So the episode begins with the townsfolk of Jericho preparing to take a stand against the invading hordes from New Bern (who looked to already be plenty well-equipped with about a dozen trucks full of men before Phil Constantino said, “Let’s go get the rest of them”), and Heather not actually dead after all…but pretty damned close to it, based on the looks of the car wreck she just barely managed to survive.

What a way to begin the season…but hopefully not series…finale of “Jericho.” I know I’ve said this several times over the past few weeks, but, man, it’s gonna be a damned shame if the show doesn’t come back, given how incredibly good it’s gotten at the tail end of this season. I’m notoriously optimistic, but even so, after this week, I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to suggest that the producers have finally found their groove.

The tension of Hawkins being traced by Thomas Valenti provides a nice counterpoint to the Jericho / New Bern warfare, and, also for the first time ever, Hawkins’ wife actually contributes something to a discussion rather than just moaning about what an awful husband she has. The tank finally makes its reappearance, and – finally! – the U.S. Military rears its head! Oh, wait, never mind, check out the flag. This might be the military, but it ain’t the US Government…or, at least, not the same one that was around in those lazy, hazy pre-bomb days.

Johnston gets possibly the best line he’s had all season when, after surprising Jake by taking the news of Hawkins’ spy satellite in stride, he states plainly, “I am about to go to war with New Bern, Kansas, the home of the nearest Costco. Today is already just about as weird as I can handle; I’m not asking any more questions.” Too bad it ends up being one of his last lines ever.

You could pretty much tell from the preview of this episode last week that Gerald McRaney’s name would be leaving the credits soon, but, even so, his death scene was effective, as was the notably different reactions of both Jake and Eric, with the former trying (if not entirely succeeding) to hold in his emotion and the latter unabashedly letting it all hang out. I particularly liked the way they chose to simply draw back the camera as Gail approached Johnston’s body , as if it was more important to give a wife privacy for her final farewell to her husband than to actually enact the events onscreen. Lastly, I thought Skeet Ulrich gave a really solid performance as he showed how, in a time of war, you don’t have time to grieve for as long as you’d like.

The flashback sequences, back to Eric’s wedding, were nice and sentimental without being desperately schmaltzy (if you’ve even been a part of a wedding, you know those gigs are a haven for spontaneous sentimentality), but the best bit was that we finally (if briefly) met Jake’s grandpa, whose general presence has been felt since the very first episode of “Jericho.” It was a nice way of bringing the series full circle, just in case it doesn’t manage to return next season. Of course, it was even nicer than Gramps was played by none other than David Huddleston, who you may know less by his name than by his previous roles: Kevin Arnold’s grandpa on “The Wonder Years,” and Jeffrey Lebowski in “The Big Lebowski.” And if you’re still not sure who I’m talking about, well, hell, here’s a picture of me standing next to him, taken at the 2007 Williamsburg Film Festival, in Williamsburg, VA:

Grandpa’s best line: “Come on, Johnston: this Scotch ain’t gonna drink itself!”

Even the Stanley & Mimi relationship manages to pull off a few good moments, such as when they stand with Bonnie next to Stanely and Bonnie’s parents’ grave, and Stanley introduces his girlfriend by saying, “Remember I told you about that witch from the IRS, the one who wanted to take everything you’ve ever worked for? Mom, Dad, this is Mimi.” (It’s also funny when Mimi uncertainly begins to address the deceased, comments how much she’s enjoyed living with them, and Stanley pretends to be chagrined that she’s let the cat out of the bag. “We’re not married!” he hisses, before breaking into a grin.) Possibly for the first time ever, Stanley and Mimi actually feel like a real couple rather than one who exist solely as an excuse to string together romantic cliches.

So, anyway, show’s over…but is there anything more to see here? To be blunt, there fucking well better be. At the very least, CBS owes us a TV movie to wrap up some loose ends…but as far as I’m concerned, “Jericho” has earned a second season.

It took ’em long enough, mind you…but, oh, yes, they definitely earned it.