User reviews

Jeremiah is an American and Canadian funded television show, set in the USA and follows the tale of an end of the world scenario. The main cast are survivors of such an disaster, as they fight to survive. Luke Perry is quite an actor in this show, and really gives a great endearing performance. There is also quite a varied Canadian cast to the show also, who really stand out and who portray their characters well. The premise is quite an original one, due to the fact the genre of post-apocalypse fiction and drama isn't really a big one. The characters draw you in, with their back stories before the disaster and you feel for their struggle to survive. If you are a fan of Jericho, BBC's Survivors, The Tribe or even The Walking Dead then Jeremiah is a great addition.

There have been plenty of post-apocalyptic movies and TV shows, and JEREMIAH stands out as a decent example of the genre. This brief series (two seasons) follows Luke Perry as Jeremiah who wanders around parts of what had been the U.S., trying to put things back together after a virus has wiped out most of humanity. He has to deal with all sorts of folks, including various bad guys who have decided that are now in charge. The show amounts to a sort of post-modern Western. Perry is quite convincing as an emerging leader in his typically understated way. Sean Astin is on hand for some episodes, and Malcolm Warner from The Cosby Show plays Jeremiah's closest ally. At times, it is painfully evident we're watching a low-budget Canadian-lensed show. But various plot twists and Perry's commanding presence keep things moving along.

I like this show overall. I've always been fond of post-Apocolyptic stories. But the problem I have is that some of the stories are hokey, and a lot of the content seems to be very implausible. If you watch closely, as I tend to do sometimes, much of the show relies on cheap action and drama. Compared to some of the other premium cable series, Jeremiah is very much lacking. Whereas Oz or Six Feet Under cater to an intelligent, sophisticated audience, Jeremiah's stories do not. I think a teenager would most appreciate this show.

P.S. Why does everyone seem to wear jackets with military insignia/stripes?

This show is really quite well done; every episode seems to fly by and leave you anticipating the next. L Perry & MJ Warner are a superb duo in this exciting post-apocalyptic tale. The show is done in such a way that the aftermath of the "Big Death" (a disease that was fatal to all those past puberty) seems plausible, even if the Big Death does not. If you have not watched this show, I highly recommend giving it a shot. You will not likely be disappointed.

Wow. For anyone out there who is a die-hard sociological and/or post-Apocolyptic scifi fan, this series is for you. An excellent rendering of what, sadly, everyone calls a 'comic book,' this translation of a 'graphic novel' is captivating. The characters are believable, which makes the scenarios believable. Most importantly, we are drawn into the times, and we have heroes to root for. Jeremiah is intelligent and thought provoking, which will no doubt be unappealing to many. No, there are no fancy special effects, so that will disappoint many also, and every now and then we run into continuity questions, but the story-lines well make up for that. Luke Perry and Malcom-Jamal Warner deserve kudos for their acting skills (and made me forget their origins), as does anyone who plays a major or minor part in this series. For anyone who likes a good, intelligent story, a good drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and rooting for good to best evil, you will relish this series. Yes, I gave it a 9 out of 10, as that is well-deserved.

Far better than the half-dozen network TV shows that try to show a post- apocalyptic world, this is still not perfectly imagined.

Here's the central premise: a plague has wiped out everyone over the age of puberty, all at once, leaving children 0-12 to find their own way. 15 years later, they've done amazingly well. I suspect there'd be a little more Lord of the Flies behaviors in such a situation, but here, not only are the people reasonably happy and well-adjusted, everything in this world looks organized, only mildly dirty, and fairly well engineered.

Moreover, the casting and the stories keep forgetting the central premise. Luke Perry looks 40-something (he wasn't quite that at filming but looks older), yet the oldest person alive should be 27, and no way can he pass for that. One can imagine that almost none of the infants alive at the time of the plague would have survived (having only traumatized orphans to find and mince food for them), so people from the old times should be 17-27 and their post-plague children 0-12. But clearly older actors abound and you'll get a plot where a stated 16- year-old has a father. Huh?

Plot-wise, good (if damaged) guy Perry and his sidekick (whose personality shifts about in season 1) meander around in a surviving automobile, never running out of gas, and which they seem to know how to drive at once without any chance for training at that skill, and they have episodic adventures that reminded me of the old Incredible Hulk and Fugitive series. (Guy arrives at new town each week, meets someone with a problem, helps him or her solve it in 45 minutes of screen time, drives off into sunset at end of show.) There's an overarching narrative, too, involving various groups trying to set themselves up to rule a greater number of people, but mostly this episodic plot, developing an emotional connection for the leads to a girl or child, and after someone has made the Big Speech, the leads drive off into the sunset. While that's not original, it is an appropriate choice for a P-A series, as it gives us a chance to look at how various dystopic groups that may have formed. It would have been interesting had they occasionally driven into town, mis-assessed the situation, and hurt more than helped, but the show's writers played it safe and kept to the formula.

For a world in which technology is dying and the knowledge needed to keep it going mostly forgotten, it sure keeps popping up a lot. Cars, gasoline, bullets, helicopters, running water, short-wave radios, whatever a plot needs, the tech is there, but precious little time is spent suggesting that there are people working at figuring these things out and keeping tech working. Admittedly, that's not very exciting stuff to show, but an occasional added reference would make the wider world more believable, as would more awe from the natives at their arriving in a working car. Nor do you see a lot of farming, which would be what 99% of people do 99% of the time.

Still, it is far less cloying and unrealistic than the networks' attempts at PA stories, and it's pleasant to hear cursing, frank talk about sex, and even some atheism (without growing up with religious training, surely most people wouldn't be). And the leads are almost always wearing the same clothes and don't look overly well-scrubbed, for which I give points.

I got bored so didn't watch the second season; this is a review of the first season only.

I just saw the first season of Jeremiah and I was completely blown away. What an awesome series! This is going to be another "Firefly" cult-like classic. Because it was poorly marketed it didn't get the attention it deserved. I would love to see this series take off again! This would be very well received on the sci-fi channel or any other channel for that matter. It's a shame that it's 2009 and I'm just seeing this for the first time!!! How about a major motion picture?!!!!!!! Malcolm Jamal Warner and Luke Perry were phenomenal in this role together. You wouldn't believe the buzz it's getting amongst all my friends. BRING IT BACK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luke Perry and MJ ("The Cosby Show")Warner wander the land after a disaster has wiped out a large portion of the U.S. population. This is a no-budget Canadian job that lacks the charm of FIREFLY or the mysteries of THE PRETENDER. Like the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and the various STARGATE series, it is mostly just people standing around talking. The only episode that held my interest involved a psychotic warlord played by Perry's old BH90210 costar Jason Priestley. And that was simply gimmick casting, although Priestley was pretty convincing as a stone cold murderer. Perry plays the sullen antihero well. He proved that in a first-rate TV western he starred in a couple of seasons back. Warner is wasted here.

I must admit that I like Sci-Fi, but what I don't like are fairy tale sci-fis (Star Wars) or Techy-Sci-Fi (Star Gate, Star Trek-Franchise). I rather enjoyed Battlestar Galactica and Babylon 5 and Jeremiah (which is thought out by the very same Jay Michael Strazynski) has everything of a good classical drama: Action, structure and plot items (short per episode plots and longer plots over a whole season).

In the two seasons filmed (I think they cancelled the show afterwards and even the ending of Season two was rushed!), JMS has again shown his capability of handling TV series in theatrical fashions. We have the classical 3 tiered system of Exposition, Climax and Ending with the weapon showed in the Second Act (I am not going to reveal that one).

The show lacked financial support in the first season, but the second one showed what could have been possible. And I especially liked the focus on an anarchic world trying to find itself and the two major themes: the generational conflict between new and old in the first season and the exploring of fascism and totalitarianism in the second season.

I liked the fact that this sci-fi was more about characters and story than gadgets, explosions and action. There is a decent plot and actors are good. Unfortunately the plot is a bit silly. The course of events is overly optimistic compared to what would actually happen in such a grim scenario. I can forgive that because I wouldn't probably enjoy a pessimistic version (The Road). Some of the characters are exaggerated archetypes, but I can forgive that too.

However, I don't agree with some reviewers comments that there's a good answer in the series for everything. Some of the answers are totally unrealistic and certain events could not actually happen the way they happen in this story. Some of the nonsense happens because there would be no practical way for the story to stay realistic within it's limits, but some of it is just sloppy thinking and writing.

I would have been pretty happy with this when I was much younger and it's not bad even now, but not going to reach a cult status. Compared to the comics, the Jeremiah comics have a different feel in them. Slightly darker and less patronizing than this show. And that makes them better in my opinion.

Jeremiah has an overall interesting plot and instead of doing what most other TV-shows in this genre would do by following a direct plot or story each episode generally focuses on a side story or a smaller story which ends up being developed later throughout the series. And most side-stories entwine with the main plot or at least they get developed later throughout the series.

The acting is what you would call average at most with the protagonists being decent actors, but most of the stand in actors for episodes can sometimes seem odd and out of character. But the director seems to rely on the abundance of sex scenes to keep the show what he believes to be interesting. And they take the scenes far further than needed, and unlike other shows which imply things such as rape or sexual intercourse Jeremiah has a tendency to actually show the scenes happening and you can even sometimes see the tension between the actors.

Overall it would of been far better without the constant reliance on sex or the pretentious script at times.

FINAL SCORE: 5 OUT OF 10

I loved this show and I basically lived to watch it every week. It was on rather late which was very frustrating. But what else is new when all the decent shows are on when everyone is suppose to be in bed.

I thought this show was really thought out well and at the end of each episode it left you hanging wanting more. I found myself watching the clock towards each episode and saying to myself. Please don't end now please don't end now. But alas it would end right when you did'nt want it to and you had to wait till next week to see the next episode.

I remember there was a time there where channel 7 actually had something in its place for two weeks. I was quite upset about this and even called them up saying get rid of that rubbish you have on in place of Jeremiah.

I really enjoyed but hate the way each episode would end and it reminded me so much of the days in which I use to watch Dallas. As Dallas was another series that would always end each episode with suspense.

I only wish there was more seasons to this show and I was really disappointed and sad to see it end after season two.

I cannot recommend this series enough and I highly enjoyed watching it. Now all I have to do is find the series on DVD.

Based on my favourite comic book series Jeremiah by Belgium artist Hermann i get a little offended when it appears to be "thought out by the very same Jay Michael Strazynski" He pretty much based all stories in a bland version on the comic series, running over 30 episodes since 1979.

So credit, where credit is due: Hermann is the genius behind the comic series. Unfortunately due to different comic book taste between Europe and the U.S. it never made it big.

For the series, yeah it's okay i guess. When one has been collecting the series since you were 7 than this doesn't really do it for ya. Not bad though.

I highly recommend watching the first season and episode 1 and 2 of the second season.

TURN IT OFF AFTER THAT!!!!

The first season was the best series I have ever seen but the second season SUCKS. The acting was good but the script was awful. They build up to these potential intense and exiting moments and then nothing but a long speech. The whole season keeps you waiting for a climactic conclusion that could be great. but no. not even the finally was exiting. Whoever decided the second season should be written this way should be fired and never aloud to work on TV again.

The general theme gives the potential for a whole world of plot possibilities. The characters are very engaging, specially the buddy thing going with Jeremiah and Kurdy (Perry and Warner). Marcus, Mr. Smith, Lee, Erin ... all the characters were interesting. Even the extras, or the bad(?) guys. It's not just about surviving ... it's about moving on, hope, and building a future. Most of the time, it didn't come out too preachy, but JMS shows somehow tend to be that way.

Each season has an underlying plot that connects the episodes together, but each episode has it's own story. It has a powerhouse season ender for the 1st season, and a powerhouse opener for the 2nd season. I liked all the episodes, although the last episode of season 2 (of the series, in general) felt rushed, as the writers knew they had to end the season abruptly.

Acting was pretty good, but sometimes (not often), the dialog seems a bit corny, which makes it tough to act out with credibility, hehehe.

I was real disappointed that this wasn't renewed, while more shows with much less story to tell last pretty long. This is an excellent show that not enough people watched. If it somehow gets a 3rd season, I'd continue watching it. :)

There's just something about these lesser knows scifi type shows from the 90s that I find super comforting. For the most part, they avoid the overt political messaging that's slipstreamed into today's shows by the activist writers of today. They tend not to be pretentious and even though they're dealing with some heavy topics, they tend to be uplifting and positive, another difference from today's crop of shows that wallow in trauma, snark, sarcasm and anger.

Anyway, the show follows Jeremiah and his partner Kurdy who live in a world after a virus wipes out people older than a certain age. Each episode they travel to a new settlement or city and solve some problems, outsmart some bad guys, rescue some good guys or just have a fun adventure.

Luke Perry and Malcolm Jamal Warner work together really well and it seemed like they enjoyed the roles. I certainly did.

If you're looking for something to check out, give it a shot!

I was crushed when this show/series ended. I think the whole premise was unique and imaginative in the direction it took on the whole "Apocalypse" thing. I feel it was extremely realistic as well, they always included the answers to questions about "What about the blank" where "blank" can be anything from "old military assets", "values for things like gas/books/technologically informed people", etc. It's hard to put what I mean by that into words here, but I think, and hope, you get the gist of it. Basically it's realistic in handling the things that would be left around, things that wouldn't, and nothing appears or disappears magically for the sake of the show! Very thorough and inventive series that deserved more promotion and attention. Had the "Sci-Fi" network picked it up for example, I believe it would rival the "Stargate" franchise in popularity!

I personally love post-apocalyptic shows and films, but this one just didn't do it for me.. It seems like they haven't decided if they wanted to make this for teens or adults, and ended up making a compromise. A new but weird take on the "apocalypse" with a world thats run by different kinds of militias and gangs, and even though its adult content shows us violence, murders, and some nudity, the whole setting and script just seems a little too dumbed down and frankly Macgyver inspired (not on the inventiveness but on the action) to really appeal to adults. I have to admit not seeing this series before I was 25, and maby if I saw it at a younger age I would have loved it. I'll recommend it for teenagers, but me myself found it a little too childish, and too unrealistic to really recommend it to fans of these kind of films/series. 6/10

Although there are reasons that make this series not perfect, it shows a very humanistic view on the treatment of people and life. Based on graphic novels not really know by many, being from Europe, a lot of Americans don't know the source material. The actors do a great job and portray characters with faults, obsessions and desires. Sometimes cheesy but always developing the story I would recommend it to anyone especially the second season the story arcs pick up more meaning, and get more serious. I would suggest the series to anyone with a hope for society beyond the brutality inferred by other literature. Most of the actors do a great job creating characters that draw you into caring about the person even Lee who is pretty much an A-hole. It bridges a lot with life, religion and faith.

The show had promise and built the characters reasonably and set a consistent atmosphere. I watched both seasons on Netflix long after it was canceled. The first season is very enjoyable, but I found much of the second season... unwatchable. The show became plagued by very preachy, stunted dialogue, bad scenes and smash you over the head with our message subtly.

Straczinsky has publicly commented on how bad his experience was with MGM during the second season, saying he "got the hell out of there." His loss of control was obvious throughout the 2nd season, particularly in the quality of the writing and plots. There is an episode in which there is a verrrry long monologue voice over. I believe it may have lasted 2-3 minutes--it felt like it. It just goes on and on. Literally it stopped me and I said to the screen, "what the hell?" I was so disappointed by the second season. The show went off the rails. Definitely watch the first season, but lower expectations for the second.

This was a great idea and could have worked well but for very bad dialog. I mean some of it was so pitiful that I was embarrassed to watch it. Traditionally, good acting can win out for a short time over bad writing, but the language was unrealistic in many of the exchanges between the characters, especially Ingrid Kavellars and Peter Stebbings. Moreover, the language was generally too sophisticated for the circumstances, which gave the characters, long deprived of any substantial education, a credibility they did not deserve. Then there was the character of Theo. The dialog was way over the top, and the acting was almost 70's TV drama style. This would have been okay if she were a minor character, but they chose to feature this bad image repeatedly and paid the price for it. Should we go into Byron Lawson's pathetic portrayal of Lee Chen as well. They did not deserve a second season, and I am surprised this was not cut the same as its predecessor Odyssey 5, which had equally bad writing but better acting. The list goes on in this genre that started with Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Lost in Space. I guess they cannot all be Stargate and BSG.

I saw the first episode of Jeremiah by accident. I was trying to fix my broken down VCR when Jeremiah started screening on TV. I stopped what I was doing to watch what was happening on the TV. I liked what I saw and sat back and watched the first episode. From that moment I was hooked.

I'm a big sci-fi fan and I had no idea that Jeremiah was even a sci-fi show. It's just by luck I caught it on TV that night. Here in South Australia they have only just started screening the first season but I'm glad to see Jeremiah has made it into a second season. I look forward to seeing the rest of the season. I'm not familiar with the original comic book series Jeremiah was supposed to be based on therefore I do compare it to the comic book series. I take it on it's own merits and what I see, I like, enjoy and hope to see more. A good and enjoyable show.

Glad to see Luke Perry has moved beyond Beverly Hills 90210 (a show I only saw once or twice and despised everything about it. I always viewed 90210 as something of a joke)I never liked Luke Perry when he was starring in 90210 but the fact I like him in Jeremiah is testament to his talent. Luke has done well and I enjoy Jeremiah, hope to see it go on for awhile yet.

A few years ago I watch the first episode and it was the worst work I saw from J. Michael Straczynski. A nothing original basic story with somethings in common with "a boy and his dog" (from his friend Harlan Ellison and mad max 2 (the tribes). Just less that a year I had the opportunity to watch the whole first season, and after I had to look for every single episode of the second... what was the problem?, after the cancellation of Crusade, Jeremiah seems to be something absolutely different, and the first episodes are not really good, but once you began to watch it carefully you find it's the same basic plot of Crusade: the war to save the humanity, from the secret groups playing in the shadows (what supposed to be the real Crusade in the Babylon 5 spin off). There is a basic story but at the same time there is a major plot who involves the evolution of every character and new secrets to be revealed, so not even the title hero can escape from his own sins and inner battles, and that's makes Jeremiah a wonderful show, how what seems to be a simple story become something greater with so many original things to find. After season one some major plots are resolved but Straczynski really shows his skills with bigger and better stories full of things to think carefully including new characters to show how the faith it's involved in the war (yeah, in Crusade the Dhrak begin a war, in Jeremiah other one has this role as a human version of what they tried) As I said in the title of this comment, if you watch carefully, you can find in Jeremiah a more realistic version of everything created in Crusade even with good characters and incredible plots.