Yeah, I know, I already declared “Jericho” to be back in my preview of Season 2. But now the show’s made the declaration itself during the opening credits of last night’s season premiere…in Morse code.

The resulting ratings must’ve made a lot of people really, really happy: it scored first with adults 25-54 as well as tying for first (with NBC) with adults 18-49. Not too shabby. The bigger question, of course, is whether or not the show can maintain that ratings momentum. If it doesn’t, however, it won’t be the fault of the onscreen goings-on…or, at least, that’s my perception after watching Episode 2.1.

When we last left the population of Jericho, they were engaged in battle with the people of New Bern. Instead of leaping back to the concluding moments of Season 1, however, we jump into a tête - à – tête between the leaders of the two sides – Jake Green and Phil Constantino – and get our first look at a scruffier, scarier looking Skeet Ulrich. I realize the fear of cancellation was rough on all of us, but, really, he’s looking a bit bug-eyed, don’t you think? Anyway, the talks between the two sides are moderated by Esai Morales, who plays this season’s major new character…and that pun was totally not intended, even if the name of Morales’s character is Major Edward Beck. As Beck stands by, we’re treated to a quick wrap-up of how the battle between Jericho and New Bern came to its conclusion…namely, via military intervention. There have been complaints that Morales doesn’t come across tough enough for the role he’s playing, but he seemed plenty gruff to me when the situation called for it.

Much of the episode is spent following up on plot threads from the end of last season, but there’s one thing that’s immediately evident: if it ain’t key to the goings-on, it’s either going to be swept under the rug ‘til it’s worth mentioning or it’s not going to be mentioned at all. Dale’s MIA, the widow Green (Pamela Reed) is grieving the death of Gerald McRaney somewhere off camera, and the Hawkins kids are nowhere to be seen, either. Fair enough, though: at least things keep moving at a steady clip, never being dragged down by boring old domesticity. That’s not to say that we don’t get plenty of Stanley and Mimi action, but to my surprise, they don’t seem quite as obnoxious as last season. Maybe it’s because the chemistry between the actors has grown or maybe it’s because the lines they’re handed don’t feel like they come from a Lifetime movie, but whatever the case, my gag reflex isn’t being tickled at the moment. Mimi’s in her element as she deals with Stanley’s well-intentioned mistake of signing away his farm to FEMA…I mean, Jennings and Rall…and the issue with who’s asking for whose hand in marriage pans out in a very sweet manner.

Heather (Sprague Grayden) returns from her lengthy expedition and immediately gets caught up in a situation with a would-be assassin from New Bern, but there’s no remaining hint of romance between her and Jake; he’s comfortably ensconced in a relationship with his high school sweetheart, Emily, just as we knew he would when her husband was out of the picture. There’s not a whole lot of action in their storyline, but on the other hand, Hawkins and his wife finally have enough of their secrets out in the open to be able to work together as partners in his espionage. And on that note, how about this Chavez guy, huh? I’m very interested to see how this unravels…and whether or not they’re really on the same side or not.

I’m not 100% on board with the way Jake’s completely lost his shit over his dad’s death. Yes, he’s been shown to react emotionally rather than intellectually, but it’s been four months, and it doesn’t seem like the wound’s healed in the slightest; the desire for revenge is understandable, but I just don’t buy that he’d still be so wound up than he’d ignore governmental orders. Still, the horseback scene between him and Eric was nice and tense, and in the end, it looks like Jake’s at least going to make an attempt at being on board, since he accepts Beck’s offer to serve as Jericho’s sheriff.

Next week: the President of the United States is coming to town. Everybody look busy!