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« Jericho
Episode Recap: "Patriots and Tyrants"
The all too short rollercoaster ride of Jericho is over for now. CBS gave Jericho the axe shortly after its penultimate episode, giving the series absolute closure. There is slim hope that another station will pick up the show, so I am certain another "Nuts Campaign" is imminent.
This "series finale" fell far short of the quality I expected from Jericho. Season One's finale was a high-octane event, most notably containing Jake Green's famous NUTS statement! This finale's pace was slow to a crawl and the storyline was astonishingly predictable.
Major Beck's progressive storyline came to its inevitable conclusion. Since the second episode it was obvious that Major Beck would eventually defy his corrupt government. Regrettably, in last week's episode Beck performed actions which were entirely out of character. His loss in rational thinking was displayed so his ethical revelations in "Patriots and Tyrants" would make for a more profound dramatic statement. Unfortunately, his out of the ordinary actions created little interest in any decision he'd make whether it be positive or negative. I did find great amusement when Beck exclaimed to Heather, "You didn't give up on me." Heather had lied to Beck multiple times, stole from him, and verbally disparaged his behavior. Beck's view of his relationship with Heather was certainly skewed from reality. Due to Beck's involvement with the principle members of Jericho, his inconsistent actions hindered the believability of many of Season Two's storylines.
Eric Green faced the possibility of leading an insurgent Jericho against its residing Cheyenne government. Eric received intelligence that the Cheyenne soldiers would soon be given orders to shoot civilians if they were in unsanctioned areas of Jericho. Eric was offered New Bern's assistance for this impending war, but thankfully realized that killing soldiers was not his wisest course of action. It was a waste of screen time to witness this potential camaraderie, because it was unthinkable that he would ally himself with his enemy, Constantino. I also thought that the "marriage" between Stanley and Mimi was cheesy, as their scenes together are typically moving. After all, Mimi gave an unsanctioned vow of her love for Stanley BY BONNIE'S GRAVE! Their scene was forced into an area of the episode where it had no place.
The other portion of "Patriots and Tyrants" focused on the attempts of Jake and Hawkins to locate a nuclear bomb and transport it to the Texas government. I thought this concept was brilliant, but its execution contained the episode's most disappointing segments. The immediate discovery of "John Smith" and the nuclear bomb by Jake and Hawkins was followed by a vicious shootout in the Cheyenne government. "John Smith" shot Hawkins in the stomach, thus debilitating Hawkins (and any hope for intense scenes of violence) for the remainder of the episode. Jake would retaliate by shooting "John Smith," and this potentially fascinating character that killed millions of people would promptly leave the episode. I hoped "Patriots and Tyrants" would be full of moments with "John Smith", including the revelations of his real name and true motivations behind his sabotage of America! Soon after, Hawkins was somehow able to direct Jake towards the Cheyenne embassy, where they were offered transportation to Texas in the form of an airplane. I had earlier seen the trailer for this week's episode, and I expected Jake's flying experience would lead to a lengthy aerial dogfight with the enemy fighters. Ultimately, this sequence was over as soon as it began when additional Texas government airplanes came to Jake's aid. I hope that Jericho finds another station so this promising series will continue and experience a more deserving conclusion!
I would like to show my gratitude to my great friend BOOPI Q, aka. Nate's, for assisting me with the editing process of my Jericho blogs. These blogs were pleasant to write but also tended to be involved. His second pair of glasses proved to be enormously helpful. So thank you BOOPI Q and thanks to my Green Family for appreciating my writing. From the wise words of Hiro Nakamura, "Yatta!"
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Mar 26, 2008 2:09 AM
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I would have to agree that this was slow and predictable, and harkening back to my complaints in the very beginning, it turned into something that was not what I hoped it would be when we saw the first promos of this series before it ever started.
BUT, I felt pretty damn patriotic there in the end when Jake and Hawkins made it to Texas. I felt like "Yay, Texas", and heck! I've never even been to Texas~!!
Also, I thought this didn't give us closure, but instead gave us hope for another station to pick it up, or having it be made into a mini-series or movie to really finish off the whole war theme and the recovery/survival theme. Not to mention more John Smith.
So, I say thanks to the writers for that element.
Now......what was the Morse Code?
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Mar 26, 2008 3:15 AM
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I thought it was all pretty terrible myself. Most of the reasons for that are the things you outlined above. In particular, the Beck storyline annoyed me. As you said, had last week not happened it would have all seemed like a natural progression but after last week’s “dark side Beck” his rehabilitation as a character came off as forced.
The Jake and Hawkins trip might have been entertaining had it played out over several episodes but squeezing it all into one made it more an occasion for eye rolling than for excitement (though I guess the producers can’t be blamed for that).
Beyond those two points my biggest problem was the open endedness of it all. This was obviously a finale built on the vain hope of getting a Season 3.
Jericho has always been an uneven series with some episodes being great and others being fairly weak. I’m sorry to say the series seems to have gone out with a weak one. Ultimately the Producers over extended themselves by opening too many plot threads during their 7 episode run to the point where not even the best TV scribe could close all the loopholes in a satisfactory fashion.
This finale honestly made me sad that I’d decided to stick with the show for this long.
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Mar 26, 2008 3:30 AM
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Ok, I'll be the first....NUTS! Although it would have been completely predictable and trite and redundant too I guess, but surely the answer to Hawkins' question to Jake ... How does it feel making history?...should have been... it feels Nuts! That would have been a perfect ending for me.
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Mar 26, 2008 3:35 AM
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Pinkie, I agree that either a mini-series or a movie will be a good idea to give the story a conclusion. Cause I really doubt another network will pick up the show. I would love to see more of it, but its a big possiblity that they will do it.
If they don't pick it up, I want to see more of Lennie James in other things. He is such a good actor.
Did anybody else noticed that the solider who was talking to Mimi, is the same guy who played Marlo on The Wire?
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Mar 26, 2008 4:18 AM
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Don't have time to read the 'recap,' (running late for work) but just wanted to give my quick two cents. I really liked this episode. Yes, it felt rushed, especially the Jake/Hawkins storyline (one scene they're in Jericho, the next they're in Cheyenne), but given the constraints of the short season, that's pretty understandable. Almost all of the major town characters were at least present, if not fully involved-- with the exceptions perhaps of Mrs Green and Dale. It was a very moving "goodbye" to Bonnie, and I was glad to see Beck pay his respects. I'm disappointed that he wasn't able to join the 'resistance,' but I suppose that could have been reserved for the potential season 3.
Anyway, all in all an action-packed episode. And I think Jake & Hawkins need to report to CTU and work w/ Jack Bauer to continue to save the country.
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Mar 26, 2008 6:14 AM
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Why trash this terrific series ending when all the writers were trying to do was to give fans some closure after all they had done for them. I loved it, and I thank them for trying to help us wrap things up. At least I wasn't left hanging like when Invasion or the Nine were just yanked from my veiwing. It was rushed and way to easy for Jake and Hawkins, but my God, they only had a hour!!!!! I too felt very patriotic and damn anyone who messes with our United States. Again, thanks to all the actors who did an incredible job in such a short amount of time and I just pray that if cable wants to pick this show up, that people will move to that network (whatever one) and stop putting the tv dial on the horrific reality mess that has become network tv. No more excellant Jericho, but all the Batchelor, Big Brother, Dad vs Dad, and Moment of Truth I can watch. You have got to be kidding me. NUTS!!!!
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Mar 26, 2008 7:07 AM
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I thought that they did a good job with what might turn out to be the series finale. It left me with more questions and still wanting more. I found myself getting emotional at several parts when taking previous episodes into consideration. Mimi and Stanley's scene did seem a little out of place but I still loved it. I kept finding myself looking at the clock thinking, I can't believe that there is only (x) amount of time left - what is going to happen? I am very glad that they left things open enough to develop further seasons. I hope that Sci Fi or another network picks it up. I couldn't help by think too that the last line was a shout out to the fans devoted to the series. The little smile on Jake's face made me think - the network doesn't know what it's in for ha ha ha.
Jeers to sprint for running their add about catching next week's episode. Talk about pouring salt into the wound...
Thank you to the wonderful producers, writers and actors. You did us all proud. You left us wanting more.
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Mar 26, 2008 8:47 AM
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I should be out the door and headed for work, but had to take a moment to say, imho, the 'wedding' was held right where it should be. Would I rather have seen a true wedding instead of a rushed(and yes, cheesy) exchange. DAMN STRAIGHT! However, if we'd gotten another season and Stanley and Mimi had gotten a real wedding I would have wanted it held right there at Bonnie's graveside.
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Mar 26, 2008 9:02 AM
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The only thing good about Jericho being over is we don't have to read your snarky reviews anymore. For someone who professes to love the show, you never have anything good to say about it, Mr. Green.
Now that my rant is over, I wanted to say that this was another great episode. As we watched it last night, we continually commented on how good the writing was because they always managed to pack a heck of a lot of stuff into an episode. It was quite a feat to pack so much into only 7 weeks.
Was it a fitting end? Probably not, but at least we got one. There were a couple of issues left unresolved, (Jake and Emily, for one.) but for the most part, I think they did a good job.
Was Stanley and Mimi's story cheesy? Probably. It was kind of tacky (and selfish of Mimi) to profess her love at Bonnie's grave. However, if you think about it, their so-called "wedding" was about the only way they could have one. No ceremony would have legal with no official government. It was nice see them make the committment without a lot of excess. It was just enough to satisfy their storyline.
It would have been nice to see Gail Green one more time - if only to be there to help mourn Bonnie. She seemed to be everyone's Mama and it would have been appropriate for her to comfort Stanley.
Bringing Gray back was also a good idea. They also made him half likeable at the end and he redeemed himself with Eric Green and Co. by honoring Johnston. Well done.
All in all, while I'm sorry they didn't get to continue their story, they did an excellent job wrapping it up.
R.I.P., Jericho.
P.S. How great was it to see A.J. Chegwidden?! LOVE HIM. (Not loving the moustache and sideburns, but hey - I'll take it if it means we get to have you on our screen again, John M. Jackson!)
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Mar 26, 2008 9:07 AM
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Wasn't it the Texas embassy they went to, not the Cheyenne embassy? How did Texas know Jake and Hawkins were good guys...and the guy at the embassy wasn't surprised about the bomb...I didn't quite understand this.
It's interesting that they cast Xander Berkley as "John Smith". In season 2 of 24, George Mason crashed a plane in the desert that was carrying a bomb, killing himself, in order to keep it from being detonated near civilians. So it was a role reversal on Jericho. He goes from taking his life to save people from a bomb to orchestrating the killing of millions of people with bombs.
I really didn't have a problem with the episode. It was very predictable, but I expected it to be. I don't think they could've thrown too many twists in there and still wrapped up most of the storylines. I would've like to have seen the Jake/Emily storyline close, like is he sticking with Emily or does he decide he likes Heather (I prefer the latter). I was kinda pulling for Heather/Beck to get together though.
I was glad to see Gray back. Didn't really like him at all until this season. I guess they tried to soften him up some. The part where he was flying Johnston Green's flag was quite moving.
The Mimi/Stanely wedding was cheesy and way to inappropriate to happen right next to Bonnie's grave.
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Mar 26, 2008 9:26 AM
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I can't believe you all hated it so much. In the little time left they gave us the closure we begged for last year when it was cancelled.
We know that J&R and parts of the gov't will be revealed to be the big baddies. We know that Mimi and Stan will stay together. We know that Jericho is willing to stand up to injustice - but not become someone they would hate. We know that Jake and Hawkins survive, and that J&R will go down.
Loved loved loved that the mayor put up Johnston's flag at the end !
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Mar 26, 2008 9:44 AM
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The reason Texas knew they were the good guys is because Hawkins called Chavez on their way to inform him of what was going on. Chavez told his contacts in Texas and thye went up the chain of command.
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Mar 26, 2008 9:46 AM
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I didn't mind it actually I was surprised it provided so much closure. Remember, they filmed two possible endings so a lot of this finale could have been rushed just for the sake of the fans which I LOVE about Jericho. So many times have I seen cliffhanger series finales (Notably WB's short lived Popular) that piss me off to NO ONE. This one at least tried to give us closure in case Sci Fi doesn't pick up the show *fingers crossed* Give them a break. I do! This show is great...I'd take it over According to Jim even with a cheesy wedding!
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Mar 26, 2008 9:56 AM
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I loved loved loved it! I do agree, however, that the story felt rushed, but what other choice did the producers and writers have? They were only given 7 episodes then told the 7th was the last. I think they did a brilliant job in giving us fans a little more closure than we would have had otherwise (rememeber, Kidnapped, Invasion, and all the other shows that were just YANKED off the air with no closure for its fans). I am sad that this is it, unless of course SciFi decides to take a risk and pick it up - because there is still waaayyyyy more story to tell and I for one, would love to see it! I loved that Beck saw the evidence on Hawkins lap top and had his soilders look at it and make up their own minds! It blew me away and I am still hoping for more in the future.
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Mar 26, 2008 9:58 AM
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