Jericho

[Wind_Danzer]

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/

Ok, I love "end of the world" shows/movies and I find myself not being able to wait until next week for this show.

Anyone else caught the first two episodes?

I believe you can catch the first episode at http://www.cbs.com/innertube/?source=innertube_vanity_url but I think they will be showing the whole season after each one airs on TV.

[John_P]

I have been a fan of apocalyptic movies for quite some time. I barely caught some of the first episode. Initially, I am not that impressed. Maybe its that I expect a different "reaction" from people. However, this IS a small town, so what do I know?

[Wind_Danzer]

Today was a bit more panic and desperate. Very cool. And we find out there are at least 8 total so far.

[John_P]

Ok...I just watched the second episode. Very cool. Now I want to see the next episode.

However, this all strikes me as very 1950's in some sort of way. Scary.

[jeepsonly]

I'm into Jericho so far. It does make you think though. I'm in a small town now and I don't think I've ever heard any plans for what to do in a disaster of huge proportion. And my knowledge of human nature, even with seemingly "good" people, makes this scenario all the more disturbing.

This show reminds me that at the very least I think we should all have:


A family communication system
Storable food and water
Some spare cash
Some basic medical supplies
Some basic tools
Some basic knowledge of how stuff works
An escape plan and destination
A means and skill for defending you and your family

[Wind_Danzer]

John,

Have you ever seen "Threads" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090163/)? It came out about the same time out "The Day After" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085404/) did.

Threads is more gritty and worth a view if you never saw it.

[John_P]

John,

Have you ever seen "Threads" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090163/)? It came out about the same time out "The Day After" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085404/) did.

Threads is more gritty and worth a view if you never saw it.

I have seen Day After...that was also in Kansas wasn't it? Anyhow, I will check Threads out...hopefully I can find it at the local video store...

[John_P]

Hey Jamie! I found it Threads at my local Mom & Pop video store!!! Time to get out the popcorn and barf bags!

[Wind_Danzer]

No way. I have it on VHS, the original cover too. Figured I'd offer it up if you couldn't find it. I pulled a lot of teeth to buy it outright so I don't normally let it out of my sight.

Please let me know what you think.

As for The Day After, yep took place in Kansas. I should have bought it the last time I saw it on DVD for 10 bucks.

[John_P]

I watched Threads last night. Quite interesting. I liked the half drama/documentary style of the film. Although much of the character's "stories" seem to fade and dialogue takes quite a hit as well later in the film.

I bought the scenario of the war the film presented. I thought it was rather plausable given the climate of the 80's. Although I found the scenario well thought out, it quite ironic that Iran was the focal point of a global conflict. Eerie to say the least.

Once you accept that this is a low-budget, 80's film, with 80's special effects, you are easily impressed at the directors attempt to convey the horror and tradegy of post-nuclear life. It was especially interesting to see that panic sets in before the attack. This was probably founded on the idea that an unprovoked attack is unlikely and tha some foreknowledge of a possible attack would be the most plausable scenario.

It was striking to see how civil life broke down. I was struck by the estimated poplation values dropping to medieval lows...we are talking 25 to 100k people in large cities, not to mention the small pops in the rural areas.

One theme that is common in these films, is to have mankind literally "blasted" into the past. Sort of a future past, although I know that is a contradiction in terms. So to depict people laboring in fields, only to have crops fail was intersting. This was quite common in the middle ages. Somehow, even though the commoner was in a depraved state, three seem to be some sort of hidden government that was still active and possibly quite comfortable. I wish they would have commented a bit more on the state of the state, 10-13 years after...we are only left to infer from the little we see. However, I can see that the view we are given is from the commoner, and that in some sense is the audience, so I understand. Maybe this is exactly the feeling one would have in the midst of failed world.

It will be interesting to see how Jericho plays out and if their [the people of Jericho] future is a bleak as the one painted in Threads.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Wind_Danzer]

No problem, thanks for the write up on threads.

As for Jericho, I hope CBS and the people give it a chance (I haven't seen any numbers from the first two weeks) and we get a good season out of it. If not, hopefully SciFi or another channel grabs it and keeps it going.