Director: Gregg Fienberg
Cast: Luke Perry (Linc Stark), Luis Guzman (Ramon Gaviota), Austin Nichols (John Monad), Willie Garson (Meyer Dickstein), Rebecca DeMornay (Cissy Yost), Matt Winston (Barry Cunningham), Greyson Fletcher (Shaun Yost), Ed O'Neill (Bill Jacks), Jim Beaver (Vietnam Joe), Keala Kennelly (Kai), Brian Van Holt (Butchie Yost), Bruce Greenwood (Mitch Yost), Dayton Callie (Steady Freddy Lopez), Garret Dillahunt (Dr. Smith), Karl Makinen (Mr. Nolan) & Emily Rose (Cass)
A drug-dealer arrives at Imperial Beach, Linc expresses an interest in sponsoring Shaun's surfing and Barry decides not to raize the motel after experiencing a vision...It's the second episode, entitled His Visit, Day Two (which I assume refers to the eponymous John Monad's arrival), and things continue to plod along in an almost-hypnotic manner. Shaun's ambition to participate in a surfing competition becomes reality thanks to Linc Stark's offer to sponsor him. Linc (Luke Perry) appears to be just another hanger-on to the legendary Yost clan, so it's strange to see patriarch Mitch allow his sponsorship, particularly as Linc's dealings with son Butchie led to a career-ending drug addiction.
John, who we learn hails from "Cincinnati" in this episode, continues to be a surprisingly ambivalent presence. He's not very proactive in whatever "mission" he has to accomplish in the town, instead quite content to shuffle around repeating a growing collection of phrases. The fact people seem to latch onto John is interesting, as is how quickly the poodle-haired oddball has become a "family friend" of the Yost's. It's almost as if everyone can sense they need John around, for some unknown reason...
The motel subplot is the most bizarre at the moment, as I can't work out where it's going. The manager Ramon (Luis Guzman) and his lawyer Meyer (Willie Garson) are busily trying to endear themselves to new millionaire owner Barry (Matt Winston), who likes to meditate half-naked in empty rooms overlooking the ocean, whilst talking to his teddy bear.
Quite where this is all heading is anyone's guess at this stage, as becomes particularly clear after Barry experiences a frightening, unseen, vision in Room 24. It may not make much sense yet, but I'm keen to discover the answers.
His Visit, Day Two also introduces a new character; drug-dealer Steady Freddie Lopez (Deadwood's Dayton Callie), who immediately starts a fight with client Butchie, before throwing a punch at John that seems to trigger a minor earthquake! The episode culminates in a tragic moment for Shaun that's quite surprising, but not as surprising as the final scene with Bill Jack's pet Zippy -- the avian equivalent of Lazarus.
Overall, there are developments that hint at greater things, while the character's interplay fizzle with a weird tension. John From Cincinnati is a very oblique show, that tends to wander into humdrum scenes too often, but it also has a laconic sense of the bizarre that pulls you through. Just about.
Posthumous Review
Written: 18 June 2007
HBO
