[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
Even so, a lot of the characters and dialogue in this show were still very engaging and witty and so classically Milchian that I can’t say the show was dreck.
[/QUOTE]
Well I can!
The show was complete and total dreck!
I’m completely and totally disappointed that I wasn’t smart enough to figure that out without wasting all these Sunday nights. Been kicking myself in the ass since the last credits rolled.
Not that I’m convinced this show is any good, but does anyone get the sense that the writers are trying to make a modern day Shakespeare play? I’m no scholar on the subject, but there is something about this show that strikes me as very Shakespearean-- the odd assemblage of characters, the stylized dialog, the highly emotional aspects. I especially get this feeling from the two gangster figures (can’t remember their names) and from the new owner of the Motel (can’t remember his name either).
I need to rewatch this episode, though. Too many glasses of wine beforehand.
Wow. Upon viewing this again, I really liked it. I think it did answer a lot of questions, although not all.
[QUOTE=jharvey963]
Does anyone remember the last line, about Kai? I thought it said something like “Kai has god’s child” or “Kai is carrying his child”, or something. Anyone remember?
[/QUOTE]
He said “Cass Kai…”. That was the trippy part.
The used car salesman is John’s father. Note how he talked about having some number of dealerships in “this sector”, and how he shut John up on command.
Link’s explanation is just a cover so that the Yosts (or everyone else) can accept a rational explanation. John says something like: Link is laying down cover for my father.
Cincinnati is another planet, and they’re coming to take over on 9/11/14. Link is the guy who sells us all out. He’s the Gaius Baltar of this show.
Sissy is pregnant, as is “Cass Kai”.
Does anyone know why Butch walks like an orangutan?
[QUOTE=John Mace]
Not that I’m convinced this show is any good, but does anyone get the sense that the writers are trying to make a modern day Shakespeare play? I’m no scholar on the subject, but there is something about this show that strikes me as very Shakespearean-- the odd assemblage of characters, the stylized dialog, the highly emotional aspects. I especially get this feeling from the two gangster figures (can’t remember their names) and from the new owner of the Motel (can’t remember his name either).
[/QUOTE]
Have you seen Milch’s last project, Deadwood? There’s no doubt he used the backdrop of an evolving Old West to do Shakespeare - and did it extremely well. Now he’s trying it out on a surfing backdrop. This time, though - not so much. I did think he finally got it back up to speed as far as dialog inthis epi, but he was far too obscure. Why the hell should I have to work so damn hard to figure out what I just saw? :mad: 
:rolleyes:
[QUOTE=singular1]
Have you seen Milch’s last project, Deadwood?
[/quote]
I only saw a few episodes. I could tell it was very, very good, but for some reason I couldn’t get into it. I probably needed to start from the beginning-- I think I saw two or three episodes of season 2.
Work here, Singular1. 
Looks like we’ll never know what Milch had planned: Say goodbye to 'John from Cincinnati' - CNN.com
[QUOTE=BlackKnight]
Looks like we’ll never know what Milch had planned: Say goodbye to 'John from Cincinnati' - CNN.com
[/QUOTE]
Unlike Deadwood, Rome, and Carnivale, I could not care less about how John would have turned out.
I have to admit that I went :dubious: when this episode was billed as the Season 1 Finale. Season 1???
Man, I want those 10 hours of my life back. There’s subtext and then there’s just plain disdain for the audience. My lasting memory of this series will be “Ellsworth’s” line after the end of the stakeout on the border…
“Well, this was time well spent.”
I don’t give a shit at all about this being cancelled.
Maybe someday someone will look back, and it will be viewed as ahead of its time, or someone will figure out what it was all about.
Someone will probably one day find a reason that it was the greatest show ever in the history of television. . .maybe like it was Tristram Shandy or Ulysses or something.
But, as far as I’m concerned, it was just a stream of consciousness from Milch.
(ftr, I’m not familiar with either of those books, but I understand that they’re somewhat difficult to get through, and that some consider them great or nonsensical)
[QUOTE=Trunk]
Someone will probably one day find a reason that it was the greatest show ever in the history of television. . .maybe like it was Tristram Shandy or Ulysses or something.
[/QUOTE]
Or Showgirls.
[QUOTE=Trunk]
I don’t give a shit at all about this being cancelled.
Maybe someday someone will look back, and it will be viewed as ahead of its time, or someone will figure out what it was all about.
Someone will probably one day find a reason that it was the greatest show ever in the history of television. . .maybe like it was Tristram Shandy or Ulysses or something.
But, as far as I’m concerned, it was just a stream of consciousness from Milch.
(ftr, I’m not familiar with either of those books, but I understand that they’re somewhat difficult to get through, and that some consider them great or nonsensical)
[/QUOTE]
Well, for what it’s worth, Tristram Shandy, A Cock and Bull Story is a fantastic movie. Maybe someday someone will make a fantastic movie about John From Cincinnati, a TV series that was someone difficult to get through and most consider greatly nonsensical…
I’m unsophisticated about surfer-related business, but I never really figured out what the Hell Linc’s company, Stinkweed, does. There are tens of millions of dollars in the company – but what service or product is involved? When they sign a surfer like Shaunie, does that mean they act as his agent to get him endorsement deals?
I watched the whole series out of stubbornness. I can see that the actors involved must have enjoyed doing some intense, unusual scenes, but it would have been nice if it’d made some actual sense. After a few episodes I realized that being arbitrarily cryptic was the hallmark of the show and wasn’t likely to change.
[QUOTE=Baldwin]
I’m unsophisticated about surfer-related business, but I never really figured out what the Hell Linc’s company, Stinkweed, does. There are tens of millions of dollars in the company – but what service or product is involved? When they sign a surfer like Shaunie, does that mean they act as his agent to get him endorsement deals?
[/QUOTE]
I’m not positive, but my impression was that they made equipment – boards, wetsuits, etc. – and that they signed surfers for endorsement deals.
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
I’m not positive, but my impression was that they made equipment – boards, wetsuits, etc. – and that they signed surfers for endorsement deals.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks; that would make sense, I guess. At least something does on that show.
What Milch has to say, FWIW:
http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2007/08/john-from-cin-2.html
The JFC crew member who posts at the HBO boards said this today, about Milch’s plans for a second season, and some explanation of what we saw:
*According to David, 9-11-14 deals with a story line in which there was going to be a attempt of a genocide against the Muslims. “Those towel heads are going to get themselves eradicated.” The whole purpose of John’s visit was to create an “army” to prevent this from happening.
Cissy is the glue of a family that no matter how fucked up it gets, she protects it and keeps it together. She would be the glue that holds the purpose, the army of those against the genocide together.
Cass is the visionary who is also the media to get the word out that danger is lurking.
Mitch was the spokesman (PSA’s) who would do the talking, there by getting back into the game.
Linc is the corporation and money who the world would take seriously and listen to. He is the spin doctor.
Barry, Ramon and Dickstein are the three wise men, brought together at the Snug Harbor, a scruffy dirty place sort of like a barn were a young Jesus now lives.
Shaun is a Jesus.
Freddy and Palaka are warriors to do battle against the enemy.
Bill is the law, and a General.
Doc, well, he’s the doctor who initially was going to help the poor from Latin America. Joe was going to smuggle them into the country for Doc to work on. There was once a whole story point about the Doc helping children with harelip malformations.*
Rube E. Tewesday, the last bit in that interview has some people hoppin’ mad. It sounds like Milch blames Ian McShane for Deadwood’s cancellation!
[QUOTE=AuntiePam]
Rube E. Tewesday, the last bit in that interview has some people hoppin’ mad. It sounds like Milch blames Ian McShane for Deadwood’s cancellation!
[/QUOTE]
Is there any reason why Milch lays the end of Deadwood at McShane’s feet? Was he asking for too much $$$, or getting other offers he wanted to take, or what? Cite, Milch, cite, you cocksucker!
Regardless what Milch says, McShane was amazing in Deadwood and for me, the heart and soul of the show. I tuned in every week to see him as Al, and bought the DVDs so I could see it again and again. I like O’Neill but can’t imagine anyone else as Al, sorry Mr. Milch.
From the article above:
A fat cocksucker came into the motherfucking shoe store today…
No tears being shed over this JFC’s demise.
Just happy that Big Love is being moved back to Sunday night.