great idea but poor cast (Jericho - The First Season (DVD))

Member Name: jamiebeck

Product:	Jericho - The First Season (DVD)
Date:	22/05/09 (6 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: original and unique

Disadvantages: B movie actors and poorly written

TV Shows at present are ever evolving and so many are raising the bar (24, Lost, Heroes..) that new shows must have not only an edge to it, but a unique edge. The idea of a post apocalyptic town in the US was a brilliant and unique one but also one that could of only worked if there was substantial funding and a decent creative team behind it. Unfortunately that wasn't the case with Jericho.

Jericho is a small self sustainable Kansas town, distanced from most places. The story starts off with the return of prodigal son of the mayor, Jake Green, played by Skeet Ulrich. After his brief visit he heads out of the town but suddenly witnesses a mushroom cloud on the far horizon.

As the season progresses, the town slowly learn that nuclear bombs have gone off all over the United States leaving the major cities such as Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles as completely inoperable. Smaller towns such as Jericho must look after themselves and fight to protect what is theirs.

Issues of leadership, supply, communication and basic survival are addressed in a semi plausible manner but the plots are too volatile. One moment they would be covering a loved one dying in amongst action around them. The decision to scale down this potentially costly idea of post-apocalyptic events to a small kansas town was a good one and puts an interesting perspective on things yet when special effects are needed they are severely lacking.

Unfortunately the show is let down by the cast, Skeet Ulrich is the leading actor/character here but he severely lacks any on screen prescence and is a simple B movie actor. The best character is probably that of Robert Hawkins, the mysterious new arrival to the town who, as we find out later, has something to do with the nuclear bomb crisis that has torn the country apart.

For me I would be more interested in what was behind the nuclear attacks than how the town survives. Although this is addressed in some shape or form it is very loosely tied up in the second season. Admittedly there was never going to be a second season as it got cancelled before the 1st season had finished airing yet due to fan's protesting they produced a further seven episodes to wrap up the story which goes to show there wasnt much to wrap up!

Plans to turn the post season 2 events into a film were released earlier in 2009 but if they're sticking with the cast and background staff I think I might miss it.

Summary: the post apocalyptic story of a small town in kansas