Jericho 2/28/07 - Black Jack

Recap:
The town is running dangerously low on fuel and will likely not survive the impending winter. Someone comes forward and tells the town of a place called "Black Jack Fairgrounds", a place that has become a trading post of sorts. The town decides that since they have a salt mine, they will go try to trade for parts to make a windmill, so that they won't need the fuel anymore.

After making it out there, Jake, Johnston, Heather and Dale learn that it is also a place where people trade information. One thing they learn is that the U.S. has become splintered into 6 different capitals. After trying to get the part for the windmill, but learning of the owner's shady past, Jake and Johnston get into a fight with the local "authorities" of the post who act more like thugs trying to control the peace. They escape with the necessary part to make the windmill, and upon getting back to town Dale realizes that because the girl he's friends with is the daughter of the mine owner, they're "rich".

Meanwhile, back in Jericho, we learn more about Dawkins' past. We learn that he believes someone he calls "the old man" is the one that is watching him. We also learn that Jericho was to be the meeting place for the group that he was a part of. Dawkins decides to go after "the old man" to bring the fight to him, before he does something to Dawkins.

Review:
Not a bad episode. Kind of a filler, I thought, besides the things we learn about Dawkins. I'd give it about a 5/10. Right in the middle. Hopefully this weeks episode will be better. It was actually on tonight, but since I didn't watch Lost last week (and I'll have to catch up before this week's), I'll be checking it out this weekend, most likely.

Jericho - The Day Before

Okay, let me start off by saying that this was one of, if not, THE last show to come back after hiatus, so it's a little tough for me to get back into it seeing as I forgot most of the characters. So, I guess I'll catch you up...

The basic story is that there have been some sort of explosions throughout the United States and very few towns are actually left. One of these towns is a small town by the name of Jericho, KS.

The main character is a man named Jake, played by Skeet Ulrich (who has not had a very good streak when it comes to TV shows - take for instance the short-lived show called "Miracles". Which I thought was actually not bad, though I beleive it didn't even last a season). Jake is driving back to Jericho when the explosions occur, after having been away for about 10 years, if I recall correctly. Basically, the plot of the show is him and his father, who is the mayor of the town (and played by the same actor who plays George Hearst in another great show called Deadwood, which I HIGHLY recommend), trying to get things as back to normal as they can, and trying to learn what exactly has happened.

The other main character (the bad-guy if you will) is a shady guy by the name of Hawkins. He seems to either be some sort of military agent or an agent of a rogue group. One thing is sure though, and that is that Hawkins is irrecovably tied to the explosions.

So, having caught you up in a VERY quick synopsis, I'm going to discuss this weeks episode called 'The Day Before'. If you want to watch it for yourself, DON'T READ ANYMORE. If not, enjoy.

This episode gives us the back story of Jake and Hawkins (and to a very small extent, Jake's brother and his family). First of all, we find out Jake was a pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is trying to get a job flying planes, but when the guy interviewing him asks about it, he says he didn't fly for the military but some other organizations. We find out later in the episode that he was running weapons for some groups and is being recruited for another group called "Ravenwood". The organization seems to be selling drugs to insurgents, at least that's what is described to Jake.

Hawkins, on the other hand, seems to have some affiliations with some sort of cell, that looks like it was at least partially responsible for the attacks. In the days leading up to the attack, he learns that he is to transport some sort of canister to an unknown location. He senses that these attacks are going to be really big, so instead of moving the canister, he finds his ex-wife and his children. He basically holds them at gunpoint and makes them drive with him to what I think is Jericho. I'm not sure though, because the drive from where he was in D.C. to Kansas would have taken much longer...but I guess that's why it's a TV show.

So, as for the episode itself, I thought it was pretty good. I can see that the drama of this show is not nearly as engaging as say a '24', but it's got a good story. The plot development in this episode especially was really well done. Basically, all of last season, we were left wondering exactly what happened. And in the beginning of season 2, we learn what it was. I guess Jericho is learning from the mistakes of shows like "Lost", that seem to go on and on forever, without giving too much away.