'John From Cincinnati': Papa don't preach

Um, OK.

So John and Shaun return from what I can only assume is a Laird Hamilton-style surfing tow-in from heaven, outfitted in stylish camo wetsuits.  Shaun has become as incomprehensible as John when asked about where the duo went.  (He replies "Cincinnati.")  John rambles something to Linc about 9-11-14, like he's suddenly read the Book of Revelation and wants to jabber about it.  Cass films the whole scene with her video camera, which has magic Wi-Fi capabilities.  Other hit men come from Hawaii and wander around.  A TV newscaster recognizes Tina from porn.  And Linc convinces the whole family -- John included -- to sign with Stinkweed and have a parade to celebrate Shaun's return.  Mitch stops levitating after the deal is done, which is good because treatment for levitation is totally not covered under Stinkweed's HMO.

And with that, "John From Cincinnati" throws in the towel.

It appeared from early episodes that Linc was the root of all evil, that he was trying to corrupt the Yost family by co-opting their surfing talents into something mainstream and marketable.  And yet, in this episode, it seems as though John favored the family signing up with Linc because it would help get "his father's" word out.  I know there's a group of X Games moto athletes who call themselves Riders 4 Christ, but for some reason I doubt that's what they were going for in "John."

Actually, I take that back -- I have no idea what they were going for with "John."  Or did I just fall asleep during a critical two-minute explanation of what happened and now I'll be forever in the dark?  It's not good for a show to make viewers question if they were actually conscious for the entire episode.

On top of all this, I went to StinkweedUSA.com, a website that was part of the promotional banners in the scene with the parade.  Yep, it's a Time Warner site (check out the privacy policy) -- and there's exactly one mention of Shaun Yost on the whole thing, as far as I can tell, a reference to his "sprained neck" from an earlier episode.  Baffling.  Was the site not updated when the response to "John" didn't go as swimmingly as hoped?  Or is it an indication that there's an entirely parallel story line that was never explored?

Hey, I guess it's like life.  More questions than answers.

-- Ann Donahue

(Photo courtesy HBO)

Comments

[rule62]

I will really miss this show. It was perfect for falling into a nice gentle sleep after about 20 minutes. Then the Rebecca DeMorney screeching which would inevitably follow at some point in the episode would wake you up just enough so that you could turn the tv off.

[Bill B.]

I thought the show fascinating, but increasingly frustrating and the last show to be nearly incomprehensible. A terrible way to end a season and ultimately the series. I do wish it had not been canceled simply because I would really like to know who or what John was. Milch must know so I hope he at least reveals it to the public. I also liked much of the cast particularly Nichols, Van Holt & O'Neill.

[SufergirlNYC]

I am so sad about this. I loved the first three episodes because they were different, portrayed the kooky surfer extended family lifestyle. There were too many scenes at the motel from characters hard to relate to or understand except for Butchie. What I thought initially as a positive uplifting show turned so negative. I loved the Cissy character until she spewed so much cursing and negativity that I wished that Mitch would just suffocate her and put the entire family and the entire town out of its misery. I didn't blame Shaun for wanting to spend time with his stripper mother who abandoned him because even she was a more positive person than the toxic Cissy. Everything just started spiraling down and the writers seemed self-indulgent. HBO should've reined in the team after viewing episode 3. I don't know how the last two episodes got produced and allowed to air the way they did. I kept tuning in hoping things would get better, but honestly, if HBO didn't shut it down, I probably would've tuned out anyway.

[Bill Jacks]

Yes, there were still more questions than answers, but Milch wasn't done. And to the person who pointed out how wrong the writer was about questioning whether they were conscious for the episode...I'm right there with you. I LOVE that element of their writing style. Not unlike Six Feet Under...there was that bit of fever dream vibe to it. And I fully trusted that he was going to bring a good bit of this back around for us...but now we'll not be afforded that ride. Maybe he'll knock out a synopsis for us before burying this one? I'd appreciate it.

I fear he might once and for all tell HBO to go F themselves. This is a crying shame.

[Andy]

"John" was is a show that makes you think, smile and ask questions. It was entertaining from start to finish, and i wish this was not the end. As far as lacking a plot line from episode to episode, I don't think the last couple of seasons of Sopranos were totally filled of twisting relevant plot lines either. Don't get me wrong, I was a huge fan of the Sopranos, and John certainly can't replace it, but It entertained me from the start. I found myself intrigued by the Yosts and found myself rooting for John to help them and everyone around them. It was truly a very good show, I hope to see more of it.

[Bill Jacks]

They really need to stop cancelling good shows. I thought this would be a lock for a second season, mostly because I assumed it was relatively cheap to make compared to other HBO shows.

If it wasn't for the Wire...which yet again we had to sweat getting cancelled...I'd be cancelling my subscription.

[Charlie]

I'll admit...this was nto the fastest moving show in the world, but after the first few episodes, I loved it and am sad to see it go. It was actually refreshing to watch a show that was mostly dialogue and (at times) slightly confusing...it'd be nice to see it come back some day (heck, even in book format).

Now...if FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS gets the boot....I will be very ticked!

[erik]

A shame, the show had so much potential.

God's back on a surfboard, apostles assembled...let 'em show us what we've forgotten!

Can we have the movie at least?!

[Alicia Pozas]

Sad, Had such potentiol and the writers turk a wrong turn about 4th episode.Weird.Story line Opened doors that were never closed. The last episode was so stupid. A wrong turn turned Hbo's series credit down the tubes. First an un satisfying ending to the long awaited Soprano's Finale. Now this? This show was a disaster. I started out as a strong fan. Sad.

[jltnol]

Ugh!

Thank God that's over!

Sorry but the grandmother was always OVER acting, and Shaun, cute tho he may be, couldn't act to save his poor surfing soul.

Bad Script, Bad Direction, and Bad Acting makes for a Bad Show

[Orrage]

Correction: Mitch's levitation was not cured. Butchie and Sissy were holding him down during Linc's speach.

[Judy Brown]

My husband and I both liked the series a lot. Although some of the scenes and dialogue were incomprehensible, most were not. As a mystical kind of program, not everything was concrete or explainable. Apparently, this feature bothered too many people. Bottom line, we thought the show was about Step Two of Alcoholics Anonymous, "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." After all, there was a lot of hearling going on. Sad the show was cancelled, although it was hard to see where it would go. Welcome Home Zippy. Long Live the Jetsons !

[ronnie]

Imagine a religious (sort of) drama that pisses off both blue and red state denizens? Granted, I too, look away from most things religious, although I did like Amy Grants first crossover album, and I did love this show. Whatever message it was Milch was trying to send, I say who cares, because it was so mostly quirky, and quirky I love. As I watched the nine episodes, I knew even as a non-brain surgeon it wasn't coming back, so when episode 9 began with Dylans "A Series of Dreams" I choked it back and smiled. What a cool song to say good bye with. What a totally cool opening scene for a last show. Ever.

[chris]

I really just wish HBO would issue some statement of clarity, and really say what in the heck was going on in that show!?!?!?! just so i can know, i mean its not that i care at all, it will just drive me nuts to think they must have had some sort of direction with this story (or one that was even remotely plausible) or interesting......i just want some sort of closure

but yeah, i watched all 10 episodes, brutal, some what interesting, different, and thats what i usually like about hbo original series shows

[moonlight lady]

Now can we please have Deadwood back?
ML

[Jeff Myers]

Makers of Ambien and other sleep aids probably paid HBO to remove their main competition.

[Linc Stark]

STINKWEEED!!! Come on now people, how can you really go wrong with with with a surfing undertone, drug addicts coming clean, a grandma that cuses like a trucker, a zen master grandpa, hawaiian drug dealers, parrots and little boys coming back from the dead, a porn-star mother, and not to mention a senile Al Bundy, and Dillon McKay and Zack Morris teaming up to run a surfing label. Seriously, the show was definately off the wall, but had me hung on every line, trying to figure out what was coming next. I did feel the show was confusing, BUT THAT'S THE POINT isn't it. To think for yourself, instead of being told what to belive or do!!! I don' t know, Butchie instead.

[Logan]

Wow, I'd really like all the geniuses who loved this piece of crap show to get off their high horses, and explain the show to us, since we are so dim, and not as advanced as you. (I love the idiot above who said if you didn't like this show, you voted for Bush. Kinda odd, since I hated this show, and have worked tirelessly for Al Gore and Democrats all my life.) The simple fact is that if you liked this show, you are a sucker. You were conned. David Milch was f-ing with you. The show didn't mean anything. It had no plot. No story at all. Just a bunch of random scenes and random fine actors spouting out meaningless words. What a waste. This what we get instead of more great installments of Deadwood? Milch should be apologizing in public for his sins. Good god, I hope he didn't fall of the wagon while writing this putrid malarky.

For the fans of the show: Wow, all you have to do is make crap, put the name Milch on it, put it on HBO, and you think it's akin to Bergman.

Meanwhile HBO passed on what is clearly the best show of the summer: AMC's Mad Men.

I guess that's what happens when you have the sort of leadership at HBO that we've read about regarding the character of Chris Albrecht.

I don't know Buthchie instead.

[Neil]

Rent the DVD "Idiocracy" to understand where a culture is going that can't embrace a show like JFC ....

[nicole navarro]

Please keep this show. Besides Jericho it is the best thing on TV in the last ten years. I will not keep my subscription to HBO without it. It is an exceptional, thought provoking, character driven drama. It is not formula tv to be spoon fed like baby food. It is a great show
Nicole