Down Is the New Up

The last ten songs of the year end countdown are just around the corner. Don't fret. But first...

The War On TV Shows That Paul Likes continues. The USA Network has officially killed The 4400, as well as The Dead Zone. Granted, The Dead Zone had seen its better days and had been on a rapid decline for the past couple of seasons. I quit watching the Anthony Michael Hall vehicle about four episodes into the last season. The 4400, on the other hand, is a whole different story.

For those who do not know, The 4400 was a wonderful mix of The X-Files meets Uncanny X-Men and lasted four tightly written seasons. It was Heroes before there was a Heroes, and in a lot of ways it was a lot deeper than the NBC hit. Due to only having thirteen episodes a season (the first had six), the writers for The 4400 always kept the story on track and each episode built on previous ones. Characters came in and out of the narrative and there was a prevailing feeling that anything could happen. Sure, the acting was your run-of-the-mill basic cable best, but it was good enough and the story was what really mattered the most.

At least, the writers and showrunner Ira Behr (he ran Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, too) had the foresight to give enough closure in fourth season finale, that it works as a wrap up for the whole series. Could they have kept the series going and expanded on ideas and themes established in that episode? Absolutely. But, I'm satisfied in where they were able to leave the characters and the world of The 4400, that I don't feel like I'm left hanging.