Jericho Returns to CBS

Last night, CBS aired the second season premiere of the resuscitated series Jericho. It was canceled last May after just one season, but fans went nuts, literally, and sent producers bags of peanuts (a reference to use of the word "nuts" in the final episode) in what turned out to be a successful attempt to return it to air.

I was a fan of the show when it originally debuted and watched every episode of last season. My heart pattered in anticipation for its return, admittedly heightened thanks to the lack of new programming due to the writers' strike, and I got most of what I wanted.

Where the season begins, the battle between citizens of Jericho and New Bern has ended, at least as far as the occupying military force from the Allied States of America is concerned. But peace is not so easily attained. With over one hundred people dead, 65 from Jericho alone, the towns seem set for Hatfield and McCoy territory. Enter Esai Morales as Colonel Hoffman. As military man in charge, he tries to restore order. Hoffman rightfully seeks out last season's town hero, Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich), and offers him a position as Jericho's sheriff. Jake first says no, still full of bloodlust over the loss of his father Johnston. But when his brother Eric (Kenneth Mitchell) takes a posse to seek revenge in New Bern, Jake heads him off and, by episode's end, takes the job.

Meanwhile man-with-a-bomb Robert Hawkins (Lennie James) keeps a low profile, unsure if and how the military is connected to Valente (Daniel Benzali), the big bald bad guy behind the terrorist attacks. Robert and his wife Darcy (April Parker-Jones) gather information about the attacks and Sarah Mason, and get an unexpected surprise in the form of Chavez (Chris Kramer), another man involved in the attacks. Together, the three decide upon a new mission that will hopefully fill out a season.

There's a lot of good news for this premiere. In this episode, we see most of the cast from last season, including Psych's Timothy Omundson as Phil Constantino - New Bern's ruthless leader. Lennie James is still mesmerizing to watch, and there's still a fantastic mystery surrounding his character that'll keep me watching. It was a particularly fun treat to see Brad Beyer and Alicia Coppola back as Stanley and Mimi. I find them one of the most engaging couples on television. The premiere set up interesting story lines and unfinished business that should carry it through the season. The added conflict of a military presence is ripe for development, and it will hopefully find the show wading into scary political territory. And, honestly, to the credit of all those who work on the show, it didn't feel like the show missed a beat.

But the news wasn't all good. Sorely missing were the presences of Pamela Reed as Gail, the Green family monarch, and Shoshannah Stern as Stanley's little sister Bonnie. I've seen Reed on the new ABC comedy Eli Stone, but I hope that's not an indication she won't return. And while the military presence makes for good storytelling, it also adds a cast of characters I don't necessarily care about. Taking time away from an already solid cast of characters that fans have grown to love could irreparably damage viewership. There's also the presence of Morales himself. So far, he's portrayed as more bad guy than good, and this show already has a perfect villain in Omundson.

There's still, however, more good news than bad, enough to keep me - and hopefully millions of others - watching the other 6 episodes already shot for this season. I only hope the fight to save the town of Jericho far overshadows the fight to save the show.