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« Jericho
Episode Recap: "Termination for Cause"
Verisimilitude.
Not only is this one of the neatest sounding words in the English language, "Verisimilitude" essentially means something that is true or something that has the appearance of truth. I first learned of this word through documentaries about Superman: The Movie. Director Richard Donner prepared his staff for filming by hanging sign on their office walls containing the word "verisimilitude" with Superman's figure hovering above it. Donner succeeded in lacing the movie with human candor, so that a man flying in blue and red tights would be taken seriously.
"End of the World Films" have inundated the film medium in recent years, Independence Day being the most high profile vehicle. That movie went the more comedic route, portraying outrageous characters and their unbelievable feats. But what this film lacked was the "verisimilitude" needed to truly bring these characters to life.
Jericho's "Termination for Cause" packed an emotional wallop that I have rarely experienced in either television or film. The characters were portrayed at odds with each other, each with rational subjective arguments to their cause. It was with this understanding of their humanity, this "verisimilitude," that our hearts sympathized with their plight.
Goetz became aware that Mimi was hidden inside the Richmond House when he murdered Bonnie, so he gathered his men from Jennings & Rall to silence Mimi while she was still in the hospital recovering. Goetz had a Jericho citizen undercover inside the hospital, named Fred, to provide him intel regarding the impending siege. Fred's reason for defecting to Goetz was based solely on the guarantee that his family would not be harmed. Not only did I empathize with Fred's actions, his peers similarly understood his reasoning. Instead of condemning Fred after his two-faced guise was discovered, Jake sternly told him to leave and return to his family. Earlier in the episode, another Jericho resident was faced with the dilemma of either defending the hospital against its J&R insurgents or leaving to protect his wife. Just like this other individual, Fred's conduct was tainted by his love for his family. Meanwhile, Goetz and his soulless soldiers had no motivation other than cover up the unexplainable havoc they created. I do not understand Goetz, and that is why I hate him.
Of the Richmond trio (Bonnie, Stanley, and Mimi), I am glad that it was Bonnie who was deemed "worthy" to die. Stanley and Mimi have now experienced a loss that will color their every scene for the remainder of the show's existence. It was painfully heartbreaking to witness Stanley signing to Bonnie's corpse, "Are you ok?" Stanley felt such an emotional responsibility towards his sister that in his mind he failed her. Thus, it made perfect sense when Stanley, who has proven himself to be a fierce soldier when necessary, ***SPOILER ALERT*** put a bullet through Goetz' head. Despite the inevitable confrontation with Major Beck, Stanley's revenge made for a necessary step towards his self-inflicted redemption.
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Mar 12, 2008 1:48 AM
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OH MY GOD!! I love this show and this was one of the best episodes ever. I so understand Stanleys' need to seek his own sense of justice for what was done to his sister Bonnie and his fiancee Mimi. I wish that this show would get picked by CBS already. This is what good TV is all about. Do I have to send nuts to those idiots at CBS again?
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Mar 12, 2008 3:03 AM
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I dare anyone to claim that he/she didn't tear up or get a lump in the throat during the scene of Stanley saying goodbye to Bonnie. That was one of the most emotionally wrenching scenes I've ever seen on TV.
I urge everyone to either go to CBS.com (http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml) and TELL THEM you want more Jericho, or at the very least go there and click on to watch the episode again. I don't care if you click it, and let it run while you make dinner or surf other sites. Every time it's downloaded, CBS becomes aware that people care about this show.
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Mar 12, 2008 6:15 AM
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Fred also snitched to Goetz about Dale's trading business last week, in an effort to keep his farm.
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Mar 12, 2008 8:44 AM
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Last night's episode kicked a** again. The acting and writing on this show is of such good quality. I really hope that CBS is smart enough to order a 3rd season. Thanks to JENA for posting that weblink to CBS. I urge every one go and post a comment. Here is a copy of what I wrote to them:
Thank you for giving us a second season of Jericho. It would be really great if you picked it up for a 3rd season. All of the episodes in this second season have been well acted and wonderfully written. In my opinion each episode has been more than VERY good. It would be a disservice to those of us who use our brains to watch a tv show to cancel this show again. Jericho is a unique show, unlike any of the others out there. It's meaningful television and the kind that many of us care about very much. There are too many mindless shows on TV which continue to perpetuate the dumming down of our society. I'm sick of them. This show is of good quality.
I enjoy shows that actually get me thinking philosophically and otherwise about what could very much be a real world issue. This show has opened up doors of conversations that parents can have with their children and those of us in the educational arena an avenue to aid in the education of the future leaders of our country.
Joan of Arcadia was another show you had a few years back that I thoroughly enjoyed and got me thinking in a whole different way about things from a philosophical and educational perspective. That show shouldn't have been cancelled either for many of the same reasons Jericho shouldn't.
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Mar 12, 2008 9:35 AM
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I freak’n love this show. Last night’s episode reminded me more of last season than any other this season. I love it when Jake and Hawkins team up a kick some butt. Stanly thanking Bonnie for saving Mimi totally had me sniffing back a few tears. And Hawkins breaking the neck of the Ravenwood guys, AWESOME!!!!!!
I’m really not liking Emily this season. I’ll admit I more of a Heather fan than Emily, but this season Emily’s character is like wallpaper. There is nothing interesting there. So hopefully there will be another season. (please please please) And hopefully we will get some Heather/Jake time. Oh, and why didn’t the New Bern guy tell Jake about the price on Heather’s head when they were trying to claim Goetz?
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Mar 12, 2008 9:47 AM
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LOVE THIS SHOW! Loved it when Hawkins snapped the Ravenwood guys neck and then when Stanley shot Goetz. I have never watched a tv show and yelled out loud "shoot them" "shoot them" so many times! I'm usually such a calm person... this show makes you think, makes you feel and made me cut my night out with the girls short so I could get home and see it in real time. It has to get picked up for a third season.
Stanley's love for his sister and scene with her in the morgue were heartbreaking. He is forever changed, I hope Mimi can keep him grounded.
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Mar 12, 2008 10:36 AM
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I too found myself talking back to the tv several times during this episode.
When the two J&R goons went to pick up Hawkins, OMG you have no idea what you're in for.
Stanley and Bonnie, saw it coming, knew it would be hokey, still cried the whole time.
When Stanley capped Goetz I found myself thinking, Stanley is a better man than I. Far too quick and easy and end. He deserved to suffer. Bad of me I know.
Don't see how they can possibly top this one in the two remaining, but didn't expect near the power and richness this episode presented either.
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Mar 12, 2008 10:47 AM
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I have loved the first season and based on the strength of the acting and writing of this episode, CBS needs to order a third season of this show. The episode was so believeable in its settings and its displays of the follies of the human condition. A++. I also love when Hawkins and Jake team up to protect their own. It also seems, at times,that the voice on the phone sounds like Beck and then other times it sounds like a new voice.
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Mar 12, 2008 11:18 AM
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Exactly. I have never ever been so moved by a show. I sobbed, I was sick to my stomach, I was emotionally exhausted after last night's episode. It is literally a crime if this show is not renewed. I have no doubt I can get more people watching. A coworker who never watches TV asked "what's that show that was on last night? I just saw it from some guy throwing up and this really mad army guy". I of course had to give her the Jericho redux and explain about the show. I was almost in tears again talking about Stanley. Her eyes kept getting bigger and bigger and she asked a ton of questions. Yeah, this show is completely the most amazing television in some time. We need to see it done justice and not wrapped up in two shows. The story is too big, the moral issues too important, the examinations of human character too deep to be deserted.
CBS, you have a new kind of animal here, use it. Make it your new media poster child. Give it a GOOD lead in. Let us work on more people. It's awfully hard to bring people to a show they think is doomed and for some reason, everyone who I talk to "have heard" it is doomed. There is not a more imported drama on TV today.
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Mar 12, 2008 11:26 AM
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I really thought I was going to lose it when Stanley signed to Bonnie's body; that was sooooo touching and sweet!
I was particularly excited when Ravenwood chose to come to Hawkins to try to use the position his wife was in to help them get into the hospital; I knew they had picked the worst person they could have for their cause! And I agree with others about loving it when Hawkins and Jake work together!!
Last night's episode was very powerful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I was wanting Geotz to die, too, but I wanted him to suffer first for a long, long time, and I was sorry that didn't happen. Still, I understand why Stanley did what he did.
They keep comparing what is happening to the American Revolution, but as you can tell by my name I love westerns, and what is going on in Jericho reminds me of the lawlessness of the Old West, and how people often had to take the law into their own hands.
This show definitely makes you think about things that could happen in our world.
I want a third season, too, and am campaigning for it!
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Mar 12, 2008 11:32 AM
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Holey crap Batman - that was a very intense episode and I loved every minute of it! Great scenes, great characters and great acting!
Just how great was Stanley signing to Bonnie's corpse? Wow - very emotional indeed!
Here's for hoping for more Jake/Emily scenes! Heather needs to go back to New Bern!
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Mar 12, 2008 11:44 AM
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I'm not one to go crazy over a tv program, but I do love Jericho. I can't remember a show that has moved me as much as Jericho. I hope CBS sees fit to go with a third season.
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Mar 12, 2008 11:49 AM
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The show was awesome last night. It was funny when the bad guys went to Hawkins house to try and recruit him. I, like others, were thinking they messed with the wrong guy.
Liked seeing Hawkins/Jake work together. However, I think Hawkins could have been included a little sooner. When Goetz started calling into the hospital and getting some of the Rangers to leave b/c of their families, Jake should have called Hawkins for assistance. I was thinking Hawkins' skills equals out to probably 2 or 3 Rangers. But I did like how Hawkins got involved.
Until I saw Stanley's car pull up, the idea that he would kill Goetz never crossed my mind. But as soon as I saw his car and that nobody seemed to notice him until he was upon them, then I knew Goetz was a goner.
I'm glad that blonde J&R chick helped expose Goetz's deception.
All the stuff with Stanley/Mimi/Bonnie was sad. I liked how sweet Darcy was with Mimi. Not that she wouldn't, but they just seemed like nice scenes and hopefully the women could be friends.
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Mar 12, 2008 12:02 PM
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I was exhausted last night after watching Jericho. It was gut-wrenching -- I cried, I yelled at the TV, I sat on the edge of my seat, and I screamed at the ending. One of the most powerful things I've seen on TV in.....well, ever!
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Mar 12, 2008 12:07 PM
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