For the past three seasons, I've felt that USA's THE DEAD ZONE was one of the best shows on TV. However, this season - aside from the season opener "Broken Circle" and the third episode "Double Vision" - the shows have been lackluster or downright bad. Past seasons have had one or two shows each year that weren't very good, but this season seems to be the opposite - only a few that are good, and none that match the quality of some of the first three season's best shows.

Anyone else agree? Disagree?

Seems this season is lacking an overall story arc. Pretty much all just standalone "filler" episodes.

For the past three seasons, I've felt that you were off your rocker.

Seriously, the show has been above average entertainment, and while we may disagree on how much above average it is, it's always been good and I looked foward to it. However, this current season is shit. There's really no other way to put it. I consider starting a thread about this very topic each week, but I don't want to start trouble with the fans, but since you've started the thread , I'll post my thoughts. Complete shit. And it's not just the lack of arc. In the past, the stand-alones were often pretty good, putting new twists on his powers and telling interesting stories. This season's stand-alones are terrible. They evoke memories of the worst Murder, She Wrote episodes. "Double Vision" was mildly entertaining, mainly because Jennifer Finnigan is energetic and fun, but even it was undercut by the way the writers tossed Rebecca aside so Johnny could have a love interest every other week, so it just seemed silly.

What a complete disappointment. It's been clear for a while now that they plan to use the Stillson arc as a carrot to string along viewers for as many seasons as they can suck out of this concept. If the show continues in this manner, I wonder if anyone will be left to care how it ends.

das

Well maybe thats why there was a 2 yr gap between the last season and this new one. Least I think there was...I think its ok, but yep does'nt seem to be going anywhere special.

Oddly, you aren't the first forum poster to say that. And to think I voted for you.

Seriously though - I pretty much agree with your assessment, although I tried not to be harsh because I really WANT this show to do well...I just think they are WAY off track this year. I think Michael Pillar is less involved with the episode writing than he was in the past few seasons, which may be a HUGE reason as to why the show's taken such a downturn.

Both of the USA Sunday shows are pulling in subpar seasons compared to last. The ratings seem to be fairly good though, so I guess we can't expect change based on that issue.

The Dead Zone has turned into a show that I have on in the background on Sunday nights (along with The 4400), neither are so compelling that they requires my full attention because I get the rhythm of the shows, and most of it is pretty predictable and average at best.

I think Johnny Smith jumped the shark when he chucked his cane into the river.

A good point. I thought at the time it was a bad choice as that has defined his character for so long, never realizing it was an even bigger series shift.

I agree...I have been disappointed with the season so far. No more dire predictions of the future. No more sexual tension with him and Dax. Filler episodes is a perfect description. Yawn.

Thos.

I thought his loss of the cane was somehow tied into how future man ended up with the cane head. Seems like that whole aspect has been lost. The mysterious individual who secured Gene's release from jail was intriguing. Even when previous episodes were standalone, some small parts were always about the overall Johnny/Stillson conflict. That has been totally ignored this season. I used to always look forward to this show, I now have an episode saved and am not sure when or if I will view it.

Such a waste.

I still have all of this season's episodes saved in my Tivo. Just haven't gotten around to watching this season yet. This thread is not inspiring me to start any sooner.

IMHO, the only good episode was the first one, and that was actually the finale for season 3 that they decided to hold back as the premiere of season 4.

The show has steadily been going down hill since last season they decided that having one episode contained stories was the way to go. I think they could easily get back to where they were if they go back to the original formula.

Actually, I think the finale for season 3 was edited into the last episode of season 3...I think the season premiere was a brand-new show.

I agree with this season. I was waiting for someone to start this thread, lol. Besides the first episode of the season (which was the SERIES FINALE before DZ was renewed), all the episodes have been shit. WTF happened to Purdy? Rebecca? Dana? Little Johnny? Hell, ANYONE. These are all stand-alone episodes with no arc anywhere to be seen. Hopefully this will change fairly soon because I can no longer get through an episode.

I have only watched the first 3 episodes this season. I enjoyed them. This isn't great, but there is generally crap on right now, so I don't need great....I just need decent shows that are not reality crap.

I don't think so. Several people pointed this fact out in various threads. This being one of them:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showpos...30&postcount=4

The fact that this seasons premiere was actually part of last season, makes me think even less of S4. The only episode that was really interesting/fun was Double Vision...and that was almost all Jennifer Finnigan.

Without the cane, its like they've thrown away the whole Stilson arc. I'm not bailing, but if they don't pick up for the rest of the season, I'll probably won't be tuning back in next summer.

I think the went downhill the moment they changed the theme song. Bad choice.

This christmas Dead Zone will be doing a cross-over episode with another USA show...I think it was Monk?

Monk would make the most sense...I just don't see Johnny teaming up with Kojak.

I have followed the show since the first season really enjoying the Johnny character, but I haven't had any desire to watch this season. I don't know why, but this thread is making me glad that I'm skipping the show for now. I would say that I would watch this season on dvd, but the dvd releases have been the worst I've ever had to deal with...so I certainly won't be buying anymore sets.

Finally watched this week's episode.

I wonder how much longer Walt will allow Johnny to blatantly disregard laws. I can understand bending the law sometimes, but that seems to be the only consistent theme this season. The constatnt interference by Johnny into Police matters is really getting hard to stomach.

Also, is it just me or does Cleaves Mills seem to be a major metropolitan area this season? A port, INS worries? This doesn't seem like some small town. Maybe I just don't understand Maine geography.

Getting to be tougher to find time to sit and watch.

This weeks episode (or is it next week? ..I think this) will revive the "Armageddon" theme ..and it will really pick up next season ...There's a page about it in TVGuide (Some very minor spoilers) but they're going to film the next two seasons back to back so hoepfully it picks back up again..

Next season? I always assumed this was going to be the last season; what with them coming so close to being cancelled last year. Good for them. Hopefully they can find their stride.

I think the main problem is the writers are just draggin' out the Stiller arc, knowing that if they do to much they will run out to quickly. Another problem is an overall lack of continuty, everytime they write a woman into Johnny's life, she ends up being wrote off just as quickly.

Love the first three seasons, but this one isn't so hot.