Episode Overview: The fallout of Shaun's miraculous recovery leaves Cissy a wreck and Mitch doing some post-coital levitation with Cass. Meanwhile Butchie and Kai reconnect while searching for the missing John, who found himself stabbed.
Previously on
John from Cincinnati: Surfing legend Mitch Yost (
Bruce Greenwood) still has the ability to levitate. A resurrected bird miraculously saved Mitch’s grandson Shaun (
Greyson Fletcher) from impending death. Shaun’s absentee father Butchie (
Brian Van Holt) was drug-free while his mom Cissy (
Rebecca DeMornay) started smoking again, and flirting with Shaun’s doctor (Garret Dillahunt). Evil agent Linc (
Luke Perry) urged sexy Cass (Emily Rose) to get close to Mitch. The mysterious John (
Austin Nichols) made Kai (
Keala Kennelly) see God, or just blurry images of what everyone else was up to as any metal in their bodies gets super-heated.
Alliances are shifted and new bonds are formed as the mystery of John expands. For new viewers, John is an empty slate, only able to repeat phrases and actions he hears or sees others performing. The "J.C." in his name and the recurring religious overtones indicate Christ-like abilities, which he delivers tonight. Welcome to the world of
John from Cincinnati: it's not just about surfing, it's about how believing in God can bring the world together and heal everyone...through surfing!
After not boning Kai the previous evening, John wanders off and gets picked up by a group of Latino hoodlum. John's penchant for mimicry upsets the leader, who repeatedly stabs John, then dumps his body on the side of the road. Fear not, because it's day three on this show, and we all know that's when Christ rose from the dead. With an assist from homeless veteran Vietnam Joe (Jim Beaver), John is quickly repaired and back to rambling his nonsense about seeing God and adding a new mantra to his lexicon: "Tomorrow is another day." That it is, as he convinces everyone to put their petty differences aside for another day.
During the healing, John passes on some psychic flashes to Cass, Linc's undercover sex kitten who is currently under the covers with Mitch. Having an affair with the man is apparently part of some huge scheme devised by surfing agent Linc to split the Yosts and sign young Shaun in the process. But between the psychic flash and the fact that she sees Mitch levitate in her hotel room, Cass finds her own spirituality. She kicks Mitch out of her room, replacing him with John, causing Linc to fire her. Score one for the side of good, while Linc's army of evil takes a hit. Linc's not twirling a mustache or kicking puppies, but he might as well be at this point.
Speaking of Linc, he's cozying up to Cissy, going so far as to wash her dishes. Shaun must be a great surfer if this guy is willing to do household chores just to sign him. Trouble arrives in the form of Dr. Smith, newly resigned from his hospital gig, now seeking out the miracle boy Shaun. It looks as though these two characters will form the fundamental sides of the religious nature on the show: Linc wants to exploit it for financial gain (boo!) while the good doctor sees it as a wake-up call to the power of faith (yay!).
Amidst the religious intrigue and speculation, former lovers Butchie and Kai seek out John, spending the day bonding over their affection for the deranged mystery man. Finding a missing friend loses priority, however, when the two start making out in his motel room. As the episode ends, they move to Kai's apartment and consummate their love while listening to some Peter Gabriel, but only after she gives a detailed warning about the complexities of having sex when so many of her special area are covered in piercings. The phrase "too much information" doesn't begin to cover it.
Sides are being drawn up with the show's varied and eccentric supporting cast as well. Former police chief Bill (Ed O'Neill) decides to befriend Butchie's drug dealing friend (Dayton Callie) after a conversation with his resurrected pet bird, Zippy. Show creator David Milch enjoys writing convoluted, dense monologues (see: every single episode of his previous show,
Deadwood). Bill is suffering from dementia, which makes it doubly hard to understand. It would seem that he's detailing and debating his connection to Butchie, though it will take a team of literary scholars several years to parse through the transcripts and come up with a definitive answer.
Day three ends with everyone doing well. Mitch is back at the Yost compound with his wife. Butchie and Kai are entwined, John is preparing to make Cass see God too, then trouble shows up at the motel in a Mustang. It's a hot mystery woman looking for Butchie. Who is she? Tune in next week, when the previews tell us that, whoever she is, the Yost family hates her.
-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of HBO)