Revolution

Posted by The TV Critic on 18 September 2012 | 6 Comments

Tags: Revolution

Revolution - 101 - Pilot

This was terrible, just terrible. “Revolution” is a show about a world where electricity disappeared one day. That’s it. Now fifteen years in the future everything’s gone medieval. People ride horses, fight with swords and spend their time farming.

Now can we get to the important bit? Ok so “Revolution” makes the same mistakes that every new network drama show has made since “Lost.”

- The characters are paper thin. And unlike some of the “Lost” imitators the acting is poor throughout.

- There is no time spent on anything. We don’t get any extended scenes to take in the new scenery of a changed world. We get no characters demonstrating their personalities through time on screen. The main characters father dies and two scenes later she is off to save her brother with a minor character cracking jokes. No time for mourning or questioning I guess.

- The big bad guy knows all the good guys. They all knew each other before the lights went out. Oooh, doesn’t that make it all more interesting? No. It makes it all feel completely implausible.

- Everyone is really attractive and impeccably turned out despite living in a world without hot water.

- The show has a lot of violence but of course there is zero consequence to anything that happens.

- The reason for the electricity going out is probably a conspiracy and is certainly going to be an ongoing mystery. Yay!  

Basically “Revolution” spends its pilot setting up a dynamic of bad guys chasing good guys. No one stands out, everything is bland and samey. You’ve seen it all before on “Terra Nova” or “V.”

The underlying problem is network television. The network formula demands a plucky group of characters who can have weekly adventures. And apparently there’s no room in that for characterisation or any depth to the fascinating question of what life would be like if all energy disappeared.

I appreciate that you may have read this review and been frustrated by the lack of commentary on the actual stories or actors involved. But what would be the point? You may not like “The Walking Dead” but it’s a world that really feels changed by its apocalypse. When characters say “It’s dangerous out there” they really mean it. On “Revolution” what they mean is “It’s dangerous out there but you’ll probably be saved from anything bad by a hunky stranger at the last second.” Brilliant.