We see that a lot with Freddie, who uses Palaka to do the things he is scared to do. Rather than go to Bill himself, he got Palaka to do it, and here he gets Palaka to investigate the meeting, in a great scene. Paul Ben Victor is just so much fun to watch, with his goofy mannerisms and surprising sensitivity. I love the scene where he listens to Freddie pray at the end of the episode.
Throughout the show, there’s so many beautiful moments. It’s very harsh on the surface, but that makes the moments of warmth even more powerful. I love Cissy’s total reckless devotion to Shaun as she wanders around, seeking anyone who can help her. The best moment here was Butchie and Kai’s embrace, the way he held her closer when Tina came in. You know that meant so much to Kai, Butchie is committing to her and in their union, the family is drawn closer together. Kai has been more of a mother to Shaun than Tina, and together, she and Butchie could really help him.
A while back, I was thinking that Tina and Linc were enemies of Shaun, and the show would end with some kind of showdown, but I don’t think that’s the point Milch wants to make. They are part of the Imperial Beach world, and even if they’re not quite on the same wavelength as the Yosts, they can help in their own way. Everyone is coming together to save Shaun, in the same way they came together after his initial injury. The scene with Mitch talking to the press was a clear parallel to the second episode.
It’s notable that all of our major supernatural players are absent this week. Zippy, Shaun, and John have all gone missing, forcing the humans to deal with their own problems. Ultimately, their absence may provide the final push forward, and they will have to care for each other, like Dr. Smith cared for Barry. The community can continue to exist despite the removal of its immediate purpose.
So, that leaves us with the question of the mystery stick figures. The message behind their multiplication seems clear to me. We began with John, one man, and he gathered others around him. Now, his ‘disciples’ are everywhere, all the characters in Imperial Beach impacted in some way by his presence. John was there with one man, now there are many others, and he is absent from the video.
This series is just so special. One could point out flaws, like the fact that this episode basically retreads the conflict from last week, but “for real” this time. But, I don’t even care, the milieu is so wonderful and the philosophical and thematic points so interesting, the narrative recedes to the background. I can think of almost no other television works, or works of fiction in general, that are so rich and layered. Reading about Milch’s process, the creation of the show seems to be guided by a kind of divine hand, or perhaps just a collective subconscious that builds story.
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Article comments
1 - James
Thanks so much for writing, I am greatly excited by your words here. I feel very much as you do. I am so grateful for the depth of the show, the depth of each character's emotional lives, and so on. I am excited for day nine and hope we are able to see the relationships of the folks in IB further flower and grow in future seasons. As you make clear, these people have a lot of growing to do before they may be capable of healthy relationships, and it would be so thrilling to see how a greater community awareness manages to strengthen individual bonds and deepen personal awareness. (Communication -> Community -> Common Union)
2 - Savannah
Thanks, Patrick. That was thoughfully, and beautifully, written. You echoed my exact feelings about the show that I've been unable to articulate.
3 - Ayela
Patrick, I very much appreciate your perspectives presented here on the wonderful enigma, JFC. I love that you aren't trying to resolve the mysteries so much as explore and illuminate, much like the show itself. Thank you.
4 - JFC Fan
Thank you, I've been unable to explain or even understand why I find the show so compelling your explanation have really helped to enhance my appreciation of the show.
5 - Patrick
Thanks for the feedback, it's such a fantastic show, I'm always left with so much to talk about and reflect on, it's been such a wonderful build, I really hope we get the chance to see more of these characters in another season.
6 - Case
I agree with this analysis completely. I’ve read other reviews which seem express a dislike for the show because of the lack of quick and easy answers. That is what I like about JFC. Other would be viewers/fans are offended by the language, and seem to think that since there is 'off-color' language, that equates to a lack of spirituality. In fact I had a long conversation with a friend in which I was trying to explain the irrelevance of words in general. The fact that John repeats everything that others say exemplifies the lack of meaning in what he says; therefore how he says it is also irrelevant. I like this show. I hope it continues...even though I am somewhat dissuaded from watching at time due to the coarseness of the dialogue.
7 - Patrick
John's repetition is far from meaningless. By repeating things, he gives them a new context and forces us to actually consider the meaning of what we say. Plus, as we see Butchie and Kai discuss in this episode, his repetition is actually an attempt to use what he knows of our language to convey the complex ideas he's been sent here to convey. Milch is able to use words better than almost any other writer working today. Yes, there's a lot of profanity, perhaps a bit too much, but that's his style and other than in the pilot, I don't think it's been gratuitous.
8 - John (Real name, I promise)
Amen brother. Loved it!
9 - Lauren
wow, thanks for putting this together. as confusing as the show seems while watching it, the general themes presented are not at all complex, you just have to sift/think through a bit. (watching twice is big help as well.)
i pray HBO picks it back up. i am really starting to grab a hold of the characters and love this show!
p.s. how did butchie go from detestable to lovable in 8 episodes? he's my favorite character.
10 - Keith
It seems to be a second coming theme, but John is not Jesus. Shaun is the Christ figure. John is the "John the Baptist" figure. If you disregard Shaun's family, there are almost exactly twelve that have come into the community. If they are apostles, that makes sense. They certainly seem to be expressing a love for Shaun that goes beyond the normal.
In fact, Barry as Paul makes great sense. Paul was never married and had "a thorn in his side" and is fairly often thought to be gay. He also was the one who had a vision on the road to Damascus.
Tina, as Shaun's mother, would seem to be the virgin Mary. But Milch is either turning the virgin concept on it's head or combining the virgin Mary with Mary Magdalene in one character.
At any rate, according to the Bible, Jesus disappears for most of his teen years (and perhaps studies with the Essenes). It would seem Shaun has disappeared around the same age.
If so, the second season of JFC would probably be Shaun's return as an older Jesus figure. (I would prefer this, because the kid playing Shaun just can't hold his own with the rest of the cast.)
Maybe in this last episode, someone will deliver John's head? It certainly seems a possibility...
Another exciting thing about all this... If this is indeed what is going on, AND it is clarified in this last show, THEN, in spite of low numbers this season, I think the idea alone will generate enough interest that HBO will commit to a second season.
And that's good, because I LOVE THIS SHOW. Great characters. Great writing. Makes me think.