Though it was a mere formality, CBS announced yesterday that Jericho is no longer.
The series, which was rescued from its first cancellation after an outpouring of support from some nutty fans, couldn't manage to capitalize on its reprieve, averaging over 25% less viewers than season one. This time 'round, however, fans will get a proper send off as the producers shot an alternate ending against the possibility Jericho would not return for a third season.
Personally, so long as the series finale provides closure, I'm okay with putting Jericho out to pasture. Despite the limitless potential, this season has been terribly executed.
Rather than subtly examining a government and town trying to rebuild from the ashes, the series disintegrated into a soap opera lacking any semblance of reality. Geotz and Ravenwood were so over the top and exaggerated they rendered the concept of corporate influence within a provisional government laughable.
However many tough choices Beck could have been faced with, dealing with Ravenwood was not one of them. And with that absence of moral ambiguity, Beck's struggle was nothing more than a heavy-handed approach to showing the struggles of war.
But perhaps most crippling was the absence of Gerald McRaney. Though I had always suspected as much, Jake's performance as leading man proved that the town of Jericho really couldn't survive without Johnston Green.
Skeet Ulrich never exactly hit it out of the park as Jake, but by sharing so many scenes with Lennie James (Hawkins) and McRaney, the damage was minimal. Well, with Hawkins off dealing with the bomb and Mayor Green six feet under, season two saw Jake forced into a spotlight he was ill-equipped to handle. The results were crippling to say the least.
Truthfully, I always enjoyed Jericho and while I could never stand the romantic subplots and knew it could be doing more, McRaney and James ensured it was never in any danger of getting knocked off the TiVo. But with McRaney gone and James' role less than it should be, I can't help but feel it's about time to say goodbye to Jericho.
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