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Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 10:57pm by GeekBoySome small good news for Journeyman fans out there. Although the show still hasn’t been picked up for 2008, NBC has at least decided to burn off the last two of the first 13 episodes before the end of the year. One is coming next Monday the 17th and the other two days later, on Wednesday the 19th — I guess so as not to air it either on Xmas Eve or New Years Eve. And after that … who knows?
Now on with the recap …
Lots of father issues this episode. Dan saves the jobs of dozens of staff at the newspaper — including his own — by blackmailing the owner, who Dan learns sat by and watched as his father, the previous owner, died of a heart attack on Xmas Eve in 1979. Dan also gets to impart a bit of fatherly wisdom to his own father, Frank Vasser, who he knows will leave his family the next day. Frank still ends up leaving them, but as a result of Dan’s advice, first takes the time to explain to his sons why he’s doing it, giving them (or at least Jack) some valuable closure. And Jack finds out from his doctor girlfriend that he is going to become a father in 8 or 9 months.
And that’s more or less it. The story lines are all very personal, very close to Dan himself, and therefore very satisfying … but not terribly convoluted. It was a nice, simple “closed loop” episode to watch after the whole high-energy Aeden Bennett plot line (which Katie still hasn’t quite recovered from yet). As a bonus, we finally get to see Livia in her own timeline, and learn that she has a boyfriend back in the 40s, who proposes to her in one of the final scenes … and who doesn’t know yet that she’s a “journeywoman”. It’s also very satisfying to have Jack be a part of Team Journeyman now, although I’m sure the lies of omission to his doctor girlfriend will eventually bite him in the ass.
1. freakgirl said ( Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 8:48 am )
Looks like it’s being cancelled:
http://tinyurl.com/yvrffk
2. Bluebunny said ( Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 10:37 am )
Brian and I seem to be the death knell for new shows. For the last two TV seasons our favorite new shows have been cancelled. I am so bitter right now
3. Mel said ( Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 1:39 pm )
Chuck was chosen over this?! Ok… Chuck is cute but it doesn’t hold the attention or conversation value that Journeyman does.
Oh… that’s right… dumb-don’t-let-them-think-too-much t.v. gets renewal and anything cerebral gets the axe.
4. GeekBoy said ( Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 1:46 pm )
As I watched this week’s episode, I kind of wondered if there was anything subversive about it, on the part of the show’s creator. Did he already smell a cancellation coming when he brewed up a storyline where 25% of the newspaper’s staff was getting fired? After all, they were 1 of 4 new shows on NBC this season. Do the math.
5. Jason said ( Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 8:01 pm )
So bummed. Even though I thought that the resolution to the newspaper storyline was weak (why would the publisher care about that information coming out 30 years later? He could just deny it), this was a very enjoyable episode for the secondary characters as well as providing unique insights into Livia and Dan.
Good TV shows die much too soon.
6. Michael said ( Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 8:47 am )
No! I can’t deal with never having the answers to what’s happening here.
Maybe some cable network will pick up “Journeyman?”
7. GeekBoy said ( Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 9:30 am )
Michael, that’s kind of my hope too. Although I hesitate to jinx it by actually hoping for it. Maybe SciFi or USA will pick it up, if they have a gap in their line-up. It’s not a show with a big special effects budget or anything.
8. Michael said ( Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 5:58 pm )
Well, I didn’t know you had the jinxing mojo or I wouldn’t have brought it up.
On the “gone too soon” tip, I just re-watched Firefly for the third time and I don’t know why I torture myself, because I leave hungry every time. This show hasn’t been quite that tasty, but still really good.
9. GeekBoy said ( Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:49 pm )
I need to go back and watch Firefly. It’s been too long.
Michael, I don’t remember if you’re an Angel fan, but are you aware of Joss’s new canonical “Angel: After the Fall” (a.k.a. “Season 5″) comic book series? The first issue is already on the shelves, and I really enjoyed it. I know you’ve been enjoying the “Buffy Season 8″ stuff, so I thought I’d let you know.
10. Michael said ( Friday, December 14, 2007 at 8:32 am )
I have it! Yes, I was late to the game with Angel, having bailed on it after the first 3-4 episodes. I returned to find it almost an entirely different and much better show. Loved it ’til the end, so I’m excited to see what happens after.
I was never a comic book guy, but now I have an account at Bell, Book and Comic (love that name) so I can keep up on the Buffy and Angel series. I never fail to be amused when I go in that store. Comic people crazy. They are eating in there, partying in there, playing some kind of elaborate game with armies of small figurines, there are cats running around….it’s fun!
RE: Angel
Now I want to start a blog to discuss Buffy and Angel comic books. I have ONE friend who is reading them (she with her Spike and Angel plush puppets in her foyer…heh), but she won’t keep up, damn her.
11. GeekBoy said ( Friday, December 14, 2007 at 9:13 am )
Michael, great idea!
Later today, I plan to start a new category called “Buffy Season 8 & Angel Season 6″. I’ll do a big recap to bring us up to date on all the storylines, and then we can proceed from there in the future.
12. Michael said ( Friday, December 14, 2007 at 9:30 am )
Even better. Yeeha!
13. Jason said ( Friday, December 14, 2007 at 10:56 am )
i’m reading the buffy. haven’t yet picked up the angel. i keep forgetting its out
14. Pammysue said ( Friday, December 14, 2007 at 4:34 pm )
Hey have you guys heard about the fans trying to save journeyman? With Rice a roni boxes!
http://blogs.news-journalonlin.....aroni.html
15. Jason said ( Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 12:41 pm )
Ha. I was just about to post the same link Pammysue