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« Jericho
Episode Recap: "Oversight"
Bonnie is dead. Who would have guessed that Bonnie would be felled by such a tragic fate? Oh wait, I could. For those of you who have read my previous blogs should have noticed that much of my focus was about Stanley, Mimi, and Bonnie. I felt that their lives were too perfect and they lost the inner conflict that once made them interesting characters. I also commented that despite the strength of the bond between Stanley and Mimi, they were far more interesting as individual threats to the new government. I even went as far as to specifically speculate that Mimi should use her new position as a Jennings & Rall accountant to uncover any criminal activity. With enough analysis to television shows' writing formulas, every viewer has the ability to subjugate any doubt about different characters' motivations. However, showing viewers the tranquility of the Richmond farm WAS necessary to evoke the appropriate response from Bonnie's death. My complaint lies from the previous episodes, where these three characters were dramatically overselling their love for each other. The writers might as well have put target symbols on the characters' foreheads.
"Oversight" brings the storylines of Jake and Hawkins closer together as they now fight a common enemy. The corrupt Goetz is using his unjust jurisdiction to prevent Dale from "illegally" importing supplies to Jericho. This episode's most fascinating scene involves a clandestine meeting with Jericho's most vocal citizens at Bailey's Tavern. Despite mentioning the Boston Tea Party during this scene, it was not far fetched to decode the allegory that was being shown. The parable between Jennings & Rall and King George III's England was an excellent storytelling device because the well-known story of the American Revolution helps the viewers empathize with Jericho's struggle.
Another great moment happens when Jake and Hawkins bring Heather into their exclusive "club." They need Heather to remove a document from Major Beck's files, which would have revealed the location of a nuclear bomb in Jericho. Hawkins' mysterious benefactor, only known as John Smith, informs Hawkins that he will be caught within 24 hours if this evidence isn't confiscated. Since Heather is the only civilian with access to Beck's office, she is the only person Jake can trust to destroy the papers. This gives Jericho a newfound opportunity to utilize this wonderful character to a greater potential.
After bestowing amnesty to a resident of Jericho that is willing to betray Dale, Goetz acts as judge and jury by sending Dale to prison. Much like my speculation with the Richmond family storyline, the writers are intentionally making Goetz more deplorable with his every appearance. Goetz is the Sheriff of Nottingham to Valente's Prince John. When Stanley and Mimi get their revenge (and they WILL!), it will be a moment so grandiose that my tiny analogue TV will not do it justice!
I actually had a lol (laugh out loud) moment when I shouldn't have. But it was so silly! Let me explain. Eric, Mary, and Emily decided, after seemingly much deliberation, that Dale does not need to go around the checkpoints to get his products into town. They told him that he would be able to go through the checkpoints safely, but then the scene ended and we didn't find out until later what their plan entailed. It turns out that Mary would use her sexual wiles towards a military officer based at a Jericho checkpoint. Mary doesn't have the natural beauty to pull a stunt off like that, and it was laughable that this was Eric and company's best plan of action. As my sister says, "Mary's just not that pretty."
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Mar 5, 2008 1:47 AM
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Wow.
Bonnie's death was painful to watch, especially the look on Jake's face. I was never a big fan of Skeet's acting ability, but he nailed that scene perfectly.
Watching Bonnie defend her home (and eventually Mimi) was amazing. Who knew she had such skill? The character was very unique to network television and I'm sad to see her go.
Wow.
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Mar 5, 2008 2:31 AM
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That was a great episode. I just wish my local affiliate and CBS didn't screw with my enjoyment of this episode by screwing around with the schedule and all the political crap on TV. First it started a minute or 2 early which meant I missed the first part, then my local affiliate had to go and put results from local elections over half the screen and then CBS breaks into programming right at the end of the episode.
OK, now back to the episode. I couldn't believe they killed off Bonnie. It was really sad to see her go, but I loved the way she went down defending her home from J&R.
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Mar 5, 2008 4:48 AM
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'Wow' is right. Equally pivotal scene: Hawkins playing Beck. He led Beck exactly where he wanted him. Then, surprisingly, Beck, who's no dummy, called him on it. A lesser man Hawkins (a lesser agent) might have 'fessed up at that point. But not Hawkins. "You saw something you didn't expect to see, didn't you?" He reeled him right in. Absolutely brilliant.
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Mar 5, 2008 6:17 AM
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What was the point of bringing back Skyler? She had only 2 lines.
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Mar 5, 2008 6:56 AM
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Mary is pretty enough. No, she won't be replacing a cheerleader on another show, but apparently you were never a young man in the military stationed away from home and tempted by a truck load of booze.
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Mar 5, 2008 7:30 AM
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I knew, about halfway in, that Mimi or Bonnie would be killed and that that would be the impetus to bring Stanley fully on board. Then again, it was so clearly telegraphed that if I'd missed it, I would have applied for a seeing-eye dog. Still, it was a pivotal moment for the season. D.B. Sweeney must die...I mean, Goetz, before my ability to enjoy The Cutting Edge is altered forever.  So did Goetz find the ledger? It would be nice for the Jerichovians (?) to have it as leverage. The previews for next week look intense.
Yay for Beck starting to get a clue about what's really going on. Hopefully he continues to help Jake fight against J&R, while what's-her-name helps them from the inside. (Vicki? Becky?)
On another note, I'm finding Dale to be less of an annoying punk this season; last season he would have insisted on payment for the vaccine, muttering about "business" with a surly look on his face.
BTW, the CBS forums say that the Morse Code said, "A Costly Death".
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Mar 5, 2008 7:43 AM
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So what's your take on Beck's reaction to the accusation against Heather? Genuinely trusting, or moving toward throwing in with Jake and Hawkins completely. I was listening from another room rather than watching during this scene, so missed any body language or telling glances. But I did notice Beck never asked the soldier why he thought Heather was up to something.
And yeah, not really a surprise that it was Bonnie instead of Mimi. Bonnie's been toying with leaving town anyway, and there just never seemed to be a storyline for her after the rebellious fling with the bad boy. Much as I like the character, they'd have been stupid to kill off Mimi or Stanley, since they're the only relationship most fans seem to care about. (Yeah, there's the question about who Jake should be with, Heather or Whats-Her-Blonde, but... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.) Personally, I was hoping they'd off Mary Bailey, but I can live with Bonnie. Gives Stanley a story that's not about poor financial management.
As for Skyler, I misshed her completely. Must've been dealing with the baking in the kitchen. I guess since New & Improved Dale's back, we'll be seeing more of Skyler. Hopefully she'll have grown up a bit too, since she's the only teen girl we know now that Bonnie's gone.
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Mar 5, 2008 8:46 AM
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I thought Mimi or Dale (when he was taken into 'custody') would be the one dying. I kept changing my mind until I thought Goetz would kill both Mimi & Bonnie (that outraged me frankly. I don't watch a show with the perspective of a professional as Josh G. I never saw the Stanley/Bonnie/Mimi tragedy-in-the-making. At that moment, I realized how emotionally involved I was with this show) My body ran cold & shaky when I heard those 2 shots when we were seeing Mimi in the pantry with her wound. I knew those 2 shots weren't shotgun sounds and the best I could hope for at this point was Bonnie & Goetz taking each other out. Bonnie went out a heroine to me and this show honored that, allowing her to literally go out shotgun blazing
with the intellect of someone who honed all her other senses as comp. for the lost one. She was so dead-on till Goetz... I've been reading so many negative opinions of this mini-season, especially the focus on the bombs conspiracies at the detriment of our beloved Season 1 town-centric focus. However, this gov't-centric season was set up at the finale of the 1st. when we saw the helicopters and train coming...(would that be called foreshadowing?)
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Mar 5, 2008 9:03 AM
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Well I have to say that I loved the episode. Cheesy or not, it swept me up and kept me glued to the set!
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Mar 5, 2008 11:05 AM
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Best episode of the season.
Jericho is hitting it's stride and is by far the best new show of the season.
Finger's crossed for it's return in the fall.
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Mar 5, 2008 11:20 AM
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Ditto! Best episode of the season so far.
Apparently D.B. Sweeney is doing a great job because I loved him in Cutting Edge (can you say "toe-pick" and the last couple episodes we've been chanting "shoot him, shoot him NOW!" send THEM a message!!!
For a moment I really thought both Mimi and Bonnie were going to die - loved the preview for next week when Goetz shows up at the hospital asking for Mimi and Jake takes a stand, "Shoot him, shoot him NOW!"
Hawkins & Beck play wonderfully off each other.
I could care less about Mary and/or the other brother.
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Mar 5, 2008 11:42 AM
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While watching last night I started to wonder if the voice on the phone with Hawkins was Beck's? It would explain why Heather's name is on the list of people who have access to his office. Why would she need to get in there with her role as a "liason" to New Bern when evryone else on the list is military? I think Beck knows that she is loyal to Jake and the town and knew they would need to use her on the "inside" at some point. Maybe Beck is actually a step or two ahead of Hawkins and Jake!?
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Mar 5, 2008 11:53 AM
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Stupid criticism of Mary. She's one of the better looking female characters on the show (see Carey's role in Weeds for a great example), and I certainly didn't get the impression that she was trying to get the soldier to follow her plan by flirting. In fact they are talking about the guys fiance, when the subject is brought up. The guy was interested in some Jim Beam, not some Mary.
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Mar 5, 2008 12:00 PM
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Enjoyable episode, but the show is getting into "don't think too hard" territoy again. For instance, why would Goetz risk so much for just $10,000? That's small change for J&R, and the way the Ravenwood boys run things they don't really even need money - they just take what they want.
Allison is definitely busted once they start going through that satellite data and notice a missing page, everything was in date/time sequence so there will be a noticeable gap, but with the Major putting things together maybe there's not going to be a problem.
I'm kind of hoping for martial law, with Goetz in front of a firing squad.
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Mar 5, 2008 12:19 PM
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