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« John From Cincinnati
Episode Recap: "His Visit: Day Two"
Well I'll start by saying that even though I still don't fully comprehend what's happening in this series, I am even more intrigued after watching the second episode, and I’m excited to see where this show goes. I never really got into NYPD Blue or Deadwood, so I can't pretend to be all that familiar with David Milch's previous work, but I am completely aware of the respect he deserves for his contributions to television by creating shows that challenge viewers to think. Milch is not known to spoon feed his viewers predictable drivel, and I, for one, wouldn't bite if he did.
As far as the episode goes, here are my thoughts on round two…
Maybe John's gifts aren't limited to what comes out of his pockets. Doesn't it figure that as soon as Mitch relented and allowed Shaun to compete in the surfing competition, Shaun fell off his "stick" and broke his neck? I was very interested by the fact that this happened almost immediately after Freddy slapped John in the face and John asked, "What do you want, Butchie?" Perhaps Shaun's fall is what Butchie wanted, at least subconsciously. Maybe the thought of his son eclipsing his own fame proved too much for that drug-addled mind of his. Either that or he was worried that Shaun would end up losing everything like he did.
And what were with those mental whispers while John was looking through the telescope on the pier? Butchie asked him why so many weird things were happening as if he knew John were the reason behind them. Perhaps that scene was a prediction of an interaction to come.
If, in fact, John did initiate Shaun's fall, I don't think we can really blame Butchie for John's literal translation of his thoughts. Surely Butchie couldn't have intended for his son to get hurt. He probably just wanted him to lose the competition. After all, it was only after John asked Butchie what he wanted while they were in the hospital that Shaun's eyes opened. The fact that Zippy happened to be pecking his lips at the time seems inconsequential to me, even if the bird did come back from the dead just one day earlier. In my opinion it was an intentional misdirection designed to cloud the picture. But what do I know? That's just my theory. It's still too early to tell.
Other happenings of note in Episode 2:
For some reason Linc wanted Cass to get close to Mitch. Maybe he thinks the bad publicity that would inevitably come from a messy divorce brought about by infidelity would once again shed the limelight on the Yost family and draw attention to his Yost prodigy. Either way, Cass could represent a very sexy encounter for Mitch in the near future. I do have to say, though, Rebecca De Mornay still looks incredible at 46. Mitch would be dumb to stray from the girl who taught Tom Cruise how to be a man in Risky Business.
Butchie has yet to get dope sick. He did prove that he still has a taste for liquor and cardboard cutouts, though.
Eccentric lottery winner and hotel owner Barry Cunningham opened the door to room 24 only to back away in horror. He told Ramon and Meyer that the room is haunted, which means John was right when he said "The dead will come alive in room 24."
Barry admitted that he often has visions after having a seizure. "Teddy and I had quite the siege." Ha! Matt Winston brings a lot of humor to the character of Barry. You might recognize him as the pageant emcee in Little Miss Sunshine, in which he played pretty much the same character, only less tormented. Then again, I've heard horror stories about those pageants.
John apparently doesn't go to the bathroom unless he's mimicking someone else's behavior. When Butchie begrudgingly allowed John to "dump out" ahead of him in the beginning of the episode, John simply sat on the pot waiting to get an "A-plus for fume control". I laughed out loud when he shadowed that stranger's every move in the hospital bathroom, imitating every sound the guy made in the adjoining stall.
Butchie tells Bills he was more of a father to Shaun than he ever was, touching the hearts of millions of viewers who have been faithfully tuning in for two whole weeks.
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Jun 17, 2007 11:41 PM
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another great ep!
i love that the dialogue sounds like a cross between nypd and deadwood.it was really great to see the dayton callie was mad that butchie was trying to by on ounce of heroin and got his dealer to sell butchie crap not to rip butchie off but because he was worried about him.luis guzman is fantastic and so understated in his role.icould go on about every character but i will just say it was terrific cant wait til next week. btw i think the earthquake had more than minor significance.
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Jun 18, 2007 10:39 AM
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I will be the first one to admit that I have no idea what is going on here - but I'm hooked!
I think that John has got to be some kind of Guardian Angel sent down to the Yost family to try and bring them out of the abyss that this family seems to have fallen into.
I also think that John had nothing to do with Shaun's crash and injury. I do believe however that the damn parrot that was resurrected from the dead did bring Shaun out of his coma.
Like I said - I got nothing here but guesses!
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Jun 18, 2007 11:25 AM
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Just when I started worrying about HBO's fate, with Showtime's amassment of brilliantly new and innovative shows (Weeds, Dexter, The Tudors), they unleash another batch of amazing shows: the new season of Entourage, Flight of the Concords and John from Cincinnati. This show is spectacular, for all of it's complexities and simplicities. By that I mean, despite all the seemingly unexplainable occurrences and the greater mystery that ties the whole series together, you are still able to connect with these characters and feel for them on a basic human level. I mean my heart was in shambles when Shaun was pronounced brain dead. And when he opened his eyes, the torrent of emotion was so strong that i didn't care about the bird's "magical" healing powers, or how it all related to John. I was just overjoyed at the fact that he was alive. The intrigue then set in after the initial shock and I found myself racking my brain and reanalyzing every scene to figure out what this all meant.That is what makes a great show.
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Jun 18, 2007 11:29 AM
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I LOVED Deadwood, so I was excited to give this show a chance. Funny thing, after 2 episodes I am not sure if I hate it or love it. I do know that I don't quite get it. However, I remember feeling the same way (not sure if I love it or hate it) about Big Love and Carnivale when they started. I ended up loving them both!!! So I will hang in for 3 more episodes to see if I "get it"!!!
I do love the casting though 
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Jun 18, 2007 2:37 PM
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First off, I'm a little worried that there are only four comments before mine because I think that's an indication of the show's ratings . . . and I LOVE THIS SHOW. So I don't want to see it canceled before it really gets started. I'm all about diving into a show and just going with the flow. I don't mind suspending my ideas of reality in order to take my mind and heart on an adventure, and this show IS an adventure for me (and my husband). We were huge fans of DEADWOOD, so we're more than willing to give David Milch the benefit of the doubt that this show will be golden, too. (Although, does anybody know WHEN the two DEADWOOD movies that HBO promised fans will be coming out? Or did they decide to scrap those? Hope not.)
I agree that the casting is spot-on. These performers are bringing so much to each character, you can't help but become involved and want to root for them. Being a women, I especially love Cissy and Kai because they are strong, independent thinkers. Did ya'll see Kai stare down Linc's blonde sidekick because Kai knew exactly what she was about? Keala Kennelly has never acted before, from what I understand, but that hasn't stopped her from giving those perfect "female" reactions. Rebecca de Mornay is simply awesome as Cissy. She is the ROCK that holds that family together and I applaud Rebecca for bringing such strength to her character. I think this may be the most complex role she's ever had the opportunity to play and she deserves the accolades I'm sure she's going to receive!
About Episode 2, people have commented that Butchie is not dope sick when he should be. Could it be that John has a healing "touch" and Butchie is always grabbing his had to take him somewhere thereby reaping the benefits of those healing powers? Along the same lines, could it be that John's powers get passed along like a butterfly effect, which might be why Shaun opened his eyes when the bird touched him? Just a thought. Because I also can see how John might be making things happen by perceiving people's thoughts and seeing them to fruition . . . good or bad at this point. One thing's for sure: John's quite the celestial catalyst.
My main question about John is will he mature as he learns new things each day, or will he maintain his air of childlike innocence? Can't wait to find out. Can't wait for episode three for that matter. Talk to ya'll next week!
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Jun 18, 2007 9:27 PM
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Count me as someone who doesn't quite get what's going on, but I'm really starting to like the show more and more. The family dynamics are really interesting me. And I'm loving Bruce Greenwood and Rebecca DeMornay. So much.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:54 PM
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I was hoping against hope that I would like this show.It would perhaps fill a part of the gaping hole in the universe left by the 2 best TV shows ever;The Sopranos and Deadwood.Well after 2 episodes I don't quite know where it is going,but it should be a lot of fun getting there.Trust Milch.
Did anyone catch the E Room Doctor Smith?He is portrayed by Garret Dillahunt,last seen as blood thirsty pervert(and righthand man)Francis Woolcott on Deadwood R.I.P.
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Jun 19, 2007 10:28 PM
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And Frankie (I think that was his name) who punched Butchie in the mouth was Charlie Utter on Deadwood! It took me a while to place him....
I'm still not sure about this show, I need to give it a little longer to grow on me. Barry is a hoot and I've always liked Rebecca DeMorney.
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Jun 20, 2007 12:45 PM
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Upon 2nd viewing last night,I realized and confirmed that Vietnam Joe is portrayed by Jim Beaver who played Ellsworth on DH.Eventually I hope we see everyone that was in that incredible show "surfing IB".
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Jun 20, 2007 5:36 PM
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Just to keep a running tally, here are the actors I've spotted on JFC who were also on Deadwood:
Austin Nichols - John Monad (JFC), Morgan Earp (Deadwood)
Dayton Callie - Freddie (JFC), Charlie Utter (Deadwood)
Jim Beaver - Vietnam Joe (JFC), Whitney Ellsworth (Deadwood)
Garret Dillahunt - Dr. Smith (JFC), Francis Wolcott (Deadwood)
Have I missed anyone? Please post if I have. Eventually, I too hope that many more Deadwood cast members will show up on the shores of JFC.
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Jun 20, 2007 8:34 PM
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It still amazes me that John's only gotten hit once in the two episodes.
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Jun 21, 2007 9:30 AM
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u forgot
ian mcshane playing the parrot
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Jun 22, 2007 10:29 AM
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I'm pretty warmed up to JFC, enjoying it, intrigued by it, glad to see old Deadwoodians showing up . . . I've long thought Bruce Greenwood overdue for major recognition, so I hope this does it for him, and Rebecca de Mornay, well, I'd watch her in anything, even if there's no way she's old enough to be that kid's grandmother.
However, as appreciative as I am of what is becoming David Milch's quite distinctive style, I'm not letting him off the hook for abandoning Deadwood. It wasn't HBO that gave up on that great show, it was Milch who grew tried of it, as he said in interviews, and we have only HBO to thank for talking him into the two Deadwood movies we've been promised, not Milch.
That fact that Milch abandoned Deadwood ought to make us wary of becoming too attached to JFC. He might get bored with it, too, and then John might never get to truly dump out, Mitch (Milch?) might not figure out why he floats, and we wouldn't ever learn what's up with the damn parrot.
I'm just sayin'. David Milch has got to prove his commitment to us all over again before we commit ourselves to his new show.
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Jun 22, 2007 3:41 PM
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