“The Home Front”

Yawn.

Sorry what was that?   Oh yeah.  “The Home Front” basically just tells you the writers have no idea where they want to go, so they grab a few bits and pieces from this old episode, and bits and pieces from this old episode in the hopes of making some connection with the viewers.  But the plot holes and characterizations just don’t fit the bill.

We start off with the 4400 looking for Gary Navarro.  It seems that he is the first of those attempts to bring someone back…again.  The 4400 have tracked him down to his home, but someone tips him off before they get there.

It leads back to the school at the 4400  center where Alana has been teaching school.  Eventually it is discovered that Alana is the one who tipped them off. Of course this predictably but almost too quickly and to effectively turns Tom against the very truth and justice he always fights for.

Dennis Ryland discoveres that it is Alana and she gets taken in.  It is quickly realized that the only thing Ryland wants is Gary on a silver platter so Tom knws the only way to save Alana is to give him Gary.  Again, it’s just way off kilter for everyone but even moreso when Diana agrees to help Tom.

Meanwhile the Shawn-Isabelle relationship gets put to the test with the return of Nikki at least for a bit.  Once again let’s reach to a past character to desperately add some intrigue to the show.  Unfortunately it fizzles instead of sizzles.  It is quickly run down thanks to Isablelle’s subtle threat.  Then Shawn calls her out on said threat and she repeats every word of it.

Back to Tom and Gary.  With help from Alana, who gives up Garys location just a bit too soon…even if it is for her life especailly with how much she protested doing just that about 20 seconds ago.

Tom captures Gary and of course we get the whining about how Tom and Diana were supposed to have helped him and that they instead screwed him over.

Tom goes to Ryland and strikes a behind the scenes deal to Ryland can get Gary and do what he wants to do and not worry about a trial.  Tom offers Gary for Allana’s charges being droppped.   They make the trade,  but not surprisingly Tom has doubts because he does the right thing.

Tom, Diana, and Alana drive down Ryland and free Gary.  Diana tells Ryland that if Gary doesn’t go free she’ll inform the NSA of the backdoor machinations he was trying to pull.  Dennis and Tom have a stand off but Tom has won this round.

SO WHY DOES ALANA HAVE TO LEAVE AT THE END?  Alana has to go off to a different counry with Gary to…what?  The charges against her have been dropped.  Maybe I missed something but it seemed really stretched.

Like the whole episode basically.

Like the series is in serious danger of doing.

D+

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