[JER] Federal Response

TV Programme: Jericho
Season: 2
Episode: 5
Date I watched this episode: 04/07/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 11 months, 28 days.

It's been almost a year since I last watched this show, actually only 2 days less than a year. Oddly enough, this isn't because of anything to do with this show. It's just that I didn't watch any TV for a while, and then when I did it was mainly shows that I watched "with broadcast", Prison Break Season 2 (which I was enjoying a lot at the time) and a couple of episodes of NAS (which was just when I was in the mood for something quite light).

Yep, I love this show. It's been so great so far, and this episode was no exception. There are many unanswered questions, but the story is fitting together quite nicely, with some great characters, sets, twists and the look of the show in general is just great. It also has a strange gimmick that the morse code overlaying the show's intertitle spells out words. "Jericho" was cancelled after season 1, then brought back, then cancelled again, and now they are talking about making a feature film. So it just won't go away!

The way the story is woven is quite exquisite. Jericho's last few episodes have introduced elements which don't appear in every episode but are buidling up to something. For example, the "four horsemen", including Gray, are still out there and will probably find something eventually. Also there was no real mention of the hospitalised victim "Vic" from last episode.

This episode mainly focussed on the now ubiquituous "Emergency Alert System". The sequence at the start of the episode where everyones phones start ringing to signal the startup of this system, was just brilliant. It also reminded me how much I love the music of this show - and how that moment just builds up with the background music; it's a beautifully constructed sequence. Johnston remarks in this episode that the reason people can't dial out is that everyone is trying to use the phones at once - so surely the obvious thing is to band together and stop using the phones so the mayor's office can place a call? Well, that wouldn't have been anywhere near as exciting.

Another major thread in this episode, and indeed the season so far, was Jake's past. He handled the questions well whilst in the bar; and the family seem to have got over his past mistakes. The scene at the end where he speaks to Johnston was really touching, well-written and acted, and probably the best scene of the episode. We still don't get to find out what Jake was really doing - but I don't feel like it is dragging on too long, I just feel like this story is just getting started.

The other mysterious character in this thing is Robert Hawkins - again, a great actor. He is really feeling the pressure, and his family are feeling the brunt of that. His mystery and Jake's are intertwined in this episode where they are collaborating to put out the fire at Eric's house and they both claim to have been a "pool guy". Perhaps we'll find they both worked in similar organisations in the past. Anyway Jake now knows that Hawkins is acting very suspiciously, and is perhaps the only one who suspects him, so this'll be an avenue for learning more about the guy.

Aside from showing tremendous bravery and strength of character in this episode, Eric really has got himself caught up in a very complex and dramatic love triangle. This episode had many twists and turns for that, and I feel sorry for both him and Mary. Especially the fact that April had filed for divorce was definitely not something I'd seen coming. But Eric and April are now forced to live together to rebuild their broken home. The complexity reminds me of the brilliant Twin Peaks.

I've mentioned a few of the characters but Jericho has a large ensemble cast so let's just quickly whistle through a few more. Mimi and Stanley seem to be hitting it off well, which is ironic since she was investigating his farm. Stanley on the other hand has his hands full a bit with Bonnie (who incidentally didn't appear in this episode). Gail's a great rock for the family and really holds the family together, keeping the peace between Jake, Eric and Johnston. Johnston himself is a flawed but ultimately loving father, who in my opinion makes his main rival Gray (also not appearing in this episode) pale into insignificance. Emily, who spent most of this episode in a coma, is a bit of a dark horse at this stage and the fate of her fiancee Roger is yet to be revealed. Heather is a brilliant addition to the town and seemingly a love interest for Jake. She is on his wavelength, and exhibits the same bravery, problem-solving and solidarity that brings them together. Gracie is hard on the outside but kind on the inside. And Skylar/Dale are just broken kids who are thrown together and have come to respect each other.

Now we come to the climax of this episode - the missiles seen at the end. It'd be pretty foolish not to assume these had something to do with the passport Hawkins was looking at, Johnston's passport, who may well be a target. There are so many unanswered questions, and the town had just better hope they can answer at least some of them before they get obliterated.

Overall Jericho has been a really great programme so far and shows enormous potential. If it stays up, my incredulousness at this show being cancelled twice will just be ever more on the rise.