Jericho: Reconstruction (Episode 201)

Nuts to you too!

Jericho’s back, everybody!  This is truly the Little Show that Could, thanks to its extraordinarily loyal fans.  The story, for those of you who have been living under a rock somewhere:  Last year, after a comparatively successful (and awesomely action-packed) full-season run, CBS abruptly cancelled Jericho for no good reason.  The fan base was so incensed that they rallied together and created the “Nuts” campaign, based upon that memorable “Nuts to you” line that leading man Jake Green uttered in the final episode.  In effect, millions of nuts (yup… peanuts, cashews, walnuts… you name it) were mailed, FedExed, and dropped off at CBS studios around the country in protest of the show being cancelled.  And guess what?  It worked.  Buried beneath a 20-ton mountain of snack foods and the vocal protests of fans across the U.S., CBS revived Jericho for at least a seven-episode run.  Now it’s up to us… if viewership increases, Jericho could be back for good.  So read this recap… then tune in! 

We kick start this season right where we left off so many months ago.  Jericho’s about to be invaded by the neighboring town of New Bern.  But there are bigger things going on: a new American government, based in Cheyenne, WY, with a wonky flag and new President has emerged.  And apparently, said government is quite concerned with the war-ish goings on in Jericho.  We’re in Stanley’s kitchen, where two fatigues-clad soldiers hold New Bern’s mayor, Constantino, at gunpoint.  Just then Jake’s escorted in, and spotting the bloodsoaked table upon which his father recently croaked, he loses his shit and tries to attack Constantino.  The soldiers hold both men back, and in walks one Major Beck, the leader of the new government army guys who have broken up the Jericho/New Bern war.  He orders the two ruffians to sit.  Y’know what this feels like?  That moment in Lord of the Flies when the kids are running around like savages, screaming and trying to kill each other, and in walks an adult, who’s all, “What the eff are you young troublemakers doing?”  Jake and Constantino might as well be naughty schoolboys as Beck scolds them that 136 people died in their mini war… 

And we flash back to said war.  Everybody’s more or less shooting the crap out of each other with what may or may not be Uzis, as Hawkins watches helicopters come in overhead.  The fighting is pretty nasty; wounded are dragged back as mortars explode and bullets fly.  Hawkins hops in his tank and goes to park it on some train tracks.  There’s an old fashioned steam locomotive roaring toward them, full of New Bern reinforcements, and Hawkins has intentionally blocked it.  Blammo!  Train wreck!  The thing goes flying off the tracks.  Suddenly the choppers buzzing overhead are joined by a fighter jet, which v.v. quickly ends the ground fight by dropping a bunch of bombs as a warning.  That gets New Bern’s and Jericho’s attention.  Hells yeah.

The flashback over, Beck asks what the hell these two ringleaders were thinking.  Constantino whines that his town was starving and Jericho was hostile to their peaceful trading efforts.  This statement pisses Jake off so much he can hardly contain himself.  Dude.  Is it just me, or do Skeet’s teeth look even bigger than normal in this scene?  Anyhoo, Jake lets Beck know that Constantino held his people hostage, tortured his brother, and terrorized Jericho with mortars.  The attack cost Jake his father.  Beck decides that this dispute is officially over, and he’s going to conduct an official investigation.  Jake begs to differ about the whole “it’s over” thing.  He clearly wants his revenge, insisting that Beck has no idea what they’ve lost.  I decide that I like Major Beck as he says that there’s a reason he was asked to administer this area.  The guy seems fair and just.  He tells Jake to go home and be with his family, treat the wounded, then help rebuild.  Order will be restored… ‘cuz an army camp just sprung up on the edge of town. 

Six months after the initial nukings, and four weeks after the New Bern war, electricity has been permanently restored in Jericho… along with TV!  Hooray!  Deputy Jimmy’s chilling in a hospital bed, watching a news report as Deputy Bill… eats peanuts.  HAR!  Nice shout-out, CBS.  The news report states that fifteen million Americans are dead and forty million are homeless.  There’s evidence that the attacks were perpetrated by Iran and North Korea.  After the bombings, the international community didn’t act and the American government was scattered.  So a new hero emerged; a junior senator, Tomarchio, rallied the country.  Poor Deputy Jimmy, who wasn’t the crunchiest Cracker Jack in the box to begin with, might have brain damage after the war.  He’s confused about that wonky flag.  Bill tells him that they’re putting the country back together but not everybody’s on board yet, just the Western states – the flag’s being updated as they go.  Tomarchio is making a “Whistle Stop” tour, trying to gather support.  Jake comes in and we find out that sixty-five Jericho citizens died as a result of the war.  Damn, for a small town, that’s a huge loss.  They wonder what New Bern’s punishment will be.

Outside, the weather is springy as the old American flag is taken down, to Jake’s chagrin.  Jericho’s town square is looking more normal than it has in months.  There are cars around, and people in normal clothes.  And… we find out that Jake and Emily have hooked up, because they’re smooching and making me feel mildly ill by calling each other “babe.”  Jake’s distracted, though, causing Emily to utter hands down the worst line of the evening: “Do you know how hot it makes me when you completely tune me out?”  Squick.  Jake’s got good reason to tune her out: a man is walking into the square with a gun drawn.  The Jakester tackles him to the ground and handy nearby soldiers haul him away.  It’s some guy from New Bern, with a post-war vendetta.  Up goes the new wonky flag.  It still creeps me out, and it’s clear that Jake’s not pleased, either. 

Hawkins gets home from a four-day trip, during which he took the satellite linkup on the road to see who was tracking them.  He has discovered that Valente, the big bald baddie, is working with the new government.  Darcy wonders if they’re safe with the town crawling with soldiers, but Hawkins insists that they’re not looking for him; they think he was killed.  Valente’s got people looking for Sarah, instead.  Darcy lets him know that Beck wants her to work as an administrator in their office.  She could be kind of a spy, but Hawkins is vehemently opposed to the idea.

Dude, Jake has some serious anger issues.  I mean, he was broody last year, but this is a whole new side.  I haven’t seen a single scene yet in which he does not look like a volcano ready to erupt.  Right now he’s confronting Beck about the fact that the New Bern vendetta guy made it this far.  And… suddenly, in walks Heather!  For the first time, Jake smiles as he hugs her.  All this time he thought she was dead.  Heather seems to know the New Bern gunman; they exchange a meaningful look, which the watchful Beck takes notice of. 

Over at Stanley’s farm, he talks with a blonde woman who’s part of a corporation calld Jennings and Rawl that the government’s working with to get towns back on their feet.  He’s signed an agreement to get rid of his tax debt.  Stan introduces the blonde to Mimi before she leaves.  He’s excited to be out of debt; he has to fork over a portion of his crop for three years, and then he’ll own the farm again.  Mimi… asks him to marry her right then and there!  A surprised Stanley’s all, “Um, uh, um….”  but recovers and agrees.  They smooch.  If Jake and Emily are sickening, these two are the exact opposite.  They’re so adorable that I can’t stand it.

Beck meets with town leaders.  The tribunals set to judge what happened in the war are all set to blame everything on those New Bern douchebags.  But they intend to cover the area with a “blanket of amnesty.”  Jake and Eric, who are both still out for blood, insist that Constantino should die.  Beck’s all, “Now boys there will be no vigilantes or revenge killings so go play nice.”  He asks to speak to Jake… and, surprise!  Offers him the position of town Sheriff.  People respect him, and he can help them move on.  Jake’s really, really angry, and personally I wouldn’t put a guy with such a big fat chip on his shoulder in charge of policing a population.  But hey, that’s just me.  Outside, Jake and his brother decide that they’re going to saddle up and kill Constantino themselves. 

Beck gets orders from HQ about a terrorist suspect that they’re supposed to shoot on sight if seen.  Darcy , who apparently didn’t listen to her man and took that administrative job anyway, gets a look at the flier; it’s dead Sarah.  Meanwhile, Hawkins comes over to Jake’s and tells him he needs a safe house. Jake lends him the keys to his grandfather’s hunting cabin.  Hawkins tells Jake that while the news is saying the attacks were perpetrated by Iran and N. Korea, he knows it was domestic.  Jake asks Hawkins to come to a meeting at Bailey’s that evening.

Heather eats at Bailey’s. They have hamburgers again!  A lack of delicious greasy junk food would be one of the worst things about a nuclear holocaust.  Definitely. In comes Beck, making himself at home by sitting across from her and asking how she knows the vendetta guy from New Bern.  Heather says he was one of Constantino’s deputies.  Constantino had quite a few; fortunately the one who was asked to execute her on the edge of town let her go instead.  But this creep happily followed such nasty orders.  Even so, Heather thinks he should be allowed to live.  Beck decides he wants her as a liaison to both towns.  In fact, she’s been specifically recommended by the Colonel.  Schmancy.

At Stanley’s, Mimi’s busy hoping like hell that Stanley didn’t sign the sneaky blonde’s contract.  But oh yes.  He did.  And he’s been had.  Starting right now, he owes a share of his crop to the company, but won’t be credited for it.  In fact, he won’t be credited at all until a new monetary exchange rate is established, which could take years. Stanley gets pissed off that she’s picking apart his decisions, and declares that he’s not stupid.  He goes stalking off.  Awww, no lovers’ spats between these two!  Me no likey!  Somebody’s got to be blissful and family-happy on this show!  And speaking of family… where the heck is Bonnie?  She’s mysteriously altogether absent from this ep. That night at Bailey’s, Jake outlines the plan for killing Constantino.  Hawkins is all, “Screw you guys, I’m going home.”  If Jake was smart he’d some time go by, then go and kill Constantino as he slept.  This is a big, showy, dangerous and stupid thing and Hawkins won’t be a part of it.  Eric’s all, “Fine we’ll do it without you ya wuss.”  Just then a Jeep comes screeching up and the uberpresent Beck orders Jake to get in.

In the army camp, Beck shows Jake the body of the New Bern vendetta guy.  He was sent home, but he and three others tried to return to Jericho.  They were accosted by soldiers and killed.  This man couldn’t let his resentment go, so it was put to rest for him.  Beck intones that sometimes the only way to end these things is to start removing elements from the equation.  Is this what Johnston Green would have wanted?  For Jake’s journey to end in a body bag?  “My father’s dead,” Jake replies resentfully.

Mimi’s come a long way from the beginning of this show.  Remember those gray power suits?  Gone.  She’s now rockin’ some serious Kansas attitude in a pink dress and cowboy boots.  Mimi stalks up to that bitch of a blonde chick and demands that she rescind Stanley’s paperwork.  She’s all, “My boyfriend may have committed tax fraud before the bombs but there is an amnesty now on pre-bomb non-violent crimes.”  Mimi really knows her shit.  She schools the blonde about how her dirty tricky ways have opened the company up to a civil lawsuit.  Smackdown!  The bitch is out legal-jargoned and she knows it.  She smarms that she needs to talk to her boss.  Yeah, you go do that.  Meanwhile, Darcy comes out of city hall… and is followed by a nearby soldier.

Jake goes home and finds an aproned Emily baking a cake for Gail, who is apparently grieving “out at the ranch.”  I really hope that’s not code for “never coming back on this show.”  A super-tortured Jake reminisces about his parents, and how much they loved each other.  He asks Emily what she thinks Johnston would have thought about Constantino getting to walk.  She thinks he’d have been madder than hell, but wouldn’t have liked Jake the Freaky Vigilante, either.  In comes a worried Mary. Seems Eric took a gun and some men on horseback.  He’s headed for New Bern to get his vigilante on sans Jake.

Hawkins is chilling at the Green hunting cabin when Darcy arrives.  I add their kids to the list of people MIA from this episode: they’re “staying with friends.”  Darcy’s brought Sarah’s wanted poster.  Hawkins scolds her about having taken the job at town hall, but his chidings are cut short by a noise outside.  Hawkins figures that his wife was followed, and heads outside with his gun to take a look around.

Jake intercepts Eric and his band in the countryside.  Eric claims that his incentive for leaving without his brother was to protect Jake.  Hmmm.  Not so sure I buy that.  At any rate, Jake’s murderous rage has suddenly evaporated and he’s decided Johnston wouldn’t have wanted this.  The two brothers then waste some time squabbling over who lost more when their dad died.  Suddenly a chopper appears overhead, aiming a spotlight at the tussling brothers.  A hummer pulls up and men with shotguns get out.  Busted!!

Hawkins stalks around outside the cabin, looking for the intruder while aiming his gun around in a rather out-of-character ineffective fashion.  Suddenly somebody has a gun to his back.  Of course, it’s the soldier who followed Darcy.  But guess what?  Hawkins knows the guy!  His name’s Chavez, and he’s here ‘cuz it’s the rally point for their group.  As I wonder whether this guy is trustworthy or not, he makes fun of Hawkins’ bad reflexes.  Hawkins is all, “Yeah well my wife is right behind you with a gun to your head so your reflexes suck too, beeyotch.”  Yes indeedy, there’s a badass gun-totin’ Darcy.  Chavez puts down his pistol and there are amiable introductions all around.  

Beck really hopes that the sitch with Jake and Eric isn’t what he thinks it is.  Jake’s all, “Um yeah no, I heard a rumor about a vendetta party headed to New Bern so I decided to stop them!”  Beck looks suspicious but lets everybody go back to Jericho.  But not before taking Jake aside and letting him know he saved Eric’s life.  Eric’s not the last person who will need that kind of help. 

Hawkins sits down with Chavez.  Only Victor (dead from radiation) and Sarah (dead ‘cuz Alison shot her smack in the gut), made it back to the rendezvous point.  There are three left: Hawkins, Chavez, and someone named John, who’s in Cheyenne.  Chavez lost contact with John a month ago as he made his way to the rally point.  Hawkins lets Chavez know that he’s firmly on the side of the town of Jericho now.  And also that he’s figured out that Valente was holding Sarah’s leash.  They know that Valente’s associated with the Cheyenne government, but not in what capacity. 

Mimi has retrieved the original contract that Stanley boneheadedly signed.  It’s been rescinded, so she tears it into tiny pieces.  And guess what?  She even did a little negotiating and fixed everything all nice and neat.  They’ll wipe out his tax debt officially in the eyes of the new government.  Ah.  Even post-apocalypse, bureaucracy is alive and well.  Oh, and as an apology for their bad behavior, the company even offered Mimi a job.  So political correctness is back, too! “I don’t like people messing with my family,” Mimi says grimly.  Awwwww!!!  Sweetest line of the evening!  I turn to mush for Stanley and Mimi.  Mimi then apologizes for asking him to marry her, but Stanley admits that he was going to ask her anyway.  He pulls out a diamond ring.  In fact, it’s his mother’s wedding ring.  Stanley’s never loved anybody the way he loves Mimi.  He can’t remember his life before her.  He kneels down and promises he’ll make her happy.  So…will she marry him?  Mimi cries and of course says yes as I blubber like some kind of onion-sniffing baby.

Because of course we couldn’t end an episode of Jericho on a hopeful, romantic note, Chavez and Hawkins have a discussion about the Cheyenne government. Their story about the attacks is a lie.  There’s definitely something rotten in Cheyenne, but it’s strong, having gained the support of the Western states.  The East is aligned under Ohio, but is weak and losing support.  The wild card is Texas, an independent territory with lots of military reserves and arms.  If Texas sides with Cheyenne it’s all over.  They need to expose Cheyenne’s cover-up before they take over the country.  And Hawkins has evidence that can do just that.  Remember that bomb buried in his garden shed?  Yep. 

Jake shows up in Beck’s office and is tossed the Sheriff’s badge.  I guess there’s no question anymore: he’s the law in these here parts, now.  And Beck tells him that his trial by fire is coming sooner rather than later.  The Whistle Stop tour is coming to Jericho.  The President of the Cheyenne government’s on his way….