Kevin Burkhoff
Encyclopedia
Kevin Burkhoff is a fictional character on the USA Network
science fiction
tv show, The 4400
.
and had not spoken in six years, and was friends with a schizophrenic 4400 named Tess Doerner
. Tess used her 4400 ability to get everyone in the hospital to build a machine she saw in her mind, mistakenly believing that it would contact the future. When the machine was built, it created a pulse that released everyone from Tess' mind control and cured Kevin of his mental illness. It was then revealed that Kevin was a world-renowned neuroscientist and likely the "father of the 4400 technology".
Kevin was the one who discovered how to cure the side effects of the promicin inhibitor during the season two finale.
's agents and being placed in a body bag for autopsy.
After a failed attempt by him and Tess to perform the same promicin-injection procedure on Diana Skouris
, he shed his skin like a snake, revealing an untarnished appearance. Kevin now possesses the paranormal ability to regenerate
.
ran away together in the season three episode "The Ballad of Kevin and Tess
"; later, in the episode "Terrible Swift Sword
," it is revealed that they went to work at a small town garage where Tess
used her ability to bring customers to the local businesses. Kevin and Tess were recruited to help Jordan Collier
steal Dennis Ryland
's promicin, and they are currently in hiding with Collier.
During their time with Collier, without proper medication, Tess once again comes under the influence of her schizophrenia and leaves, causing Kevin to follow her. He is later seen in a small town where Tess forces most of the denizens to participate in her "sweet sixteen", but due to an intervention by Shawn Farrell
, Tess is cured of her illness. Kevin is then enlisted by Shawn to create a promicin-profiency test that can tell if one is going to survive a promicin shot or not. Before he is finished, Kevin is then kidnapped by Kyle Baldwin
, who believes the test will ruin the promicin distribution movement.
The serum Kevin Burkhoff injected himself with to gain an ability was not the same solution of pure promicin
that was used to cure the 4400 of the inhibitor. Kevin makes it very clear in "The New World" that he is injecting himself "with a modified version of the promicin serum." The promicin given away to the public by Jordan Collier
comes directly from Isabelle
's veins, which is why the promicin shots have a 50-50 chance of either killing the recipient (with multiple brain aneurysms) or giving an ability.
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
tv show, The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
.
Season Two
Kevin first appeared in the season two premiere episode "Wake Up Call," in which he was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. Kevin suffered from paranoid personality disorderParanoid personality disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by paranoia and a pervasive, long-standing suspiciousness and generalized mistrust of others....
and had not spoken in six years, and was friends with a schizophrenic 4400 named Tess Doerner
Tess Doerner
Tess Doerner is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, played by Summer Glau. She disappeared April 3, 1955.-Season Two:...
. Tess used her 4400 ability to get everyone in the hospital to build a machine she saw in her mind, mistakenly believing that it would contact the future. When the machine was built, it created a pulse that released everyone from Tess' mind control and cured Kevin of his mental illness. It was then revealed that Kevin was a world-renowned neuroscientist and likely the "father of the 4400 technology".
Kevin was the one who discovered how to cure the side effects of the promicin inhibitor during the season two finale.
Season Three
In the third season, Kevin begins to inject himself with promicin in order to gain some type of 4400 ability. The shots he took disfigured his appearance by causing wounds on his chest and loss of his nails, though in exchange it granted him rapid (but inconsistent) healing of muscle tissue. This was first demonstrated when he put a scalpel through his hand and it healed within seconds. After several months of injections, his entire body was covered in lesions and decaying tissue, but his regenerative abilities were now fully active, as he literally resurrects himself after taking four nine millimeter rounds to the chest at the hands of one of Dennis RylandDennis Ryland
Dennis Ryland is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction The 4400 portrayed by Peter Coyote. He was the original supervisor and director of NTAC during season one....
's agents and being placed in a body bag for autopsy.
After a failed attempt by him and Tess to perform the same promicin-injection procedure on Diana Skouris
Diana Skouris
Diana Skouris is a fictional character in the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.-Season One :Initially portrayed as somewhat cold and removed, Diana Skouris was partnered with Tom Baldwin in the pilot episode to investigate the 4400 returnees. She expresses displeasure at being...
, he shed his skin like a snake, revealing an untarnished appearance. Kevin now possesses the paranormal ability to regenerate
Healing factor
A healing factor is a term used to describe the ability of some characters in fiction to recover from bodily injuries or disease at a superhuman rate...
.
Season Four
Kevin and Tess DoernerTess Doerner
Tess Doerner is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, played by Summer Glau. She disappeared April 3, 1955.-Season Two:...
ran away together in the season three episode "The Ballad of Kevin and Tess
The Ballad of Kevin and Tess (The 4400 episode)
"The Ballad of Kevin and Tess" is the ninth episode of season three of the science fiction television series The 4400. The episode aired July 30, 2006 on the USA Network.-Synopsis:Kevin is on the run after mutating, due to his promicin experiments...
"; later, in the episode "Terrible Swift Sword
Terrible Swift Sword (The 4400 episode)
Terrible Swift Sword is an episode of the science fiction television series The 4400.-Synopsis:Jordan Collier goes public about his "resurrection," and summons a 4400 with a tracking ability to find Kevin Burkhoff and Tess Doerner, who are still at large...
," it is revealed that they went to work at a small town garage where Tess
Tess Doerner
Tess Doerner is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, played by Summer Glau. She disappeared April 3, 1955.-Season Two:...
used her ability to bring customers to the local businesses. Kevin and Tess were recruited to help Jordan Collier
Jordan Collier
Jordan Collier is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400. He is portrayed by American actor Billy Campbell.-Character Profile:...
steal Dennis Ryland
Dennis Ryland
Dennis Ryland is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction The 4400 portrayed by Peter Coyote. He was the original supervisor and director of NTAC during season one....
's promicin, and they are currently in hiding with Collier.
During their time with Collier, without proper medication, Tess once again comes under the influence of her schizophrenia and leaves, causing Kevin to follow her. He is later seen in a small town where Tess forces most of the denizens to participate in her "sweet sixteen", but due to an intervention by Shawn Farrell
Shawn Farrell
Shawn Farrell is a fictional character in the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.- Season One:Shawn was born December 12, 1983, and disappeared April 22, 2001 from Highland Beach near Seattle, Washington, while with his cousin Kyle Baldwin...
, Tess is cured of her illness. Kevin is then enlisted by Shawn to create a promicin-profiency test that can tell if one is going to survive a promicin shot or not. Before he is finished, Kevin is then kidnapped by Kyle Baldwin
Kyle Baldwin
Kyle Baldwin is a fictional character in the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.- Season One:Kyle Baldwin is Tom and Linda Baldwin's son and Shawn Farrell's cousin. The two were drinking beer at Highland beach in 2001 when Shawn was abducted. After Shawn's abduction, Kyle is...
, who believes the test will ruin the promicin distribution movement.
The serum Kevin Burkhoff injected himself with to gain an ability was not the same solution of pure promicin
Promicin
Promicin is a fictional neurotransmitter in the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.- Background :The human body produces neurotransmitters that control and regulate bodily functions. In The 4400, every 4400 produces a fictitious neurotransmitter called promicin that enables him...
that was used to cure the 4400 of the inhibitor. Kevin makes it very clear in "The New World" that he is injecting himself "with a modified version of the promicin serum." The promicin given away to the public by Jordan Collier
Jordan Collier
Jordan Collier is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400. He is portrayed by American actor Billy Campbell.-Character Profile:...
comes directly from Isabelle
Isabelle Tyler
Isabelle Tyler is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400.-Background:The daughter of Richard Tyler and Lily Moore, Isabelle is technically not a 4400; she was born after the 4400 were returned, after the first season of the show.- Season 1 :Lily...
's veins, which is why the promicin shots have a 50-50 chance of either killing the recipient (with multiple brain aneurysms) or giving an ability.