Jericho 1x15: Semper Fidelis
Mar. 14th, 2007 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I really enjoyed that episode. Johnston Green is a man after my own heart.
Granted, I appear to have a thing for older men who like heavy weapons, but I loved the "Who knows when we'll need a tank?" line, and really hope we'll see that tank again. The false-marines plot was good -- not quite what I was expecting, actually. And although part of me kind of wishes that Jericho wasn't the only place we saw where people were capable of doing something other than preying on each other, the fact that we started out with the discussion about kicking out the refugees did a lot to make that more palatable: even Jericho is showing the strain, these days. And of course, in a way the false marines were working together to protect themselves, just like the residents of Jericho. And I like that they made it explicit that these people weren't criminals before -- that they were doing what they could to get by, conning people rather than fighting.
I also liked that the big problem -- no food, no fuel -- has not been resolved.
The flirtation between Jake and the comunications woman -- whatever her rank was -- seemed kind of dumb and rushed, but worked well enough in its clunky way to keep the plot moving forward.
Gray Anderson is kind of an idiot, but we knew that.
What I didn't quite understand was how the Hawkins part of the plot could be going on at the same time: it was as if they had no idea that the marines were there at all. Well, I could accept that -- after all, they were all pretty busy with the threats and the hostage taking and the revelations about hiding radioactive materials in your basement. What I don't understand, though, is the way Darcy and the children left without Hawkins. I mean, I understand that they wanted to, but if things outside are as bad as they seem to be (especially for women, apparently), isn't Darcy walking into a huge amount of danger? And although I can see her doing that in ignorance, I can't see Hawkins not rushing after her and their children.
I really got the sense that these were almost two separate shows, tonight: the logic of one doesn't seem to operate in the other setting. I think I like the main Jericho show a bit better, but Allison shooting Sarah was the high point of the whole episode. Since after all, it was Hawkins who gave her a gun, and taught her to shoot it; she used those lessons to save his life and leave him behind, all at once. (For some reason, I expected the shooter to be Darcy.)
Well, the shooting was the second-best thing. The first was Johnston stealing a tank, and then walking off into the darkness with his hat. The hat was totally what made that for me. Or maybe the tank. I don't know. It's a difficult decision.
This show gives me stuff to think about (and not just hats vs. tanks) and I like that.
Granted, I appear to have a thing for older men who like heavy weapons, but I loved the "Who knows when we'll need a tank?" line, and really hope we'll see that tank again. The false-marines plot was good -- not quite what I was expecting, actually. And although part of me kind of wishes that Jericho wasn't the only place we saw where people were capable of doing something other than preying on each other, the fact that we started out with the discussion about kicking out the refugees did a lot to make that more palatable: even Jericho is showing the strain, these days. And of course, in a way the false marines were working together to protect themselves, just like the residents of Jericho. And I like that they made it explicit that these people weren't criminals before -- that they were doing what they could to get by, conning people rather than fighting.
I also liked that the big problem -- no food, no fuel -- has not been resolved.
The flirtation between Jake and the comunications woman -- whatever her rank was -- seemed kind of dumb and rushed, but worked well enough in its clunky way to keep the plot moving forward.
Gray Anderson is kind of an idiot, but we knew that.
What I didn't quite understand was how the Hawkins part of the plot could be going on at the same time: it was as if they had no idea that the marines were there at all. Well, I could accept that -- after all, they were all pretty busy with the threats and the hostage taking and the revelations about hiding radioactive materials in your basement. What I don't understand, though, is the way Darcy and the children left without Hawkins. I mean, I understand that they wanted to, but if things outside are as bad as they seem to be (especially for women, apparently), isn't Darcy walking into a huge amount of danger? And although I can see her doing that in ignorance, I can't see Hawkins not rushing after her and their children.
I really got the sense that these were almost two separate shows, tonight: the logic of one doesn't seem to operate in the other setting. I think I like the main Jericho show a bit better, but Allison shooting Sarah was the high point of the whole episode. Since after all, it was Hawkins who gave her a gun, and taught her to shoot it; she used those lessons to save his life and leave him behind, all at once. (For some reason, I expected the shooter to be Darcy.)
Well, the shooting was the second-best thing. The first was Johnston stealing a tank, and then walking off into the darkness with his hat. The hat was totally what made that for me. Or maybe the tank. I don't know. It's a difficult decision.
This show gives me stuff to think about (and not just hats vs. tanks) and I like that.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-15 02:09 am (UTC)Johnston is *such* a better leader than Grey - there is no comparison. I was delighted that he became certain something was wrong based on a "Hoo-ah" because that was hilarious.
I appreciated that Jake was still recovering from the truck crash and exposure, although I was baffled that he was getting romantic with Corporal Radio so soon after Heather *and* Emily. Jake is coming off as something of a ladies man, and I'm not sure they intend for that to happen.
Hawkins - I wanted to be more interested in it than I was, and the disconnect you noted was part of that. Also, they're so insular, while the rest of the town is stumbling around dealing with each other. I could use more of Hawkins with people not his family or pre-nuke conspiracy.
I think that the people Heather went off with were also doing okay, so Jericho isn't the only place where civilization is hanging on. Just one of the last places in the region.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-15 12:40 pm (UTC)And yes, Johnston just cracked me up throughout this episode, especially at the Hoo-ah thing, and then he stole a tank. I kind of wish Gray wasn't quite such a bad leader, to be honest, but I guess he can't help it.
Yeah, Hawkins used to talk to other people -- like Jake, for example -- but now that side of the story just doesn't really attach to anything, and Stan has kind of filled the spot it looked like Hawkins might fill. Not that I am complaining much, because THEY HAD TO HUDDLE TOGETHER FOR WARMTH last week, which I think I have read in eleventy million fanfics, but still. I liked it when Jake and Hawkins were trying to find out each other's secrets.
It does not help that really, blowing up lots of the US is a really stupid plan for a home-grown conspiracy to come up with. Seriously, why? "We want more power, therefore we will blow up... the thing we want to have power over, thus making it not so nice. Oh, hey." What's the deal with that?
Jake is a totally ladies man. You know he had to leave town because he was two-timing Emily the blonde girl. Well, maybe not.