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Reconstruction (Jericho episode)
Encyclopedia
"Reconstruction" is the first episode
of the second season of the CBS
drama, Jericho
. It aired in the United States of America on February 12, 2008; however, a DVD screener
version leaked on internet in the early days of January, along with the two subsequent episodes.
The episode is set four weeks after the previous episode; Major Beck says the portions of town still without services will be back on the electric grid
within another four weeks. After the introduction, the episode opens to Jake and Emily kissing, and their conduct throughout the episode suggests that they have firmly restarted their relationship. Heather Lisinski, however, was not in Jericho for those four weeks, re-appearing only mid-episode when a later convoy
from Cheyenne arrives. Later on that week, Major Beck asked Heather to serve as ambassador
between Jericho and New Bern because of her ties with the two towns and her pacifist leanings.
Beck, drawing on his pre-collapse experience trying to keep peace in Afghanistan, conducted inquiries into the Jericho-New Bern skirmish, but refused to issue any significant penalties in the belief that punishing one side or the other would lead to another round of violence. Initially, Jake Green is horrified at the idea that New Bern's leaders will go unpunished, and he vows to take revenge. Major Beck attempts to counsel Jake privately, offering him the sheriff position as a sign of his willingness to trust Jake as a leader. Jake, unimpressed, draws up plans for a raid. Hawkins refuses to go along, telling Jake that he is being reckless and short-sighted. When Jake finds out that Emily also thinks he is being reckless, he changes his mind, only to get word that Eric has gone without him. Jake catches Eric just outside of town, and while the two fight over what their father would have wanted, Major Beck and his border patrol find them and haul them back into the city.
In the episode's secondary story line, a government contractor affiliated with Cheyenne gets Stanley Richmond to sign away a portion of his crop in exchange for tax relief. Mimi is initially happy with Stanley, and proposes
to him, which terribly flusters Stanley because he had planned to propose marriage to Mimi. After reading the contract, however, Mimi realizes that the contract's consideration
is illusory, because (1) the Cheyenne government had already granted universal tax relief, and (2) the contract is more open-ended than Stanley realized. Mimi uses her bargaining skill to get the contractor to own up to the swindling and offer Stanley a fair deal; they also offer Mimi a job. Stanley regains his composure and proposes to Mimi "the way my father proposed to my mother" -- by him asking her. She joyfully accepts.
A new character is introduced in this episode: Chavez, one of Hawkins's fellow secret agents. Chavez follows Darcy home, while she is carrying secret documents suggesting that Major Beck and the Cheyenne government think that Sarah is still alive and is their "terrorist." Hawkins initially attacks, disarms, and threatens Chavez, but later acts as if he trusts Chavez fully, and the two openly discuss the secrets that they each know. Chavez reveals that he knows the Cheyenne government is illegitimate and that Valenti, who sponsored the attacks, is one of its leaders. Chavez explains that the US east of the Mississippi
is still free, based in Columbus, Ohio
, and that the US west of the Mississippi is all under Cheyenne control, except for an independent Texas
, which apparently is close to joining the Cheyenne government, thus solidifying its power. Chavez also confirms Cheyenne-produced news reports suggesting that Iran and North Korea
were destroyed by nuclear weapons, although Chavez considers this evidence of the depths of brutality to which Cheyenne's leaders are willing to sink to cover their tracks. Hawkins reveals that he still has the nuclear weapon, and Chavez suggests that they may be able to use it as part of the evidence they collect to discredit the Cheyenne government and thus dissuade Texas from joining it.
At the end of the episode, Major Beck believes Jake's explanation that he was trying to stop his brother, and seems unsurprised when Jake finally accepts the sheriff position. Major Beck tells Jake that he has just learned, to their mutual surprise, that Cheyenne President Tomarchio's whistle-stop tour is coming to visit Jericho.
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the second season of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
drama, Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
. It aired in the United States of America on February 12, 2008; however, a DVD screener
Screener
A screener is an advance screening of a film sent to critics, awards voters, video stores , and other film industry professionals, including producers and distributors. A screener often has no post-processing....
version leaked on internet in the early days of January, along with the two subsequent episodes.
Plot
When the Cheyenne government puts an end to the battle between Jericho and New Bern, Major Edward Beck leads the reconstruction efforts to restore Jericho's power and communication with the outside world.The episode is set four weeks after the previous episode; Major Beck says the portions of town still without services will be back on the electric grid
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
within another four weeks. After the introduction, the episode opens to Jake and Emily kissing, and their conduct throughout the episode suggests that they have firmly restarted their relationship. Heather Lisinski, however, was not in Jericho for those four weeks, re-appearing only mid-episode when a later convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
from Cheyenne arrives. Later on that week, Major Beck asked Heather to serve as ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
between Jericho and New Bern because of her ties with the two towns and her pacifist leanings.
Beck, drawing on his pre-collapse experience trying to keep peace in Afghanistan, conducted inquiries into the Jericho-New Bern skirmish, but refused to issue any significant penalties in the belief that punishing one side or the other would lead to another round of violence. Initially, Jake Green is horrified at the idea that New Bern's leaders will go unpunished, and he vows to take revenge. Major Beck attempts to counsel Jake privately, offering him the sheriff position as a sign of his willingness to trust Jake as a leader. Jake, unimpressed, draws up plans for a raid. Hawkins refuses to go along, telling Jake that he is being reckless and short-sighted. When Jake finds out that Emily also thinks he is being reckless, he changes his mind, only to get word that Eric has gone without him. Jake catches Eric just outside of town, and while the two fight over what their father would have wanted, Major Beck and his border patrol find them and haul them back into the city.
In the episode's secondary story line, a government contractor affiliated with Cheyenne gets Stanley Richmond to sign away a portion of his crop in exchange for tax relief. Mimi is initially happy with Stanley, and proposes
Proposal of marriage
A marriage proposal is an event where one person in a relationship asks for the other's hand in marriage. If accepted, it marks the initiation of engagement. It often has a ritual quality, sometimes involving the presentation of an engagement ring and a formalized asking of a question such as "Will...
to him, which terribly flusters Stanley because he had planned to propose marriage to Mimi. After reading the contract, however, Mimi realizes that the contract's consideration
Consideration
Consideration is the central concept in the common law of contracts and is required, in most cases, for a contract to be enforceable. Consideration is the price one pays for another's promise. It can take a number of forms: money, property, a promise, the doing of an act, or even refraining from...
is illusory, because (1) the Cheyenne government had already granted universal tax relief, and (2) the contract is more open-ended than Stanley realized. Mimi uses her bargaining skill to get the contractor to own up to the swindling and offer Stanley a fair deal; they also offer Mimi a job. Stanley regains his composure and proposes to Mimi "the way my father proposed to my mother" -- by him asking her. She joyfully accepts.
| Nations revealed in Reconstruction | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Allied States of America | ||||
| United States of America |  |
|||
| Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... (independent) |
 |
|||
A new character is introduced in this episode: Chavez, one of Hawkins's fellow secret agents. Chavez follows Darcy home, while she is carrying secret documents suggesting that Major Beck and the Cheyenne government think that Sarah is still alive and is their "terrorist." Hawkins initially attacks, disarms, and threatens Chavez, but later acts as if he trusts Chavez fully, and the two openly discuss the secrets that they each know. Chavez reveals that he knows the Cheyenne government is illegitimate and that Valenti, who sponsored the attacks, is one of its leaders. Chavez explains that the US east of the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
is still free, based in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and that the US west of the Mississippi is all under Cheyenne control, except for an independent Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
, which apparently is close to joining the Cheyenne government, thus solidifying its power. Chavez also confirms Cheyenne-produced news reports suggesting that Iran and North Korea
Axis of evil
"Axis of evil" is a term initially used by the former United States President George W. Bush in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002 and often repeated throughout his presidency, describing governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction...
were destroyed by nuclear weapons, although Chavez considers this evidence of the depths of brutality to which Cheyenne's leaders are willing to sink to cover their tracks. Hawkins reveals that he still has the nuclear weapon, and Chavez suggests that they may be able to use it as part of the evidence they collect to discredit the Cheyenne government and thus dissuade Texas from joining it.
At the end of the episode, Major Beck believes Jake's explanation that he was trying to stop his brother, and seems unsurprised when Jake finally accepts the sheriff position. Major Beck tells Jake that he has just learned, to their mutual surprise, that Cheyenne President Tomarchio's whistle-stop tour is coming to visit Jericho.