Ok, to begin with, I really like this series. When I first heard the scuttlebut about it months ago, I thought it was doomed for failure. I was dead wrong. The wasteland motif has been a part of science fiction from the very beginning, with Mad Max probably being the standout -- as far as movies go, though I personally prefer 'Waterworld' (don't ask). Of course, 'Planet of the Apes' could probably fit into this category as well, in which case I would say that it is the standout. Anyway, one of the problems I've always had with this particular sub-genre is it's utter hopelessness. It typically shows the worst aspects of mankind (our tendency to blow ourselves up) or struggling to survive like the animals that we are. Anyway, Jeremiah isn't about that ... it's about hope.
With that said, I have to say that 'The Bag' is the first episode that I've had a problem with.
The main reason I didn't like it is because of Jeremiah. He's all over the place in this episode. His first reaction upon seeing the pregnant woman on the roadway is to get her to a doctor. When he finally spots one, he's immediately skeptical of the guy... "So, how does one become a doctor?" -- Which is my problem. He knows damn well that there are no doctors anymore. How could there be? Instead of being happy to find someone who's at least a step above a witch-doctor, he continues to berate and pester the guy. When the bag is stolen, he then does a 180 and tears into the doc because he IS a real doctor, but is paralyized by self-pity and doubt -- most of which was caused by Jeremiah's original skepticism. All of that brings me to something that Channe brought up a week ago.
The character of Jeremiah. First off, I think that the character of Kurdy is better devolped. Kurdy is pretty much the everyman ... his first instinct is survival, but he will help out others on occassion (when his life isn't in danger or when Jeremiah isn't there to force his hand) He doesn't like to focus on the past and has a level head on his shoulders. Jeremiah simply makes no sense to me at all. His altruistic nature is puzzling in this setting and he's often a contradiction. In last week's episode, for example, Kurdy is stunned that Jeremiah doesn't seem to care one way or the other about the hungry pregnant woman on the street. Perhaps he knew that Kurdy would help her out, but it still goes against his character. Then there was the episode from two weeks ago where he blows up and beats the crap out that big doofus that wants his chair. The guy is definitely an enigma.
With that said, I have to say that 'The Bag' is the first episode that I've had a problem with.
The main reason I didn't like it is because of Jeremiah. He's all over the place in this episode. His first reaction upon seeing the pregnant woman on the roadway is to get her to a doctor. When he finally spots one, he's immediately skeptical of the guy... "So, how does one become a doctor?" -- Which is my problem. He knows damn well that there are no doctors anymore. How could there be? Instead of being happy to find someone who's at least a step above a witch-doctor, he continues to berate and pester the guy. When the bag is stolen, he then does a 180 and tears into the doc because he IS a real doctor, but is paralyized by self-pity and doubt -- most of which was caused by Jeremiah's original skepticism. All of that brings me to something that Channe brought up a week ago.
The character of Jeremiah. First off, I think that the character of Kurdy is better devolped. Kurdy is pretty much the everyman ... his first instinct is survival, but he will help out others on occassion (when his life isn't in danger or when Jeremiah isn't there to force his hand) He doesn't like to focus on the past and has a level head on his shoulders. Jeremiah simply makes no sense to me at all. His altruistic nature is puzzling in this setting and he's often a contradiction. In last week's episode, for example, Kurdy is stunned that Jeremiah doesn't seem to care one way or the other about the hungry pregnant woman on the street. Perhaps he knew that Kurdy would help her out, but it still goes against his character. Then there was the episode from two weeks ago where he blows up and beats the crap out that big doofus that wants his chair. The guy is definitely an enigma.