|
|
3.0 out of 5 stars
Epic tragedy on the personal scale, Dec 20 2004
By A Customer
Jeremiah's world is one where self-interest comes all too often before simple human kindness, and hope is both rare and dangerous. Set in the not-too-distant future, "Jeremiah" is the the story of a world decimated by a mysterious virus that killed (almost) everyone above the "age of innocence." The story picks up fifteen years after the end of the Big Death, and thrusts the viewer into a world in which every child grew up an orphan, without guidance, or constraint; a world where violence is a constant threat. At it's worst, "Jeremiah" is occasionally clunky (note, for instance, the episode "Ring of Truth"). At it's prime, however, the show is excellent: exciting, thoughtful, violent, humourous, and heartbreaking in turn. While there is an overall arc, my favourite episodes are those which deal with how this massive tragedy played out on the personal scale. I was fascinated by the way in which a world full of children grew into adulthood with nothing and no one to guide them but their memories, and the remnants of the old world. If characters arcs and world-building are what attract you to a show, "Jeremiah" provides plenty to mull over. When dealing with issues of gender, religion, and race, "Jeremiah" sometimes comes close to being preachy, but never completely crosses the line. The show can sometimes be frustrating as it seems problems are often solved through pure, dumb luck. In the same vein, Jeremiah and Kurdy often find themselves in trouble due to the same--and by all too often blundering into situations where caution and diplomacy are warranted. That said, however, I enjoy Jeremiah and Kurdy's partnership enough that watching them get in and out of trouble isn't much of a hardship. The political-military conspiracy can be frustrating for many of the same reasons. Neither Thunder Mountain nor Valhalla Sector make the best use of their resources, but the conflict between these two powers is sufficiently dramatic to make up for their questionable decisions. Overall, "Jeremiah" is an entertaining series. Be warned, however, that "Jeremiah" was canceled after it's second season. Moreover, the first season ends on a cliffhanger, which is all the more frustrating as season two has yet to be released on DVD.
|
