Episode:The Starzl Mutation
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"The Starzl Mutation"
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| Episode No. | Season 3 Episode 10 | |
| Writer(s) | Craig Sweeny,Amy Berg | |
| Story by | ||
| Director | Allison Liddi-Brown | |
| Special guest(s) | ||
| Production No. | 310 | |
| Nielsen Rating | ||
| US airdate | August 6, 2006 | |
| DVD release | ||
| Episode Chronology | ||
| Previous Episode: | The Ballad of Kevin and Tess | |
| Next Episode: | The Gospel According To Collier | |
- For information on the genetic mutation, see Starzl Mutation.
The Starzl Mutation was an important episode, leading to several major developments and setting the stage for the end of the third season. These developments included visions of the Catastrophe, the announcement of an enhanced soldier program of US soldiers developing 4400 abilities, the explanation of why the 4400 were returned to 2004 Seattle, and a spotting of Jordan Collier. Commercials for the episode claimed they would answer viewers' major questions, and that nothing would be the same.
[edit] Synopsis
A prostitute, Tim McCarren, was picked up by Darren Piersahl. Piersahl told him that he could change the world if he didn't stop him, and he then killed him. McCarren's body was found in the woods. A morgue worker said there was "no Earthly explanation" as to what happened to him. Darren meets Paula Nakata outside her office, and kills her in a stairwell. A fingerprint at the Kakata homicide leads to the suspect being identified as Darren Piershal. Marco discloses this to Tom and Diana, but they do not believe him because he is not one of the 4400. It turns out that Piershal was an Army Ranger supposedly killed in Iraq a year earlier.
Shawn is given a cigar by a 4400 wedding guest whose hands secret an oil which gives visions of the future. Shawn smokes the cigar, having his first vision. In it, Richard had formed an army, launched an attack, and started a war. Shawn killed Richard. Shawn drove away, smoked the cigar again, and had a second vision. In this one, the Catastrophe arrives, and he is trying to save his uncle Tom under a highway overpass. Shawn meets with Richard to discuss his visions. Surprisingly, he reveals to Richard that they become enemies in one of his visions. Shawn has a third vision, a more complete version of his first vision. Shawn decides to carry through with the wedding.
Marco discovers that Piersahl has been killing people with the Starzl Mutation. He also figures out that he's killing them in the order of his partner's dog tag number according to their numbers on the list of people with the mutation. The Starzl Mutation exists only around Seattle, in those who were treated with a flawed radiation machine at Seattle Presberterian Hospital from 1969 to 1974, and their children. Tom and Diana go to a records archive and get a list of people who have the Starzl Mutation. It turns out that someone from Haspelcorp took that same file six weeks earlier.
Tom and Diana visit Lee Piersahl, Darren's father. He tells them that the helicopter crash which killed Darren had six people on it, but that helicopter type can only hold four people. Tom and Diana meet Dennis Ryland at HaspelCorp and ask him if he's working on a program to build promicin soldiers. John Shaffner arrives in a parking garage and shares everything he knows with Tom and Diana. He explains that those with the Starzl Mutation are the only people who can have promicin-positive children with members of the 4400. He said that no one gave an order to kill people with the mutation, and that Piershal was free-lancing. Tom and Diana confront Ryland again, and Ryland lightly denies the existence of the program. Tom and Diana find Alex Messina, the next target on the list, before Piershal is able to kill him. Tom and Diana used Shafner to find Piershal at a campsite. Tom and Darren battle in a creek and Tom wins with Piershal ending up dead. Shafner had stabbed Darren only moments before so he likely would have died anyway.
Back at NTAC, Tom is recovering and tells everyone that Piershal had been stabbed before the fight.The existence of an enhanced soldier program was announced on MNCN. Tom noted that they were being treated out like "the first astronauts." General Randa gave the following press announcement, "We are proud to announce the existence of this enhanced soldier program to all of the world, but it should not in any way be seen as an offensive maneuver. We have evidence suggesting other countries have similar programs, this is merely a response. The young men I'm about to introduce to you have been working in secret, and we've made numerous advances. In time, they will become the first non-4400s to develop extra human abilities, and they will use them in the defense of the United States. Now, I'd like to introduce eight heroic young men, all of whom have given so much of themselves to make this breakthrough possible. Major Jeremy Elwood, First Lieutenant Ramon Garcia, First Lieutenant Jeff Rice, First Lieutenant Brian Dawson, Second Lieutenant Derk Danoff, Second Lieutenant James Noland..."
Tom arrives at HaspelCorp telling Dennis that the announcement was a smooth move but his company had five bodies on its hands, and asking him if these soldiers he's creating will be used to defend the country, or just to attack the 4400. Ryland asks if there is a difference. Shawn meets hundreds of guests before his wedding outside the 4400 Center. A bearded man looking like Jordan Collier arrived at Shawn and Isabelle's wedding. He asked, "Shawn, Shawn Farrell, do you know who I am?"
[edit] External Links
- The Starzl Mutation - Official Episode Guide
- IMDB Episode Guide - the Starzl Mutation
- TV.com Episode Guide - The Starzl Mutation
- The Starzl Mutation Production Blog
[edit] Episode Gallery
 Shawn |
 Tom and Diana |
 Wedding Practice |
 Shawn and Tom |
 Shaffner emerges |
 Paula Nakata |
 Paula Nakata dead |
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