Customer Reviews

John from Cincinnati - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Only the damned can be saved...and that's exactly what happens when John appears one morning, straight out of the blue (or Cincinnati as he'd have it) to tell Mitch Yost (patriarch of a multigenerational family of competitive surfers) to "Get back in the Game."
Funny stuff happens around John. People go up in the air. Things, usually in satisfyingly impressive denominations, materialize right out of his pockets.
The dead come back to life
The living begin to come back to life by both reaching out, and receiving kindnesses from one and other.
As one bemused individual, drawn into the strange and mysterious goings on around the Yost's observes: "There's a lot of quick healers in this zip code."
Love, Healing, Redemption, Spirituality and Slight-of-Hand... Sometimes hilariously, sometimes compassionately, John is the catalyst (think Starman crossed with Harpo Marx) who helps it all happen. I'd give ANYTHING to see the story continue with new episodes! Work with us at [...]

The excellent writing is often lost beneath the torrents of expletives -- but -- if you can get past that, JFC is totally engrossing. Miracles, mysterious figures, mysticism, surfing! The series was cut short to 10 episodes (from 13), so the series finale is a bit hurried. But the opening sequence (and Bob Dylan music) for that last episode is truly moving, given all that happened on the show's run.

So, giving JFC one star is right enough for those who don't get it, but those that do get it, 5 are not enough.

We won't see more of this show, and maybe we don't need to. It was great for what it was. If you're undecided, rent it. It's worth it.

KBrady

It's unfortunate that the term "groundbreaking" when it comes to television series seems to equate only to pushing the boundaries of sex and violence. "John From Cincinnati" broke new ground in narrative style and tackling the difficult topic of our collective subjective experiences that looked from the outside to be a simplistic family drama about surfing. It is definitely much more than that.

"John From Cincinnati" plays more like a fable than a realistic drama whose characters are simultaneously over-the-top caricatures and profoundly human. They encompass our irrational fears, damaging anger, tendency to cling to the past, and our desire to escape from it and change. These characters ARE us, and we look at them both in their specific niche and set against the tableau of the history of our species' existence ("big and huge" as John describes).

At the center of this is John who is less of an actual character and more of a personification of that which connects us and our own naiveté. He is a narrative device analogous to a Greek chorus. He serves as a reflection of a character's innermost thoughts and desires and strives to connect them to each other. He even literally does this as he imitates them. He stands apart from the rest of the cast to comment on them in his own bizarre way.

The writing is rich in its language and subtle humor. We aren't treated to immediate gratification either (and even the finale creates more mystery than it solves which is unfortunate in this case). Certainly airing immediately after the finale of "The Sopranos" when no one was watching handicapped such a series where continuity is significant. It takes several episodes to hit its full stride, but it does reward the dedicated viewer, gradually shedding light on previous events.

Milch's work on the early seasons of "NYPD Blue" and on "Deadwood" especially is brilliant, and "John From Cincinnati" is no exception in its own, very unique way. This is truly experimental, groundbreaking, underrated television for those willing to put forth the effort to read between the lines and immerse themselves in the lives of these disparate characters.

Yes, I am one of the majority of reviewers who liked this series. I watched each episode several times and will buy the DVD box set so I can see them whenever I feel like it. I am also disappointed that there will be no further episodes, and that Milch has left a lot of questions unanswered.

Rather than go into specifics, I would just like to point out that, as of this writing, all ratings here on Amazon.com are either 5 stars or 1 star. I think that pretty much tells the story - people either really liked this show or really hated it, there is no in-between!

If you want to get an idea of how polarizing JFC is just read some of the posts on the message board at IMDB.

This is without a doubt the strangest most wonderful watch since Twin Peaks first season...but actually... much better in sooooo many ways. Worth the price just to see Ed O'Niel and Zippy... on repeated viewing this show is one of the highest pieces of writing I've seen in years from TV...or film... too bad the show was cancelled but it still sort of works as a ten episode mini series..it leaves you hanging at the end..but somehow even that sort of works for this... Hey Milch and Nunn... just write a novel to finish it out for us fans.

mickey

This was an absolutely wonderful show that only needed time to find a real audience. Quirky, intelligent, and well written, it was too cerebral to appeal to just the mundane viewer, which accounts for its lack of a huge following. It was also one of the best shows on TV in a very long time. Had HBO had the guts to keep in on the air, as they should have done, it would have developed the proper audience which it obviously needed for the powers that be to keep it on. Too bad it was so far out of the mainstream that the average Joe couldn't see it for the truly wonderful and uniquely appealing show that it was.

HBO needs to rethink its decision to take it off the air and put it back onto its schedule where it belongs. This show deserves every chance to develop an audience. After all, it is a show a bit off the beaten path; therefore, people deserve the chance to find it.

HBO sure did us wrong when they cancelled this show. The characters are raw and real, each one of them is their own human. It's not just another "blood-sex-HBO Drama", it's smart. Funny in places you wouldn't normally see funny. And let's not forget the acting. Oh, the actors are superb! I loved and obsessed over every moment of this show, trying to puzzle out the mystery with the characters. And every last piece of it is still in my mind as I mourn the loss of this fabulous show.

C'mon, HBO, seriously. When you cancelled this show, you cemented your reputation: All blood and sex, no substance. I think it's time I switch to Showtime.

JFC is not for everyone. I know numerous intelligent folks who absolutely loathed the show. However, I also know a number who think it's a stunning piece of work. I count myself among them. I have watched the entire season 4 times and each time discover more. It is a very complex work that bobs and weaves in and around itself, revealing new layers of emotion, understanding, and wisdom with each viewing.

I can't say that I can't understand why HBO cancelled the show, but I'm very disappointed that they did. The fact that the same man that created this also created Deadwood (my favorite tv show) is stunning to me. Milch is absolutely at the peak of his powers with JFC and DW. I cannot wait for what he'll offer next. However, things being what they are, HBO will probably cancel that show too early as well.

This show was like Woodstock of our generation: wonderful, compelling experience that made thousands reach out towards each other, seeking meaning and understanding and in the end forming the strongest of bonds, the great human link. Some call it generating God, not the bleak deity you can read on or hear about, but the one you can experience directly through your deepest essence, your soul, that same soul that was so quiet all these years, you forgot it even existed. Yet it does exist, the soul, and is it not true art's purpose to pluck on spirit's rusty strings, to make it leap, vibrate and sing as it was meant by the creator?

This was a good series, too bad that HBO didnt give it time to catch on. Even Carnival started out slow. I found that I wanted more by the end of the season, it had just really started to get going.