A nuclear mushroom cloud appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of the small, peaceful Kansas town of Jericho into chaos, leaving them isolated and wondering if they're the only Americans left alive.
This seismic event set the scene for Jericho, the dark but compelling drama series that made its exclusive UK debut on the Hallmark Channel last year. Now the story continues as the Hallmark Channel presents the UK premiere of season two. As the first season of Jericho came to an end, it seemed as if the series' days were numbered as the producers unaccountably threatened to pull the plug. But thanks to one of the most unprecedented and impassioned displays of fan support on behalf of a TV series Jericho was spared and now returns for a thrilling second season.
The first season ended as tensions reached breaking point between the citizens of Jericho and the neighbouring town of New Bern, a place with secretive and dangerous plans for Jericho's future. Armed men from New Bern staged a raid on Jericho's precious salt mines before launching an armed attack on the town. The season concluded with an explosive episode in which the citizens of Jericho led an all-out attack on New Bern. Although their forces were smaller in number, they had a few tricks up their sleeve...
Season two opens with the aftermath of the battle, and the newly established Cheyenne Government has stepped in to stop hostilities and start the reconstruction of both towns. Cheyenne works hard to get Jericho up and running again, restoring power and communications with the outside world. But why is Jericho so important to the new government and what are its true intentions?
While this is going on, Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich, pictured), the handsome young anti-hero of Jericho, struggles to come to terms with the death of his father, Johnston, who died during the battle with New Bern, and the lack of punishment meted out to those who attacked the town. Jake wants to seek revenge, but the military commander Colonel Beck (Esai Morales, La Bamba) warns him against this, explaining that there's no room for violence in the new world they are trying to create.
Beck is also certain that the town will now look to Jake for leadership and offers him the position of sheriff. He accepts - but not before others in Jericho decide they will avenge Johnston's death on their own. One of the most mysterious characters in Jericho is Robert Hawkins (Lennie James, The State Within), the stranger who arrived in the town in season one and seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades as he stepped in to help restore order. Jake often had reason to doubt Hawkins' motives and even suspected him of being a terrorist, but as season two begins, Hawkins is on the run and increasingly concerned about the Cheyenne Government's plans for Jericho - and for him. It's only a matter of time before he's tracked down, and a mysterious soldier from the Cheyenne regime is already on his trail.
This has got to be one of my favourite series at the moment, its quite well acted and scripted but I think its mostly because I tend to put myself in their situation and think "what if? what would I do?" Definately worth watching.
(5 Star)
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