Jericho – Thoroughly recommended
February 5, 2009
As part of my ongoing attempt to find great Television shows, i found myself in front of Jericho, recently. I can’t even remember why, I must have seen or heard someone else talking about it, probably on an internet forum, but I am really glad I did!
I’m pretty sure I’d heard of the show beforehand, but had thrown it aside, because of the name, thinking it was about some person named Jericho, and involved gun-slinging and the like. I have no idea, what that image was conjured, it just was.
Wherever i finally heard about the show — where i was finally convinced — I realised it was about apocalypse. A subject i would never turn my back on. And as i watched the pilot episode, i was fixed in immediately.
The show was really entertaining. From the pilot episode and its characters realisation that Nukes have gone off around the US, through the getting to know the survivors, their fears, demons and hopelessness, to their warmth, compassion and hopes.
The cast are a pretty good bunch, characters well written and plot intriguing and as realistic as something can be, dealing with apocalypse. Generally the writing and its pace is what kept me wanting more. The pilot episode dealt with not knowing what had happened, was it terrorists, another country attacking, an accident? Throughout the episodes this subject is dealt with very well, not giving too much information, but also not completely holding back.
Anyone interested in apocalyptic drama, and something that’ll make them actually think, rather than just watch because it’s on, you really should give it a look. Great show. Sadly ended before it’s time.
February 5, 2009 at 21:15
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
February 6, 2009 at 04:59
Yay! Another Jericho fan!! Good times…
February 6, 2009 at 15:44
Thank you for your great article. That’s how it is with Jericho. It only takes one or two episodes and you are hooked!!
February 6, 2009 at 21:00
Jericho isn’t dead yet! There is talk of a movie:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=7427
The fans are still fighting for more Jericho. You can join us at:
http://boards.nbcuni.com/universalHD/index.php?showforum=29
Gwen
http://www.jericho-kansas.com
February 6, 2009 at 21:17
I found this show difficult to warm to. Normally, I’m a big post-apoc fan, but this turned out to be the soap opera at the end of the world – only most of the time it didn’t resemble the end of the world, so it was just a soap opera.
I stayed loyal through season one and had some enjoyment, but when season two started on TV, I could only stomach 15 minutes of the first episode before I switched it off and said, “It’s more of the same, and we’re not doing this again, Sloan.”
I loved the more dramatic moments of the series, but every time it veered into love story territory, I just wanted to puke.
Season 1 is actually a pretty interesting (unintentional) story on the theme of “capitalism,” if you keep that in mind when watching.
February 6, 2009 at 21:38
Yeah, I must admit the second season I struggled slightly with, I thought they were pushing too hard on the conspiratorial side of things, and making quite big jumps in the storyline, just for the sake of it.
The thing that grabbed me most about the very first episode was the image of a nuke in the distance, and although I’m not sure, geographically, if that would be possible, it really stuck with me and raised very interesting questioning and wondering in myself.
I really intend to write some short stories based on the idea, at some point, looking at the different sides of Armageddon/end of the world/natural disaster, etc. It really intrigued me as to how I would react, if I could see something coming, or even just knew it was coming, via the media and how I’d handle that knowledge and my remaining time on earth, etc.
Too many films and TV shows tend to concentrate on the big dramatic reaction, people in the streets, crying, fearful, panic, etc. I’d love to think more about how the individual thinks, alone, the realisation, the fear, the acceptance, etc. All very interesting stuff.