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What’s it called?
“Reconstruction.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to series showrunner Carol Barbee (“Judging Amy,” “Close to Home”) and series creator Jonathan E. Steinberg.
What does CBS say?
“When the Cheyenne government puts an end to the battle between Jericho and New Bern, Major Beck (guest star Esai Morales) leads the reconstruction efforts to restore Jericho's power and communication with the outside world.”
Nuts! Do the Green boys manage to exact vengeance against New Bern leader Phil Constantino for the murder of their daddy Johnston?
Yes. Beck removes Constantino from office. That’ll learn him!
What else is CBS not telling us?
Three major characters will be offered jobs this week. The bulk of the episode is set four weeks subsequent to the “New Bern War,” which claimed 65 Jericho residents. The power’s back on in most of the town. The TVs are playing Cheyenne-baked propaganda. Paul Tomarchio, junior U.S. senator from Wyoming, we’ll learn, used U.S. nukes to reduce two Asian nations to radioactive rubble and now claims leadership of all the states west of the Mississippi (except stubborn Texas, doing its own thing). A company called “Jennings & Rall” is keeping busy in town.
Is Cheyenne at war with the five other U.S. governments based in Sacramento, San Antonio, Montgomery, Rome and Columbus?
Columbus, Ohio, appears to be the only new federal capital still operating east of the Mississippi. No one appears to be at war yet.
Wait a minute. Have we heard of Jennings & Rall before?
They were mentioned in a headline on the news board at the trading post in season one: “Jennings And Rall Wins Alaska Pipeline Contract.” So J&R may be modeled somewhat on Halliburton.
What does Jennings & Rall do?
The Cheyenne government’s bidding. In Jericho, it helps deliver supplies, tries to settle Stanley’s tax situation and collaborates with Emily on a community service project. In future episodes we’ll learn it's tied to other … concerns.
Is Gerald McRaney the only cast member not back for season two?
No. Skylar, rich Salt-mine heiress and friend of Teen Storekeeper Dale, stays off camera, as does Pamela Reed, busy now playing Eli Stone’s mom over on ABC. Also, hot deaf 27-year-old Shoshannah Stern doesn’t return to playing hot deaf teen Bonnie Richmond in the first episode back, but pops up subsequently.
Do we get more on Jake’s backstory?
He hints he has some history with Jennings & Rall.
What’s doing with Robert Hawkins?
He just spent four days on the road with his ruggedized laptop, trying to figure out who was tracking him. He figures out that Valenti (Daniel Benzali) is working with the Cheyenne government.
What’s doing with hot blonde teacher Emily Sullivan?
She’s thoroughly coupled up with Jake and baking pastries.
What’s doing with hot brunette teacher Heather Lisinski?
She’s just getting back to Jericho, having bummed a ride with Beck’s convoy.
What’s doing with Stanley and Mimi?
Stanley’s tax situation is complicated, and tied to other developments in his life.
Is Eric Green back to boning the bartender?
Looks like it.
Say, wasn’t Robert Hawkins the main character in “Cloverfield” as well?
What?
Is season two better or worse than season one?
Fans who liked last season will like this season, as will fans who only liked the last few episodes of last season. I’ll be TiVoing all seven episodes but - based on three I’ve seen – I don’t imagine the second season will win a lot of converts. (Fans might want to start organizing another nut fund.)
What’s good?
Esai Morales, sporting a Midwestern accent and a good deal of charisma as he assays the problem-solving military man assigned to keep the peace in Northwestern Kansas. His character is the best thing about the first episode back.
What’s not so good?
Skeet Ulrich’s facial hair.
How does it end, spoiler-boy?
“The president is coming.”
10 p.m. Tuesday. CBS.
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