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« Jericho
Episode Recap: "Jennings & Rall"
The build-up from the previous episodes culminated in one of the finest hours yet for Jericho! In last week's universally praised recap, I questioned whether the abbreviated season left Jericho ample time for their characters to progressively develop. These same concerns must have been going through the writers' minds as well, because both of the Jake/Hawkins storylines encompassed the majority of the screen time. (The chronicles of Stanley, Mimi, and Bonnie only ate up a small portion of "Jennings & Rall." I really hope something catastrophic happens to one of these characters, because I have grown increasingly bored with their story.)
In Season One, Jake rallied the leaders of Jericho to rush its people to safe enclosed locations to avoid radiation poisoning from the fallout in Denver. As the season progressed, civilization devolved to a point where it became somewhat akin to the Wild West. Dale turned his grocery store into a trading post, and hired actual muscle to prevent his assets from being threatened. Whenever the townsfolk have to overcome the consequences of the nuclear explosion, the most exciting and fascinating aspects of Jericho become more noticeably apparent. In the current installment, Dale is traveling outside of town for supplies and comes across a quarantined area. He discovers that the deadly Hudson River Virus is moving closer to Jericho. Dale obtains a sufficient supply of the vaccination, but the manipulative and sadistic Goetz confiscates his bounty. Up until this point, Jericho's survival and the government conspiracy had a more tangential connection. But this episode brings about a profound narrative leap, with Jennings & Rall having direct control over Jericho! Jake and Eric Green might hold "authority," but Jennings & Rall will be damned if Jericho's citizens act without their say-so.
Hawkins' story was somewhat of an homage to his first several appearances on Jericho. In the early Season One episodes, Hawkins manipulated everyone he encountered in order to uncover the ramifications of the attack. In "Jennings & Rall," the unabashed police officer Jimmy makes his return to duty, only screw up Hawkins' investigation. Jimmy sees a wanted poster for Sarah Mason and tells Major Beck that he knows that she used to briefly reside in Jericho. Hawkins is forced to "play" Beck by aiding the search for Sarah Mason. I really felt sympathy towards Beck, because he seems like a stand-up guy and a fine officer. Not only is he being manipulated by Jennings & Rall, but now he's also a pawn of Hawkins. However, at the end of the episode he breaks command by inoculating a nearby town from the Hudson River Virus. The strength he displayed will be necessary to overcome his superiors in the episodes to come!
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Feb 27, 2008 1:28 AM
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It was so much easier to hate Goetz when he had the silly Tom Green look. I didn't even recognize him.
The show has taken on much more of a political parable tone lately. You have have Jennings & Rall ( Halliburton) as the company that is more powerful than the government. The "evil conservative" government coming out of Wyoming (home of Dick Cheney - just a coincidence I'm sure).
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Feb 27, 2008 2:26 AM
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"Jericho" fans:
We need to get the numbers up. We all need to get on our computers (easy enough!) and go to CBS.com and 'watch' Jericho. If you don't want to see it again (or are otherwise busy) then open a tab, turn off the speakers, and let it run. Then, let it run again. I 'watched' last week's episode 5 times over the weekend. I think the TV downloads count for the ratings, so this is a painless, easy way to get the ratings up.
Also, at the network website, find the 'feedback' option (it might be hidden, so you'll have to look) and tell the network you want the show to continue.
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Feb 27, 2008 6:09 AM
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You can't have 46 minutes of tension. Stanley, Mimi, and Bonnie are a nice interlude between Jake's trials and Hawkins' tribulations.
I am not an Obama fan, but think how blacks feel seeing a black man winning the nomination. I think it is the same way with Bonnie and her disability. I am not deaf, but this is the most prominent deaf person in a reoccurring role since Matlin's time on TV. Since you are so hell bent I predict Stanley or Bonnie will go and Mimi will be pregnant. Nothing says hope for the future like a new baby.
Dale went to considerable trouble and expense to get the vaccine and he didn't make a dime so his business acumen is lacking but give him props for his civic duty.
Speaking of Bonnie and why she may expire, I could see 'terrorists' doing something to the young J&R women [J&R won't be happy with her "disloyalty"] and Bonnie on their trip to Cheyenne.
I think the dilemma facing the writers if they try to appease us and tie up loose ends in case this is the end of Jericho how do you come up with a new conspiracy if the show gets life? I think it is more likely we will be frustrated at the loose ends and only hope CBS wakes up or someone like FX picks it up.
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Feb 27, 2008 8:23 AM
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Love this show. Please help keep it on the air. How hard it must have been for Jake to tell about his days in Iraq and the little 12 year old that was killed. Oh My God! Amen to Darcy seeing the big picture and amen to Hawkins for not wanting to run, but to take on J&R. Love the character of Beck and can't wait till he figures it all out and helps Hawkins take down that "new" president and those awful allied state flags!!!! (and all they represent).
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Feb 27, 2008 9:41 AM
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I watch and support this show not because I love its story as much as my other must-watch (FNL, Lost, The Office) but more because I admire the passion of its loyal supporters.
That said, I wish they would make some changes to retain casual viewers, specifically, I think they should cast a better love interest for Jake. Ashley Scott is pretty, but she has very little chemistry with Skeet. I think someone equally gorgeous but tough(and not too dependent on tweezers) like Lost's Kate can be a better fit for him.
I enjoy the chronicles of Stanley & Mimi & Bonnie. I agree with Matt Roush when he said that this couple has emerged as the show's heart & soul.
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Feb 27, 2008 9:48 AM
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To Tele-Viewer
That is one of the many reasons why there is a large contingent of us that have always hoped for a Jake-Heather connection, and also the whole fact that when Jake is with Emily he is really locked into the conflict of the bad boy he used to be and the hero is could become, Heather brings out more of his hero side without forgetting who he was. Last season, Emily's fiance, Roger, was around and I was happy, he was fine and not annoying and kept her busy.
I actually wouldn't be surprised if it is Emily (wait, is that her name?) is actually the one killed. Nothing like killing a kind of side character that would drive our hero over the edge.
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Feb 27, 2008 10:11 AM
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In last week's universally praised recap
I had to chuckle at that comment Joshua! We aren't shy about our opinions here! Great job on this weeks blog!
In my opinion, Beck and Heather will form a bond and it will be Heather and the other J&L girl that are in danger. I predict it will be Heather who bites it in the end. I have always been a Jake/Emily fan and this would make me a happy camper!
Loved the episode, and was pleased to be re-introduced to several bit players this week. Good to see Dale back, along with Jimmy.
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Feb 27, 2008 11:19 AM
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Joshua - thanks for the chuckle and good humor regarding your universally praised recap last week.
I enjoyed this weeks thanks!
I was kinda distracted last night, and even though I have the show on tape I'll watch it online so my viewing actually counts.
I loved when the J&L girl shredded the evidence and was so upset about the townsfolk not getting the vaccine.
This new regime is chilling isn't it?
If you guys don't know - last night BB did a tribute to our lovely show as the Power of Veto comp. I guess if anyone wondered what CBS did with all the peanuts they recieved they should now have the answer - 'cuz they were everywhere last night. Of course those clueless morons (and that's being generous believe me) had no idea WTF was going on.
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Feb 27, 2008 4:04 PM
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It took me a couple of episodes to get used to the show going from mostly survival mode to actually going on the offensive against the Cheyenne government, but I am really enjoying the suspense now! I'm looking forward to the rest of the episodes for this season, and hope that the show will get renewed!
By the way, I enjoy all of the characters, and am not looking forward to seeing who gets killed, but have read that it's necessary in order to turn the people of Jericho against the so-called government!
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Feb 27, 2008 4:50 PM
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I couldn't disagree more about the Bonnie/Stanley/Mimi story thread.
Last season, along with all the intrigue and thrills, there was a definite focus placed on the American family, and how they got through something horrible like this. Mostly the Greens had that job, with Johnston and Gail standing in for us at home. Now, with McRaney and Reed gone and the rest of the Green clan focusing on the jobs of sheriff and mayor, respectively, they are using Stanley's family to provide the sentimental aspect of the story. And I personally feel they are doing a phenomenal job with it; since last year I have become quite emotionally invested in these characters and hope they end up okay.
Of course I love the action and the consummate badass that is Robert Hawkins, the conspiracy and the deception, but that doesn't mean that there is no place for good, honest human drama.
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Feb 27, 2008 4:50 PM
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Dale went to considerable trouble and expense to get the vaccine and he didn't make a dime so his business acumen is lacking but give him props for his civic duty.
I don't know... I kind of think his "business acumen" is right on track. I mean if your customers are dead from some ghastly yet treatable virus, by all means get the shots to them. He'll have plenty of time to bilk them later!!
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Feb 27, 2008 5:35 PM
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WHOOO HOOOOO!
The ratings were up!!!!! Let's hope it stays that way.
I had no desire to watch that Quarterlife show. Looked like a snoozer to me, but maybe that article was right and people that wanted to watch it already had.
YES! YES! YES!
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Feb 27, 2008 5:38 PM
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I Love this show. Major Beck seems like a stand up guy; what in the H*** is he doing working with Cheyenne?
At the very end of the episode when Hawkins decoded that fax and called the number I thought he was going to be talking to the guy from Homeland Security. So now there's someone else out there who may know about the conspiracy.
I'm torn, I want a another season, but; I want answers to who is behind the nuking of America and why. With only 4 episodes left I'd hate to be left hanging if the idiots at CBS cancelled the show.
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Feb 27, 2008 6:45 PM
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