Revolution 2.08 Review: There Are No Miracles, Only Hard Work

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Revolution, titled ‘Come Blow Your Horn’, that is what I suggest you do before proceeding ahead. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Not the strongest episode of this season so far. It wasn’t all that bad, but it felt more or less like a filler. Maybe it’s because there wasn’t quite enough Monroe for my liking, or because it just didn’t feel complete enough, but that’s what I feel this episode was.

This week we had Miles, Charlie, and Rachel working together, getting Intel on Horn and trying to build a bomb to take him out. Up until the point where Aaron and Cynthia were captured, I was enjoying it. But then Monroe left them behind and there were too many men for them to get away, so Aaron and Cynthia ended up with Horn and it was too late for Rachel to take out the building. That disappointed me because I was looking forward to Horn’s death. I really hate the guy. Not the kind of hate where I wish they’d never been brought into the series, but the Umbridge kind of hate where there’s no redeeming quality for the character, I don’t even feel bad for his “sob story”. The man is inherently evil, as if he has no soul; he has to be a psychopath, or at least sociopath. I really hate him. I sincerely hope he ends up dead from the promo for the next episode.

Over on the Neville side of things, Tom goes for Allenford’s husband while Jason watches over the Mrs. I have to say that the man who plays Roger in this episode has an air of Johnny Depp to him. I think it’s the eyes. I do enjoy watching Neville’s ambitious side take over; he really wants to take these Patriots down. But I’m still looking more forward to when these two stories aren’t so clearly divided. Both teams are working at different sides, and it’s interesting for now, I’m just looking forward to the drama of everything coming together.

I’m very curious to what the overall objective of this first half of the season is all about. Discovering more about Aaron? Because I’m kind of over his whole nanotech story. It’s a little too much for me, as curious as I am about why he’s able to control the tech. Taking down the Patriots? That seems like it could turn out to be a season long – if not series long – objective for this show. The amount of planning that has gone into these people’s intentions is too complex to be solved so quickly, as dumb as they are when it comes to keeping their buildings safe. I mean, come on, why wouldn’t they think of patrolling the roofs, or at least watching them from the ground? So I’m curious to figure out what this story arc is supposed to be, because I can’t see it yet, and we’re eight episodes in. Was it to redeem Monroe or something? Because that doesn’t seem like it’s enough.

While I still think this series is my favourite returning show of the season, this wasn’t its best episode. I do like this season a lot more than I liked last season, although I did enjoy it. This season I just feel like I have the need to watch the show, rather than the desire to watch it. Last season was very much the beginning to, hopefully, many seasons of this series. It was just the set up, I’m trusting Abrams and Kripke to have a great series long arc. Just please give me more Monroe and Charlie, particularly together, and throw in some teaming up with Miles too, with lots of fighting. Those are my favourite parts. Also, don’t be afraid to pair up Charlie and Monroe; there may be a large age difference – kind of – but they have great chemistry. That’s just my two cents.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Okay, woah, okay, okay. Just don’t light me on fire or anything.” – Monroe says to Aaron as they argue.

“They’ve got dogs. When the hell did they get dogs?” – Miles questions, regarding the Patriots. Hilariously executed, something Burke is amazing at.

“We wouldn’t last three days without you.” – Aaron pleads with Monroe. “You think three?” – Monroe rebuts.

Okay, I’m off to watch American Horror Story: Coven now, which I hope has better cinematography than last week. I’m going to try my best not to be too tired, so that I can write the review before bed tonight. So stick around.

Revolution 2.07 Review: Betrayal of the Worst Kind

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘The Patriot Act’, here is where I will suggest that you go do that before proceeding ahead. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

First off, can I just say how happy I am that Monroe is still alive? Although, come on, if they’d have killed him off they would be complete morons. Otherwise, I enjoyed large bulks of this episode, getting to see behind the eyes of Dr. Porter’s past, but there are some things leading me to believe we’re going to see less of the gang all together for a little while.

While I’m not the biggest fan of this whole Aaron controlling the nanites storyline, at least they saved his life as well as kept him and his girlfriend from being caught. It was nice to see Aaron in this episode, a character that has finally gotten backbone by telling Miles he will not leave Cynthia behind, and they better figure out a way of bringing her along. It makes me proud of the character growth he has developed just over two seasons.

Although I can understand the reasoning behind Gene’s decision to become a Patriot, standing by and watching such travesties go on for your own selfish gain is terrible. Yes, he was doing so he wouldn’t have to watch his townspeople die of diseases, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. When I heard him listening into their conversation, all I though was, ‘Shit. This is why you don’t trust vents!’ But I am thankful that he didn’t rat them out – at first. Although both himself and Rachel could take a page from Neville in being able to lie convincingly, because it was so obvious that he was hiding something.

Speaking of Neville, I have to say that I am glad he was able to bring Jason back, as far as we can currently tell. I do think that Neville was holding his gun weird during that search of the buildings, and then those boys were definitely terrible shots. That father-son moment though, where Jason is covered in blood and a look passes between them was brilliantly subtle yet moving all the same. I think that this entire reason they wrote Jason into this, was so that his damaged character would be on a similar playing field with Charlie again. Although I’m still desperately hoping they forgo that for Bass/Charlie, but something tells me they’re going to ignore that exceptional amount of chemistry, although I’ll hold out hope until this series ends, just give them more scenes together.

A few other things to note, one being how they were saying Rachel’s mom died from cholera. Who knew something like that could happen there, even without power, seeing as it took this long to introduce this type of story? Also, I once again have to say how much I love Monroe and the fact that he is on Miles’ side again. I am desperately hoping for more bromance between them, and scenes of fighting for the cause with Monroe, Charlie, and Miles. Don’t get me wrong, Charlie and her mom had a nice moment in this episode, but Rachel is still too heavily involved in this series for my liking. That whole moment, too, where Bass has to sit down after killing those two men was just great. Also, note to self: don’t ever alarm Aaron to the point of desperation or anger, he will burn you up. He also has a terrible last name.

All in all, there were some exciting points to this episode. I still wish for more of what I love (anything between Bass, Charlie, and Miles), but I’m a selfish viewer. I really hope the way they’re going with this Aaron story doesn’t get too hokey, otherwise I may skip passed those parts for better things, and I’d really hate to do that. I’ll just have to put my trust in Kripke that he knows what he’s doing; he did, after all, give me the best seasons of Supernatural under his tutelage.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“You missed me. You’re my best friend.” – Monroe says to Miles, while still loopy.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me.” – Monroe exclaims after reading what Miles was sending to him with the light.

“Unless we can charge Aaron out of the wall Kool Aid style, I’m out of ideas.” – Miles exasperates.

“You gonna go all macho on me now? You only got one hand.” – Aaron says to Miles.

“So that’s what fifteen year old crap smells like.” – Aaron states after the manhole is opened.

Okay, I’m off to go write up my so-not-glowing review of American Horror Story: Coven. Stay tuned for that. Later, reviews of The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Crazy Ones. So stick around.

Revolution 2.06 Review: Death Illuminates Our Lives

For all those that have yet to watch Wednesday night’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘Dead Man Walking’, I suggest you go and do so now. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

This week’s episode wasn’t bad. It was very Monroe centric, which I loved being that next to Charlie he’s my favourite character. I absolutely adore him, and not just because I think the actor is attractive as all hell. David Lyons is just so amazing as this character, especially this season working alongside Charlie and Miles. His character has really been able to be developed, although I’m not sure how well I believe what spurred him on the path to being the Monroe of last season was losing his child and wife (was she his wife?). Still, I did enjoy seeing the range of his character.

One thing I’m not too fond of this season is Secretary Allenford. Her character just didn’t seem believable to me. I didn’t feel like she had actually lost her son to the camps, or that she would have been so convincingly for the Patriots in the beginning, and would just switch all of the sudden to be against the camps. So, I think the writing has gone a little back and forth, and just hasn’t figured out her character.

There wasn’t near enough Charlie this week. To go from someone being a big part of the first season, to throwing her over for her mother’s stories is just moronic to me. She has grown to be such an intriguing character this season, and her chemistry with Monroe is just palpable that I can’t help but want more of her, and especially of the two of them together. Which is probably why I’m not all gung ho about meeting Monroe’s son, being that they’d be more likely to work him and Charlie together than Monroe and Charlie. But alas, I’ll just have to see.

Rachel’s character I’m started to getting really annoyed with. There’s too much of her, and she’s just not a strong enough character. Charlie was completely right in the episode when she told her that she always thinks she’s the smartest and that she’s right, even when she’s dead wrong. About the only redeeming quality in her I’d see is if she actually swapped the drug that was supposed to kill Monroe to the drug that makes it appear as though someone is dead. Because he better not be dead, I’ll lose way too much interest in this series if he’s actually dead when there’s so much more story to him.

A few other things I wasn’t too fond of in this episode was how Miles knew about Monroe’s son, and hid him from him. Why would he do that and still stay with Miles for as long as he did? Also, Aaron’s storyline is getting a little too wonky for my taste. What is the believability that technology just chose him, randomly, for absolutely no reason? I just can’t see it. The third thing was how Jason was written into one of the camps. He just doesn’t seem like someone that would sway so easily, when he’d given up his rank in the Monroe Republic last season for Charlie. Which, by the way, pairing I was never too fond of, but I’d still like to see them bump into each other and to have awkwardness ensue. Monroe really hit it home when he said Neville would be good for their plan, and Jason definitely needs to tag along.

All in all, I liked this episode. Sad that the big reveal was that Rachel’s father is part of the Patriots, but it definitely leads the series in an intriguing direction. Betrayal from a loved one is incredibly damaging, and I can definitely see that happening. The only thing that will make me happier is if Monroe was alive, and if they hadn’t had him caught so quickly and easily. Plus the fact that Texas threw in their hat with the Patriots, but what’s done is done.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Line:

“We’ll discuss that later.” – Monroe says to his wife (girlfriend?) after she tells him she’s never having sex with him again while in labour.

My extreme apologies for this being out two days later than it should’ve been. I’ve had a really bad week with buying my first car, more stress than there should’ve been, and not sleeping because of that. So I had watched this Wednesday night, I just didn’t get around to reviewing it because I had to be up early every day this week. But here it is. Aside from Friday’s shows, I’m all caught up with watching, I just have to review Nashville next, then American Horror Story: Coven, then The Crazy Ones, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Vampire Diaries. So I have a lot more writing to get to. Stay tuned.

Revolution 2.05 Review: The Devil You Know

For all those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘One Riot, One Ranger’, I suggest you go do so immediately or exit this screen. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Okay, so for the most part – that being apart from Neville and his son – the group’s all back together again. I have to say that I quite enjoyed Miles and Monroe working together again, with Charlie smack dab in the middle. Seeing the way they fit together, being that they spent so much time in each other’s lives, both as partners and enemies, is always fun to watch.

While the rest of this episode wasn’t quite as good as others, getting to see more of Charlie and Monroe was worth the wasted time. I mean, really, they’re both so awesome and they work surprisingly well together. Last year, I wasn’t much of a fan of Monroe, but without all of these people working for him, doing wrong, he’s a much better character. And let’s get one thing straight, there’s no way they’re killing him off, that would just be plain stupid.

As opposed to other weeks, I don’t have much to comment on about this episode. I do have to say that once again, I cannot stand how Rachel walks. Let’s just say it reminds me of a lumberjack, or a large man. Also, kind of like a monkey. At the end, there were a few too close close-ups. I’m all for the use of them, but too close is a little repellent. One thing I did like was the face Aaron gave Miles as he passed him and goes on to comment about Monroe. Oh, and Charlie’s face when Aaron says he’s glad to see her, in person he means.

Definitely enjoying this season more than last, although I did like last season. I just think Charlie’s become a much better character, and that somehow Aaron has gotten snarkier. Kripke is pretty masterful in his early seasons of shows. I say that being primarily a fan of the first three seasons of Supernatural, while still liking four and five, just not as much. I’m very much hoping this series gets another season, but it really does need a later time.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“You’re a handicapable schmuck.” – Monroe declares Miles to be, after seeing his hand.

“It’s a smile, dumbass.” – Cynthia tells Aaron, in a flashback scene.

“Well I guess it is Butch and Sundance.” – Monroe says to Miles, referring to an earlier scene.

“You guys are just saying cities.” – Charlie exclaims, about Monroe and Miles’s plan of attack.

“Son of a…” – Charlie mutters, after being thrown a gun and told to cover Miles and Monroe.

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I’m off to go watch American Horror Story: Coven now. I’m going to try and write the review up after, but no promises. In case I don’t, check back in tomorrow for review of Grey’s Anatomy, The Crazy Ones, The Vampire Diaries, and Once Upon A Time in Wonderland. Plus, hopefully my sixth straight week of Best Performances of the Week.

Revolution 2.04 Review: You Can't Fix Everything, But You Can Try

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘Patriot Games’, then I suggest you either do so now, or back away from the screen. As always, this not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Decent episode this week. I really liked the way it opened, with Charlie in the bar. She would’ve been able to take the four men (okay, probably), but one of them had slipped something in her drink. But, yay, Monroe to the rescue! Possibly my favourite still of the episode, Monroe after having just burst into the room, breaking the lock on the door. That whole scene of him slicing and dicing those men, simply fantastic.

My favourite scenes in each episode are still the ones between Monroe and Charlie, but there doesn’t seem to be enough of them. There’s a strange sort of chemistry to them that I just adore. But from the looks of the promo for next week, the writers are going to go back to the chemistry between Rachel and him. Can I just say, ugh? This series is beginning to focus too much on Rachel.

That was my problem with this episode, too much Rachel. I preferred her a little more last season, when the focus wasn’t largely surrounding her. I get, she’s a genius (or at least she comes across as one), but she’s a little annoying that way. Plus, she kind of walks like a caveman, but that’s beside the point. I just, I don’t like that the last few episodes have focused a large part on her. I wouldn’t mind it so much if it was every few episodes, but it’s like the writers are giving her more attention in exchange for Charlie’s time, and I prefer Charlie scenes.

Back to the episode, while Neville is a ridiculously amazing liar (and really needs to give Rachel some tips), Rachel is not. In that scene with Ken, it was so obvious, even to the casual observer, that she’d noticed something wrong with the situation and was trying to get out of it. But instead of knocking Ken out with that fire stick, she decides it’s better to blind him. In his own place of business. Where he’d know the layout much better than her. Even in the dark. Still, commendable of her for pulling the ol’ break the thumb to get out of the handcuffs. I don’t know if I could manage through that kind of pain on myself, even with imminent death on the horizon, but who knows?

I have to say, I was a little disappointed with how Ken turned out. The last few episodes he seemed so suspicious and observant, and he just turns out to be a Patriot. Definitely leaves the audience with the desire to suspect any our core characters come into contact with, but I wish he’d been able to stick around for a little while. Plus, I kind of liked the guy. But you never know what people are hiding; I suppose that’s what the writers are trying to teach us.

Another thing, while Titus died during this hour of television for sure, I could’ve sworn he’d been killed last week. Hadn’t the man he’d spoke of as Judas stabbed him or something? Perhaps his death was not depicted on screen, but it appeared pretty damn obvious it was about to happen. Maybe the guy had just meant to take him to the train, to be killed off in due time. I don’t know, I just felt like he’d been killed and was disappointed he hadn’t had a more integral story.

This whole façade the Patriots are clinging to hide the fact that they are controlling the people of Willoughby is very well planned out. Isn’t that the fear of the many, that we who have clung to freedom will end up losing it? Maybe that’s just for those that have fought in war for our freedom, but I know it is depicted a lot in novels and young adult books. Anyway you put, the way it’s being written is quite well done and thought out.

So, Aaron is able to see through the eyes of the fireflies and control the things in the air that stopped the power, but has no way of controlling that ability. I’m not sure how I feel about this new development. It’s a little too out there, in relation to this show. I was able to get behind them bringing Aaron back to life, because I really didn’t want him to be dead, but this is a little too far of a reach. But we’ll see how it develops.

While this was a little too much the same in respect to the last weeks, and I’d expected a bit more development by now, I am excited for next week. This series does remain my favourite returning series of all.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“You can’t fix everything.” – Rachel’s dad tells her.

“Can you make your eyes water like that, just… at will?” – Charlie asks Monroe, after he puts on the waterworks about his past misdeeds.

“Where. Is. My. Son?” – Neville enunciates.

Okay, folks, I’m off to go watch American Horror Story: Coven. Stay tuned for the review of that in about an hour or so.