Jeremiah: Showtime Original Series Premiere Episodes 1 & 2: "The Long Road" Review

Title: Jeremiah: Premiere Episodes 1 & 2: The Long Road

Stars: Luke Perry, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Peter Stebbings, Tricia Helfer, Kim Hawthorn, Daniel Gillies, Curtis Bechdolt, Byron Lawson, Robert Wisden, Teryl Rothery, Zak Santiago Alam, and Alex Zahara

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Based on the Platinum Studios Comic Book By: Hermann Huppen

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Executive Producers: J. Michael Straczynski, Sam Egan, Joe Dante, Mike Finnell, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Luke Perry, and Ervin Rustemagic

Running Time: 91 minutes

Media: Showtime Original Television Series Premiere (NTSC VHS Screener)

Fridays, at 10:45pm (ET/PT)

Network: Showtime (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)

TV Rating: 14

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

The “Great Death” has fallen upon humanity wiping out any human over the age puberty. 15 years later the survivors of this post-apocalyptic world live day-to-day existences where survival depends on what you can trade or what you can steal. Jeremiah (Luke Perry) witnessed the panic and chaos that developed with the onset of the plague. He lost his brother and parents due to events related to the plague. Now he keeps vigil by writing pencil letters to the spirit of his father, which he then burns as what he sees as a symbolic window to reaching his father. Jeremiah is seeking a place his father mentioned to him before his death known as “The Valhalla Sector,” which could be a sanctuary from which humanity could find itself out of the second dark ages.

One day he comes across Kurdy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) a survivor and rogue scavenger. Even after being shown mercy and compassion by Jeremiah after trying to rob him, Kurdy lacks Jeremiah’s moral courage and while he is asleep, Kurdy robs Jeremiah again. Jeremiah moves on to a trading town where he catches the eye of the town’s leader Theo (Kim Hawthorn), who he saves from being shot by a group of bandits. She takes Jeremiah in to show her gratitude and allows him to enjoy the hospitality of the settlement. Jeremiah witnesses the rudimentary rediscoveries of technology such as a steam engine that supplies the school that has become Theo’s compound with electricity.

Later at a makeshift club of sorts, Jeremiah meets Simon (Daniel Gillies), a mysterious drifter who appears to have a great interest in Jeremiah. However Theo soon takes Simon as a prisoner when it is discovered that he has technology that no one has seen since the “Great Death,” a moving gas powered car. Jeremiah also catches up with Kurdy, who he treats fairly despite the fact Kurdy had stolen from him twice. Allowing Kurdy to make amends without humiliating him finally wins Kurdy’s trust.

Meanwhile we find out that Theo is determined to find The End of the World - a place, she says, where the old world still works. Jeremiah soon finds himself held prisoner with Simon because Theo’s spies had seen them together and thinks they are spies. Kurdy frees them but Simon is fatally injured. Before he dies, he gives Jeremiah a map, an entry key, and a message. Despite Kurdy's misgivings, they follow the map and find the End of the World. When the leader of the group, Markus Alexander, (Peter Stebbings), asks them to take up where Simon left off, they know they may have found part of what they are both looking for.

“Jeremiah” is the new science fiction series from “Babylon 5” creator J. Michael Straczynski, who also wrote the opening teleplay. It is not easy to do a post-apocalyptic drama without calling to mind other films in various subgenres that have covered some similar ground. One might call to mind the Stephen King miniseries adaptation of “The Stand” or the opening Barter Town Sequence from “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” when watching the pilot unfold, but these recollections are no more alike than comparing “Babylon 5” with “Star Trek: Deep Space 9.” “Jeremiah” is completely original onto itself because it is more of a character driven human drama that just happens to take place in a post-apocalyptic future.

The obvious religious overtones are far more subtle than the “Old Testament” style battle between good and evil depicted in “The Stand” and the world is presented in a much more realistic fashion than the somewhat tongue in cheek Barter Town sequence from “Mad Max.” In fact overall I found the attention to detail as well as what appears to be a very realistic guideline that limits the fantastic elements only to the conceivable, but never unbelievable to be a refreshing change of pace. Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner work very well together without acting like cliché buddies. Circumstance and mutual need has bought them together and while I have no doubt that overtime we will see the personalities of the characters grow and change as a result of both their companionship and mission, I also have no doubt that these two guys may not always be on the same side. In fact if there is anything one can learn from the work of J. Michael Straczynski it is that he creates broad, but strong character arcs so the person we know in season 1, episode 1 is not the same one in season 2, episode 1 because in reality no one is the same person they were day or a year ago. We are constantly evolving and so are the characters of “Jeremiah.” Russell Mulcahy, who is best known for the cult franchise “Highlander,” directed the two-episode pilot for the series.

I have every faith that this series will grow to be another classic of the genre just as “Babylon 5” has. Showtime Cable Network is having a free preview tomorrow with the premiere of “Odyssey 5” at 10pm (ET/PT) to be followed by “Jeremiah” at a special time at 11:30pm (ET/PT) as a part of Showtime’s own “Sci-Friday” lineup. “Jeremiah will continue there after 10:45 pm (ET/PT) after “Odyssey 5,” which will continue in the 10pm (ET/PT) time slot.

This makes for an excellent block of sci-fi programming on Friday nights. At 9pm viewers can catch first run season 6 episodes of “Stargate SG-1” on Sci-Fi and then switch to Showtime for “Odyssey 5” and “Jeremiah” and then return to Sci-Fi in time to catch the latest fourth season episode of “Farscape.” Collectively I think one could call this “Ultimate Sci-Friday.” If you are not watching this show yet, you should start and can get a taste of both new series tomorrow as a part of Showtime Cable Network’s Free Preview. For more information on "Jeremiah," visit the website at http://sho.com/jeremiah/index.cfm.

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