Characters and more:

It revolves around two characters, Jeremiah, played by Luke Perry and Kurdy, played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Two actors who died way too early, both in their fifties, rest in peace! Jeremiah is looking for Valhalla sector, where he hopes to find his dad (Devin, Robert Wisden), but he also thinks Valhalla Sector holds crucial answers to the fate of the planet, possible even a cure for the Big Death which apparently is returning. During his travels he learns that Valhalla Sector is actually in the process of occupying old missile silos and establishing a harsh military dictatorship across the country. So, finding Valhalla Sector becomes crucial in trying to stop these hostile plans. In the pilot Jeremiah and Kurdy do find allies who reside at Thunder Mountain, led by Markus Alexander, Erin and Lee Chen.

Kurdy meets Jeremiah in the pilot episode where he first steals from him (Jeremiah) but later in the episode they decide to travel together to Thunder Mountain after they’ve got hold of a vehicle, Simon’s (Daniel Gillies) vehicle, a man who tells them to go to Thunder Mountain with his dying breath. Kurdy and Jeremiah become involved with Thunder Mountain, they keep going back on the road, looking for allies, looking for information about Valhalla Sector. Simon’s girlfriend also lives in Thunder Mountain, Elizabeth (Kandyse McClure). Kurdy is immediately smitten with her but understands she has to deal with a loss first.

Markus Alexander (Peter Stebbings) is the leader of the people who live in Thunder Mountain. His father was stationed at Thunder Mountain when the virus broke out. He was there and was the only one left among all the dead grown-ups. Erin (Ingrid Kavelaars) is his second in command and Lee Chen (Byron Lawson) is his chief of security. Chen doesn’t trust Jeremiah and Kurdy, but this is certainly also true the other way around and it becomes clear that Jeremiah and Kurdy were right to distrust him. For a very long time Markus is keeping a secret from Erin and the others, in a secure room a woman above the age of innocence lives in the Mountain. Her name is Meaghan Lee Rose (Saraphina Joachim), she still carries the virus and during the final days of the Big Death Markus found her barely alive in a closed-up room. They were experimenting on her, but when the scientists died, there was no one to give her food, until Markus found her. Markus believes she might be decisive in finding a cure. Ezekiel (Alex Zahara), a strange man who is following Jeremiah. He tells Jeremiah that they are brothers, not of flesh and blood but Jeremiah’s father took him in. Ezekiel is tasked by Jeremiah’s father to protect him (Jeremiah) and make sure he does not come to look for his father at Valhalla Sector.

Season One:

Upfront I have to say that I’ve always preferred the second season over the first season and although I obviously still have to rewatch season two, I can tell you that I don’t think this will change with this rewatch. That doesn't mean season one is bad on the contrary, but for me it rarely excels. Yes, there is an overall story-arc, but most of the episodes are set just around these two guys, in a town, in some sort of situation they must deal with. Again, it certainly is entertaining most of the time, but it rarely really shines and if memory serves…which is a big if, season two is more about the grander plan, is much more action oriented. We visit Valhalla sector; a greater role for Marcus and Thunder Mountain, and we get really interesting new (recurring) characters.

Still, season one holds some gems:

“The Long Road P2” is much stronger than the first part, in part two Jeremiah and Kurdy get to Thunder Mountain. “City of Roses” where Kurdy goes back to his own neighborhood, to the apartment where he used to live with his parents. This episode hit me harder than with previous rewatches, mainly about what happened to Kurdy in the past. Also, what happened to the girl in Jeremiah’s storyline, raped by these assholes, possibly countless of times. Some men are pigs, plain and simple. Jeremiah however, knows how to handle them. “Tripwire” is a good episode where Markus wants to start making alliances with those who can oppose the encroaching forces coming out of Valhalla Sector. We get to learn more about the overall story-arc and Ezekiel tells Jeremiah that his father is responsible for releasing the virus. “Out of the Ashes” is a great story where Kurdy helps a librarian defend the library from being plundered and Jeremiah helps an old friend and his girlfriend bringing her father’s ashes to a last resting place. Best thing about the episode was the message about the importance of books, that it contains our history, and that books are important in rebuilding the future. “A Means to An End” where Markus invites Theo (Kim Hawthorne) for a talk, but the council is opposed and they want to remove Markus from the council. Great moment: When Theo discovers the toilets and showers, with 2001: A Space Odyssey theme of course!

And the season finale “Things Left Unsaid”, a two parter where Kurdy and Jeremiah are at odds with each other after Elizabeth is severely hurt and dies. Another reason is that because of Jeremiah’s irrational behavior both he and Kurdy are no longer welcome at Thunder Mountain. Markus is trying to get people together to oppose Valhalla Sector because they want to rule as a dictatorship. However, Valhalla Sector knows of this meeting and crashes the party. Jeremiah is captured by soldiers from Valhalla Sector, and he sees how Ezekiel is being killed. In prison at Valhalla Sector, Jeremiah’s father visits him, they see each other for the first time in 15 years.

A fun quote that made me laugh from episode 5 “Ring of Truth” 😊:

• J: (Jeremia waking up yells Kurdy!) An elephant just woke me up!
  K: (a shaken Kurdy) Well, an -asshole- just woke me up.
  --Jeremiah & Kurdy—

Final Word:

I hadn’t seen the first season in 15 years, but I got the urge to watch it again, mainly because of season two, but as I said, the first season is also enjoyable for the most part. Jason Priestley, who, like Luke Perry, was also on Beverly Hills 90210, has also a guest spot in the early season one episode “And the Ground, Sown with Salt” where Priestley plays a despicable character. The season finale ends with a massive cliff-hanger, luckily it wasn’t cancelled right after the first Season. At least now we have some conclusion to the story.

Screencaps: Google search