How would you feel if you suddenly disappeared from your life and returned years later with no memory of where you’d been? This situation is exactly what 4,400 people are dealing with in The CW’s new science fiction TV series “4400.”
Thousands of people from different eras have all returned to the same place in 2021. It feels to them like no time has passed, but the world and their loved ones have moved on over the years they’ve been missing. The show’s first season deals with this shocking event and its aftermath as characters struggle to find their footing in the modern world. Let’s look at how this popular reboot came about and where to watch new episodes today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwxwsXsPcUM
Did “4400” Get Canceled?
Some people may be confused between the series “4400” and “The 4400” because of their similar titles, so we’re here to set the record straight about these two sci-fi shows.
“The 4400” ran on the USA Network from 2004 to 2007 for four seasons and was produced by CBS. Scott Peters and René Echevarria created and wrote the original series starring Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie. It was very popular among viewers and was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards. Peters announced the cancellation of “The 4400” in December 2007. The show never got a season five due to budgetary problems, low ratings, and an ongoing Writers Guild strike at that time.
“4400” is a reboot of “The 4400” and was written by Ariana Jackson, a writer, and producer for the hit CW series “Riverdale.” Original executive producers for “4400” include Jackson, Anna Fricke, and Lauren Terry. The new series premiered on Oct. 25, 2021, and doesn’t pick up where the original series ended. Instead, “4400” tells a new story with a similar premise to the original but in a way that’s been updated for today’s viewers.
Are “The 4400” and “4400” the Same?
“The 4400” and “4400” share similarities, such as characters with special powers and familiar plots, but they aren’t exactly the same show. “4400” is much more mysterious throughout its first season and sets a different tone from the arrival scene. The settings also differ; “The 4400” was set in Seattle and “4400” takes place in Detroit. The new series also keeps the returned characters together longer and develops relationships between them instead of quickly separating them.
The major focus of “4400” is on minority communities and the difference between the past and the present. Unlike the original, the new series includes extended flashbacks of the characters’ previous lives. The new writers explore how technology has changed the world since these people disappeared from several different decades. They show the characters’ responses to the irony of how many things are so different, yet some things have remained the same.
Where Can You Watch New Episodes of “4400”?
Episodes from season one of “4400” are available to stream for free on The CW website or app. The first season ran from October 2021 to February 2022 and included the following 13 episodes:
- “Past Is Prologue”
- “All Things Are Possible”
- “That LaDonna Life”
- “Harlem’s Renaissance Man”
- “The Way We Were”
- “If You Love Something”
- “Empowered Women Empower Women”
- “The Kaminski Experiment”
- “Great Expectations”
- “Give Up the Ghost”
- “You Only Meant Well”
- “Group Efforts”
- “Present Is Prologue”
Episodes of “4400” are also available to buy or rent from Amazon, AppleTV, Google Play, and Vudu.
While the new “4400” isn’t currently on Netflix, all four seasons of the original 2004 series are available to stream with a subscription.
4400 Season 1 Episode 8
About the Main Characters of “4400”
The cast of “4400” is a diverse group of talented actors and actresses. Here’s a look at the main characters whose stories are introduced to viewers in season one.
Brittany Adebumola as Shanice Murray
Shanice is a lawyer who left behind a husband (Logan) and baby girl (Mariah) when she disappeared in 2005. She returns with empathic and telepathic powers 16 years later.
Joseph David-Jones as Jharrel Mateo
Jharrel is a social worker whose brother Manny has been missing. His job is to help the 4,400 reintegrate into society, and he’s also hoping his brother is among the returned.
Ireon Roach as Keisha Taylor
Keisha is a parole officer who is also working with the 4,400.
TL Thompson as Dr. Andre Davis
Andre is a doctor from the 1920s who now has the ability to heal others by touching them.
Jaye Ladymore as Claudette Williams
Claudette is a housewife who was part of the civil rights movement when she went missing in 1958. She has returned with regenerative powers.
Derrick A. King as Isaiah Johnston
Better known as “Rev,” Isaiah is from the 1990s. He was a reverend at a church in Chicago and believes his disappearance was because of God. His supernatural power is the ability to cancel the powers of other gifted people permanently.
Khailah Johnson as LaDonna Landry
LaDonna was a reality TV show actress in 2015 before being taken. She’s an intelligent and rich party girl who has the power of illusion.
Cory Jeacoma as Logan Kaminski
When his wife Shanice went missing, Logan thought she had abandoned him and their newborn baby. When Shanice returns, she finds that he has remarried.
Amarr Wooten as Hayden Turner
Hayden is from the 1940s and went missing from a jail. He’s returned to a future where he can see even further into the unknown.
Autumn Best as Mildred Bell
Mildred was in a cult in the 1970s before her disappearance. She has telekinetic powers until they are taken by Rev.
Recurring Characters in “4400”
So far, only one familiar face from “The 4400” has been seen in the 2021 remake. Actor Patrick John Flueger, who played Shawn Farrell in the original, returned in episode 12 as guest character Caleb Seacrest. Scott Peters, a co-creator of the original series, also returned briefly to the show, but he was behind the camera as the guest director for episode 12.
Recurring characters from season one include:
Wilder Yari as Jessica Tanner
Jessica is an agent in charge of monitoring the 4,400. She’s also the ex of parole officer Keisha Taylor.
Kausar Mohammed as Soraya Khoury
Soraya is a technical expert the government hires to monitor the returned people.
Theo Germaine as Noah Harris
Noah is one of the missing people who return with a power. He’s able to hypnotize people by singing.
Vinh Nguyen as Steve Miller
Steve is a guard over the 4,400 at the quarantine facility. He is sympathetic to the troubles of the returned people, unlike most of his fellow guards.
Zachary Keller as Ken King
Ken is a very aggressive guard at the quarantine facility.
Sophia Echendu as Mariah Kaminski
Mariah is the daughter of Shanice Murray and Logan Kaminski. She is a baby when her mother goes missing and a teenager when she returns.
Clare Cooney as Bridget Templeton
She is Logan’s wife and Mariah’s stepmother.
Adilah Barnes as Mrs. Grover
Mrs. Grovers is a friend of Shanice Murray’s who helps her understand what happened while she was gone.
Anji White as Loretta Landry
Loretta is LaDonna Landry’s overbearing mother who believes fame is the most important thing of all.
Chris Johnson as Bill Greene
Bill is an agent and government liaison for the 4,400.
Calvin Seabrooks as Manny Campos
Manny is the brother of social worker Jharrel Mateo. As Jharell hoped, his brother is a member of the 4,400. Manny is able to turn invisible at will.
Raven Whitley as Millicent Bell
Millicent is the sister of fellow survivor Mildred Bell. Her new powers allow her to turn her lower arms into metal.
4400 Season 1 Episode 7
Will “4400” Return for a Season 2?
The CW has yet to release a return date for season two of “4400,” but the show hasn’t been canceled. Fans are hopeful that they’ll get to see more of their favorite characters since the series was well-received by critics. “4400” has an 82% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The audience score is much lower (24%), but that’s somewhat expected since there’s a mix of new viewers and old fans of the original show. Fans often judge a reboot more harshly since they feel attached to the original series and believe nothing can compare to what they experienced the first time.
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Time travel, mystery, superpowers — there’s a lot to unpack during the emotional first season of “4400.” The show dove into characters’ personal lives and the many societal issues Americans still face today.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original “The 4400” or prefer the new “4400” remake, we hope you’ve found this article informative and entertaining. BuddyTV is your source for TV and movie news and reviews. Check out all the latest info on today’s trending series on BuddyTV.
(images courtesy of CWTV)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
