One Line Summary: A post-apocalyptic narrative that speculates on the world fifteen years after all sources of electro-mechanical power fail.
Episode theme in a question: “What do we do now?”
Short Recap: The pilot episode begins with a frantic man rushing into his house, ordering his wife to fill bathtubs with water. We watch as the two prepare for some disaster and as the man, named Ben, warns his brother (by phone) that everything is going to turn off, we start to see the worldwide power failure, replete with planes falling from the sky and crashing to the earth in spectacular explosions, and a beautiful shot of the earth as it goes dark. The following sequence opens fifteen years later with an exposition narrative by Aaron and a view of an agrarian landscape, reminiscent of a Williamsburg trip, with a village full of penned animals, handmade clothes, and crude weaponry. The episode sets up three storylines: the death of Ben and capture of his son, Danny, which leads Ben’s daughter Charlie to start a quest to find her uncle so she can rescue her brother, and of course she is accompanied by ragtag duo of villagers (the hot doctor and the smart geek); the imperialism of General Monroe, who happens to be the former best friend and fellow marine to Ben’s brother Miles, who is the stereotypical Byronic anti-hero who wants nothing to do with the quest but of course is drawn into it nevertheless; and the mystery of the amulet necklace, which seems to be a source of power and the one possession that Ben wanted to protect against discovery and is now being carried around by Aaron (smart geek) and has a counterpart with Grace, the feisty gun-toting farmhouse lady.
Review: I will admit that I went into this viewing really wanting to like the show. It’s produced by three of my favorite writer/producers: JJ Abrams, Jon Favreau, and Eric Kripke and I expected a lot. And I was not disappointed, although I do fear that the production value set during the first episode will be hard to maintain throughout the season. Yet, LOST did it, so perhaps NBC and Revolution can do it as well.
This review will not be a recap. I think it is best to leave that type of writing to other bloggers. My particular interest is in some of the questions that were introduced by the pilot, which I hope to see explored as we move through the season. I will lay out these questions below:
1. What caused the power to fail? Now the science geek in me wonders why all mechanical energy has somehow failed, but that’s for another day. Within the story we can assume that Ben, his wife, and the farmhouse woman know something about the amulet and the power failure. We can’t be sure what Miles knows, and that is definitely a plot device for suspense value. We know that the power has not totally failed since the amulet booted up the computer and light bulb at the end of the pilot, so the question is why hide the power supply? What is the danger of turning the power back on? It can’t simply be General Monroe’s imperial goals. Side note: The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 helped facilitate the US concept of Manifest Destiny, which led to the colonization of the West, the final frontier.
2. What happened to the relationship between Sebastian and Miles? We know that the two men were colleagues and friends, so one has to wonder what happened to turn the relationship and when that relationship turned? I will not be surprised if we get flashbacks of them working together in the immediate aftermath and perhaps even starting towards imperial goals together. I will be interested to see how this gets unpacked because I think that storyline may have the most emotional impact for the overall plot.
3. Was she really an Algebra teacher? We know there is more than one amulet, and I’m telling you that those things probably all have to be brought together to do something. It’s a Kripke trope (see Horsemen’s rings in Season Five of Supernatural ). However, I am intrigued by Grace, the farmhouse woman, since I think she was lying about her profession “before the blackout.” And that leads to another question, what happened to her asthmatic son?
4. Elizabeth Mitchell’s character can’t be dead. Okay, not so much a question but dammit, she better not be dead. She better have been left behind and thought dead. I will not abide another dead Elizabeth Mitchell character in my television life. No! (I love you, Juliet. Forever.)
There are more questions, of course, and as the season progresses I will explore those. But these seemed good ones to start out with. I’ll be curious to see what your questions are and if the answers will get a LOST and Supernatural treatment, i.e. left to swing loose in the wind.
Snark Alert: Of course, I can’t not review this episode without a serious dose of sarcasm. It’s how I enjoy most of my shows. So here are some of my snark alerts:
1. Ben, Charlie, Miles, Aaron….I’m back on the island, people. You know someone had to stop the writers from naming General Monroe as Sawyer. They compromised on Sebastian. Sebastian better have some kickass pop culture references is all I’m saying.
2. Kripke was here: “We’re family.” Gloriously beautiful muscle car. Drunken former soldier. Pretty siblings.
3. Abrams was here: Chubby geek boy. Plot that will end in purgatory? Beautiful blond doctor. Crashing airplanes. His name on the credits while everyone else writes the story.
4. So when do we start the Reaping? And where the hell are the mockingjays?!
5. Where the hell were they living? Were they in the south or where the hell? These people walked and traveled on foot in times that I think defy quantum physics. Perhaps the power didn’t go out…they were just transported to an alternative universe where a southern farmhouse seems relatively close to a civil war battlefield and Chicago, of course.
6. It’s War Games! Do you want to play thermonuclear war? Or the 2012 version, which would be “Do you want to play Googlopocalypse? Let’s shut down World of Warcraft!”
Whackass Speculation for the Week that will be Disproved: What if Grace wasn’t talking to someone via the computer….what if she was talking to the computer? Huh, right? What if the power failure is caused by the rise of the machines? <gasp>
Possible Ships: Nate/Charlie, Nora/Miles, Miles/Sebastian, Danny/Nate, Danny/Death, Aaron/Charmin
Enjoyment Level: I liked it. I re-watched it. I still liked it.
Viewing Prediction: I look forward to watching it next week.
I really wanted to like it too, but I thought it was just okay. I’m having a hard time getting into the premise. I guess we’ll have to see more episodes to see if anything changes, but I don’t get why they’ve regressed pretty much back to medieval times. Why can’t they build a water wheel? Or a steam engine? Don’t need electricity for that.
Plus, while the actors that played the adults were all really good, I thought the younger actors really need some work. Especially the kid that played the militia guy that infiltrates the group and then helps Charlie out. I thought he was just awful.
Also, I really think they’re going to wind up changing the timeslot, because, while I know that the initial numbers were good, I can’t see it doing well once Castle and Hawaii Five-0 premiere. I know that I’ll be watching Five-0, but I’ll give Revolution a few more episodes and see how it goes.
Hi Stephanie!
I had the biggest issue with the idea that all mechanical power somehow is gone. It’s a little anvilish in its critique of modern life, but I am going to give them that….for a little while at least.
Nate, the young infiltrator, seemed not fully fleshed out to me. I think he’s trying to figure out the character and that shows. I’m also hesitant about Charlie, but again, this is so much plot that it may need a few episodes to grab its acting feet. And of course, for me, all things are made better by Billy Burke (Miles).
I think the Monday 10pm timeslot will be difficult; they were smart to premiere before H-50 and Castle season premieres, but with DWTS and Castle back next week especially, I think the numbers will go down. I’m curious to see what it does in Live +7 ratings as well.
Thanks for commenting!
Linda
I really wanted to like it too, but I thought it was just okay. I’m having a hard time getting into the premise. I guess we’ll have to see more episodes to see if anything changes, but I don’t get why they’ve regressed pretty much back to medieval times. Why can’t they build a water wheel? Or a steam engine? Don’t need electricity for that.
Plus, while the actors that played the adults were all really good, I thought the younger actors really need some work. Especially the kid that played the militia guy that infiltrates the group and then helps Charlie out. I thought he was just awful.
Also, I really think they’re going to wind up changing the timeslot, because, while I know that the initial numbers were good, I can’t see it doing well once Castle and Hawaii Five-0 premiere. I know that I’ll be watching Five-0, but I’ll give Revolution a few more episodes and see how it goes.
Hi Stephanie!
I had the biggest issue with the idea that all mechanical power somehow is gone. It’s a little anvilish in its critique of modern life, but I am going to give them that….for a little while at least.
Nate, the young infiltrator, seemed not fully fleshed out to me. I think he’s trying to figure out the character and that shows. I’m also hesitant about Charlie, but again, this is so much plot that it may need a few episodes to grab its acting feet. And of course, for me, all things are made better by Billy Burke (Miles).
I think the Monday 10pm timeslot will be difficult; they were smart to premiere before H-50 and Castle season premieres, but with DWTS and Castle back next week especially, I think the numbers will go down. I’m curious to see what it does in Live +7 ratings as well.
Thanks for commenting!
Linda
Hey, what if Grace WAS a machine? Since I first heard about the series I assumed it was an EMP. I read a book awhile back with similar themes. I am not so sure now.
I liked it well enough to watch it a few more times but it hasn’t grabbed me yet. I do like the idea of kickass females in the lead. Loved Billy Burke and Elizabeth Mitchell. I hope she is not dead also. That woman dies more on tv than Jeffery Dean Morgan did!
Thanks for the review, Bookdal.
I thought it was EMP too. I’m wondering if it’s a continuous emp rather than one actual burst? I have a feeling that whatever is going on that it’s being sustained by somebody or somebodies. I could be totally off base though.
I wonder if the power thing will be Sebastian’s Holy Grail? And the reason why he’s probably crazy. I have a feeling his Napoleon crazy.
Hey, what if Grace WAS a machine? Since I first heard about the series I assumed it was an EMP. I read a book awhile back with similar themes. I am not so sure now.
I liked it well enough to watch it a few more times but it hasn’t grabbed me yet. I do like the idea of kickass females in the lead. Loved Billy Burke and Elizabeth Mitchell. I hope she is not dead also. That woman dies more on tv than Jeffery Dean Morgan did!
Thanks for the review, Bookdal.
I thought it was EMP too. I’m wondering if it’s a continuous emp rather than one actual burst? I have a feeling that whatever is going on that it’s being sustained by somebody or somebodies. I could be totally off base though.
I wonder if the power thing will be Sebastian’s Holy Grail? And the reason why he’s probably crazy. I have a feeling his Napoleon crazy.
oddly enough, I don’t think it was emp, I lean toward something far more sinister–these people have been sent back to the jurassic period (maybe we’ll see dinosaurs!) oopsy, snark lock engaged… but I get the feeling that someone turned off the power to stop something far worse. I also got the impression they weren’t that far away from Chicago. Rachel and Ben’s house was outside of chicago–it was Miles that was down in the Carolinas when it went off. but Ben can’t be in the same place he was before because the militia would have found him. he may have left and then returned figuring right under their noses is the last place they’d look for him….or he could have purposely come out of the woodwork because it was time for whatever phase two initiative was to happen…I guess we will find out a bit about this. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us!
I’m pretty sure it’s something that was either planned or predicted. It reminds me somewhat of the 2012 movie; perhaps they were aware of a natural phenomenon or electronic glitch that would occur. Yeah, I was thinking that Aaron made a point of saying that the smart people got out of the city, and the first shots seemed to have Ben/Rachel living near the city.
I think there is a larger conspiracy, now the question is what happens if you turn the power back on? Because I think that’s the real fear.
oddly enough, I don’t think it was emp, I lean toward something far more sinister–these people have been sent back to the jurassic period (maybe we’ll see dinosaurs!) oopsy, snark lock engaged… but I get the feeling that someone turned off the power to stop something far worse. I also got the impression they weren’t that far away from Chicago. Rachel and Ben’s house was outside of chicago–it was Miles that was down in the Carolinas when it went off. but Ben can’t be in the same place he was before because the militia would have found him. he may have left and then returned figuring right under their noses is the last place they’d look for him….or he could have purposely come out of the woodwork because it was time for whatever phase two initiative was to happen…I guess we will find out a bit about this. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us!
I’m pretty sure it’s something that was either planned or predicted. It reminds me somewhat of the 2012 movie; perhaps they were aware of a natural phenomenon or electronic glitch that would occur. Yeah, I was thinking that Aaron made a point of saying that the smart people got out of the city, and the first shots seemed to have Ben/Rachel living near the city.
I think there is a larger conspiracy, now the question is what happens if you turn the power back on? Because I think that’s the real fear.
Kripke was here, no doubt. Seriously- no dead Elizabeth Mitchell, please, please! Charlie reminds me of Katniss, period. The acting wasn’t very great but maybe it will be better in the later episodes, once the actors settle into their roles. I’ll watch Revolution just because of Kripke- we all know what a magnificent bastard that man can be.
Kripke was here, no doubt. Seriously- no dead Elizabeth Mitchell, please, please! Charlie reminds me of Katniss, period. The acting wasn’t very great but maybe it will be better in the later episodes, once the actors settle into their roles. I’ll watch Revolution just because of Kripke- we all know what a magnificent bastard that man can be.