Watching Jericho

So, with the close of this week, we’re now officially over half-way through the season, and I have to say…. I finally like it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m over the moon when it comes to the fact that it’s just back on the air at all, but I truly didn’t like the first two episodes (Reconstruction and Condor), and had you asked me after watching just those two episodes, the only redeeming value I found from them were Chavez and Beck. All of our tried and true returning characters dropped the ball, in my opinion. Which I think is why I’ve had such a hard time getting up the energy to write up any true recaps for these episodes for the second season.

Then came Jennings & Rall, and I finally saw a good chunk of the great storytelling and the characters that I fell in love with back and ready to roll. I came back to caring as to whether or not Jericho Kansas existed in my mind, and wondered with everyone else what the hell was going to happen.

That’s right… search through the archives over on your right, and you’ll see how much energy I’ve invested in this show and these characters over the past year and a half, and I just couldn’t seem to care about them for the first two episodes.

I was almost afraid that Jennings & Rall was a fluke, given that the first two episodes were disappointing to me, so I didn’t stress when I missed watching Oversight and just made sure it was on my DVR. I played it last night, and I’ve only got three no, four words for y’all.

Oh. My. God. Wow.

I couldn’t escape that I knew that someone was going to die, and even who it was* (Nope, not placing that one above the fold, just in case there’s folks out there who haven’t seen it yet) because, well, I live (and work) on the internet. But even knowing, it was still one of those moments in television that comes up and knocks you upside the head. And not only that scene in this episode, but most every bit of this episode was spectacular. Really spectacular.

I’m just hoping that the first two episodes were a fluke instead of the other way ’round. What do y’all think?

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… Long time between talks, eh?

But, our conversations are going to need to wait just a little while longer, as I’ve recorded Jericho, but I fell asleep too early due to a nasty migraine and didn’t get a chance to actually watch it.

Stay tuned, guys, ok?

Watch the full episode online

Opening Morse Code - TO THE FLAG

From CBS.com:
Johnston leads Jericho into battle with New Bern. Although Jericho has far fewer men and resources than New Bern, they have a few things that help them keep their heads above water. Hawkins and Jake reveal to Johnston that Hawkins has the ability to track New Bern’s position via satellite. And with the help of the tank that they took from the fake marines, Jericho forces New Bern to retreat. But the battle is also costly, putting Johnston Green’s life in jeopardy. At the same time, Hawkins realizes that his use of the tracking device is allowing someone to follow his trail.

Originally aired: Wednesday May 9, 2007 on CBS
Writers: Carol Barbee and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Director: Sanford Bookstaver

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Why We Fight, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode online

Opening Morse Code - ALLEGIANCE

From CBS.com:
As New Bern rains mortars down on Main Street, Gray Anderson can’t decide whether Jericho should fight or simply surrender. Jake knows that his father’s past military experience makes him their best shot at winning a battle against New Bern. Emily is swept into her father’s world, where she is exposed to his enterprise as well as New Bern’s advancing army. Hawkins and Darcy reunite, reaching a new level of understanding as together they decide to stay in Jericho and fight on behalf of the town.

Originally aired: Wednesday May 2, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Frank Military and Josh Schaer
Director: Guy Bee

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Coalition of the Willing, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode online

Opening Morse Code - ONE GOT AWAY

From CBS.com:
When Eric doesn’t return from New Bern with Stanley, Jake senses something is wrong. He gets Hawkins and together, they head to New Bern to investigate and end up uncovering a dangerous secret about New Bern’s plans for the future. Back in Jericho, a disagreement between Gray and Skylar over the salt mine leads to a confrontation that could ignite a war. Stanley is also shocked to come home to find Sean Henthorn living in his house with Bonnie.

Originally aired: Wednesday April 18, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Karen Hall
Director: Steven DePaul

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Casus Belli, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode online

Opening Morse Code - A COSTLY DEAL

From CBS.com:
Faced with a catastrophic complication in April’s pregnancy, Jake forces Kenchy to confront his post-traumatic stress syndrome and perform a heroic operation. Bonnie and Mimi, volunteering at the medical center, begin to bond while Johnston desperately searches for Eric so he can be at his wife’s side. Gray, moved by April’s circumstance, fights with a trading party from the town of Myles to get more power-generating windmills. Meanwhile, Hawkins covers up Sarah’s murder as the very bureaucratic Jimmy noses around.

Originally aired: Wednesday March 28, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Frank Military
Director: Kevin Dowling

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Winter’s End, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode online

Opening Morse Code - THEY WILL NEED IT

From CBS.com:
When U.S. Marines come to town, the citizens of Jericho consider what their lives will be like when law and order is restored and the nation begins to recover from the bombings. The soldiers also bring word of a great victory by the military in the war abroad. But not all is what it seems as Jake and Johnston begin to ask some tough questions. Meanwhile, Hawkins discovers that Sarah may not be who he thinks she is.

Originally aired: Wednesday March 14, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Stephen Scaia & Matthew Federman
Director: James Whitmore

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Semper Fidelis, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode here.

From CBS.com:
While traveling outside the city limits in search of wild game, a truck pushes the truck that Jake, Stanley and Mimi are driving off the road, leaving Stanley unconscious and Jake pinned underneath the vehicle. Mimi realizes that she is their only chance of survival and heads back to Jericho on foot. Meanwhile, Hawkins discovers that he has put his family in grave danger, and Emily and Roger continue trying to rebuild their relationship.

Originally aired: Wednesday March 7, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Nancy Won
Director: Steve Gomer

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Heart of Winter,recap, TV, television, CBS

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Watch the full episode here.

From CBS.com:
Heather knows how to fix the local windmills if she has the necessary equipment and convinces Jake and Johnston to travel with her to “Black Jack,” a trading post several hours outside of town. Against Johnston’s wishes, Dale joins them in hopes of trading supplies from the market for something the town can actually use. Meanwhile, much to the dismay of his family, Hawkins brings Sarah back to their home as they both try to figure out who is watching Hawkins.

Originally aired: Wednesday February 28, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Jonathan E. Steinberg & Dan Stolz
Director: Helen Shaver

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, Black Jack, TV, television, CBS

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While I love doing recaps of the shows, I’m short on time to really devote to doing a lot with them at the moment. Thankfully, there are plenty of places out there in the wonderful world of the internet that you can read all the recaps that you can handle.

• Television Without Pity - Jericho Recaps
• Taking Action: Jericho
• Fangasm - Jericho
• TV.com - Jericho

Have you found a recap site for Jericho that I don’t have listed here? Let me know!

Jericho, Jericho+Recap, TV, television, CBS

Watch the full episode here.

From CBS.com:
Parts of Jake and Hawkins’ pasts are revealed with a flashback to 36 hours before the bombs went off. The day before the explosions, Jake is in San Diego trying unsuccessfully to make an honest living, while Hawkins’ mysterious past is furthered by his association with a woman named Sarah. Emily’s fiancé, Roger, heads to Chicago for a job interview that Emily is not happy about. Meanwhile, in the present day, refugees including Roger and Sarah arrive in Jericho bringing more questions with them.

Originally aired: Wednesday February 21, 2007 on CBS
Writer: Mike Kelley
Director: Matt Earl Beesley

Recap below the fold…

Jericho, The Day Before, TV, television, CBS

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Wow. Just wow. Yes, it was a recap show, which are usually a waste of time unless you haven’t seen an episode or such, but just having Hawkins (Lennie James) tying it all together with his voice over throughout this episode was well worth it.

There were a few items that I missed on the first few viewings, such as Hawkins using the fact that everyone were in some kind of fallout shelter to protect themselves from the potentially radioactive rain coming from Denver (Fallout - Episode 1.2) so he could get to a rented storage shed to move his oil drum that could hold something potentially dangerous.

Of course, the moment that I had been waiting for all hour was the teaser commercial for next week’s episode… again, Wow. I know that all of that wasn’t going to be thrown into just one episode, but I’m completely fan-girl excited for the spring season.

Jericho, Spring Season, Return to Jericho, TV, television, CBS

Watch the full episode online

From CBS.com:
After mushroom clouds appear on the horizon, fear of the unknown propels Jericho into social, psychological and physical mayhem when all communication and power is shut down. The town starts to come apart at the seams as terror, anger and confusion bring out the very worst in some residents. Jake Green, the prodigal son of the town’s mayor, becomes a reluctant hero when a school bus crashes as a result of the explosion.

Originally aired: Wednesday September 20, 2006 on CBS
Writer: Stephen Chbosky
Director: Jon Turteltaub

Recap below the fold… forgive the length, but there is a ton of stuff going on in the first episode.

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