Why We Fight - Episode 22

Well, this episode was the saddest of all. Poor Johnston.
So, we get into tonight's episode with flash backs of Eric and Aprils' wedding. Apparently, Eric had a tiny problem with Jake, and was not happy to have Jake as his best man. But their mom made Eric chose Jake, now at first I was unsure what this had to do with what is going on in Jericho. During this flashback, we see Jake, Emily and Jake's Granddad at the bar, during the wedding, and Jake's Grandfather is telling a story of a time in WWII when an American Unit was surrounded by the Germans, trying to hold this small piece of land until the American reinforcements arrives. The German leader radios to the American leader telling him that if he surrenders his men will be alive, that he was totally outnumbered and such. The American leader tells the German, NUTS; "go to hell".
So Johnston's plan was to use the tank, and Hawkins was at home using his Satellite to track the men from New Bern. This was not such a great plan though, it was the only plan that would work but it backfired on Hawkins. As Hawkins and Marcy are in the basement, using the satellite to track the New Bern men, someone ( three guess who) picks up on his use of the device and begins the process of locating him! Marcy proved she is a smart cookie, picking up on the fact that the uranium was the 'fingerprint' on the bomb, and that those people who Hawkins thought were after the witnesses attached to the bomb were really after getting the bomb to keep everyone from knowing who started this whole war. Just before Hawkins has to shut the laptop down, he sees a train coming at Jericho, loaded with New Bern men! He knows he has to stop that train.
The towns people under Johnston's steady leadership all decide to only try to hold onto Stanley's farm, to keep from being spread too thin. And their backup is that tank they got when the 'fake' army people came into Jericho. They only had one mortar tho, so they had better make it count!
As the men from New Bern round the bend in the road at Stanley's farm, one of their gunners opens fire, and war has come to Jericho.
It looks pretty grim for a while, and Jake decides he needs to climb a nearby hill to try and take out the shooter in a truck. As he gets up the hill and into position, he sees a tank coming over the hill practically on top of him! Its Johnston and hes packing a loaded tank.
We watch as the fight begins to get intense until the New Bern guys see that tank, and when they realize what that is coming at them, they begin to fall back, but not far enough. The tank's mortar goes off and there is a nice explosion!
The people of Jericho are enjoying a small win, when Jake and Eric realize that their Dad is lieing on the ground, he has been shot.
Here is where we know for sure one thing at least, Johnston is not going to make it back home tonight. I was not particularly attached to his character, but I was actually sad during the death scene. It was really realistic as far as the emotions coming from Gerald McRaney. He is an excellent actor, and was a credit to the show.
Johnston does get to clear the air with Jake and Eric though, telling them both how much he loved them, and was proud of them. It was hard to watch, even knowing it was not real.
He passes before Gail could get there, and his last words were " tell your mom I love her".
Jake and Eric share a moment of pain , but the war is not letting them have even this moment in full. Jake and Emily share some moments as well, and she is actually able to be a comfort during this time to Jake. She tells Jake that his dad is there, watching over him and everyone from town during this fight. This seems to be good for him. We then see Gail brought into the house by Emily. Jake and Eric let her know they are there for her, and then every leaves the house. Gail walks to Johnston and leans down and hugs on him, kind of like what Mrs. Reagan did at Ronnie's funeral, and I can tell you it was as sad tonight as it was then. She will miss him, but will go on.
Jake then gets a call from Constantino, who tells Jake that he was told of Johnston's death, and that he was sorry. Jake thinks a moment, and then proceeds to tell Phil "NUTS", go to hell. The he says to Constantino, "about my dad, its you I am coming after".
Hawkins shows up on horseback and asks for the tank, Jake and Stanley tell him there is no more ammo for it, and he says he doesn't need it. He had better move fast to get that tank into position, to do what I think he is going to do. All he has to do is derail that train far enough away from Jericho to make it not advantageous to the New Bern men to try and make a go at Jericho.
In between the scenes with fighting and the flashbacks , we see that Heather in fact is not dead but rather found out what New Bern was about to do, and tried to run from New Bern to warn Jericho. She was in an accident, and left for dead. The Army ( whose, we see later) finds her lying by the wrecked car, and takes her to their Nebraska camp to be treated. When she comes to, and finds out where she is, she goes off to find the Captain and she asks for his help with the New Bern-Jericho war. At first he tells her he cant help in that matter. Later we see him talking to a few people on some television screens, and one person we see is old baldy himself. The evil person who is behind the whole war!
This man tells the Capt. that they had tracked a 'terrorist suspect' to within 200 miles of Jericho, and that the Capt. and his men need to go to Jericho, stop the war and then find this terrorist!
At the end of the show, we see Hawkins on the tank and over his head comes helicopters. The Army, is on its way, but its not the Army we know or trust. We go back to Heather, when she was thanking the Capt for going to help Jericho ( she has no idea what is going on) she looks over to the flag on the pole and its the flag with vertical stripes, a non military flag. She seems to know something is not right.

Is this ending a clear indication of a second season? I have not read any new news about this, I could have missed it, and will check in with the wiki after I post this tonight to see what folks know. What ever I find out, I will post. If you have info, story lines I missed or just some thoughts, please feel completely free to post away!
As for the countdown video and extras or previews, I don't think I will get those up until tomorrow, but i will sure try for getting it done tonight.
End was great, but very sad.

add on info - this link at an about.com site for which shows might be saved or cancelled - shows Jericho as a pretty good shoein for being picked up for second season, will post more as soon as I hear more.

Safe From Cancellation: Renewed 2007-08 Television Series