(S01E14) I got a lot of heat because of my review of last week's show and usually I ignore all criticism because I'm so brilliant. However, when 99% of the comments are negative, I'm forced to take another look at my reviews. So, as I watched Jericho this week, I vowed to pay close attention so as not to miss any pertinent information and it totally paid off. During the opening, the Morse code message clearly said, "Don't bother watching. This episode is kind of lame."
To be honest, I couldn't really concentrate on everything that happened because of the scene early on where Gerald McRaney & Pamela Reed decided to get boozed up. It may me wonder: Why aren't more people getting drunk in the middle of the day? I mean, it's not like anyone has a job to go to and shouldn't a small town like Jericho have at least one town drunk anyway?
I was really hoping that when Mimi had to go get help it would be her chance to redeem herself, Sadly, she did one of the things that I hate to see on TV. She threw away the flashlight after it stopped working. It's just like throwing a gun at somebody when it's out of bullets. Isn't there a chance that she might come across a couple batteries sometime? Her chances of redemption were pretty much shot when she curled into a ball and begged for her life. Oh well, maybe next week.
I enjoyed the action with Hawkins and his girlfriend especially because I now have another cool phrase to add to my Jericho vocabulary along with the package and the old man...the hunter.
Speaking of Hawkins, let me ask you this ... for someone who's supposed to be an FBI bad ass, why does he always sound like he's about to cry? Also, how come he can't see that he is obviously being played? I mean, who goes out "for a walk" in the freezing cold at night with looters and wild dogs around every corner? Wise up friend.
I really dug this show when it premiered but since it's return, I've been pretty disappointed in the tragedy of the week. It appears that next week, the town will get it's power back, so hopefully that will be interesting or maybe "the old man" will find out about "the hunter" and decide to deliver "the package."















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-08-2007 @ 9:26AM
Denise said...
I happen to like Jericho.It is my second favorite show. Lost is my favorite. I enjoy hearing editorials of the shows each week and you were pretty fair and focused on your review of Lost. But come on..where is your sense of fair writing on Jericho?? I found your review to be hostile and sarcastic to say the least. Criticism should be constructive and since you are so inclined to do nothing but throw dirt at the show then I suggest you are not one to write reviews on it..Keep it simple and to the story line, (as you did in Lost). Otherwise hand Jericho off to someone with an open mind and stick to shows you actually like..
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3-08-2007 @ 9:42AM
Michael said...
I think he was pretty fair to the episode as a whole. It was a pretty sub-par episode and I found my interest waning as the hour went along. I agree that Hawkins is too smart in every other area of his life to be as blinded as he is to the evil nature of his houseguest.
And I hate how the show tries to give out clues and information in the most ham-handed way possible. I swear it's like Chris Carter gave a community college class on bad television writing and this was the thesis...so they made it into a show.
But yet I still watch...but as I keep saying, once I know who bombed and why I'm done.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:21AM
Jamus said...
I was a bit surprised by the lack of further plot with the "big black truck" and the occupants. I was expecting them to be brought back into the story at some point.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:51AM
Mark said...
I wasn't going to jump on the bandwagon around here and bitch about the writers of TVSquad, but this review has just put me over the edge.
What is up with the current crop of tvsquad reviewers and their attitudes towards the shows they review / recap? Like many other commenters have said before, it's like some of you barely tolerate the shows you're paid to review.
Jericho is *television* fiction. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Every episode in it's *freshman season* will have its ups and downs, just like most shows do. This particular episode had some interesting points and twists that you didn't even bother to discuss, like the migration pathway, the surprise murder at the end, the further information on Hawkins' "team", Jake's revelation about killing a girl in Iraq, and a lot more, but you choose to focus on his parents having a few belts (I wouldn't call that boozing up); or a minor character (Mimi) throwing away a flashlight.
Dude. Maybe you should take the cue from other tvsquader bloggers and announce you're quitting reviewing this show. Then maybe someone can step in and review it with some gusto and interest.
While I'm finally breaking my own silence on my disapointment with TVSquad as of late, maybe it's time for a bunch of the bloggers to move on, and for TVSquad to start hiring new reviewers who have genuine interests in what they're reviewing. And review more shows. Where's Colbert? Where's Boston Legal? Where's Two and a Half Men? Where's The Unit? Where's Mad TV? Where's The Class? Where's Beauty and the Geek? Where's the Apprentice? I could go on and on. I don't watch many of these shows - in fact, I only watch about six hours of TV a week - but I like coming to TVSquad to see what I miss - and I'm liking it less and less each week. We need less of this: http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/06/heres-why-im-dropping-boston-legal/ and more good reviewers who have a keen interest and like for the shows they review, albeit with a critical eye.
And yes, I do know what goes into doing weekly reviews and recaps.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:54AM
Don said...
I like Jericho as well, but he's right on the money here. With a series like this, the longer you draw out the plot with meaningless episodes like this one, the quicker it dies. How many SciFi series that involved a puzzling plot can you remember going past 1 or 2 seasons. X-files, sure but in the end, that killed it as well. In my opinion, things better shape up in Jericho land, or it loses more viewers.
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3-08-2007 @ 12:38PM
Lewis said...
I am fairly confident that the "dramatic irony" the writers are using here is that Hawkins knows all-too-well that he's being played by his ex-girlfriend. He just can't let on yet.
Or at least I really hope that's the case - he is way too smart to not see it.
The only part of last night's episode that was a tad boring is the whole emily/roger thing. Ick.
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3-08-2007 @ 12:38PM
Lewis said...
BSG...
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3-08-2007 @ 11:48AM
Chuck said...
People--we're halfway through the FIRST season here! Why is the viewing public unable to keep interest in anything longer than three weeks? I think this show is paced perfectly, always giving just enough and leaving me wanting more. The last thre weeks of Jericho have answered plenty of questions, and like any good show in its infancy it has raised just as many more.
I thought Mimi throwing away the flashlight was dumb too, but really, that's consistent with her character and what we know about her. She's not a survivalist, or even somebody with common sense. She's an until-recently self-absorbed person caught in unusual circumstances, and she had pretty much decided her tinme was up. why carry a flashlight?
And why did the truck need to be back? It was just an indicatin of the lawlessness breaking out everywhere. Not everything needs to be part of the big picture.
Last--I agree with a couple of other reviewers here and on other shows' blogs. If you don't like the shoe, stop revieweing it. I'm sick and tired of every reviewer here on TVS trying to convince me that every show I like is shite.
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3-08-2007 @ 4:07PM
Adam said...
I don't know why everyone thought this episode was just mediocre. It probably has to do with the American viewing public wanting fast answers and action all the time. Well, in a world such as Jericho, that is far from the case if you think about it. Honestly, I thought this week's episode was right on target (not too dry, yet not overly action-paced to raise our expectations). Come on, people--think reality.
Now, as for Paul's review, I've been getting very frustrated with the dirt-throwing sarcastic tone. I don't expect "happy feelings with butterflies", but I cannot stand coming to this site and hearing one of my favorite shows ripped apart week after week. I come here to see if the writer has caught any clues that I missed or has some deeper-thinking analysis. Yet, all we have this week are a few paragraphs complaining on obvious, and pointless, elements. Come on, man--I don't think TVSquad hired you to do that. For the sakes of us all, if you're just doing this for some extra cash, please pass the duties to someone who's actually passionate about the show (I'd even do it for free).
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3-08-2007 @ 12:02PM
Gavin said...
i like jericho and don't like you every single episode giving stupid bad reviews when the show is very good... if you don't like the show and you are not giving it decent reviews , i don't mind critism just as long you are giving it constructive critism is ok but, the type of critism you are giving the show is defently not constructive you are making fun of the show... so get someone else to do the reviews... although i do agree that the mystery is goinf a little to slow for peoples liking but the best part of a journey is the journey not the place where your going to
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3-08-2007 @ 12:09PM
gooby said...
I really liked Jericho this week. I was really touched by the scenes with Jake and his father and unlike Lost, I don't mind the mystery ... not yet. The show's not as far gone yet. But I do like the characters and the stories, although I wish they'd catch a break once in a while. Like, find a fraggin' deer or something. Gas storage or something, anything. I get that they need to keep them struggling but jeees.
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3-08-2007 @ 1:09PM
Curt said...
As for Mimi, sure she may not be the smartest person... she's out of her element. But she did run/walk a good long distance in near subzero temperatures on her own. That's character growth if I ever saw it.
So she threw herself in the ditch when she saw the truck. Well, what's his name told her to hide AND as for her pleading for her life... she's hypomthermic, scared, and doesn't want to die. Seems reasonable that she'd be terrified. What did you want her to do, stand and fight them if it hadn't been Johnson and wife? C'mon.
not the greatest episode, but it was still good. They don't have to move the plot a mile every week. And we did get some stuff. Is Sarah on our side or the bad side now? Maybe she's good now but then Hawkins wife turned him against her possibly. Seems like that'll be a important conflict down the road.
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3-08-2007 @ 1:23PM
Haunt said...
To poster #4 I say, "Amen, brother. A-freaking-men!"
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3-08-2007 @ 1:30PM
Ruth said...
I have to say I found the review unpleasant to read mostly because it seemed determined not to shed any positive light at all on this episode.
I notice that reviewers tend to think that digging as much dirt on an episode as they can would show that they're a more analytical reviewer. They often end up focusing on itty bitty details and end up coming across as fussy instead. (Just sayin')
Lame is the last thing I'd call this episode. Besides the Emily/Roger moments which I thought were mere wasted filler (and to show us that Roger is THE MAN), other moments were gold.
How can one not note the powerful conversation Jake and Johnston had towards the end? Skeet and McRaney's performance was stellar! The tears in Johnston's eyes as he said, "I'll be here", the utter grief on Jake's face as he spoke about the sin that was tormenting his heart?
Just a few months ago, these two were not even on speaking terms. Now something is changing in their relationship and for the first time, Jake is opening up to his dad. I mean, wow. What a moment, you know?
And I don't understand why everyone's complaining about Mimi throwing away the torchlight. Look, people are not perfect - not even TV people. They panic, don't think things through, do stupid things. So Mimi did a stupid thing. Big deal! I bet I'd do something stupid when I'm in her position too.
However, I do agree that some details are just off - they do try to make it look like it's reeeeally cold in Southern California now (where they're shootin'), but it doesn't come across very well. No frosty breath etc.
Oh well. Shrug. Not saying that you should stop reviewing Jericho. Everyone's entitled to their opinions. But a bit of balance would be great.
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3-08-2007 @ 1:43PM
Grace said...
Another negative recap?? I thought the show was very good last night, especially the scenes between Jake and Johnston (his dad) and Jake and Stanley (his best friend).
I don't analize every second, I just enjoy the show.
It's not meant to be *history*, it's a tv show.
Give it a break or don't write recaps for it anymore.
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3-08-2007 @ 1:58PM
J Sim said...
Right on the mark #4. I've learned to google the bloggers for TVSquad. If they're a wannabe comedian, actor or writer I can usually expect them to do a half-ass job. It's only getting worse since Weblogs sold out.
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3-08-2007 @ 1:57PM
Jonny Rice said...
Don't feel bad, Paul. You're not the only one who feels that Jericho has lost much of its luster. The writers have done little to make us care about these characters lately, the pacing is weak, and the cast (except Gerald McRaney) has become barely watchable. Oh, and the score....Uggh. I'm not one to complain about not getting enough of the big picture info, being a big fan of the X-Files/Lost style of storytelling, but at least those shows gave you plenty of characterization in between the major plot and mythology points. Jericho tries, but just can't quite cut it. Oh, well.
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3-08-2007 @ 2:57PM
Propagandist said...
What's with this idiotic theory posters have here that all criticism should only be "constructive criticism"? The dictionary definition of criticism is "the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work" -- if you're not willing to read analysis and judgments of merits and faults of shows you like, then you shouldn't reading reviews at all, you should just read the episode summaries from TV Guide. Step away from the internet: People are bound to upset you when they don't agree with your every belief about some lame television show starring a guy whose name is urban slang for semen. Skeet skeet skeet!
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3-08-2007 @ 5:44PM
La-di-dah said...
I have no problem at all with how "slow" this show is moving: it is essentially about a small town faced with an unknown disaster. Small towners with ordinary lives and everyday worries does not all of a sudden equal action thriller. But it was a sort of thriller to see the black truck with the unknown dudes chasing them down; I wondered why they were wearing masks, but it is a heck of a lot scarier with them wearing masks in their tinted trucks. Whoa.
2 things: I don't care about Emily and her fiance. I just don't. And I don't understand why Hawkins and his family have not really blended into the town yet. Soon, I hope. Those kids need to gain some friends, like maybe Dale. Whoops. He shot someone. But right now, they are hanging out with Sarah, Sarah, neck-snapper, so I think Dale and co are better. Yea, there's Bonnie - she only hunts animals.
I think the scene between Jake and his dad ROCKED. I loved how he told his son to tell him in his own time. What an amazingly emotional moment between father and son (also parallel to the story of how him and Jake would go hunting and they would not speak for long periods). I LOVED how that scene played - just perfect, story-wise and acting-wise.
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3-08-2007 @ 5:48PM
bobby said...
I'm with #4, why bother blogging about something if you have no desire to do so? You would have failed any constructive writing assignment in college, step down and let someone who actually wants to blog do it.
Now for my take: the episode was a nice way to bridge a lot of ideas that i've been thinking up. The whole mass migration and the bodies left behind hit right on. Where are these people going, and do they realize they've signed their death warrants? Seeing the black pickup alluded to ravenwood still being active in some way, thats how I took it to be. With next weeks mess, maybe we'll see how things really unfold.
Hawkins isn't as dumb as he seems. Its clear because he hasn't revealed the location of the package to the snake, i mean partner. He doesn't trust her, and I think he's planning how to uncover her deceptions without her catching on.
When is Jericho going to get snow? Middle of winter but no snow - it doesn't make sense.
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