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Television
Jeremiah - Season 1

Jeremiah - Season 1

List Price: $79.96
Your Price: $71.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You can't have it all!
Review: When you are a serious science fiction fan, you can not watch a new show going off the prior works of writers, actors, directors, etc. You have to have an open mind. JMS did a great job with "B5" (except for the 5th season) and while "Jeremiah" is nothing like "B5" it is still a good show to watch.

It takes place a couple of years after a plague wipes out everyone on the planet over the age of puberty and leave the young to survive alone without adults.

I watched the pilot of "Jeremiah" when I got a free copy after I purchased a "Stargate SG-1" boxed set. I enjoyed it and bought the first season set.

If you watch sci-fi shows soley because you like certain areas of the sci-fi universe, ie. space battles, aliens, etc. then this is not for you. But if you just like to get your fix of sci-fi no matter what, then try watching the show.

Sci-fi is not always about warping, gating, or transporting you across the galaxy, some things can happen right here.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As a "nerd", I just love the "if nerds like it, it's bad"
Review: As a "nerd", I just love the "if nerds like it, it's bad" review. For what it's worth, some of the "nerds" out there happen to be quite intelligent, and read more, and have more knowledge about life, the universe, and everything, than some. J. Michael Stracynzki's take on a possible post-apocolyptic world is much more convincing than most of this sort of story. This isn't too surprising, considering the intelligence he's shown in everything else of his I've seen and read. Give the show a chance - it'll grow on you.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not quite up to par with J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5
Review: As an ardent fan of J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5, I was eager to dig in to this series. I'm also a "Post-Holocaust" genre enthusiast, always looking for better examples of this poorly-treated area of Science Fiction.

I normally don't bother to write 3-star reviews, but Jeremiah was a mixed bag that demanded comment. While composed of excellent story-telling and a rich background, the series suffers from too many "Duh, Ralph!" moments. I've never seen on screen a more realistic and vibrant "End of the World" setting, nor such a fine set of lead and character actors for same.

Yet the writing quality and direction fails to match. It's never really explained, for example, why Vahalla Sector doesn't shut-down and/or annex Thunder Mountain, which is run with a charming idealistic ineptness. Early on, it's clear that Vahalla Sector is aware of Thunder Mountain's current operations, structure, strategic value, and undisciplined security. They could have seized it in 15 minutes, but don't. Instead, they're checked in a couple of unconvincing Star-Trek-Next-Generation-like moves taken by Thunder Mountain. When they finally take decisive action, you're left wondering why Vahalla Sector didn't act 6 months earlier.

Also jarring are the too-often times that Jeremiah & Kurdy -- otherwise written and acted intelligently -- are bushwacked because they won't carry firearms. Yes, yes, I understand the pacifistic motivations (though the two never hesitate to snag weapons from the baddies and plink away). But show me why the pair weren't killed and left in a ditch after their first couple of captures.

The action scenes are hit-and-miss, ranging from gripping & visceral down to "A-Team" in quality.

While the Post-Holocaust world of Jeremiah is displayed with a believable mix of cruelty and kindness, old and new, it's not shown enough. We know from Babylon 5 that JMS can do stunning special effects with a miserly budget; this aspect is on a back burner in Jeremiah. What FX there are, they are at least good... or better. Jeremiah is story-driven, which I applaud, but that's no excuse to ever skimp on the background.

I think it boils down to: I found myself sympathetic to Vahalla Sector, and would have ended up rooting for them if they weren't so naughty. I don't like my good guys to be bumbling, cute, and waaayyyy too lucky. "Jeremiah" is intriguing and watchable, but flawed.

Wayne Gralian
Wayne's World of Books / Krakow RPGs
www.WaynesBooks.com

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not quite up to par with J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5
Review: As an ardent fan of J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5, I was eager to dig in to this series. I'm also a "Post-Holocaust" genre enthusiast, always looking for better examples of this poorly-treated area of Science Fiction.

I normally don't bother to write 3-star reviews, but Jeremiah was a mixed bag that demanded comment. While composed of excellent story-telling and a rich background, the series suffers from too many "Duh, Ralph!" moments. I've never seen on screen a more realistic and vibrant "End of the World" setting, nor such a fine set of lead and character actors for same.

Yet the writing quality and direction fails to match. It's never really explained, for example, why Vahalla Sector doesn't shut-down and/or annex Thunder Mountain, which is run with a charming idealistic ineptness. Early on, it's clear that Vahalla Sector is aware of Thunder Mountain's current operations, structure, strategic value, and undisciplined security. They could have seized it in 15 minutes, but don't. Instead, they're checked in a couple of unconvincing Star-Trek-Next-Generation-like moves taken by Thunder Mountain. When they finally take decisive action, you're left wondering why Vahalla Sector didn't act 6 months earlier.

Also jarring are the too-often times that Jeremiah & Kurdy -- otherwise written and acted intelligently -- are bushwacked because they won't carry firearms. Yes, yes, I understand the pacifistic motivations (though the two never hesitate to snag weapons from the baddies and plink away). But show me why the pair weren't killed and left in a ditch after their first couple of captures.

The action scenes are hit-and-miss, ranging from gripping & visceral down to "A-Team" in quality.

While the Post-Holocaust world of Jeremiah is displayed with a believable mix of cruelty and kindness, old and new, it's not shown enough. We know from Babylon 5 that JMS can do stunning special effects with a miserly budget; this aspect is on a back burner in Jeremiah. What FX there are, they are at least good... or better. Jeremiah is story-driven, which I applaud, but that's no excuse to ever skimp on the background.

I think it boils down to: I found myself sympathetic to Vahalla Sector, and would have ended up rooting for them if they weren't so naughty. I don't like my good guys to be bumbling, cute, and waaayyyy too lucky. "Jeremiah" is intriguing and watchable, but flawed.

Wayne Gralian
Wayne's World of Books / Krakow RPGs
www.WaynesBooks.com

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful epic
Review: Bought it on a whim becuase it sounded interesting and I seemed to remember hearing good things. Well worth every dollar. I can not wait to see season two!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A study of the human condition....
Review: Call me weird, but this show is almost a study of human nature. It vividly portrays the many possible ways humans will react when they have lost everything. Some will turn to crime, victimizing everyone so as to better their own condition. Others will turn to despair, and simply lead lives that ultimately amount to nothing. And sadly, very few will try to help their fellow human beings, at a cost to them.

It is sad to think that if the show's premise really did happen, we would have more "raiders," "psychos," and "animals" than we would have people like Jeremiah.

Anyway, I came upon this show on a Sam Goody store. I was browsing their dvd tv section, when I saw this boxset. I had never even heard of this show before, but I took a chance and bought it on an impulse buy. Let me tell you, it was the best 70 something dollars I've spent.

One of the best sci-fi series in a while, it is smart and well written. All the episodes, while seemingly loosely connected, actually weave a deep story arc about the rebuilding of a civilization gone wrong.

I'm wondering if the "reviewer" Upright Ape has even seen this series. What makes me wonder is when he refers to this series as having pretty FX. I mean, this series is probably the only sci-fi series that doesn't really have much in the way of special FXs. I mean, unless he's calling the big explosion in episode 3 a major FX? As for sayng this series is a knock off of a knock off, is like calling Star Trek a knock off of any other space fairing piece of sci-fi that came before it. If that's the case, I can say that Star Trek is a knock off of the old Lensman series, which most modern sci-fi is derived from.

He then goes on to mention some rather obscure (at least to me) series and book, and then says this is the most overused theme in sci-fi? I'm sorry, but while I do agree that the basic premise of Jeremiah has been used before (what in sci-fi has never been done before?) the series, as a whole has a very unique way of portraying the after effects and the goals of the people living in this world. The fact that the eldest were killed by a virus is only the setting of the story. It's like saying that any space show is merely a knock off of another, which we all know is quite fallacious, since while the setting might be space, each show creates their own universe that is radically different from any other.



Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Nerds love post-apocalyptic worlds.
Review: How do I know this? Because 9 out of 10 sci-fi shows take place in some kind of unoriginal dystopia that takes forever to explain and re-explain. Why do they love these worlds? If you spend every day of middle school strung up on your locker by your underwear, it's natural to start having fantasies of everybody in the world dying. Everybody except for those few resourceful guys that are good with computers and physics. And some hot chicks to keep them company.

"Jeremiah" takes place 15 years after a plague has killed everyone who's hit puberty. (Finally, a plot-based defense of Hollywood ageism!) Curiously, the plague not only killed everyone past "the age of innocence," it also did a number on anybody without a Canadian accent. If you don't recognize a cast member immediately, chances are they were plucked out of a dinner theater somewhere in Winnipeg. Apparently, in the future everybody pronounces the word "about" kind of funny. Canada is an increasingly popular spot to shoot post-apocalyptic sci-fi (Dark Angel, for one) because of its perpetually gray skies and emotionless talent pool. And also because the Canadian government gives huge handouts to greedy producers looking to save a couple bucks.

From the quality of these scripts, my guess is that they saved some dough on the writing staff by taking a van down to a nursing home in Hollywood and loading up all the old writers from "Mannix" and "Battlestar Galactica." The poor old codgers probably thought they were going to Canada for some cheap prescriptions, only to find themselves locked in a 10x10 cell until they churned out a season's worth of material.

The result? I haven't heard such laugh-out-loud sanctimonious dialogue since I was a kid watching Saturday morning shows like "Isis" and "Ark II." But just as you get comfortable thinking you're watching an after-school special from the '70s with Scott Baio...BAM! The two leads have sex with a couple of prostitutes. This fulfills Showtime's nudity requirement, and cements its reputation as HBO's dumb, slutty cousin--enjoyable for half an hour, but never worth paying for.

So what becomes of such an embarrassment? Does Showtime quietly pull the show like they do with all of their other terrible original entertainment? Do they issue a blanket apology to anyone who might have seen the show, even if it was only for a few seconds while changing channels? No. They've released a boxed set.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: LEAVES ME LONGING FOR MORE
Review: I did not see this one on t.v., so I don't know if there is more
coming. I SURE HOPE SO! Excellent story line. Yes, I know, as
others have said, it has been done before. Many times, many ways,
but seldom this good. The adults have died off, and the young
lions are building anew. The question seems to be: Can they
actually accomplish this, and what will this new society of the
future ultimately become? Thoughout the series we meet many
factions. All with their own interests and ideas of what the
new world should be like. Many ready to kill to see to it that
their way will be "the way". But in the backround, lurking,
sometimes just out of sight,is something larger and more
sinister than most can comprehend. To the few, stopping this
presence seems to be their major goal, as illustrated thoughtout
the 19 loosely connected episodes. But there is so much more.
Alliances made and betrayed. The most unlikely friendships formed
in the effort to survive, some discarded when no longer useful,
others made stronger though tribulation.
Well acted, thrilling and lots of fun. The new world does not
come without a sense of humor.
I hope you like it as much as we did.
Thanks,
Tom

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of TV's Best Attempts At Reality
Review: I never watched this show before I bought the DVD's. I know, a big gamble, but boy, it's been worth it! Jeremiah is a superb mix of harsh reality, character driven plot, great writing and fine acting that quietly immerses you into their world. And it doesn't hype its' warning message, "This may be our future". Disregard any review that's comparing this to other works. It stands alone. Unfortunately, it seems that the shows future is in jeopardy. Only the Good Die Young!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One Of TV's Best Attempts At Reality
Review: I never watched this show before I bought the DVD's. I know, a big gamble, but boy, it's been worth it! Jeremiah is a superb mix of harsh reality, character driven plot, great writing and fine acting that quietly immerses you into their world. And it doesn't hype its' warning message, "This may be our future". Disregard any review that's comparing this to other works. It stands alone. Unfortunately, it seems that the shows future is in jeopardy. Only the Good Die Young!


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