“The New World” is episode one of season three of The 4400.
In the season two finale “Mommy’s Bosses”, a group of people including Ryland were discovered to have been giving promicin inhibitor to the 4400, which amongst other things, killed some of them. Ryland is now testifying in front of congressional hearings about how this was done because otherwise the world would be dominated by a tiny fraction of the population. Every single one of the 4400 would develop abilities and the world isn’t ready. It will come down to us or them.
Three weeks earlier, and Richard is with Shawn who wants to show him something. He can’t explain it. The ‘something’ is the now adult Isabelle. She doesn’t know how this happened. Richard doesn’t believe it and heads to find Lily, finding her collapsed on the floor. Lily says she must have fainted. Only she’s now quite a lot older. Richard doesn’t believe she’s Lily and asks who she is. Lily asks why Richard is looking at her like that. Then sees her hands. Then looks in a mirror.
Dr Burkhoff checks Lily older and tells Richard his wife is a perfectly healthy older woman. He’d guess about 75. When asked how it happened, Burkhoff says it might be a reaction to coming off the inhibitor. Or then there’s progeria. Richard asks if this kind of thing has happened before. A woman fainting, then coming around having aged 50 years a minute later? It has not. Burkhoff needs to do some thinking. Then Isabelle knocks and asks Lily if she’s her mother.
In the present, Ryland is testifying that everything was his idea and done on his orders. Blame is his and his alone. During a break, Tom is trying to contact Kyle, who turned himself in for killing Jordan Collier. Given Jordan is now walking around, when that’s discovered Kyle at least won’t be guilty of murder. Diana is talking to Marco and Jarvis about Ryland; it seems there is a lot of popular support for his actions.
Back inside, the committee is questioning Ryland ion him being the only one responsible; it looks like the chair, at least, isn’t totally convinced of this. One of the press, though, is T.J. Kim, the 4400 who made such a mess of NTAC in “Lockdown”. There’s feedback and Tom asks Diana if she heard that. The feedback, yes. But Tom heard something else. Ryland is ignoring questions as the man next to him is getting agitated and arguing. Before grabbing a pen and stabbing Ryland with it several times. Tom sees T.J. and runs after her. He manages to shoot her in the stomach, but she still manages to get in a waiting car. Inside, the attacker is saying he doesn’t understand what he did.
At NTAC, Jarvis confirms who the attacker was. The 4400s are getting better at abilities they already have or developing new ones. Garrity wonders if Ryland was right. Jarvis says they have two jobs; track down Kim and protect the other conspirators. Else people will think the government can’t protect its citizens. Afterwards, Jarvis tells Tom that Ryland is in surgery.
Shawn is with Lily and Richard, using his power on Lily. Outside the room, Richard says to Shawn that Lily is getting new things wrong with her nearly every day. Isabelle arrives and asks if her mother is okay. She apologises for growing up so fast to Lily; she didn’t mean to or want to. Nor did Lily.
At home, Alana tells Tom he needs a break. Tom doesn’t have the time. Alana says she doesn’t think they need it. She thinks she can take them to a dream world now for a vacation.
Shawn goes to see Isabelle, who hasn’t got used to clothing yet. The labs asked Shawn to find her; she’s an hour late. Isabelle asks why they sent Shawn; isn’t he in charge? Kind of. Isabelle says they’re scared of her. Pretty much. Isabelle thinks her parents are frightened too. Confused, according to Shawn. Isabelle doesn’t think she’s a real 4400.
Ryland wants Tom to take this attack as far as it goes, just like Tom did with him. He doesn’t think T.J. is acting alone. And he’s right. An organisation calling itself the Nova Group claims responsibility and promises more. It seems at least some of the 4400 are taking things into their own hands. NTAC’s actions mean they are now considered to be the bad guys. They are also dealing with powered people and have none of their own. Things could be about to get very nasty.
The story continues in “The New World, Part 2”.