The final season of The 4400 confirms what many fans of the show have known for some time: that this terrific, ambitious show has been one of the most interesting pieces of science-fiction to come out of America in some time, and it's one that's going to be very sadly missed.

Without wishing to give too much of the game away, this season of The 4400 finds brand new threats to face for a group of people who were suddenly abducted by aliens, and just as abruptly returned to Earth with all new powers. In recent times, this may sound a little close to something like Heroes, but rest assured that The 4400 more than retains an identity of its own, with far more edge that its recent follower.

The eleven episodes of this fourth season spells tough times for The 4400, further exploring the divisions between the abductees and the rest of the population. And as has become the norm, the show pulls few punches. Backed with strong production values, and a cast of actors who by this stage know their characters inside out, it???s a wonderful, grown-up slice of science fiction, and one that will prove hard to match in the years to come. For now, at least we get to watch it go out on a high with this fitting, accomplished final season, and it???s one that no science fiction fan will want to be without. --Jon Foster

fourth and alas final season of the 4400.a science fiction show about 4400 people who disappeared over the course of several decades, and them all of whom were returned to earth one day in a ball of light. and they all turned to have no memories of what had happened to them, plus a special power each. the show centres on two agents of a government task force called NTAC, tom baldwin and diana skouris, who deal with problems resulting from 4400's using or misusing their powers.

the first season was six episodes long, and the second and third thirteen each. whilst there were single storylines complete in each episode in most parts there was also a big ongoing storyline about how the 4400 were destined to change the world. thus you will miss out on a lot if you start with this season. so if you've not seen the show before go back and watch season one to begin with.

but if you've made it through the first three seasons, read on. not least because you'll have gotten totally hooked on the programme as a result.

the thirteen episodes of season four are presented here, over four discs. there are four episodes each on the first three discs, and the season finale is on the fourth one. over the course of this season, several factions are at war with each other over the future course of humanity. jordan collier has his own vision as to how those with abilities will change the world. sean reocvers and starts his own group, that preaches a more moderate way. NTAC as representatives of the government, are trying to keep a lid on everything. and also we meet the marked. beings from the future who want to stop the 4400. totally amoral and uncompromising, they possess powerful people in the present and use them to achieve their aims.

whilst the story of the week does still occur in a few episodes of this season, the main story of the factions at war is prevalant, and the story of the week does rather vanish as the season goes on.

this is a quality season, as the strength of the story is enough to keep you hooked. as are the moral dllemmas the characters face. because nobody here is necessarily evil [even perhaps the marked] they all want they think is best for humanity, but they all disagree on how to go about improving the world.

and for long term viewers who've come this far you will care about these characters. possibly more so by the time the year is over.

because it's the last you will see of them. the thirteenth episode rounds off the season, but there are loose ends left and the promise of bigger things still to happen. and you will never get to find out what, because the network then decided the show had run it's life. it really did need one more year to wrap everything up. and it will never get it. which is a shame.

the discs have language tracks in english french and german, and subtitles in english danish dutch finnish french german norwegian and swedish.

the only extras on the first three discs are a few minutes worth of deleted scenes from some of the episodes on them. these are short and the kind of thing that usually gets trimmed for timing reasons, but they're worth a look.

the last disc includes a directors cut of the final episode. but this is only a few minutes longer than the broadcast version, and there are just a few extra scenes that could easily have been cut for timing reasons, so there's no real need for this. it could have just been done with deleted scenes instead.

there are three featurettes:

a four minute long blooper reel. this is better than most because it's not stylised and does include a few good and genuine bloopers and not too many shots of people pulling funny faces as you usually find in these things.

jordan collier: the grey man. an eight minute long look, with contributions from cast and writers, at the character of jordan collier and the moral dilemmas his viewpoint entails. It's thought provoking stuff.

plus a twenty seven minute long documentary about the season as a whole. dont watch this till after you've seen the final episode. not a making of documentary more a look at the show itself with contributions from cast and crew this is a detailed and interesting discussion about the season and the course of the show as a whole. and it does drop hints about what they'd had planned for the fifth year.

so this is the only way you'll get to find out what might have been.

a good package for a thoroughly entertaining season of a good show. I just wish it wasn't the final one

I can't believe they're not going to make any more of the 4400. It's the best programme since the X-files..(even better IMO). I don't think it reached the masses as much as it should have..and that is their loss. I'm off to cry in the corner! If you read this and you have never seen this show...do yourself a favour and buy it now!!

It is a great shame that `The 4400' failed to really hit its stride until its fourth and final series. It has always been enjoyable but over the years it often lacked direction, and sudden cast changes also hampered its story telling. But the final season somehow pulls everything together and produces some really strong, exciting and involving stories. In one way, it's a great shame this is the final season. But in another, the fact the series was ending probably gave the writers the direction they needed to produce episodes that were so much stronger than the norm. If nothing else, it is great that the show goes out with a bang and not a whimper.

Brilliant series ive seen every episode cant belive theres no more going to be made.But what do you expect. The americans also cancelled two other great shows.Invasion & Surface!!

The fourth series of the 4400 took the series to a new edge. It was dynamic, surpising, compelling and enthralling watching. Every episode left me on the edge of my seat.

In this 4th series, the 4400 drug Promicin is now available on the black market with a 50% chance of working and a 50% chance of it killing you. This series shows the propaganda of promicin use being seen as worse than heroin and the effects of a world rapidly changing through the expanded abilities of previously "ordinary" people.

Jordon Collier sets up "promise city" a place where 4400s, whether original or new, can live and use their abilities. It is a place where the government want to infiltrate.

Isobelle, the anti-4400 weapon from the future, goes through major life changes to find her ultimate destiny. There is even a re-appearance of her mother.

I was one of the millions of fans who sent sunflower seeds to USA network, with a message that the 4400 was a programme valued worldwide. I live in the UK and quite a number of us internationally wanted to show our disgust at the cancellation fo teh show that a US based website accepted international orders for the first imt in its history.

Despite tons of suflower seeds (a nod at the favourite snack of the "father" of the 4400) being sent to the Head of USA network, their decision to cancel the 4400 in its heyday shows a lack of thought for the people who pay their wages ultimately.

As soon as I have the funds I will be buying this boxset to complete my collection. I only hope that fan pressure and dvd sales worldwide will encourage some network to pick up this amazing series and give us a film or further series. I am sure Sky would still be co-funders as it is still one of the most watched programmes on repeat.

If you enjoy gritty drama with a sci-fi edge then the 4400 is for you. Forget Heroes, this is the future of great sci-fi.