Farewell to Jericho

Warning: Here be spoilers for the series finale of Jericho.

Okay, you've been warned, you may now proceed.

~*~

"I think we started a war today. Let me guess...not your first?"

"Jake this war was coming with or without us. I just hope we did enough to make it a fair fight. How does it feel?"

"What?"

"Making history."

~*~

And there you have it folks. Jericho is no more. I'm not even going to try to pretend it doesn't suck, but I think the show runners did an excellent job of giving the fans closure. One of my favorite sub-genres of science fiction is that of the alternate history, as well as that of the dystopia. Jericho managed to take these concepts and weave them into a powerful story, and one that is just a bit scary for how realistic it is. I know, I know, but it's science fiction--nothing realistic about it! Maybe realistic isn't the right word--believable might be better. I believe the writers definitely studied up on their history and their current events when they planned out their story arc. Then they took believable characters and said, okay, how would this person react if this event happened? It all played out so well. I mean sure, there's the usual television/fiction quota of highly convenient coincidences to be filled, but setting those aside, the most appealing thing about this story to me has always been how true the characters seemed to me. Plus, as a historian, I can completely follow how events could have played out the way they did on screen, even when they weren't events I was happy about. Jericho definitely wasn't a show to pull its punches.

So I say farewell to one of the best scripted hours to grace the television screen in some time, and I now begin my patient wait for the release of season two on DVD so I can watch it all again and catch all of the great moments I missed the first time through. I know there's already a fan campaign underway to save the show once more, and I wish it luck, but CBS has been pretty clear that they aren't bringing Jericho back. Carol Barbee is shopping it around to other networks, sure, but the likelihood of it actually getting picked up by someone else is slim. Hey, I won't complain if it happens though.

It's already past my bed time, so I'll wrap up with some of the moments of the final episode that, for me, were the highlights.

• Stanley burying Bonnie. Her death touched a nerve, and it was extremely touching to see the Rangers rally around Stanley to give his sister a decent burial before letting himself be captured by Beck.
  
• Eric passing on the deal with Constantino. It still freaks me out to see Timothy Omundson playing the bad guy--especially because he is so bad in this--in the way that Hitler and Marx were bad--because he does have a type of appeal to people who are desperate. Eric's realization that he, and subsequently the town of Jericho, just couldn't go down that same road really defined the spirit of the show.
• Beck's realization that Cheyenne was on the side of wrong. This may be something that had the military fans cringing--certainly a large part of service is loyalty to your country no matter your personal feelings on individual issues--but I think it was necessary. For one thing, the Allied States of America is not the country the men and women in Jericho originally swore to serve--it was the straw of order they managed to grasp at in the chaos. For another, our nation's very existence is largely due to those in service seeing that the existing government was wrong and doing something about it. Don't get me wrong, I am not an advocate for revolution, no matter how crazy I think things are, but in the course of the story it made sense and Beck was exactly the man to catalyze the needed change.
  
• Texas. Hell, yeah. I moved down here ten years ago and have found myself unsurprisingly reluctant to leave ever since. It was a pure joy for me that the Republic of Texas was the group that was going to sway which government got to actually become the new America. Plus the Texans got to save the day. It was fun to get to see us wearing the white hats--literally, check out the last few scenes of the episodes and you'll see a few guys in white cowboy hats. Sweet.

So there you go. This series has just been so incredible to me because it has been a prime example of compelling story-telling. I am sad to see it go, but I think television is better for having had it around, even if only for an abbreviated run. Besides, if it keeps going it's just going to have to get into the bureaucracy of rebuilding the nation once Columbus and Cheyenne duke it out. Revolutions and civil wars can only last for so long, and even if the repercussions are far-reaching, there's a reason stories rarely ever stop at the actual end.

I hope you have a great week.

Take care,
C

A few recommendations.

Good morning citizens. Today I have a few quick movie recommendations for you and then I'll wander off back into real life for another week.

First up we have August Rush.

This just came out last week on DVD and I've already watched it twice, the first time when I got it, then the second with my husband because he had to see it. I'll probably watch it again this weekend with my friends, because I feel they also have to see it. It is just that good. The overall story is a bit dark and very sad, but the movie still maintains a very hopeful voice and the ending makes me so heart-glad I truly have to fight not to start crying. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but it the story of a young boy trying to find his parents, and he believes the best way to do that is through the music he hears in everything around him. He follows the music to New York City and gets caught up in a whirlwind of events.

This movie is extremely music-centric, so if you have a professional musician in your household, you might want to watch it without them first unless they are very good at setting aside technical inaccuracies on screen. Apparently it is very off-setting that one of the main characters, a cellist, does not wear black while performing, even though the difference of color was apparently used to highlight her role as soloist. I totally didn't even catch this the first time through, but it was one of the first things my dear hubby commented on. Even with the "errors," my husband (a gigging musician) loved the movie and stated he felt with several more viewings, which he would definitely be giving the film, he could get over those moments.

As with any movie based so heavily on music, you can expect great things out of the soundtrack and score as well. This one definitely delivers. The score is by Mark Mancina (Con Air, Bad Boys, Disney's Tarzan, etc.) and is just beautiful to me. I've already ordered the soundtrack and Amazon the wonderful should be delivering it today, sweet. The film also makes excellent use of the classic Van Morrison tune Moondance.

So there you go--if you're in the mood for a heart-warming tale of music and love and hope, you should definitely check this one out. It stars Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and features a very interesting performance by Robin Williams.

Alrighty, next up is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

This one is in the theaters and has only been out for a few weeks. It is in limited release, only playing in about 500 something theaters, but it is well worth finding the one closest to you and making the trip.

Set in London shortly before England enters World War Two, it is the story of a woman struggling to find work as a governess. After being fired from yet another job and told she is currently unemployable, she steals the address of a potential new client from her agency and lands herself right in the middle of a mess. Instead of a client needing a governess, she finds herself posing as a "social secretary" managing the many loves of her new client.

From almost the very beginning this one had me laughing. It is just a highly amusing jaunt and it is a wonderful take on "seizing the day."

If you're looking for a night out of fun and laughter, this is a good one. It stars Frances McDormand and Amy Adams.

Well, I should get going, I have some traveling to do for work today, so of course it is pouring rain. Fun times.

You have a great week. See you next time around,
C

Ark of AWESOME...

WARNING: The following post contains super mega spoilers for the Stargate SG-1 movie The Ark of Truth, which came out today. Okay, you're warned.

~*~

“Oh, God.”

“Your God cannot help you now Daniel Jackson.”

“It was more just an expression of general dissatisfaction.”

~*~

So, it’s new DVD Tuesday, and this Tuesday is one I was particularly looking forward to because it is the release date of the first straight to DVD Stargate movie, The Ark of Truth. I spent the entire day looking forward to my Stargate night. I was super excited when I checked my package tracking on Amazon to find that my movie had been delivered. I hurried home and made myself some dinner then popped in the DVD and had just started to watch when *BAM*--power outage. What the heezy?!? Ergh!! Imagine my consternation. Seriously. I just know some idiot ran into a power pole, because our whole street was out. Talk about timing. Luckily we were only sans electricity for about an hour.

By the time I finally got to start The Ark of Truth my anticipation had been considerably ramped. Luckily, I was not disappointed.

Man, I forgot how much I have truly missed SG-1. I make no secret of the fact that I am an Atlantis girl all the way, but (as much as I love Richard Dean Anderson and really did adore his years as O’Neill) I can’t help but enjoy the dynamic of the SG-1 team comprised of Cam, Sam, Teal’c, Daniel, and, of course, Vala. There is some serious team chemistry going on when you get these people on screen together.

Hmm…so where to begin? I guess I’ll start with a quick recap. At the start of season nine, SG-1 and the Milky Way are introduced to a new enemy, the Ori. The Ori are a group of ascended beings in the home galaxy of the Alterrans (or the Ancients). Back before the Alterrans left their own galaxy, the group that became the Ori discovered that once they ascended, if they could get the human population to worship them they could become even more powerful. So they created the religion of Origin and have subjugated the inhabitants of their galaxy ever since then. This is actually the main reason why the Ancients left in the first place, and also the primary reason for their whole “non-interference” policy when it comes to happenings on our lower plane of existence. Throughout seasons nine and ten, the Ori become aware of our whole galaxy of unbelievers and send their priests (or Priors) on a holy crusade to either convert our galaxy or kill anyone who refuses to fall in line. The Ark of Truth wraps up the Ori story line.

We start out with a couple of Alterrans discussing their new weapon that they developed to stop the Ori from taking over their galaxy. This “ark” is a piece of technology that can be programmed to show anyone who looks at it the truth of something. They made it to show the Priors and the human population that the teachings of Origin are a lie that the Ori are using just to gain power over everyone “beneath” them. Basically, it’s a brain-washing machine, but hey, it’s supposed to be for a good use, right? Unfortunately for subsequent generations, the majority of the Alterrans decide that the ark is immoral and could too easily be turned to use for evil purposes. So they take off, blowing up the mountain and village they inhabited, leaving the Ark of Truth behind them to be buried in the rubble.

Flash to present day to find SG-1 searching for the Ark, which Daniel has of course learned about in his research. They are looking for it on Dakara, which was the Jaffa home world before the Ori destroyed it. They are, of course, operating under the assumption that the Ancients brought the device with them when they came to our galaxy. They do find something, but before they can study it, a party of Ori soldiers, led by Toman, Vala’s not-quite-ex-husband, ambushes them. They quickly find out that their artifact is not the Ark, but luckily they have their handy-dandy anti-Prior device and are able to take out the Prior commanding Toman. The death of the Prior also finally convinces Toman that Origin really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so he defects and goes back with them to the SGC.

Back at the SGC, Daniel and Vala talk with Toman and he quotes some scripture from the Book of Origin that makes Daniel realize the Ancients left the device back in the Ori galaxy. He also figures out it’s on the planet where the Ori’s holy city is located, because that’s the planet where, according to scripture, evil originated. So that’s where the head honchos decided they needed to make their permanent camp, I guess.

The SGC gives the green light for the mission and Cam gets temporary command of the Odyssey to make the journey. Of course, the IOA just has to stick its nose in and sends one of its people along on the mission. You would really think that by now the IOA would have figured out that sending its reps on field missions is a BAD IDEA. I’m pretty sure, had Woolsey not been tied up with Atlantis, he could have pointed out that this just never ends well.

While Daniel, Vala, Teal’c, and Toman are searching the ruins of the Alterran village for the Ark, Cam and Sam are in orbit up on the cloaked Odyssey, and Marrick (IOA guy) decides to do something profoundly stupid. He locks himself in the Asgard core room and activates it, using it to spontaneously generate something. That something turns out to be a replicator (in bug form). I kid you not. My reaction to this was, of course, “Oh my God, you fucking idiot.” Pardon the language, but this is seriously a stupid idea. Sam and Cam agree, as does everyone else on the ship. The replicator is being contained by a force field while Marrick explains that the IOA never expected for SG-1 to find the Ark. Their plan was to send the Odyssey on a suicide mission, attract the attention of the Ori mother ships (accomplished by using the Asgard core) and setting the replicator loose on them, thus eliminating anyone in the Ori galaxy as a threat. Wow. Talk about dumb on top of dumb, and yet, not entirely unexpected from the IOA. Naturally, our heroes think to destroy the one replicator with their Anti-Replicator Gun before it can get loose and start doing what it does best—which is tear the ship apart to get raw material in order to replicate. In order to fire the ARG, they have to drop the force field, but of course, the IOA knew SG-1 wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of creating a whole new race of replicators, so Marrick built in immunity to the ARGs when he created the darn thing. As they try to shoot it, it escapes and begins to tear the ship apart in order to make more of itself.

Meanwhile, back on the planet, Daniel and crew has actually managed to find the Ark (with the help of some “visions” Daniel keeps having, which are how he knew about the Ark and figured out where to look in the first place). They begin to examine it only to be attacked by more Ori soldiers. Teal’c is hit with a blast from a staff weapon and goes down. This comes in handy, because the Ori soldiers are apparently idiots and decide to just leave the Jaffa for dead while they capture his friends and the artifact. Teal’c of course wakes up and though gravely injured, begins his hike to the Ori city where he knows his friends must have been taken.

Up on the Odyssey the crew continues to try to eliminate the replicators. It turns out the IOA did think to program in a kill switch—a self- destruct code they could implement once the threat in the Ori galaxy had been taken care of. At least they were smart enough to realize that the replicators would just come on through the super gate and start trying to take over our galaxy—again—if they were allowed to go unchecked. While Sam works feverishly to try to keep the ship together and find the self-destruct code, Cam tries to take out the original replicator before it can make more of itself. Of course he fails at this, so his new priority becomes to take out the queen as a distraction to get the replicators away from the crew trying to shut them off. In the process he gets the crap beat out of him by a now half-replicator Marrick. While all of this is going on, four Ori mother ships show up and start firing mercilessly on the Odyssey. Whee.

Back down on the planet we find Toman, Vala, and Daniel being tortured by an Ori prior, and then Vala gets dragged off to the main audience chamber. There she is greeted by her now ascended (and totally evil but still awesome) daughter, Adria. Adria informs Vala that the weapon SG-1 sent through the super gate sometime in season ten, which was originally designed by Merlin (who it turns out was an Ancient), did manage to kill all of the actual Ori. Fortunately for her, this means that Adria was able to assume their mantle and now gets all of the power from the worshippers that was once spread across all of the Ori. Vala can barely hide her pride, let me tell you. Merlin appears to Daniel in another vision, but Daniel has by now realized that he’s not really having visions, and he isn’t really seeing Merlin. Our old friend Morgan Lefay has been helping him to find the way to destroy the threat of the Ori—and now just Adria—once and for all. She says Adria is too powerful for her to take on by herself, but if Daniel can get just one Prior to look into the Ark, the message will go to all of the Priors and Adria’s power will be greatly diminished. Around this time Teal’c shows up and busts Daniel out of his cell.

There is one last challenge, trying to figure out the correct combination of symbols to activate the Ark, but of course Daniel rises, and with the help of his team gets the head Prior to look into the Ark. Morgan then shows up and takes out Adria, and back on the Odyssey, the Priors, suddenly engaged with realizing how wrong they have been all this time cease fire and the ship is safe. Yay! Happy ending!

After that it is really just more wrapping up. Toman goes back to his galaxy to lead his people and try to find the good within the teachings of Origin so they can start over again. Though he wants Vala to come back with him she of course decides to stay with SG-1 (and Daniel). We end the movie with the team getting ready to embark on a mission and wondering what kind of new big baddie they’ll find next.

All in all I was super impressed with this. Like I said, the group chemistry is just amazing. I think one of my favorite bits was how Vala kept trying not to let Daniel (her crush) find her comforting her sort-of-husband. It was amusing. Claudia Black can do serious characters without a question, but her role as Vala has given her a chance to show off her talent at humor and I have always enjoyed that. The story arc was very nicely wrapped up, but left open for the next movie Continuum, which comes out this summer, and any more that might come out, should the Powers That Be smile upon us. There was also a nice little element of having come full circle, especially with the inclusion of the replicators. That plot element could have tanked the whole thing, but they made it work very well.

So, yeah, yay for a new Stargate movie! Make more, please! And keep Atlantis on the air for years to come! Man…don’t even get me started on the season finale for that show that just aired. It is already way past my bedtime.

A few other notes:

I am going to absolutely cry if this season really is the end for Jericho. This show just keeps getting better for me with each episode, and there are only two left! Gah!

I am also very excited to get to watch August Rush (probably tomorrow), which came out on DVD today also. It was just a happy DVD day.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week.

See you on the other side of the wormhole,

C

Oopsy...

Wow, I completely forgot to put up a post yesterday! That's what you get when you're on vacation and doing a whole lot of nothing. It's wonderful.

I did catch the new Fox series New Amsterdam last night. It's definitely got potential I think. I will certainly watch the next few episodes to see where it goes at least. I was explaining the concept of it to my husband last night--a guy gets made immortal by Native Americans and can't die until he finds his true love, so he decides to be a detective in New York. His response, "It worked for Highlander." Now I must confess I have seen absolutely nothing in the Highlander universe (which given my love for Sean Connery and sci-fi is an oddity, to say the least), but as I said, I kind of dug New Amsterdam. It looks like they'll be playing with its time slot for a few episodes--there's a new one on tomorrow after that travesty of a television show known as American Idol--but then it's supposed to settle down into its official Monday night slot. Fox is also airing a new series, Canterbury's Law, on Mondays staring Julianna Marguiles. This leads me to wonder when the heezy we're going to get new episodes of Bones, which I was led to believe was going to be moving to a Monday night time slot come spring. Sigh. Oh Fox, why can't you stop jerking that wonderful show around like it's a yo-yo? Grr. Argh. As long as they do actually bring it back and pick it up for a new season I won't complain (too much) though.

I also caught the new episode of Jericho, which I have started watching live in the vain hope that it might get a shot at a season three. Okay, huge frakkin' spoiler coming up for season two of Jericho. Turn back now if you haven't seen the episode and don't want to know.

ladida...spoiler space...ladida....







(fluffy kitties...fluffy kitties...)








HOLY FREAKING #$@^&!!!!! I cannot believe they %$^&*$%# killed Bonnie! What the heck is up with that? Although I've gotta give her props, she took some of those jerkwads down with her when she went. That scene was just incredibly done, as horrific as it was. Hopefully this, and the arrest and summary sentencing of Dale, will get Stanley on the "Jennings and Rall is evil" wagon. Good gravy. I've seen this show get a lot of flak lately because the new season has become something of a conspiracy-theory based show in its second season. But seriously, we already knew the government was involved in/aware of the initial attacks, and it's really not like the town can stay isolated forever. I am actually really enjoying the story arc this season has followed. What's the point of this show if the country doesn't try to put itself back together in the wake of the initial tragedy? But, true to its name, we need to get our story of that process from the point of view of the citizens of Jericho. It just so happens that we've got citizens in Jericho who know more about the attacks than they should--and that means that when it becomes clear that the new rising government has at least a few dirty fingers, well, the citizens of Jericho feel they need do something about that, don't they?

So yeah. New Amsterdam has potential. Jericho rocks even though they killed off one of my favorite characters and there's probably only three episodes left ever. At least they'll probably tell a better story in those three episodes and bring it to a better close than Smallville ever will with it's whole (groan) eighth upcoming season.

Now I'm back to vacation.

Take care,
C