(S01E08) A question for all you mothers and wives out there: if your husband was dying and needed medicine, would you send your only children out to the unknown, where they could be killed or lost or made sick? I would think that since you might lose your husband, you'd at least want one of your kids to stay behind. Maybe send out one of your sons and someone else from the town.
I ask this because Gail sends both Jake and Eric to Rogue River to get the medicine he needs or he'll die in 12 hours...
Meanwhile, Grey questions Hawkins about why he came to town and how an ex-cop was able to afford to buy a new home - in cash. Nice scene: lots of tension and everyone plastering on fake smiles. Gray doesn't trust Hawkins, and Hawkins is keeping a big secret.
Gail frets that not only do they not have medicine, she can't even cool Johnston's fever with ice. That's when Heather remembers an old school project, where she learned how to make ice using water, fertilizer and some chemicals. That's what this town needs, MacGyver! He'd be able to figure out how to make ice.
Jake and Eric make it to Rogue River, but it's completely deserted, with flyers saying the water supply is contaminated and FEMA markings on the wall (shades of Hurricane Katrina). Suddenly, shots ring out, and they have to take cover in the hospital. Inside, they find who was shooting: a veteran of the Iraq war who was hired with other mercenaries (Ravenwood) when the bombs dropped. A doctor is there too, trying to help whoever he can, and the man tells Jake and Eric that the governor might still be alive too. Just when the ask the doc for the meds, Ravenwood shows up in trucks. They are going to kill everyone and take supplies.
Back in Jericho, April tells Johnston she's pregnant with his grandchild. Allison accuses Gray of racism and isn't happy her dad is making her answer all of Gray's questions. Emily and Heather work together to make the ice.
The doc tells Jake and Eric that their dad is probably going to need an intravenous drug, which is in another part of the hospital. So they need a plan. Eric poses as the doc and announces himself to Ravenwood and offers to help their injured member. The soldier shoots at Ravenwood as Jake, Eric, and the doc escape in the car with the meds.
They make it back to town and give Johnstons the meds. Now they'll have to wait til morning to see if it works.
Solid little ep. At first I thought it was just going to be filler (they get out of town but only for a day, new characters are introduced for no reason, the plot not really advanced), but this actually had some revelations. Besides the fact that FEMA knows what's going on and the governor possibly being alive, and Gray and Jimmy find Hawkins' government ID (planted by Allison - Hawkins explains he was sent in undercover to find out who was making phone calls from a pay phone and money transfers in the Jericho area). Oh, and a new character, the doctor, is now in town.
At the end, Eric tells Jake he's in love with the bartender, and realizes that he left his jacket back in Rogue River. Ravenwood finds his wallet in the jacket, and they're coming to Jericho...















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-08-2006 @ 9:24PM
Adam said...
Geez... enough sarcasm, don't ya think?
I personally thought it was a great episode, quite possibly the best all season (and free of children trick-or-treating around radioactive pumpkins). We learned a little about the outside world--quite the spooky place. We learned a little about Hawkins--he's still holding back on something, as we still don't know why he buried the canister in his walls. And we learned that Eric, once again, has a natural talent of screwing things up (twice: first with the wallet, second with wanting to leave his wife which he'll undoubtedly find out is pregnant).
I will say that something in the episode did not make much sense. If we're assuming Jericho is in the northwestern part of Kansas (or even Southwestern, just as long as it's west), that means Denver is about 200-230 miles away. In the episode, they said Rogue River is about 90 miles away (in some direction, we'll assume east). Then, the FEMA flyer claims that fallout from Lawrence contaminated the water supply. But, with all these assumptions, Lawrence would be at least 200-250 miles away from Rogue River.
If that is all true, then why is the radiaton so much worse in Rogue River than Jericho if the distances from the bombs are approximately the same distance away? Prevailing winds generally go east--so Jericho would be hit to a greater degree with radiation than Rogue River.
That was what I noticed. A small writer mishap perhaps, but it can go ignored for the sake of the terrific plot development and entertainment value we saw on this episode. Keep up the good work Jericho!
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11-08-2006 @ 10:01PM
ooda said...
If you're looking to find mistakes, then Jericho will keep you busy. The Jericho water supply wasn't contaminated yet right after the rains there was enough fall out on the ground that it killed a guy after touching it with their hand, yet no one else fell ill? I can buy that the husks kept the corn safe, but wouldn't the water that rained down have seeped into the actual plant? It's a mid-west town, yet every car is new, including the the fire engines and ambulances, as well as every municipal building? I'm not saying they should purposefully push the "hick" agenda, but they could make it seem a bit more realistic.
I mean, I've watched most of the episodes that have aired, but I just can't comprehend why the show is a success.
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11-09-2006 @ 3:22PM
Walt said...
I'd like to know about FBI agents that are sent undercover with their real families and a enough cash to buy a house.
Oh, props to the acting chops of the girl. That part played out nicely - very nice camera presence.
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11-08-2006 @ 11:13PM
La-di-dah said...
Because the show is so simply interesting, ie, simple and interesting. I have to thank innertube because without having made myself watch a mini-marathon (from pilot to "long live the mayor") last week, I probably would be unexcited about the show too. But I watched every single moment, and the show is a bit simple minded, but it is suspenseful and filled with little intrigues, (keeps me at the edge of my seat, pulls me in, etc. Few shows do that suspense thing at all, so yahoo).
Maybe it is because I don't know that much about geography or it is because I am willing to suspend a little disbelief when I watch TV (being a bit of a fan of fantasm) I am okay with Jericho's little inconsistencies because for me, not a lot of things have to make sense because the characters haven't made sense of them yet (btw I don't think the rain brought radioactivity to Jericho - Stanley did not get sick/the IRS lady did not get sick/and the geiger counter measured no increased radioactivity, so it was safe to come outside). We (the audience) and the characters just don't know enough about what happened out there outside Jericho (I don't trust Gray too much, so I don't completely trust his stories; he might be hiding something or other) to say much about how tidy the writers should have made their explanations.
So, what I loved about this episode: the interaction between Hawkins and daughter. He's making her into his little protege (I loved her outburt at Gray at the command of her dad), and I hope she has a big role to play sometime in the future - that would be interesting. I really do wonder what Hawkins knows/thinks about Jake, who might not have been in jail, but might have been a "contractor" in Iraq, which to me is dubious, so I am just at the end of my seat waiting for his explanation. I thought he would be more forthcoming in this episode, but they just can't give us the big reveal about Jake now (however, his reveal better be GOOD), just as I don't think they gave us the big reveal about Hawkins - he fed Gray that FBI story to throw Gray off (I thought that was a great change in tactics because Hawkins character is very astute and know Gray won't back off with the grandmother inheritance story).
Otherwise, I hope this show doesn't turn soap-opera because I tune off once shows start doing their soap-opera thing - this person is in love with that person, but sleeps with this next person. (I am really saying I want the writers to handle the Eric dilemma and the Heather-Jake-Emily? story smartly, or else). Two things that bother me are 1) Jake's outfits 2) Gail hugs everybody (which is why I was happy to have her turn out her sons into the scary world outsid eof Jericho, because she needs to let them go a bit - they're grown.
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11-08-2006 @ 11:32PM
Quantumkat said...
I gotta admit I was blown away that the Ravenwood crux of this episode wasn't made up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenwood_Solutions
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11-09-2006 @ 12:22AM
Shawn McCollum said...
I'd be willing to bet that the ravenwood entry and Jennings and Rall are plants by someone part of the show. Both were created on 10/24/06. Originally the article stated that the group was out of arkasas and jennings and rall was out of germany.
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11-09-2006 @ 12:41AM
Quantumkat said...
Hmmm...you have a point there. But why would Wikipedia allow it?
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11-14-2006 @ 2:51AM
Grace said...
I LOVED this episode!! Probably the best yet. I was just going to say that Eric surprised me with his bravery when he tells Jake that he left his wallet at the hospital. Now Ravenwood is gonna come a callin'.
Hawkins had his daughter plant the FBI badge where the cop would find it. He wants them to think that he is FBI and I think want-to-be Mayor has been fooled. I'm glad Johnston will be up and about. He'll be on top of his game. I really like Gail. And poor Jake, sitting up all night waiting for Ravenwood. Can't wait til next week.
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11-09-2006 @ 1:44AM
Quantumkat said...
I'm convinced it's a promotional, viral plant by the show. No way a company as big as Jennings and Rall exists with no other entry on the entire web. Here's hoping they have a fake website soon. Interesting. Maybe it will play into the Webumentary
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11-09-2006 @ 2:08AM
Quantumkat said...
Ooooh, someone related (maybe) to show on TV.com forums all but confirmed that and also someone pointed out the person who is named as updating the entry "VMillerKS" is a reference to the fourth episode. Wow! Shades of Lost for sure and in a good way. I hope the mythology builds in a fun way without become oppressive and befuddling like it did in Lost.
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11-09-2006 @ 3:04AM
A Student said...
Like it a lot. Fairly believable characters and motivations, a plot that moves occasionally, and characters I care a little about whether they live or die. I'll take it, especially compared to Lost or The Nine, where what passes for 'character-driven drama' is someone directly asking what just happened to a character, and the response is silence, a look off into the distance, mood music, and a commercial. No thanks.
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11-09-2006 @ 3:04AM
A Student said...
The best mistake, by the way, is around the 3rd episode when that DC lady loses her card in the ATM even though it's an 'insert and remove' type of ATM, it doesn't even take the card inside it.
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11-09-2006 @ 6:01AM
Franklin said...
To enjoy Jericho, you have to switch off a little bit of your brain -- like with 24, as well. I forgive this show because it's not boring, and the characters are mostly likeable.
I think Hawkins really is FBI; I don't think the producers are wanting to make the plot twists too convoluted because they are aiming this series to an older, slightly more conservative leaning CBS demographic. (For some reason, I can imagine that the audience that enjoyed Walker, Texas Ranger -- when it originally ran on CBS -- also being the same audience for Jericho.) So, keeping things simple, the producers finally revealed one true thing about Hawkins. As for Jake, they revealed that he was in Iraq. The reasons why will be revealed later.
The Ravenwood mercs are baffling as a bad guy. Why, exactly, were they seen as a threat when they showed up at the hospital? If they were there to take the hospital of its supplies, then why would they shoot up anybody who was still in there alive? Couldn't the Green brothers just have (cautiously) told Ravenwood who they were, why they were in their hospital, gotten the medicine they needed, and then just left? Of course, that would have been boring to watch. But I was confused as to why there would be any conflict between the two sides anyway.
So maybe there is a reason why Ravenwood is doing what they're doing, which will be revealed in the next episode.
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11-09-2006 @ 10:38AM
Daniel said...
So as a HD viewer I have a request to the people who shoot this show, please remember to use HD video when you bluescreen a scene.... My roommate and I were watching Jake and Eric in the car and it looked dreadfull..... I mean I know that bluesceen shots looked bad but this looked BAD....
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11-09-2006 @ 12:14PM
Jack said...
I don't have HD, but the car scenes looked bad to me too, especially on Eric's side.
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11-09-2006 @ 12:33PM
witchyvamp said...
Daniel it look BAD to us non-HD too. Very reminiscent of 70's car scenes.
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11-09-2006 @ 1:15PM
Jim Kosmicki said...
the governor that Ravenwood was to protect was clearly stated as the governor of Nebraska, and they were diverted to Kansas, or at least that's the story. Given that the leader of Ravenwood forces is D.B.Sweeney, who they aren't going to waste on too minor of a role, I'm guessing that the Ravenwood leaders have truly gone mercenary, since there's nobody left in Washington to give orders (or pay salaries). I'm guessing that they are looking to set up their own little fiefdom, and part of the long-term storyline is the devil you know (with James Remar's gang) versus the devil you don't know (D.B. Sweeney's gang).
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11-09-2006 @ 1:24PM
jeff smith said...
First off Bob is still writing this review and he's awful...misses important facts, has no idea what's goin on. How long until we get the town turn against the Middle Eastern doctor and have a mob scene?..I say next episode....and why would the brother take his wallet anyways???...oh I wish this concept was taken to HBO, Showtime or FX.
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11-09-2006 @ 1:55PM
Rodney said...
I think the new doctor is Aasif Mandvi, from the Daily Show. Maybe this is why he isn't on TDS very often.
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11-09-2006 @ 3:00PM
Jamie said...
Remember when mention was made last episode that the terrorists had to have inside help to pull off what they did? I think Hawkins (even if he is a federal agent) might just be the "inside help" that was referred to. I think the item behind the sealed wall could be perhaps a bomb that was set to go off but for some reason was not detonated (or maybe held back as part of some contingency plan). Also, remember when Hawkins daughter said that she knew he was one of the good guys, he had this weird look on his face, didn't answer her, and simply went into his locked room.
Also, we know that Jake is some kind of military (what about the dog tags he was wearing a few episodes back?).
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