The 4400-Casting Spoiler

I would guess that for Lily it's just a flashback. However, did they ever explain what happened to Richard? There's no reason he couldn't come back for good.

 

He disappeared after injecting Isabelle with the shot that took away her powers and hasn't been seen since. (That was Tom's official explanation to Isabelle)

And I think Lilly was cremated...that would be hard to recover from one would think. But I'm pretty sure I remember seeing Richard scatter her ashes over her grandmother's grave or something.

 

Except the fact that he sucked the life out of most scenes he was in ...

No, I'll partially take that back. He was fine when Richard and Lily were confused and were exploring their relationship, and when they were on the run, but when Isabelle got "all growed up" overnight for the start of Season 3, Richard turned into a major drag. So early Richard = good Richard. Later Richard = bad Richard.

 

Lily aged prematurely and died of old age, and I remember a scene at a cemetery, but I can't recall if she was cremated.

More than likely she will appear as a flashback, but remember ... the future took her once and returned her at a later date, so what's to stop the future from snatching her up from an earlier time and again returning her to the present? It would make for some messy and complicated story-telling, but ... why not? It's been an intriguing and well-written season so far, so I'm up for anything.

 

This is great news in a 4400 season that doesn't really need anymore. It's been a great ride so far. Richard & Lily returning makes it all the better.

Laura Allen was awesome in Dirt, on F/X, by the way. If I didn't think they were creepy, I'd start a fan club.

Lastly, drew2k is right. Richard & Lily worked at the beginning of the series, but the wheels came off when the baby aged 20 years overnight.

 

I guess I haven't followed 4400 to well. What was the explanation of why Isabelle grew up?

 

It was a sudden thing. I remember an episode where she was walking around naked (because her clothes didn't fit). It had something to do with the fact that Lily was pregnant when she returned and Isabelle is "special" because of this.