John from Cincinnati

I am fascinated by this show. I have tried a number of times explaining to people what it is about, and I find it difficult. If I had to sum it up in one word I would say "redemption". This whole family is so screwed up and John seems to be there to help them heal, but in the most bizarre way! This has now become THE show that my husband and I have to watch each week. My only complaint is about the language. I realize that it is part of the character development, but I think I would still watch without every other word being an F-bomb. I hope the show catches on and people watch, but I fear a lot of people won't get it or will think is it too much work because it does require some thought. That's what I like about it, though.

It is difficult to say enough good things about this series. The ensemble cast gives new meaning to the term; there hasn't been as wacky and as wonderful a cast since Firefly. There are standouts -- if Rebecca de Mornay and Ed O'Neill are not nominated for Emmys something is very wrong indeed -- but pretty much every one of the actors is spot-on.

Many people will probably comment about the odd paranormal events that start to happen when John arrives on the scene. Many theories will be generated about who John is and what he does to "cause" them. I see things a different way. The magic of this series, and the brilliance of its writing, is that despite the title it really isn't *about* John. John doesn't really cause these extraordinary things to happen to this odd group of people; it's more like his presence allows the odd group of people to realize what is already going on.

There's an old spiritual saying: "Before realization, chop wood and carry water; after realization, chop wood and carry water." Realization isn't about changing anything, it's about noticing what has always already been present. The magic surrounding the extended Yost family has always already been present. You want miracles? It's a miracle that most of them are still alive. But they've been so busy for so long now chopping wood and carrying water that they never realized how much of a miracle their lives were. Around John, they start to realize this.

Go ahead - those of you who love the show will automatically give me a "not helpful" rating and attempt to make my comment look like it was written by a second grader. Here is the truth, my truth anyway. This is a challenging show to watch. It took me four episodes to determine if I would be back for a fifth but I am and I will continue. It's building up to something that is slowly giving birth to the idea that we are going to witness something incredible. I just wish not every single character was so odd. There's no doubt in my mind that there's going to be some big redemption factor coming up. This is one weird show; I don't mind it being deep and mysterious but there is something about it that makes me uneasy - maybe that's good. All I can say is I hope it has a payoff that I'm "not expecting".

From watching the first couple of episodes I wasn't sure what to make of this new series. It was a world that we've seen before, sort of. I mean, we've seen shows about beach communities(Flipper,Baywatch). We've seen shows about strange and wondrous beings among normal human beings(My Favorite Martian, Mork and Mindy and even THE FLINTSTONES w/The Great Gazoo). What distinguishes this story from those other shows is that even though the the situations are vaguely familiar David Milch slows things down and opens up the world to more than the standard situation conflicts that we're accustomed to. When a character can levitate when he's never levitated before is something you would see on 60's TV. But usually that is the only thing weird going on. You don't spend time on a telepathic parrot or a couple of immaculate conceptions. On top of that a lot of hard drug abuse, incest, communication with the afterlife and porn stars. Now with all that going on is Milch's signature writing style that forces the audience to pretty much pay undivided attention to what the characters are saying and what they are doing while they are speaking. Basically, this is another show too smart for its own good. I would have liked a second season. We don't get enough Rebecca DeMornay as it is.

HBO's new drama series "John From Cincinnati", is certainly somewhat strange, mysterious, and somewhat hard to catch on to you really wonder just which way the next wave will roll. Yet the stress and miracles and problems of this California surfing family just pulls you as a viewer in and you feel like your part of the clan. It's set in a California beach coast town that borders Mexico and you have the Yost family and the family harbors three generations of surfers. First the legendary Mitch(Bruce Greenwood) then next his drug addicted son Butchie(Brian Van Holt) and then finally the new prodigy that's Butchie's son and Mitch's grandson Shaun(Greyson Fletcher). During it all the boys are held together by Mitch's strong and tough wife Cissy(Rebecca DeMornay) who's always on the lookout and very protective of Shaun, and quick to scold son Butchie as she urges him to change his ways. When a stranger enters by the name of John(Austin Nichols) a guy from Cincinnati strange things start to happen from medical miracles to floating above the ground like in air without standing on the ground! Also Luke Perry is pushing as a sneaking surf promoter who always tries to push his influence on the family. One good bright note away from this dark underworld is family friend Bill a bird talking and pro wrestling watching lover who' a great family friend, and I must say great job of acting from Ed O' Neill he's come a long way nice work he's doing in such a serious drama. David Milch really has the audiences thinking and feeling the pain of this family as one watching you just don't know what's going happen at sea. More and more has to be revealed about this messed up and conflicted family much should be discovered at the bottom of the sea. A good new series that's plenty interesting and mysterious that will have you as the viewer wondering and feeling the power of the strange forces of nature and miracles. Really it's nice to see good work again from veterans like DeMornay and O' Neill too. Really a pretty good pick up for HBO.