The 4400 returns to its mystical best with the third episode of its fourth season, “Audrey Parker’s Come and Gone.” Of the “Extra Crispy” centric episodes this was probably the best for many reasons. The idea of a different Promicin induced power a week seemed risky at first, with the assumption being that the tale of the “Original Recipe” 4400’s would be lost in the change of formula. “Audrey” proved that the soul of the original 4400 is still screaming through the mysteries of the new tales loud and clear.
The Audrey Parker of the title is an elderly woman who used Promicin looking for an escape from the confines of her arthritis stricken body. And release she found, quite literally. Audrey Parker developed the ability to leave her body, an ability she put to good use becoming sort of an astral super hero. But just and Tom and Diane set out to find her, Audrey is killed. We soon find out that the murder took place while she was out of her body, and he astral form soon begins to haunt Diane in a bid to solve her own murder.
With the talk of prophecies and messiahs still in the back of our minds after last week’s “Fear Itself,” it was interesting for the series to continue on a blatantly spiritual route. Fears that the “Extra Crispy” plot lines would devour the original 4400 were put to rest as we picked up with Shawn still struggling with the idea of keeping his gift on ice after last weeks episode, and Kyle being drawn deeper into facilitating Jordan’s new world order.
Shawn is in a position with his power to cast a bright positive light on the 4400’s powers. His ability to heal is nothing but good, even in the eyes of the skeptical government. Kyle, on the other hand, is being drawn quickly into Collier’s gravitational pull and is becoming clear that Jordan’s big move is coming sooner than later.
The “Extra Crispy” phase is simply an opportunity for us to relive some of the wonder of the early seasons while a larger, much different arc brews in the background. You get the feeling from the “Original Recipe” segment of “Audrey” that this new arc is right around the corner.
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy USA Network)