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« Jericho
Episode Recap: "Condor"
As I said in last week's blog, this shortened season will affect how Jericho fans will emotionally respond to the new storylines. Unfortunately, those creative hindrances made its presence felt in "Condor."
I realize I am putting myself in hot water, but realize that my problems lie only with this dreadfully short season. For the conspiracy nuts (and Jericho NUTS!), this shortened season should satisfy the fans with desires to immediately experience the crux of the action! But those that enjoyed Season One's vast character focus will be disappointed by the current season's more limited scope.
There were two narrative styles used to shine light on the characters during Jericho's first season. One method involved focusing on the primary storyline, while letting the characters grow in response to their objectives. The principle example of this was Jake Green. He earlier departed Jericho as a delinquent outcast, but would return to consistently save the people who once shunned him. Flashbacks aside, Jake Green's character was defined by his pro-active stance in his town.
Jericho also focused on characters involved with more personal storylines, independent of the episode's key tales. These characters were often attempting to live with a semblance of normalcy despite their lifestyle changes. These developments would often run parallel to the main plot points, only intertwining when it would be most inconvenient to its characters. A perfect example of this was with Eric Green's affair with Mary Bailey, and the affects on his marriage with April. The effects of the aftermath (Eric leaving for New Bern), was only as powerful as its dramatic set-up.
It is unfortunate that the only major character developments running outside the perimeter of this season's principle stories focuses on Stanley and Mimi. Make no mistake, these characters light up the screen with their every scene! And the return of Stanley's sister, Bonnie, was also a welcome surprise! But I feel that their participation in the episode would have been better utilized elsewhere. Mimi was given a job as an accountant with Jennings & Rall and now, with her close government connection, it would have been much more interesting to show her encroaching secrets of the government conspiracy. Stanley is both a farmer and a soldier, and it would not have been out of character to show him assisting Jake as a deputy. The continuing focus on Stanley and Mimi only retreads the previous episode and doesn't add much to their story. However if the love story shifted to characters such Dale and Skylar, the emotional pallet would be far more diverse and satisfying.
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Feb 20, 2008 1:37 AM
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Joshua, I appreciate you taking the time to write a recap blog. And, while I can certainly see what you mean in the lack of character development, I am disappointed that you chose not to recap the episode at all. Other than your reference to Stanley's sister being back (in the context of pointing out that we didn't really get any new development on Mimi & Stanley, which was a little exagerated, we got a couple of new tidbits), there is no episode information in your recap. I know some people only want opinon in their episode recaps, but I personally like to get at least a quick summary of the episode key points so that I can go back over anything I may have missed.
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Feb 20, 2008 2:55 AM
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Wow. What an episode!!! I haven't read the "recap" above (tho it sounds like i didn't miss much), so I won't comment on that. Just want to say... Wow. I think this show is getting better and better.
- yay for Bonnie being back; great to see her.
- that guy is president?? Of his fraternity, maybe. He's way too young. And slick.
- Hawkins rocks. Absolutely rocks. And Darcy ain't no slouch, either.
- Jake, I hope you NEVER find your comb or razor. The man is smokin'.
- non-stop action in this one. You better pay attention 'cuz it moves pretty quickly.
- good to see Eric & Jake on the same side again. Like brothers, they butt heads occasionally, but this wasn't one of those times. Just wish Eric had more to do.
- good to see Gray have a backbone. Go, mayor!!
- wonder how long before Beck realizes that something in his president's administration stinks.
- by the way, did I say... Wow!!!!
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Feb 20, 2008 5:22 AM
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I agree with glidase, I would have liked to have read an actual recap attached to your thoughts of how the character development has weakened. I thought it was another solid episode. While the character development might be lacking, the plot movement has been great. I concur that it was great to see Bonnie again, and also that scruffy Jake is looking hot. It's also nice to see Darcy get in on the espionage action. Wish Heather had been in the episode, though...she is by far my favorite character on this show, so it's sad that she gets such limited screentime.
Lastly...Joshua, bite your tongue about Skylar and Dale. I, for one, am very pleased not to have those two waste any minute of the precious screentime allotted this season. Those two annoyed me so much.
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Feb 20, 2008 5:42 AM
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I too prefer more recap, but for a show that has been the Lazarus of TV I think the complaints about the Cliff Note version of Jericho are important as well.
POTAUS- Prez of the Allied United States is young, but we know Valenti is the power behind the throne and a younger puppet may be easier to control.
Michael A. has reported one of the young lovers will die and having Mimi go to work for the gvt will make her a candidate, but Stanley may go saving his new bride. Keeps us guessing.
I really have no desire to see the teen age crowd except for Bonnie because I think it is neat to see people with disabilities in a normal setting. So don't wast precious time on Dale other then brief scenes to support Hawkins or Jake as they carry the water.
Speaking of Jennings & Rall is the blond who signed with Bonnie Jack Bauer's daughter?
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Feb 20, 2008 9:43 AM
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Speaking of Jennings & Rall is the blond who signed with Bonnie Jack Bauer's daughter?
No she is not. I don't know who she is but she IS NOT the actress who played Kim Bauer.
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Feb 20, 2008 10:11 AM
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Okay - I understand the problems this show is faced with due to network decisions but what does that have to do with THIS blog? We come here to get a recap from the previous episode and to discuss what happened.
Joshua - we do not mind hearing your complaints about the show - but to sacrifice a recap to do it SUCKS!
I loved last nights episode - we all thought that Hawkins and his man were going after the Pres right up until he busted into the Situation Rooom.
The big key to me is the reappearance of Ravenwood. We know that the Commander (can't remember his name) did not approve and we also know that the town of Jericho will certainly not approve. Will this be enough to bring the Commander over to the same side as Jake and Hawkins? I hope so!
Speaking of Jennings & Rall is the blond who signed with Bonnie Jack Bauer's daughter?
No - her name is Emily Rose and she has appeared recently as a reoccuring character on Brothers & Sisters and was also on John From Cincinnati.
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Feb 20, 2008 11:09 AM
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I know this is kinda nit-picking, but did anyone notice that the army uniforms of the Allied States of America still said U.S. Army on the front? I thought it was odd since the new gov't was obviously trying to remove all traces of the old...I mean they even had new flags on the helicopters and uniform sleeves. Think they just overlooked it in the costume department?
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Feb 20, 2008 11:16 AM
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From tvbythenumbers.com
"Jericho which bowed last week at a 4.1 and sunk to a 3.7 HH rating last night."
This cannot be good. Looks like the new timeslot is not a good one. I for one would of liked to have seen it at 9pm. I know they want to avoid Idol, but very hard to attract new viewers at 10pm. Looks like the next five will be all she wrote unless the numbers show a significant increase
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Feb 20, 2008 11:38 AM
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I guess I am in a minority, but I much prefer the blog commentary to the show recaps. I would not be reading this blog if I hadn't already watched the episode, and there are plenty of websites out there that provide episode recaps.
As for Jericho's rating, I too am concerned. It seems that CBS has had no intention of picking this show up for a third season, and the seven episodes were ordered to satisfy disgruntled fans. Is there any chance that a cable network could pick up the show in Season 3 (are you listening, Sci Fi network)?
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Feb 20, 2008 12:49 PM
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I, too, would prefer a recap. My family and I don't have cable TV or a dish and our antenna reception was so poor last night that at times we could only hear and not see the picture, so I came here to read the recap and "see" what I missed last night. Very disappointed to find no recap of the episode. Yes, by all means add your critiques to the recap, but please give us the recap. Speaking of Dale, though, in the previews for next week's episode, we thought we saw a glimpse of Dale. It was when there is mention of the "virus" and they show a crowd with a young man with curly hair in the front of the crowd. Could it have been Dale?
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Feb 20, 2008 12:54 PM
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PjDusza, it's important that the new govt. hasn't yet changed the US Army uniforms but they did have time to write and publish new textbooks that warp US history, and change the flag. So the priority of the new administration is ideology before food, medicine and shelter. Its implied that they could have helped people sooner but the new govt was busy setting up a cover story, fighting off the remnants of the old government and printing fascist school books. Very creepy stuff, reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale.
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Feb 20, 2008 1:25 PM
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I like the show. It is sad if that is the true ratings for last night's episode.
I wish there was a way to measure all ratings. What I mean is, I don't have the Neilsen's Rating System with my tv, so even though I watched the show, it wouldn't matter and I wonder how many viewers are like that out there.
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Feb 20, 2008 1:26 PM
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The real fright is that here we have a show that explores what would happen if a right-wing ultra-conservative faction of the govt seized control of the country by orchestrating terrorist attacks and nobody watches it. Americans will tune out a show that pushes socio-political buttons, but they'll sit like catatonic sheep in front of a live karaoke broadcast. Americans would rather watch D-list celebs dance that ponder the direction their own country is headed in.
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Feb 20, 2008 1:55 PM
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