Without doubt, Jeremiah, created by J. Michael Straczynski, is the best SF/fantasy on television this past year. Unfortunately, that isn't saying much, it was a very weak year. Jeremiah isn't as good as Babylon 5, J. Michael Straczynski's first television series. But since Babylon 5 was one of the three greatest SF TV series of all time, that may be an unfair comparison. Is it worth subscribing to Showtime to see Jeremiah? That really depends on how much disposable money you have lying around. If you do get Showtime, watch the Straczynski episodes and then decide whether or not to watch the rest.

In the Jeremiah comic strip by Belgian artist Hermann Huppen. published in the seventies and eighties and reprinted in English by Fantagraphics, Jeremiah roams a ruined future Earth with his friend Kurdy in search of his parents. That is the sum total of the connection between the comic strip and the Showtime TV series, which is really the creation of J. Michael Straczynski.

Here is an episode guide to the first season of Jeremiah. I haven't rated the episodes because all of the JMS episodes would get three stars while all of the episodes not by JMS would get two stars. The other writers do their best, and have written intelligent, workmanlike scripts, but JMS has the spark.

All episodes are 45 minutes long.

The Long Road, Part One, by J. Michael Straczynski
The Long Road, Part Two, by J. Michael Straczynski
Jeremiah and Kurdy meet and discover Thunder Mountain.

Man of Iron, Woman Under Glass, by J. Michael Straczynski
A young man wants to be a superhero; an older woman survived the Big Death.

...And the Ground, Sown with Salt, by J. Michael Straczynski
Jeremiah and Kurdy invade an army base run by a madman.

To Sail Beyond the Stars, by J. Michael Straczynski
A woman dreams of sailing out onto the ocean.

The Bag, by Sam Egan
A young man pretends to be a doctor.

City of Roses, by Sam Egan
Jeremiah searches for a vaccine while Kurdy uncovers a secret from his past.

Firewall, by J. Michael Straczynski
Jeremiah and Kurdy capture Quantrell, who knows secrets about Valhalla Sector.

The Red Kiss, by Sam Egan
In an old amusement park, children are being kidnapped.

Journeys End in Lovers Meeting, by J. Michael Straczynski
Jeremiah and Kurdy encounter a cult marching toward the ocean.

Thieves Honor, by Sam Egan
Jeremiah and Kurdy attempt to rescue friends captured by Theo.

The Touch, by Sam Egan
Touching is punishable by death.

Mother of Invention, by Sara (Samm) Barnes and A. L. Kratz
Jeremiah meets a woman he once made love to and her young son.

Tripwire, by J. Michael Straczynski
Marcus tries to make outside alliances, but a sniper has other plans.

Ring of Truth, by Sam Egan
From a whorehouse to a circus is not that long a trip.

Moon in Gemini, by Sam Egan
Jeremiah fences with identical twins.

Out of the Ashes, by Sam Egan
In the library.

A Means to an End, by Sara (Samm) Barnes
Markus's leadership is challenged when he invites Theo to Thunder Mountain.

Things Left Unsaid, Part One, by J. Michael Straczynski
Things Left Unsaid, Part Two, by J. Michael Straczynski
The friendship of Jeremiah and Kurdy is put to the test.

The cliffhanger ending of Season One left me looking forward to Season Two. Season One is currently being rerun on Showtime.

Rick Norwood is a mathematician and writer whose small press publishing house, Manuscript Press, has published books by Hal Clement, R.A. Lafferty, and Hal Foster. He is also the editor of Comics Revue Monthly, which publishes such classic comic strips as Flash Gordon, Sky Masters, Modesty Blaise, Tarzan, Odd Bodkins, Casey Ruggles, The Phantom, Gasoline Alley, Krazy Kat, Alley Oop, Little Orphan Annie, Barnaby, Buz Sawyer, and Steve Canyon.