http://www.tvguide.com/Ask-Matt
Question: Last year, I was one of the avid Jericho fans who petitioned for its return. I thought the idea of a show based around survival in an apocalyptic society was intriguing. I loved watching the scientific as well as the emotional sides of the situation, and I overlooked much of the mediocre acting in doing so. But as it started to turn into a complex espionage-laced quagmire, I became very disenchanted. With all of the procedural military, FBI and police shows out there, why couldn't they leave well enough alone and let the average viewer watch as a town relearned how to get out of the fetal position and organize itself? When I watch it now, I find myself confused by the many new characters, acronyms and conspiracies. Is there hope that it will someday get back to its roots, or is this what we should expect for as long as the show can survive?— Kerensa R., Clifton Park, Penn. Matt Roush: Given the lackluster ratings upon its return (last week's ratings spike probably had something to do with NBC's unfortunate decision to expose Quarterlife to an audience beyond the Internet), I'm not sure Jericho will get a chance to go beyond this seven-episode miniseries and make any course corrections. As I've noted before, I'm with you that this season of action-packed conspiracy seems a lot more ordinary to me than the community-focused show it developed into around the first-season midpoint (when I started getting interested in Jericho). But I will use this as an opportunity to remind even the casual Jericho fan that this week's episode is a pivotal one in the battle between the town and the sinister Jennings & Rall. There's a lot of talk about revolution this week, and while Stanley (Brad Beyer) at first cautions, "This is not Red Dawn," by episode's end, he'll have changed his tune. To me, this is the make-or-break episode of this shortened season. If what happens this Tuesday doesn't spark interest in the show, it's probably just a matter of counting down episodes until the series finale on March 25.
