The Greens of Jericho

Reviewer: Penny Lane Signed [Report This]
Date: 18 May 2014 10:10:10 PM Title: Part 15B

Wow – reading this is a little bit like watching this episode, but with a weird sort of added dramatic irony (at least in this one part). As in, I enjoy all the details you include that really do some neat world building here, but I also just really feel for April. My thoughts are kind of muddled but here are some of them:

I liked the part with Gail trying to deal with the once automatic doors, and the tiny bit of backstory about her becoming a health educator and putting her earnings into her European vacation fund. Nice bit of the reminder/contrast between life that was/is, as you often include.

Quote: Jessica rolled her eyes. "I'm allergic to bachelor pads."

Yay! I think Jessica's a great character, so this yay is for her appearance here and her snark. It's really fun to see her interacting with Jeff and the others, and it was neat for this whole chapter, seeing how the whole 'medical team' is interacting. I did feel bad for Kenchy though – does anyone actually know what he saw/went through in Rogue River (something I wonder about/feel in all versions of the Jericho universe really)? Good set up all around though I guess, for how the group dynamic will work/progress through this part.

Quote: "That's really kind of amazing, you know," April sighed. "I mean, before you, Jake's attitude was always kinda 'screw this town'. He didn't care what people thought. And now, he's trying to thwart the gossips. Which just goes to show how much he loves you," she concluded.

Haha – has April seen that sheriff's station jail cell? In seriousness, I enjoyed reading past April, being all conversational doctor-friend like. It's neat to see female friendships get some focus/development, and I did enjoy the interactions throughout between April and her closest friends.

Quote: "It's not always our fault," April defended, giggling. "I mean, last September, coming home from my parents', we got the last room, the one they try to never, ever rent. And the desk clerk warned us that the elevator equipment was on one side of the room, and the pool equipment was on the other," she explained, groaning softly at the memory. "It was as bad as they said. Worse. So, we decided to make the best of the situation, that's all. Plus hit the McDonald's drive thru at three AM," she recalled with a smile. "Not that I didn't totally pay for it the next day at work…. But still, given the right set of circumstances, I'd rent room one twenty three again," she laughed.

Funny, but it also kind of sounds like a hotel room that could potentially be part of the setup in a Stephen King story (maybe it's the fact that it's room twenty-three). I like the everyday life vibe this part of the story had, in contrast with the life or death turn April's story is taking in the post-bombs timeline.

Quote: "We must all hang together," Johnston had countered, quoting Benjamin Franklin, "Or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Gray had simply stared back at him, smirking. "Know what, Johnston? I'm pretty sure we're sayin' the same damn thing."

I really liked the Gray/Johnston conversation and bonding. It makes sense that they would each come to see a little more of the other's human side over time, and they both do seem to care about their people and protecting their town, so I liked this pause for that time for them here.

Quote: "I know I'm not supposed to say you're 'glowing', right?" Constantino joked, glancing between Russell and Johnston. "That's like a rule these days," he nodded to himself, "Used t' be, you could tell a woman who was with child that she 'glowed' and it was considered a compliment. But, not anymore," he sighed. "So, I'll just hafta settle for telling you that you're looking as lovely as always, and that Jake is one very lucky man."

And enter Constantino, huh? I guess it is true to form for him to start out being icky. But I hope he's not actually going for diplomacy/winning hearts and minds here (though I guess that means I hope he's already planning to just violently invade? He is pretty good as a villain I guess). I like how you're giving us a bit more of the Green/Constantino backstory they hinted at in the show. Probably why I find this conflict much more interesting really than any of the other ones we got (like ones with Sarah Mason or government sponsored Goetz, who are higher up and totally mostly untouchable for ordinary people) was the real personal connection element that made going to war have such intimate, immediately tangible, completely turning your world upside down stakes for both towns. Neat little counterpoint of this that Mindy Henry is alive and well in New Bern and sending gifts.

Quote: "Actually, it's the power generating wind turbine," Russell informed them, taking a step toward the machine. "To be technical."

"What are you getting for output?" Heather demanded excitedly.

"About fifteen hundred watts an hour," Russell answered.

Heather made a delighted noise. "That's amazing. I was only hoping to achieve like sixty, seventy percent of that," she admitted, moving to stand next to Russell. She reached out, placing a tentative hand on the turbine blade and sighing. "It is truly beautiful to behold."

Science Heather! I always like seeing Heather get an opportunity to use her smarts/enthusiasm for science and technology to contribute something specific or unique to a story so this was a neat moment.

Quote: Michael nodded. "Right, nine. But the idea of Jake with a man-purse is fun, too," he joked, smirking at his brother-in-law.

Also, yay for Mikey's appearance! I think it's neat actually that all three of the med student boys will be joining the scenes at the clinic – they provide some moments of light-heartedness at the same time as lending more emotional weight because of their relationships with April and the others. I was thinking about Kenchy and Jessica, and the boys' journey to town, how this whole medical team is made up of individuals who've been through such different traumas out there, and then there's this which is April's darkest hour, probably, and could be for some them too, all while they're all having different experiences and reactions and choices. I guess it's a neat...web of parallel but also different survivor stories.

Quote: "Mrs. Nolan was my neighbor on Green Street," Heather reminded, "So take good care of her, Dr. Lisinski." She smiled at the title, admitting, "I just wish Dad could hear people calling you that. He'd be so proud."

"Hey, maybe one day he will," Jake offered, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It could still happen."

That would be cool!

As always, I am interested to see what other unique and thought-provoking story dynamics you bring us next.  

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Author's Response:

Quote: Wow – reading this is a little bit like watching this episode, but with a weird sort of added dramatic irony (at least in this one part). As in, I enjoy all the details you include that really do some neat world building here, but I also just really feel for April.

 

Thank you, Penny.  I share your concern for April.  Her fate is the one thing that makes writing this part a hard slog and slow-going.

 

 

Quote: I liked the part with Gail trying to deal with the once automatic doors, and the tiny bit of backstory about her becoming a health educator and putting her earnings into her European vacation fund. Nice bit of the reminder/contrast between life that was/is, as you often include.

 

I have so much backstory for everyone, and I do look for places to fit it in.  I was struck by Gail's … desperation during this episode, and I wondered if it might have roots that went farther back than just her worry over April's health after she collapsed.  (Not that that wasn't enough!)  So, I submit for the reader's consideration a Gail who comes into this day not exactly in a good place as she struggles with many worries.

 

 

Quote: Yay! I think Jessica's a great character, so this yay is for her appearance here and her snark. It's really fun to see her interacting with Jeff and the others, and it was neat for this whole chapter, seeing how the whole 'medical team' is interacting. I did feel bad for Kenchy though – does anyone actually know what he saw/went through in Rogue River (something I wonder about/feel in all versions of the Jericho universe really)? Good set up all around though I guess, for how the group dynamic will work/progress through this part.

 

I always thought it was too bad that Jessica was in 2 episodes and disappeared, so I wanted to give her a little more page/screen time here.  As for Kenchy, I really do think he went through hell, and while April can't really know what that was, I would like to think that she recognized his pain and was sympathetic to it.

 

 

Quote: "That's really kind of amazing, you know," April sighed. "I mean, before you, Jake's attitude was always kinda 'screw this town'. He didn't care what people thought. And now, he's trying to thwart the gossips. Which just goes to show how much he loves you," she concluded.

Haha – has April seen that sheriff's station jail cell? In seriousness, I enjoyed reading past April, being all conversational doctor-friend like. It's neat to see female friendships get some focus/development, and I did enjoy the interactions throughout between April and her closest friends.

 

LOL.  Well, I don't know if April's seen the holding cell in the sheriff's station, but obviously I have.  :-)

 

 

Quote: "I know I'm not supposed to say you're 'glowing', right?" Constantino joked, glancing between Russell and Johnston. "That's like a rule these days," he nodded to himself, "Used t' be, you could tell a woman who was with child that she 'glowed' and it was conesidered a compliment. But, not anymore," he sighed. "So, I'll just hafta settle for telling you that you're looking as lovely as always, and that Jake is one very lucky man."

And enter Constantino, huh? I guess it is true to form for him to start out being icky. But I hope he's not actually going for diplomacy/winning hearts and minds here (though I guess that means I hope he's already planning to just violently invade? He is pretty good as a villain I guess). I like how you're giving us a bit more of the Green/Constantino backstory they hinted at in the show. Probably why I find this conflict much more interesting really than any of the other ones we got (like ones with Sarah Mason or government sponsored Goetz, who are higher up and totally mostly untouchable for ordinary people) was the real personal connection element that made going to war have such intimate, immediately tangible, completely turning your world upside down stakes for both towns. Neat little counterpoint of this that Mindy Henry is alive and well in New Bern and sending gifts.

 

I go back and forth when I think about Constantino's motivations here (and later in this part) but I was at least going for smarmy/icky, so I'm glad that came across.  Certainly, a little later on Johnston is/was shocked to find out how conniving his old pal is, so I was interested in exploring what that relationship might have been.  We certainly know it was a good enough friendship for Phil to get invited to Eric's and April's wedding (and in DC – Jake's and Heather's).

 

 

Quote: Science Heather! I always like seeing Heather get an opportunity to use her smarts/enthusiasm for science and technology to contribute something specific or unique to a story so this was a neat moment.

 

Trust me, I was annoyed I had to let Gray say his own line in this part because clearly Heather would be the one asking about the turbine!  But I was glad to get the opportunity for Science Heather (and Competent On Screen Heather) to appear.

 

 

Quote: As always, I am interested to see what other unique and thought-provoking story dynamics you bring us next.  

 

 

Aw, thanks!  I am muddling through the next part, but it's a heavy, emotional set of scenes and so I am taking my time in order to make sure I'm doing things right.  Thanks as always for your feedback.  It's invaluable. :-)