Terrible Swift Sword (The 4400 episode)
Encyclopedia
Terrible Swift Sword is an episode of the science fiction
television series The 4400
.
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. Together, they steal Dennis Ryland
's stores of promicin.
is giving a television interview explaining to the world what he’s seen of the future. The human race is dying out. And a privileged elite have locked themselves away in the world’s last city where they hoard the planet’s remaining resources, leaving the rest of what’s left of civilization to fight for survival in the wasteland the earth has become. Jordan stresses that 4400s and non-4400s must work together in order to prevent this bleak future.
Meanwhile, an unknown 4400 breaks into NTAC and uses their ability to put everyone temporarily to sleep, allowing members of the Nova group being held there to escape. At the 4400 Center, Shawn Farrell
learns that Jordan coordinated the jailbreak and plans to use Nova to help him destroy the military base where Ryland’s super soldiers are being trained. Shawn talks to Richard Tyler
in private and tries to convince him that Jordan’s plan is going to provoke a war with the government. But as far as Richard is concerned, the 4400 have been in an undeclared war with the government since they returned. And with the revelation that Isabelle Tyler
is working for Ryland, Richard is convinced that it is only a matter of time before his daughter leads a strike against the 4400.
Shawn goes to NTAC and reveals Jordan’s plan to Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris in the hope that they will be able to stop him. When they confront Jordan, he reveals he has no intention of attacking a military base. He only told Shawn that story in order to test his loyalty. But Shawn points out that still doesn’t explain why Jordan broke the Nova members out of NTAC. Jordan denies the accusation. Shawn looks to Richard to back him up, but Richard sides with Jordan. Shawn later confronts Jordan in private and asks why he was lied to. Jordan explains that he had to know how committed Shawn was to the cause, but if he wants, it’s not too late to join. Shawn pledges his loyalty, and Jordan in turn reveals that he indeed does have a plan. Tom and Diana soon discover that Jordan’s story about attacking the military base was just a diversion so that he could steal Haspelcorp’s entire stockpile of promicin. Later on, Shawn, Richard, Kevin Burkhoff, and Tess Doerner gather at a warehouse where the stolen promicin is being stored. They ask Jordan what he wants to do with the promicin. Destroy it? No, Jordan wants to give it away. To everybody.
Meanwhile, Kyle is finding it difficult adjusting to life outside of prison. Tom encourages his son to register for classes at the local college, but Kyle explains that he will always be known as the man who shot Jordan Collier. And in Kyle’s mind, that means he has no chance at an ordinary life. Kyle goes to see Collier. Jordan explains that his death had to happen and that Kyle is a part of a much larger plan. Later on, Tom comes home to find Kyle packing. Kyle explains that after talking to Jordan, he has decided to tour the country and talk about his life. Tom tries to talk Kyle out of it, but his son explains that this is something he has to do. Meanwhile, April discovers that Diana has been seeing Ben behind her back.
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...
television series 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...
.
Synopsis
Jordan CollierJordan 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:...
goes public about his "resurrection," and summons a 4400 with a tracking ability to find Kevin Burkhoff
Kevin Burkhoff
Kevin Burkhoff is a fictional character on the USA Network science fiction tv show, The 4400.-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 disorder and had not...
and 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:...
, who are still at large. Together, they 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 stores of promicin.
Plot
Jordan CollierJordan 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:...
is giving a television interview explaining to the world what he’s seen of the future. The human race is dying out. And a privileged elite have locked themselves away in the world’s last city where they hoard the planet’s remaining resources, leaving the rest of what’s left of civilization to fight for survival in the wasteland the earth has become. Jordan stresses that 4400s and non-4400s must work together in order to prevent this bleak future.
Meanwhile, an unknown 4400 breaks into NTAC and uses their ability to put everyone temporarily to sleep, allowing members of the Nova group being held there to escape. At the 4400 Center, 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...
learns that Jordan coordinated the jailbreak and plans to use Nova to help him destroy the military base where Ryland’s super soldiers are being trained. Shawn talks to Richard Tyler
Richard
The first or given name Richard derives from German, French, and English "ric" and "hard" , therefore it means 'powerful leader' as well as 'King's Court'...
in private and tries to convince him that Jordan’s plan is going to provoke a war with the government. But as far as Richard is concerned, the 4400 have been in an undeclared war with the government since they returned. And with the revelation that Isabelle Tyler
Isabelle
Isabelle is a French feminine given name. It may refer to :* Isabella of France , a disambiguation page* Isabelle of Luxembourg , a daughter of Henry V of Luxembourg and his wife Margaret of Bar...
is working for Ryland, Richard is convinced that it is only a matter of time before his daughter leads a strike against the 4400.
Shawn goes to NTAC and reveals Jordan’s plan to Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris in the hope that they will be able to stop him. When they confront Jordan, he reveals he has no intention of attacking a military base. He only told Shawn that story in order to test his loyalty. But Shawn points out that still doesn’t explain why Jordan broke the Nova members out of NTAC. Jordan denies the accusation. Shawn looks to Richard to back him up, but Richard sides with Jordan. Shawn later confronts Jordan in private and asks why he was lied to. Jordan explains that he had to know how committed Shawn was to the cause, but if he wants, it’s not too late to join. Shawn pledges his loyalty, and Jordan in turn reveals that he indeed does have a plan. Tom and Diana soon discover that Jordan’s story about attacking the military base was just a diversion so that he could steal Haspelcorp’s entire stockpile of promicin. Later on, Shawn, Richard, Kevin Burkhoff, and Tess Doerner gather at a warehouse where the stolen promicin is being stored. They ask Jordan what he wants to do with the promicin. Destroy it? No, Jordan wants to give it away. To everybody.
Meanwhile, Kyle is finding it difficult adjusting to life outside of prison. Tom encourages his son to register for classes at the local college, but Kyle explains that he will always be known as the man who shot Jordan Collier. And in Kyle’s mind, that means he has no chance at an ordinary life. Kyle goes to see Collier. Jordan explains that his death had to happen and that Kyle is a part of a much larger plan. Later on, Tom comes home to find Kyle packing. Kyle explains that after talking to Jordan, he has decided to tour the country and talk about his life. Tom tries to talk Kyle out of it, but his son explains that this is something he has to do. Meanwhile, April discovers that Diana has been seeing Ben behind her back.
Significance
- JordanJordan CollierJordan 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:...
does not intend to destroy the stolen PromicinPromicinPromicin 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...
, but instead intends to give it away, to "everyone." - The episode title "Terrible Swift Sword" is a reference to the military and religious song, The Battle Hymn of the RepublicThe Battle Hymn of the Republic"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is a hymn by American writer Julia Ward Howe using the music from the song "John Brown's Body". Howe's more famous lyrics were written in November 1861 and first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It became popular during the American Civil War...
. A line in the song, describing the wrath of God, says, "He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword."