Jericho Series Review

Jericho (2006-2008)
Season 1 - 22 episodes (2006-07)
Season 2 - 7 episodes (2007-08)

Rent Jericho on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Stephen Chbosky, Josh Schaer, Jonathan E. Steinberg
Starring: Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, Ashley Scott, Kenneth Mitchell, Brad Beyer, April Parker Jones, Gerald McRaney, Michael Gaston
Rated: TV-14
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Plot
A small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over nearby Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.

Verdict
This is a great premise but it feels toned down for broadcast, which it was on network television. It focuses on border skirmishes, government conspiracies, and a small town trying to survive. If you like the post-apocalypse setting this is worth watching, but with so much good television out there, it doesn't quite make the cut of must watch. If you want something with a broader appeal, it fits the bill. This is probably a show that would have found it's footing in a full length second season. There's just too much good competition for viewing time.
It depends.

Review
The show was cancelled after its first season because of low ratings. A fan campaign persuaded the network to bring the show back for seven more episodes before it was cancelled again. I really liked this show the first time I saw it. I've seen a lot of television since then and while the idea is solid, I wish it were better. Many shows don't establish themselves until the second season, and that could have been the case for this show. Instead we got a rushed second season to wrap up the story.

This has a great premise. A small Kansas town witnesses a nuclear bomb explosion in Colorado. Everyone is scared and reacting as all communications are down. Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich) is the loner with a mysterious past, just back in town. His dad just happens to be Johnston Green (Gerald McRaney), the mayor.

Skeet Ulrich plays Jake Green

Jake's past remains a question. He's mysterious like Robert Hawkins (Lennie James) who moved to town recently. Jake is always the one to rush in and help. Robert has the equipment and contacts, definitely knowing too much.

This show is about how to survive when the worst happens. People becomes selfish and focused on survival. Several episodes in and we still don't know what happened. The strength of this show is the chaos that develops from fear and paranoia. The problem is that the show likes to play cat and mouse by introducing new, scary characters often. It should focus on the details or fortifying the community and the human moments. We stay at arms length as the show introduces stale comedy and recycled plot lines. It also can veer to the over-dramatic. I want to see this town build back. The mystery of Robert Hawkins often feels like a crutch to string us along. The show is at its best when the town is trying to find the way forward.

Towards the end of season one the town deals with military imposters trying to score supplies as well as teaming with a nearby town, New Bern. Resources are becoming scarce and that calls for difficult decisions. Jericho is fighting for survival. The first season attempts a big ending with a battle. It's a lot different from how it started.

The show was canceled and then brought back for a second season. It feels rushed, like the creators wanted to fit all their ideas into whatever time they had left. The new President comes to town as a military contractor becomes the antagonist. The contractor claims to be rebuilding the nation, but they're just taking advantage. The second season is a different show. It's no longer about a town trying to forge a path, it's about a new government that no one trusts. Who dropped the bombs? We get some hints, but no definitive answers. There's also a mysterious person making phone calls and playing both sides. It's a bit much. I can't blame the show completely. I'm sure this was there chance to get all of their ideas out there.

There was the broadcast ending which is more or less happy as the conspiracy was exposed and Jericho plans to build back. The unaired ending makes it seem like the shadow government and coverup will persist. It would be an acceptable ending if another season were coming. Since no seasons were coming, the happy ending works better.

I like Jericho, though I like the idea more than the result. It's the kind of show I'd like to see on a cable channel. This is too timid. The town never feels as afraid and dangerous as it should. People are too complacent, content to drink at the town bar. The mysteries are a crutch to pad a story that doesn't need it, though it is a vehicle to help explain what happened without giving much of an answer.