TVSquad

I don't know, Butchie, whatever.

This show had so much brilliance, and so much potential for brilliance, that it seems unfair (though pretty much true) to call it a disappointment. It had superb actors playing fascinating characters... but then they were given so little to do, other than sit around and let John's message affect them, that it was impossible not to get frustrated. (And what that message was, other than "be a big happy family of man" and "digital communication is good," we'll probably never know.)

Seeing as this started out as a confluence between Milch's idea for a religious show and another writer's stories about surfers, it might have worked better if John's influence had been more subtle, and we got to see a lot more of the Yost family and the people surrounding them going on with their actual lives. The religious element could be there, but we'd get to see how these people actually live and interact apart from all that, too.

Anyway, it's a little late for yet more second-guessing. I think most of us who watched "John" enjoyed it but really wished it had been better. And if by some million-to-one chance there's a second season, maybe John can influence the ones and zeroes going out from HBO's transmitters to give us a little more plot the next time around.

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In my humble opinion, I think Milch is a modern day Mark Twain. His dialogue makes the brain chew as you hear it. I doubt the show will be back, but I sure did enjoy the ride.

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i think this show would've been much better WITHOUT john from cincinnati...god, i miss deadwood!!!

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I have no idea what this show was about, nor what the plot ever was supposed to be. If there was ever something deep that was supposed be resemble brilliance, it was lost on me.

I can't believe this illogical piece of crap was ever greenlit by HBO. No wonder Showtime is kicking their butt with shows like Weeds and Dexter. I hope HBO's fall from grace really hurts bad, at least until The Wire comes back.

What a ridiculous show. Good riddance.

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Only better if Lucky Louie comes back and they show it all on HBO2 instead of taking up valuable slots meant for The Wire.

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I really tried to like this show, I'm all for offbeat things that are a little different but this show just never clicked. I'm not really sure what they we're going for. It had some moments but all in all the show really didn't have anything to grab onto. You can't have a show where almost all characters are are unlikable...well its certainly nothing I want to watch. Again, I kept tuning in week after week just to see if it went anywhere...it ended up nowhere. Watch Dexter, you'll find yourself chuckling at one of the most disturbing characters on TV, you like him but you know you shouldn't, that's clever writing.

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The only way you brain can "chew" on a Milch show is if you smoke 1/2 to 3/4 lbs of weed first. Then it seems deep and thoughtful, of course at that point so does the toaster ....

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Why watch it. Milch will just get us to
a cliff hangar ending, pull the plug on
the series for his next HBO project
(something about robots, I imagine),
promise us two or three feature length
films to wrap it up and then never
do them.

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While I voted for it to be renewed, I'd be just as satisfied (or confused) to let it end where it is.

The most intriguing (and frustrating) aspect of the show is the Old World/legalese/surf bum mixup of dialogue that they use. I mean... what do you call that? who talks like that? I a put aback when someone on the show speaks normal English.

I wouldn't be surprised if Milch hasn't decided who or what John was, but I'd be just as happy to have the show back as long as Sissy shut up a bit. At the beginning, I disliked John, but he grew on me halfway through. Sissy personality has become unbearable... I wish her head would explode.

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It has become HBO’s trademark to give you build up after build up with a disappointing end, Carnival, Sopranos and now this piece of tease.

What is absurd is that Deadwood was one show that delivered and they canceled it. It makes as much sense as John’s father, maybe I should go get a bird to explain it to me.

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Okay…I didn’t get it. If someone can explain it to me I would appreciate it. I loved the characters especially the Yost family. The setting and the overall premise of the Southern California surfing culture was great. The writing at times was brilliant…different, but fell flat when it dead ended with no explanation. The supernatural elements made for some intensity, but was nonetheless dull and uneventful. 6/10

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I watched the first episode again with someone the other day, and it was far clearer and more engaging than the subsequent episodes. The epilogue (while appreciated) was very confusing, especially the part about Dr. Smith and Cass and Kai. And what was up with Luis Guzman always wanting to cook?

I will give David Milch the benefit of the doubt that the idea for the show had high potential. The execution of the idea, however, was a calamity.

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I've Got My Eye On You. :')

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No! I got my eye on YOU!

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Okay, I only watched the 1st episode before my brother and I called it quits. We were so confused, and I think we thought we should check out the 2nd episode to see if it became more "light-bulb!" but that never came to fruition, and if that show was still confusing 9 episodes afterwards, then I am glad I didn't waste 10 hrs of my life. I don't know whether to respect the vision as an artist's, which we may not understand right now, or whether we've been played, but no matter what, that's a "no!" on the renewal, and I hope the ppl who voted "yes," were joking, ...yes?

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Noooo, I got my eye on you!

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It's hard to understand how HBO greenlighted this show over doing a fourth season of Deadwood. I will never understand network executives! Never!

I kept waiting for everything to make sense. It never did.

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@ jay: Hilarious

@ dkny: I thought Carnivale season two had a pretty satisfying ending. I mean, it left the door open to another season, but it also wrapped up a lot of the plot.

I also have another question: what the hell is up with that big round building John and the Chemist kept staring at?

I have to say I loved JFC, if only to hear the dialogue.

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I really enjoyed this show and am very sorry to see it taken off the air. The characters seem so real to me. I think that once John established this "sense of balance/unbalance" with the characters then he could have gone back to the sky. Oh so much better than the singing bee and such.

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JFC is the best reason, so far, to power up the TV. Creating at the cutting edge, by it's very definition, will not be bringing in the masses. We all bring our various expectations with us and TV viewing is no different. If you were watching this show expecting it to fit within the parameters of what this current culture defines as "normal", you are sure to be disappointed/confused/turned off/pissed off, etc.

If, however, you came to this show, not so much to be passively entertained, but to be stimulated into discovery, both within and in the world, this show is like a gold mine. There is so much to mine here. Thankfully, we can go back now and see what we've learnt.

I say a hearty thank you David Milch!

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