Release Date: 10/2/07

The Show

I enjoy television series that deal with hypothetical dramatic situations with realism and honesty. While it may seem like in today’s day and age that we get plenty of that kind of truthfulness in the news and reality television, few series have been able to get a realistic grasp on the human element of situations. Human reaction is unpredictable, and yet, there is a certain level of predictability to it all that we can definitely point out if it’s phony. Jericho – The First Season manages to really capture that aspect of human emotion and encapsulate it within a very finely written dramatic mystery.

The show follows just what exactly happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud is seen off in the horizon from the small Kansas town of Jericho. Twenty-three major U.S. cities have been attacked, ultimately leaving the town isolated from the outside world. Left to wonder if they’re the only survivors left and who was behind the attacks, the town must learn to co-exist in this time of chaos as paranoia grips those who were once sensible. Living in a changed world, the series does a great job of detailing the different external and internal threats while handling the intricacies of the townspeople and their newly complicated lives.

The 6-disc set comes with all 22 episodes from the first season with a Play All option found on each disc.
Disc 1
1. Pilot: The First Seventeen Hours
2. Fallout
3. Four Horsemen
4. Walls of Jericho
Disc 2
1. Federal Response
2. 9:02
3. Long Live the Mayor
4. Rogue River
Disc 3
1. Crossroads
2. Red Flag
3. Vox Populi
4. The Day Before
Disc 4
1. Black Jack
2. Heart of Winter
3. Semper Fidelis
4. Winter’s End
Disc 5
1. One Man’s Terrorist
2. A.K.A.
3. Casus Belli
4. One If By Land
Disc 6
1. Coalition of the Willing
2. Why We Fight

The DVD

The main menu comes with an introduction and features a slightly animated background with Morse Code playing in the background. Submenus are silent with static stills.

The video transfer is offered in 1.85:1 Widescreen Format. The picture looks fantastic in this widescreen presentation. The colors look natural and details are sharp. This is how a television show shot within the last year or so should look like on DVD. Kudos to the producers for only allowing 4 episodes or less on a disc.

The audio is offered in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Dolby Digital 2.0. The sound is adequate with crisp and clear dialogue. For this dialogue driven show, it will do the job just fine. Subtitles are available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

The Extras

The 6-disc set comes 3 slimline cases with episode guide and original airdates on the backs of each case. It’s all encased within a cardboard box.

Audio Commentary tracks are available for 5 episodes: Pilot: The First Seventeen Hours with Jon Turtletaub and Carol Barbee, Fallout with Jon Turtletaub and Carol Barbee, Rogue River with Jon Turtletaub and Skeet ulrich, Red Flag with Lennie James and Carol Barbee, and Vox Populi with Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, and Carol Barbee.

Building Jericho runs about 25-minutes and takes a look at the creation of the series including interview with the cast and crew. Audition tapes are also featured within the piece.

What If? provides a 9-minute featurette on how the nuclear arms race has evolved since World War II and where we stand today.

Deleted Scenes are available for 9 episodes with optional commentary available.

Final Thoughts

With Jericho’s revival on CBS, hopefully the sales of the DVD set should spur the series continued life on television. The First Season definitely provided for one Hell of a rollercoaster ride and should find its way into your DVD player, rent or buy.

- Morris Tang