilities (there's also a small amount that avoided either outcome by taking a vitamin which produces promicin resistance, but it's unclear what their role next season will be). Among the dead are Susan Ferral (mother of Shawn and Danny) burdening Danny with the guilt of killing not only half the city, but his own mother.
The promicin inhibitor makes Danny sicker and sicker until he asks his brother to make the pain go away. Shawn is reluctant, but eventually kills his brother in mercy. This is one of the most powerful scenes I've seen on "4400" since the death of Lily Tyler.
Another powerful and wonderfully sad scene was the death of Isabelle Tyler whom, after refusing to kill Kyle Bawldwin, was killed by the marked. As she dies in the arms of Tom Bawldwin and Jordan Collier her last words are "make this world better than it is." All in all it's a beautiful and touching episode that conveys death and new beginnings exquisitely, as well as leaving many questions unanswered: How will these new abilities effect people? Will Shawn still be running the center? Will Tom take the shot? I guess we'll have to wait to Season Five to find out. I know I'll stay tuned!
The Great Leap Forward (#4.13)
ComedyFan201028 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
An amazing finale! I have been warned by my friends that it is disappointing, but I didn't feel like that. Sure, I felt disappointment, but this was about the fact that the show is over not about how it was done.
First of all, it was great to see Tom survive, I was worried they will just kill him off since the show is over.
And second, Danny's ability was a great idea. The whole episode didn't have one quiet moment, it was all full of action, emotion and excellence. The scene when NTAC people started dying was great. And the scene when Shawn has to kill his brother because Danny is in pain and is dangerous to the world is very powerful. I am actually not completely sure why they had to kill him, all they needed was to find Jordan since as I remember he was able to remove someone's ability in the beginning of this season.
I also loved the scene when they all start developing abilities. Marco had a great one. Good for him, I really liked his character.
The ending scene really makes me want more! I am sure I will end up buying the 4400 books to satisfy my need to find out about the Promised City and how it goes on.
First of all, it was great to see Tom survive, I was worried they will just kill him off since the show is over.
And second, Danny's ability was a great idea. The whole episode didn't have one quiet moment, it was all full of action, emotion and excellence. The scene when NTAC people started dying was great. And the scene when Shawn has to kill his brother because Danny is in pain and is dangerous to the world is very powerful. I am actually not completely sure why they had to kill him, all they needed was to find Jordan since as I remember he was able to remove someone's ability in the beginning of this season.
I also loved the scene when they all start developing abilities. Marco had a great one. Good for him, I really liked his character.
The ending scene really makes me want more! I am sure I will end up buying the 4400 books to satisfy my need to find out about the Promised City and how it goes on.
An excellent series finale... But cruel series finale
dimensional_powerx5 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I really think "The 4400" is one of the best series of the decade, a great story, a lot of characters with so much to tell, an incredibly production... When I saw this episode, I said "Yeah, the next season is going to rock like hell", with that "4400 Seattle" and everyone discovering their powers,,, many people surely said it was like "Heroes",,,but The 4400 came first, OK? But, there was no more episodes... Like the series was planned to end in there (I don't be so sure,'cause in the DVD extras, one of the producers said some things about hat will going to happen in season 5), like everything was planned like this...but I don't buy it. What I'm surely known, is the series has his finale sooner than expected, and, if it wasn't bad, I felt there was to much left to say for The 4400. Oh, well, at least, we can say this was one of the best series in the beginning of the century.
ugh
shefchenko26 March 2021
One of my favorite series ruined by such a terrible ending. Everything was so quickly included that you don't have time to appreciate or assimilate what the hell is going on. And nothing was resolved actually. This is for sure the worst episode.
Yet Kyle still sucks
WeWatchMovies21 July 2021
There were 3 characters that irked me from the beginning I was hoping all 3 would meet an ugly demise... unfortunately one remained ðŸ˜
The series in general was pretty good it's funny watching it in 2021, another show that portrayed some of what's happening now...then over a decade ago.
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