By Jennifer Larson

Who is the real Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretch?) is he the hotshot NTAC agent we have all come to know and love? Or is he really one of those from the future who have orchestrated the whole 4400 plan? On tonight’s episode of THE 4400, we may have gotten a further glimpse into exactly what that plan is all about.

Tonight’s show opened with Tom awakening from a dream where he was performing some type of procedure on Richard (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali). But, were we watching events as they unfolded, or was this dream some type of residue left over from the events that left Tom with “the mark?” considering that the season is beginning to wind down, I believe we are starting to get some answers as to who these powerful people from the future are, and what their agenda really is. The bigger question may be, is the woman who mysteriously appeared in Richard’s kitchen really his dearly departed Lilly (Laura Allen) or just another apparition sent to further along the future’s plans?

I have to say, I am one of those TV viewers that demands some answers to the plaguing questions of the storylines in my favorite shows. That’s one of the best things about THE 4400. While the show provides me with mystery and intrigue that always leaves me wanting more, the writers are very good about leaving us with a trail of bread crumbs to follow that will lead us down the path of resolution. And, bringing Richard’s family back to him in tact and at their rightful chronological age was one of the most satisfying moments of this show. That being said, I still have a nagging suspicion that there is more than meets the eye to this warm and fuzzy family portrait.

Meanwhile, Shawn (Patrick Flueger) and Kevin (Jeffrey Comb) believe they may have found a way to determine who will and who will not survive a dose of Promicin. This puts Shawn in a reconciling state of mind, and he goes in search of Jordan (Billy Campbell) to tell him the good news. If these two team up again, maybe they can help Tom through – what appears to be – an invasion of the body snatchers. While Tom is trying to get his bearings – where his dreams are concerned – a head honcho from Washington comes to town to tell him to give in to the feelings and visions overtaking him. I mean, the same thing happened to her, and she’s like a new person. Freaky stuff, but even freakier is the fact that the fair Lilly is really just a vision sent from a 4400.

It appears that poor Richard is just being manipulated by Kyle (Chad Faust), in order to get Isabelle (Megalyn Echikunwoke) back. But, Richard is one 4400 that isn’t easily out smarted. Getting somebody’s dead wife to try and guilt them into giving up the only family they have left is pretty low, even for those single-minded people from the future. Who’s good and who’s bad? That’s an answer that just keeps getting murkier and murkier every week. Although, the nasty little trick did seem to work, because Richard decided to give Isabelle her old life back by reversing the aging process back to where she was. Just proving – yet again – how far a parent will go for the love of their child. But, will that parental bond work in Tom and Kyle’s favor?

Tom has inched closer and closer to the dark side, and appears to have given in and become whatever – or whomever – the future wants him to. Yet again, we have to ask ourselves, does the end justify the means? Even if the future is going to these extremes to save the world, how much collateral damage do they deem acceptable? We’ve known for some time that Tom is an vital part of the future’s plans, but becoming violent toward his friends and co-workers just doesn’t seem in line with the knight in shining armor we have all come to know. Somehow I think that it’s just that change of personality that will be the future’s undoing.

Diana (Jacquilin Mckenzie) is a smart cookie, and she’s going to catch on to what’s happening, probably sooner rather than later. But, will she be able to stop Kyle from carrying out the future’s plans to stop his cousin Shawn from convincing people to hold off on taking Promicin until all the medial testing is done? And what about Diana and the part she’s supposed to play? We really don’t know much about that yet, but something tells me that she may just be the fly in the 4400 ointment. Stay tuned and see.