Jericho – S1E1 – Pilot
This was pretty good as far as pilot episodes go. It took a little while to get going, but once it did, it was pretty captivating.
So this episode introduces us to the town of Jericho, Kansas. Jake Green, our main character, grew up in this town, but left for reasons that no one really seems to know. He alludes to it being the result of some form of military service, though this is never confirmed. Upon his return, he runs into an old friend, Stanley Richmond, and his deaf sister Bonnie. Jake also sees Emily, who I assume was an ex-girlfriend. His main purpose, however, for returning is to visit his grandfather’s grave. In the process of this he must see his mother, brother and his father, who also happens to be the town mayor. There appears to be unresolved tension between Jake and his father, which could be the result of his leaving town.
The main arc of this story is that several nuclear attacks happen in some of the bigger cities surrounding Jericho, particularly Denver and Atlanta. This causes a power outage in town, sending its residents into a panic. The plot reminds me, in some ways, of the recent CBS show Under the Dome. It offers exploration and commentary of how communities might react to crisis. I was thinking that they were going to take the route of “everyone for themselves,” which I feel is the route these kinds of shows often take, but by the end of the episode, there seemed to be a general understanding that they were going to survive as a community, and not as individuals. I thought it was nice that they used Jake rescuing the kids on the fieldtrip, not only as a way to reinforce that they were a community that took care of one another, but also as a way for Jake to indirectly help his dad, thereby breaking down some of the walls in their relationship.
The scene with Jake assisting the children on the field trip bus was possibly the best part of the episode. It showed viewers who Jake is as a character. Regardless of what mistakes he may have made in the past, he is a caring guy. He’s also resourceful, and calm in crisis. These traits, I believe, will serve him well in light of the recent attacks. This scene also introduces Heather, who it appears is Jake’s new love interest. Other important characters introduced in this episode were Dale Turner, who’s parents presumably died in the Atlanta attacks, and Robert Hawkins, who appears to be pretty opinionated about the way in which Jericho handles itself during this time of crisis. I can see him and Mayor Green clashing in future episodes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this pilot. I was not sure what to expect when I started it, as I had not heard that much about the show. They did a good job establishing characters and premise, and I actually want to tune in again to find out what happens next. Knowing that the show only lasted about a season and a half, I’m weary to get too invested in character relationships, but we’ll see how it goes. I might not have a choice, as I’m a sucker for the emotional stuff. What is most intriguing at this point, however, is the narrative of the nuclear attacks. I’m curious as to how Jericho and its residents will be affected. Will they get power back? Will more attacks come? Let’s find out.
Best Moment:
-Jake helping the field trip kids, and meeting Heather.
Best Quote:
-Jake: I go away for a few years and the town goes to hell.
This was pretty good as far as pilot episodes go. It took a little while to get going, but once it did, it was pretty captivating.
So this episode introduces us to the town of Jericho, Kansas. Jake Green, our main character, grew up in this town, but left for reasons that no one really seems to know. He alludes to it being the result of some form of military service, though this is never confirmed. Upon his return, he runs into an old friend, Stanley Richmond, and his deaf sister Bonnie. Jake also sees Emily, who I assume was an ex-girlfriend. His main purpose, however, for returning is to visit his grandfather’s grave. In the process of this he must see his mother, brother and his father, who also happens to be the town mayor. There appears to be unresolved tension between Jake and his father, which could be the result of his leaving town.
The main arc of this story is that several nuclear attacks happen in some of the bigger cities surrounding Jericho, particularly Denver and Atlanta. This causes a power outage in town, sending its residents into a panic. The plot reminds me, in some ways, of the recent CBS show Under the Dome. It offers exploration and commentary of how communities might react to crisis. I was thinking that they were going to take the route of “everyone for themselves,” which I feel is the route these kinds of shows often take, but by the end of the episode, there seemed to be a general understanding that they were going to survive as a community, and not as individuals. I thought it was nice that they used Jake rescuing the kids on the fieldtrip, not only as a way to reinforce that they were a community that took care of one another, but also as a way for Jake to indirectly help his dad, thereby breaking down some of the walls in their relationship.
The scene with Jake assisting the children on the field trip bus was possibly the best part of the episode. It showed viewers who Jake is as a character. Regardless of what mistakes he may have made in the past, he is a caring guy. He’s also resourceful, and calm in crisis. These traits, I believe, will serve him well in light of the recent attacks. This scene also introduces Heather, who it appears is Jake’s new love interest. Other important characters introduced in this episode were Dale Turner, who’s parents presumably died in the Atlanta attacks, and Robert Hawkins, who appears to be pretty opinionated about the way in which Jericho handles itself during this time of crisis. I can see him and Mayor Green clashing in future episodes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this pilot. I was not sure what to expect when I started it, as I had not heard that much about the show. They did a good job establishing characters and premise, and I actually want to tune in again to find out what happens next. Knowing that the show only lasted about a season and a half, I’m weary to get too invested in character relationships, but we’ll see how it goes. I might not have a choice, as I’m a sucker for the emotional stuff. What is most intriguing at this point, however, is the narrative of the nuclear attacks. I’m curious as to how Jericho and its residents will be affected. Will they get power back? Will more attacks come? Let’s find out.
Best Moment:
-Jake helping the field trip kids, and meeting Heather.
Best Quote:
-Jake: I go away for a few years and the town goes to hell.