The Great Leap Forward (16 Sep. 2007)

Director:

Scott Peters

Writers:

Scott Peters (creator), René Echevarria (creator),

Stars:

Joel Gretsch, Jacqueline McKenzie, Patrick John Flueger

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Joel Gretsch	...	Tom Baldwin
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Diana Skouris
Patrick John Flueger	...	Shawn Farrell (as Patrick Flueger)
Chad Faust	...	Kyle Baldwin
Conchita Campbell	...	Maia Skouris
Megalyn Echikunwoke	...	Isabelle Tyler
Jenni Baird	...	Meghan Doyle
Billy Campbell	...	Jordan Collier
Jeffrey Combs	...	Kevin Burkhoff
Penny Johnson	...	Rebecca Parrish (as Penny Johnson Jerald)
Kaj-Erik Eriksen	...	Danny Farrell
Richard Kahan	...	Marco Pacella
Kavan Smith	...	Jed Garrity
Chilton Crane	...	Susan Farrell
Pascale Hutton	...	Abigail Hunnicutt

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

neurology | city

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 2007 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Zoetrope, CBS Paramount Network Television, Renegade 83

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

During Jordan's inspirational speech on the steps toward the end of the episode, writer and executive producer Ira Steven Behr is one of the extras in the crowd. He can be seen clearly toward the front of the crowd in at least one shot, and is easily recognizable because of his distinctive mustache and goatee, which are dyed blue.

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Quotes

[about the events of the series finale]
Jordan Collier: The sacrifices of the past few days have not been in vain. This tragedy, terrible as it may have been, had meaning. And those who died... are the heralds of a new age!

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Soundtracks

"Where is my Mind"
Performed by Pixies (as the Pixies)

User Reviews

One of the Best Episodes in the Series

"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!