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Season 01: Episode 07 - His Visit: Day Six
By admin | July 22, 2007
7th Episode in New HBO Series - John From Cincinnati
Early on the sixth day since John’s arrival, Butchie Yost is trying to get back in the game. With Kai looking on from a hiding spot on the beach, Butchie attacks a succession of waves, but some spectacular wipe-outs are showing his rust. Before long, though, the lapsed pro starts landing his tricks, and Kai slinks off to her friend Jane’s house to pick up his old boards.
Linc is also getting down to business. The Stinkweed executives have come to town to talk about the company’s withering profits and try pushing e-commerce on Linc. After a strategy discussion that ends in Linc mooning his vice president of sales, he strides out of the room, followed by his old friend and business partner, Jake. Obviously, Linc has other matters on his mind. Outside, he explains to Jake what happened to Shaun at Huntington. “A miracle, half our base runs the other way,” Jake responds. “Do we make that up selling at shrines?” Linc doesn’t have an answer for that one yet. But, Jake isn’t waiting for him to figure it out, either. Conspiring with the V.P. of sales, he approaches Tina to record an interview in which he asks whether she ever had sex or used drugs with Linc. “Are you asking me to fib,” she inquires. Jake replies, “Are you asking me to write another check? I will if you will.”
John leaves Cass sleeping in her hotel room, telling her he’s going to “be with his father.” Pointing to her heart, Cass mumbles from bed, “Work here.” When she wakes up, she takes another crack at the footage whose purpose continues to elude her, obviously frustrated.
As Cissy leaves her daily voicemail berating Mitch, a delirious Palaka stumbles into her shop. Rambling nonsense along with something about a new tattoo on his neck, he passes out at her feet. At the same time, the hospital’s attorney, Mark Lewinsky, stops by to get her signature on the last bit of paperwork needed to close Shaun’s case. “The merest formality,” he says. Besides having her hands full with Palaka, Cissy doesn’t like the vibe Lewinsky gives her and tells him to get out – she won’t sign anything until she talks to Dickstein. She drags Palaka back to Freddy at the Snug Harbor, where Dr. Smith tries to treat his infection with an ice bath and antibiotics. When she gets a chance to have Dickstein look over the hospital paperwork, he tells her they’re trying to make Dr. Smith the “sacrificial lamb” while absolving the hospital itself. “Tell him,” Cissy says.
Butchie cracks a beer after surfing, and Dwayne comes to tell him the website’s numbers have jumped again, suggesting Shaun should have his own site. Too self-conscious of his hair-lip to approach the boy on his own, Dwayne asks Butchie to come along. But, when they find Shaun smoking pot outside the locked surf shop, he shrugs them off. “He looks like a tool,” the youngest Yost says, nodding toward Dwayne, who’s out of earshot. Butchie slaps him on the back of the head, reprimanding him for being so rude to someone who’s trying to help him. “Just because I’m a f**kup doesn’t mean I’m not trying to give you good advice,” Butchie says. Shaun suggests his father find Tina and give her some advice – to stick around Imperial Beach.
After Butchie leaves, Shaun heads over to Bill’s house. He tells the retired cop he wishes Zippy hadn’t saved him and breaks into tears. Awkwardly, but effectively, Bill shows Shaun one of his grief-counseling books, explaining that sometimes you can be sad without even knowing it. Meanwhile, the primary source of Shaun’s gloom approaches Linc back at his hotel. “A really good friend of yours wants to pay me to ruin your life,” Tina tells him.
Freddy –looking worried despite every effort to the contrary – asks whether his henchman should be in the hospital. The doctor assures him they would only offer the same treatment, but when Palaka’s condition doesn’t improve the drug dealer hoists his associate out of the bathtub and toward the car. Riddled with guilt for breaking Palaka’s wrist, Freddy calms down when Dr. Smith explains the infection came from a dirty tattoo needle, not the injured hand. “Don’t try to force an outcome because you’re worried about your friend,” the doctor says.
Butchie, on his way home from arguing with Shaun, cops a bag of heroin, but when he gets back to his room, he calls Kai instead of shooting up. When she arrives, he tells her he doesn’t think he wants to use anymore. Upon receipt of the news she’s been waiting years to hear, Kai says, “I saw you in the water this morning. I’ve got your boards outside.” When Butchie goes out to the Jeep to see the sticks, his phone rings with a call from Shaun; Kai drives him to meet his son. Bill makes himself scarce in his own home so the two can talk, while Butchie invites Shaun to smack him and even the score. Instead, Shaun gently pats the back of his father’s head.
On the pier, Jake approaches Linc, trying to extort him into accepting a buy-out offer by playing the recording of Tina’s incriminating interview. But Linc has his own tape of the conversation and after playing it asks Jake, “Isn’t that a felony is this state – offering to pay someone to lie?” With the playing field suddenly pitched in the other direction, Linc asks how much the company was willing to pay to buy him out. Nearly doubling the figure to $65 million, Linc strikes a deal and hands over his recorder.
As the day winds down and Palaka rests easy, John begins to appear to everyone simultaneously: Standing behind Dickstein at the Snug Harbor as he carves a stick figure into wet cement, looking into Cissy’s window as she washes the dishes, hugging Cass after she finally receives her moment of inspiration for the drum circle footage. “Shaun will soon be gone,” he tells her. Back at the pier, Linc watches with Tina as Butchie, Shaun and John step into the surf with their boards. “The big money,” he tells her, “is in escrow for whoever can tell me what the f**k is going on.”
July 22nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
DO NOT KILL OFF SHAUN….
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
More surfing please!
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 pm
I think this going to be a great series,but i think its going to start losing viewers unless things start to make sense.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 am
I think John meant that the Shaun we knew up to now will be gone, and a new Shaun is about to emerge,
I feel that Shaun passive nature has been intentional up till now.
This show is not about making sense, it’s about making everyone think.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:31 am
well, i watched all the deadwood series and its basically the same thing in a different setting with the town doctor, wise ass characters, smart dialog, ramblings, and big setup scenes with no finish,… those who want more surfing should turn the channel. did deadwood ever have a big gun fight in town? its about human interaction and remember its not a movie with a huge budget. damn good TV series tho. needed more John in the last one…
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 am
It’s about redemption, Butchie seems to be a self absorbed druggie, but yet he does ANYTHING anyone asks him to do. His mother, his father, kai, tina, Shaun even the hair lip. HE will redeem himself. The same for Cissy (for molesting) for Cass (who’s been a film whore) for Tina (not being a mother) for Linc ( to not ruin Shaun’s life) for Bill (Lois isn’t gone at all).
Cass’s camera is like the eye of God, it only sees the truth, God is the way the truth and the light and will always forgive these purely human people. Even if they don’t know it yet or wont forgive themselves.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
That’s an interesting theory, but (and I don’t know if this means anything) John didn’t look happy about Sean being gone. He almost looked like he didn’t want to even say it.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
i dont know if anyone has noticed what this story that is unfolding parralells. last night while watching episode six i found myself counting to 12 , and trying to figure out which of the cast would be J.C.’s apostles. it is such an epic idea and i think that it is a show that could, with a little luck, excellent writing and well executed cinamotography, easily replace the void left by our italian friend tony. the sopranos kept us spellbound with their clever butchering of the english langauge along with most of the charecters, but john from cincinatti could possibly do even more. Jesus Christ,i never thought i’d see luis guzman blowing a horn like john the baptist.
surfs up
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Where is (Doubting?) Thomas from the Episode Six comments’ thread? Dear Thomas, did you watch the figure that was drawn in the wet cement? Not a peace sign. Weigh in my friend.
Add this for “food for thought”. Episode seven ends with three people following the sunset and getting wet. Father (Butchie), Son (Shaun) and Holy Ghost (John)?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
it is what it is! the way i see it is now that they have family levity, or harmony . god says fuck you , it’s too late! my will be done ,i will take away your most innocent benefactor(shaun), whatever must be will be
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
What Stoner said, Do not kill Shaun. Just don’t.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:31 am
Oh I agree! People keep commenting on Fletcher’s “flat” delivery… I think it’s totally intentional. Major changes coming.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:33 am
this show is awesome. the most thought provoking show on tv. if you don’t like it you probably suck at everything.
Ps- i love how shaun is such a bad actor but a such killer surfer.he manages to butcher even the most basic lines but he is still more believable than some poser ass actor most shows would cast.
July 24th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I think the religious references are too obvious and are pulling people in to set them up for a huge suprise. I think John is more similar to the John coffee character in “The green mile” than he is to Jesus. A quasi-human entity who shows up to fix things. The theme song is “Johnny Appleseed”, who was nomadic. JFC’s name Monad might be an anogram for nomad, not a literal reference to the new age Monad. Be patient, its a series.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Ordinarily I might agree with you were it not for all the recent references John makes to his “father” and his father’s word and, of course, “the end.” Even if he’s not some aspect of the Christian Biblical God, I think it’s difficult to argue after his visit days five and six that he’s just a supernatural nomad sent to “fix” things. His whole speech during day five about the writing on the wall and the 1’s and 0’s seems to link him directly to the concept of Monad.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
i thought the same thing with “nomad” or hes an angel of some type..regardless, John is there to help untangle to mess and make life worth living again for this family in turmoil
July 24th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
qballs,
agree about shaun, terrible actor,how bout the scene at bill’s when he is supposed to cry- he totally fucks it up! i started laughing my balls off!
July 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
does anyone know where i can go online and see the latest episode.my tv is in the shop and i cant hook my 19 inch up to the hd box.
July 24th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Maybe we all have John’s doing their part in our lives and we just need to take the time and effort to “see” it. Kinda sad that it is cable tv/HBO showing us.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Nicki was so cute in this episode, thanks for this review !
July 26th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
This show - which I have had extremely high hopes for - has jumped the shark.
Where is Mitch? Did he see the scripts and bail on the show? There is no logical reason - or plot related reason - for his disappearance.
John makes less and less sense, and I find that I care less and less as well.
I am giving this show one more episode to start delivering on anything other than swirling non-sequiturs and nonsensical behavior of characters I am caring less and less about. If that doesn’t happen - I’m done. Stick a fork in “John From Cincinnati”.
July 27th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Jeff,
Mitch is in Mexico. Who cares anyway, he’s the biggest asshole on the show. As far as the show jumping the shark you couldn’t be more wrong. This show delivers every week. Unfortunately people that have been programed by modern telivision need something else. The attraction of shows like this is what we don’t know. I am very anti-tv, but this is the first show I’ve been excited about since twin peaks when I was in college. Sadly, because of veiwers like you, the show probably wont last long. Go see Die Hard 35 or something.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
By the way, what’s up with the drum circle footage? I didn’t notice anything special on that episode.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Jesus fucking Christ, it’s John from Cincinnati!
July 28th, 2007 at 10:17 am
What an interesting point Mary. Um, what is your point?
July 29th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
There was a pointed comment that Sean is now 14, not 13. This may be a shot at explaining the role of Jesus in his lost years as the Bible stops describing his childhood at age 13.
July 29th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I can’t believe this program was a shoe-in for ‘Deadwood’. It makes little sense if any and survives solely on speculation. I’m watching now but wont cry when cancelled. ‘Carnival’ made 10 times more sense than any of this.
July 29th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
We will be talking about this show for years. (J)ohn (F)rom (C)incinnati. JFC.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Hey Reality John, give the show another try. I think of it as a fable about the interconnection of people: even when the intersection sizzles and rages it’s interesting. Watch how energy from one character transfers to another… The show is also about how we see what we allow ourselves to see. So, see God, John.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I FIRST thought the show was too complicated and never thought that the characters were very interesting..then again i didn’t really know who the characters were. BUT NOW im thinking that there’s much more behind this show. I like the thought that John could be Jesus or something. That is a really creative and fresh new idea contrasting all the crap out there. Right now i am hoping that it turns out good. I hope that they have balls and show the Truth as it should be. I hope that they ddont pussy out and have this show become really lame.. I guess its too early to make a real criticism, so for now its appealing but a lot of parts Reaaalllyy boring and slow. I dont still don’t like most of the characters and care very little about them. My favorite show right now is Flight of the Conchords.
July 31st, 2007 at 10:11 am
In Gnostic theology, Monad was the highest God who created lesser Gods, In Gnosticism the Monad is the spiritual source of everything. Gnotic religions are thought of as heresy which stands to reason, as JFC can not possibly be loosely based on the Bible
August 1st, 2007 at 1:06 pm
wow, thanks for your comments everyone, this is my favorite show of all time!! just can’t get enough. sadly, it probably will not last too long because it’s to deep and not mainstream enough. we are blessed to have john,buthie & the gang at least for one season….
August 27th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Does anyone have recorded copies of the episodes to sell?
August 27th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Is this really canceled?? Anyway we can bring it back?
November 29th, 2007 at 3:17 am
Hi, my name is disman-kl, i like your site and i ll be back