Am I the only one who has problems with this character who goes from being a baby to 20 yr old overnight?

Why do you think the humans are the only species takes 20 years to mature?

a.

i wish i knew how to vote, there is always surprises on the show

Anything can happen on a series, especially a SciFi show. This is not new - it has been done at least once before in the mini-series V" (excellent btw)that became a TV series for a short while. The alien/human baby Elizabeth grew in stages, overnight to toddler size, then (I think...it's been a long time) to pre-teen size/age and finally to young woman size/age. I believe the infant-to-adult scenario is possible because first - it's sci fi and anything can happen - and second - because infants and very young children are unpredictable and they can't "work" for long (that's why shows involving young children often use twins).

Other posters have commented on Isabelle's strengths and weaknesses so I suggest you check out the other "Isabelle" threads. So far I find that most of her behavior can be explained by growing from infant to young woman overnight. As "Richard Tyler" explained Isabelle has a grown woman's body with all its curiosity (the list) and hormones, with the moral mindset of a child. I, like others, was momentarily surprised when she did not lash out at Matthew Ross when he slapped her. Then I thought she was still reeling from the shock of her sudden maturity and her sorrow and confusion over her mother's uncontrolled aging knowing she was the cause.

It wouldn't surprise if sometime later this season (or next) she takes a stand regarding her destiny and then "watch out". I believe Matthew Ross is either from the future or has knowledge of what will happen in the future. What his plan for the future will be involving Isabelle is likely NOT be what the PFTF intended and do believe there is a a least separate two visions of the future represented here now. Which side Isabelle ultimately chooses (Matthew vs Shawn) could be how "our future" plays out.

I totally think Isabelle is a believable character. And that's the fun thing about this show (and sci-fi): There's a number of things that can happen. How far in advance are these future humans? We don't know exactly yet but they must be pretty far in advance for them to have taken Lily and have her conceive a child and "seed her back into the timeline." And if the future is able to create this human being (Isabelle) and have her age from an infant to an adult then these humans must be pretty powerful.

Okay on our reality strand that doesn't seem likely. But thats' why you have to drill yourself into this world of the 4400 in order to have clear understanding and to believe it with every fiber of your being.

Uh yeah...I mean it is AT LEAST as believeable as people from the future "kidnapping" people from the past, messing with their DNA (or whatever), holding on to them for a while (or as long as 60 years), then dropping ALL OF THEM off at the same time on the shore of a lake in Washington state...
At least as believeable as a young man who can heal with a touch, a girl who has visions of the future and a guy who can shape shift...
Isn't that why we LOVE scifi? The endless possiblities?

LOL! I know Richard was right when he said Isabel was not ready to be away from the Center yet! LOL! She's still just trying to figure things out and she is definately a loooooong way away from being ready mentally for sex with anyone! I don't trust that Ross guy, he seems to be the one controlling her somehow. He looked like he was trying to get her to have sex with Shaun, he definatly has something up his sleeve!

Since they are testing Issy, I wonder with every new experience or ability, does it appear in the test results. Perhaps Matthew wants to know how the 4400 exert their abilities. As it appears that Issy has more than one, unlike the rest so far, she is the key (Rosetta Stone) to deciphering how the 4400 abilities work and possibly developing it in others without a serum injection.

First off, Science Fiction must be believable. If something violates of the Natural Laws of Time, Nature and Space, those rules it isn’t Sci-Fi, but belongs in the realm of fantasy.

Anyone see the movie, Starman with Jeff Bridges; that was a more realistic and believable depiction of growing up as a human, and didn’t violate the natural laws.

The other Isabelle postings seem to have more in common with the actor’s looks, than the actual character itself, which I still find very weak. I still have a hard time believing that someone that went from being a baby to young adult can behave the way she does.

How did she learn language? How does have total bodily control, and hand-eye coordination, locomotion, eating, etc?

To me, the 4400 premise is good, but some of the writing is getting a little carried out of control.

A.

While the show was handed lemons, they are making a quite dandy Mint Iced Tea. Lots of grumbling about Season 3, but I don't happen to share that view, it's picking up steam, give the story arc time to grow.

Isabella is proving to be a strong character, something, even I had doubts about in the Opener...

I am still hooked, and at least 11 other major story arc questions a brooding, it has a good life ahead. Be not weary.

Dude,

On the money man, on the money. They had a terrific idea, but I feel the wheels are coming off the wagon. They don't know HOW to do this. I think they've gotten too carried away by the show's popularlity and have begun to appeal to the masses, gotten sloppy, and missed the fact that it was strong writing plus a great idea that got them thus far. Isabelle was a better character in the womb and as a baby than now. Now she seems like nothing more than an airhead teenager. Not a twenty-something. And please folks don't remind me that she is learning. They need to take a page from the Matrix when Neo awoke and then plugged in and learned. Yes, they tried to show that with Isabelle, but missed badly. Did they really write this line for her "sex is next on my list of things to do..." and "I was trying to learn how to swim". This was just a very badly conceived approach to character development and further evidence of what appears to be a deterioration in the show. Enough said.

I think the actress playing Isabelle is not very convincing.

Having Issy mature rapidly (going nova) along with introducing the Nova Group answered this question of why for me.

As for the how, maybe she was genetically created. If this is the case, the reality-limits are off. In addition to this, does she need to develop [or not] other parts of her humanity? What we are taking as innocence, curiosity, or evil may otherwise be androidlike self-actualization to accomplish her mission.

The more I think about it, the more I think that the dialogue in this show is simply mediocre (at best) and it relies on each actor's ability to make the stuff work good. Isabelle is doing ok, but not great. As noted before, she isn't given all that great of material to work with.

I am SO glad old Lilly is gone, she and her interactions with Isabelle were TERRIBLE. Same with Richard now. I don't think the writers do children interaction well at all.

I felt a little abused with this past week's teasers because they showed Isabelle in the water floating and face up...duh...she was trying to learn to swim??? What kind of storyline of interest does that hold? That storyline put me off somewhat to the point that I am not trusting the previews as a good story to see. Also, having sex is on my list of things to do. OK...now that is going to the level of "silly". A nice romantic relationship would be a maybe but it is truly on the level of goofy when she spoke the line. I am having a hard time buying her character as one to either like or dislike. I just wish the writers would give her some character.

Honestly, if I view it as you do, I have a very hard time believing most of the 4400's abilities. But in view of their world, I see it.

To me, it wasn't Isabelle's ability to grow up, it was Lilly's ability to mature a person with her own age. Isabelle is just the recipient of the gift bestowed upon her by her Mother. Who knows what else is going to happen?

Has anyone realized Lily's ability was alter-reality, and the true fulfillment of her power was herself, and Isabelle?

As far as the other comments...

I cannot seem to get others to understand that the baby-to-adult thing wasn't done thoroughly, so I will leave it alone.

I wish they had stuck with the original idea of them trying to find a way back into their old lives w/o all this "24" stuff, stealing things from other shows for rating purposes.

Ok nuff ranting, I'll go back to watching X-men...I mean...the 4400!

Cyana

Quote:

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It wouldn't surprise if sometime later this season (or next) she takes a stand regarding her destiny and then "watch out".

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Knowing what we already know about her background, I'd say you're right Cyana!

Here's what we know so far:


-- Shawn can both heal and "suck" out the lifeforce of someone

-- Maybe Isabelle can do the same thing as well?

-- Isabelle ruptures Heidi's spleen (maybe because she's jealous of Lily's feelings for her 1/2 sister)?

-- Isabelle also causes Lily to hallucinate and have those horrible visions. Then she stops talking to Lily and only talks to Richard.

-- If Isabelle was jealous of Heidi, then maybe she "sucks" the life out of Lily (because she's jealous of Richard's feelings for Lily)?

-- Note the way she resents Richard not taking her with him to the grave.

-- Doesn't she punish Richard for this by having sex with Shawn? Didn't she also know Richard wouldn't like it from their phone conversation?

-- Isabelle's probably the reason why Lily aged and died.

-- Kevin says there's a direct correlation between Lily's aging and Isabelle (the aging of Lily's neurons, muscle tissue, etc.)?

-- An females who have feelings for Shawn better beware! Isabelle won't like it! If Isabelle sees them as competition for the attention of Shawn, they'd probably face the same fate as Heidi or Lily!

PS: Any FARSCAPE fans here? Remember how John was date raped by that woman who smears some sweat from her breasts onto John? Perhaps that stuff Isabelle released into the swimming pool was the same kind of date rape substance? How is it possible for Shawn to resist that other drug addicted girl, but not Isabelle? I think Shawn was druged with some kind of substance making his "resistance" just as "futile" as an attempt would be to try to resist the BORG!