TV show review: Jericho
CBS is on a roll with me. First, I had to admit that I really liked The Class. Then I sit down to watch Jericho and again come away impressed.
In case you are reading this from outside the U.S. or one of the 4 people in America who haven’t seem the multitude of trailers, Jericho is a new show beginning Wednesday September 20 that tells the story of a small town in Kansas who survive what appears to be a nuclear attack. Skeet Ulrich (Scream, The Craft) plays Jake Green, who comes back to his hometown for the first time in 5 years to try and collect some inheritance money left to him by his grandfather. His father - played by Major Dad star Gerald McRaney - is the mayor the small town of Jericho. He apparently was “put in charge of” the money and doesn’t seem pleased with his son nor willing to hand the money over to him.
Like most elements of the plot so far, Jake’s back story is a mystery. Several people ask him where he’s been and everyone got a different answer. His mother seems to at least know why he needs the money, but it isn’t revealed.
During the pilot episode the towns people see an explosion in the distance and all lines of communication are out. Other than that, they don’t really know what’s going on. Was it an accident? A terrorist attack? Was it only one explosion or are they the only ones left on Earth?
I like the mystery and the characters seem very interesting. The fear and uncertainty comes through the screen and since you’re in the dark as much as the characters on the show, it is very compelling.
I believe I’ll be adding Jericho to my TiVo Season Pass list. I give it an 9.
Jericho, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS
I’m right there along with you. I casually recorded it, not expecting the nice gem I found later on in the evening. Extremely compelling for television and the background music is perfect, keeping pace with the plot. It brought back memories of The Day After but more for the similarity of locales (Kansas) and sparse political backstory. I have a feeling it will be a long time, if ever, that we find out what truly happened. But that’s just a guess, since so much of the mystery and drama of the pilot centered on the unknown. I’m sure the writers will be careful to reveal just enough to keep the story moving. And I will definitely be watching.
Good Stuff!