Reconstruction (Jericho episode)

Infobox Jericho episode
Title = Reconstruction
Series = Jericho
Season = 2
Episode = 1
Airdate = February 12, 2008
Production = 201
Writer = Carol Barbee and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Director = Steve Boyum
Prev = Why We Fight
Next = Condor
MorseCode = .-- . .-. . -... .- .- .- -.-. -.-
Translation = WE'RE BAAACK

"Reconstruction" is the first episode of the second season of the CBS drama, "Jericho". It aired in the United States of America on February 12, 2008; however, a DVD screener version leaked on internet in the early days of January, along with the two subsequent episodes. [cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/jericho/jericho_first_three_season_two-15852.aspx|title=Jericho Season 2 episodes leaked|publisher=Buddy TV|date=2008-01-21|accessdate=2008-01-22] The entire episode is available for free on the CBS website [cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/video/video.php?cid=649371290&pid=mz6DtSoaURoHZVh23zOfemKI2Ko9Isik&play=true&cc=3] .

Plot

When the Cheyenne government puts an end to the battle between Jericho and New Bern, Major Edward Beck leads the reconstruction efforts to restore Jericho's power and communication with the outside world. [cite web|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/jericho/reconstruction |title=Jericho - 'Reconstruction' Episode Info MSN TV |publisher=MSN|date=2008-02-07|accessdate=2008-02-07] The episode is set four weeks after the previous episode; Major Beck says the portions of town still without services will be back on the electric grid within another four weeks. After the introduction, the episode opens to Jake and Emily kissing, and their conduct throughout the episode suggests that they have firmly restarted their relationship. Heather Lisinski, however, was not in Jericho for those four weeks, re-appearing only mid-episode when a later convoy from Cheyenne arrives.

Major Beck, drawing on his pre-collapse experience trying to keep peace in Afghanistan, conducted inquiries into the Jericho-New Bern skirmish, but refused to issue any significant penalties in the belief that punishing one side or the other would lead to another round of violence. Initially, Jake Green is horrified at the idea that New Bern's leaders will go unpunished, and he vows to take revenge. Major Beck attempts to counsel Jake privately, offering him the sheriff position as a sign of his willingness to trust Jake as a leader. Jake, unimpressed, draws up plans for a raid. Hawkins refuses to go along, telling Jake that he is being reckless and short-sighted. When Jake finds out that Emily also thinks he is being reckless, he changes his mind, only to get word that Eric has gone without him. Jake catches Eric just outside of town, and while the two fight over what their father would have wanted, Major Beck and his border patrol find them and haul them back into the city. Major Beck believes Jake's explanation that he was trying to stop his brother, and seems unsurprised when Jake finally accepts the sheriff position. As the episode ends, Major Beck tells Jake that he has just learned, to their mutual surprise, that Cheyenne President Tomarchio's whistle-stop tour is coming to Jericho.

Also in the episode, Major Beck asked Heather to serve as ambassador between Jericho and New Bern because of her ties with the two towns and her pacifist leanings.

In the episode's secondary story line, a government contractor affiliated with Cheyenne gets Stanley Richmond to sign away a portion of his crop in exchange for tax relief. Mimi is initially happy with Stanley, and proposes to him, which terribly flusters Stanley because he had planned to propose marriage to Mimi. After reading the contract, however, Mimi realizes that the contract's consideration is illusory, because (1) the Cheyenne government had already granted universal tax relief, and (2) the contract is more open-ended than Stanley realized. Mimi uses her bargaining skill to get the contractor to own up to the swindling and offer Stanley a fair deal; they also offer Mimi a job. Stanley regains his composure and proposes to Mimi "the way my father proposed to my mother" -- by asking her. She joyfully accepts.

A new character is introduced in this episode: Chavez, one of Hawkins's fellow secret agents. Chavez follows Darcy home, while she is carrying secret documents suggesting that Major Beck and the Cheyenne government think that Sarah is still alive and is their "terrorist." Hawkins initially attacks, disarms, and threatens Chavez, but later acts as if he trusts Chavez fully, and the two openly discuss the secrets that they each know. Chavez reveals that he knows the Cheyenne government is illegitimate and that Valenti, who sponsored the attacks, is one of its leaders. Chavez explains that the US east of the Mississippi is still free, based in Columbus, Ohio, and that the US west of the Mississippi is all under Cheyenne control, except for an independent Texas, which apparently is close to joining the Cheyenne government, thus solidifying its power. Chavez also confirms Cheyenne-produced news reports suggesting that Iran and North Korea were destroyed by nuclear weapons, although Chavez considers this evidence of the depths of brutality to which Cheyenne's leaders are willing to sink to cover their tracks. Hawkins reveals that he still has the nuclear weapon, and Chavez suggests that they may be able to use it as part of the evidence they collect to discredit the Cheyenne government and thus dissuade Texas from joining it.

Only a small number of main characters are featured in this episode. Mrs. Green, mourning her husband's death, is said to be at the family ranch. Aside from Mayor Anderson, the town's older generation is never seen on camera. Likewise, none of the major characters who are under 25 appear on screen, although the Hawkins children are said to be staying with Jimmy Taylor.

References

External links

* [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/recaps/201/ "Reconstruction" recap, full episode, and cast&crew commentary at CBS.com]