Revolution 2.10 Review: Family Matters

This is your one and only friendly reminder from me to you that, if you haven’t watched tonight’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘Three Amigos’, then now would be a splendid time to go and do so before proceeding ahead. For this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Honestly, I’m somewhat surprised at just how much I am enjoying this season of this series. Sure, I liked the first season a great deal, but I’m loving this season. This year is continuously growing into something addictive that I keep feeling the need to devour, and yet I am still hungry for more. That’s just how great this series is becoming, and this week’s episode was no exception.

This week’s 2014 premiere episode after the Christmas break had Charlie and Monroe rescuing Rachel’s dad so that he could save Miles’s life. Monroe did this so that Miles would tell him where he’d hidden his son, to which Miles takes Monroe on the trek towards Mexico, taking Rachel along in fear of what might happen with just the two of them involved. They eventually find his son Connor, a twenty-five year old man (which likely puts Monroe at about forty-three, forty-four – despite the actor’s actual age of thirty-seven) in charge of thirty men apart of a drug cartel. Now, Monroe only wants to talk with his son – and why wouldn’t he when he didn’t even know the kid had existed until just a few months ago? But Monroe is mostly hoping that he can help the kid pick up where he left things off with the Republic he’d been in control of, even though the guy seems to want nothing to do with him. Now, we didn’t really get to see much interaction between this father and son duo, but already I’m excited for more. Still, I’m kind of hoping they don’t try the route of setting things up between Charlie and Connor – who is cute, but the dazzling chemistry between Monroe and Charlie needs to be explored. Besides, despite how they are similarly damaged Charlie and Connor are, I think Charlie needs a more mature man in her life because let’s be honest, she was the caretaker of her brother and thus took on a motherly role with him. And after that, there’s no going backwards in responsibility.

And speaking of Charlie, her grandfather, Aaron and her were left behind when Miles, Bass, and Rachel took off in search of Bass’s son – to which I was a little disappointed Charlie was left behind because I really want more screen time between her and Monroe, but I can understand the writing standpoint behind this. Aaron soon scampered off on his own quest, and in Charlie and her grandfather attempting to track him down, Gene happened upon some seemingly nefarious traffic going on between the Patriots and some townspeople. When Charlie and Gene intercept the last wagon with mystery cargo, they find – of all things – oranges. Now, we soon learn that the Patriots are dosing these oranges with something, but our heroes do not know this, nor do we know what exactly they are spiking these fruits with. My guess, something to help brainwash them with, to make sure even the most unsure are complacent, or some kind of back up plan they can use if all things don’t go well. But I’m not exactly expecting my theory to be right, so we’ll have to wait and see.

Our two final storylines concern Aaron and the Neville’s, separately that is. In the final minutes Aaron travels to Spring City, Oklahoma – and come on, we all knew that was where he was going – where he happens upon none other than Grace, one of the people that was apart of the same project as Rachel that managed to bring down electricity. Now, we have to wait until next week to see more between these two, but it does leave something to be pondered.

Then there were the Neville’s. Julia, pretending to be someone named Rebecca, constructed a rather meticulous plan – if I do say so myself – to get her actual husband Tom to take out the current Chief of Staff in order for her Rebecca husband take over the title, all to “help” Tom get promoted so that they can get what they deserve. Now, I’m not all that sure what her actual plan is, but I know it’s definitely not so that she can step down and become Tom’s wife again, even if he threatens to kill her Rebecca husband. That look of worry on her face when he says he’ll stab him, she’s obviously up to something else a little different that she hasn’t told Tom about. Also, their son Jason snuck in and read documents that the man that looks eerily similar to Johnny Depp worried over in his room. I’m rather curious to learn what will be on the papers, even if I’ve already forgotten what the triangular symbol means again.

Now, I have to say that episode had a very solid opening, quite enjoyable in my opinion. I especially enjoyed when Aaron told Gene off for trying to apologize to him about either betraying his own family, or Aaron and his now deceased girlfriend. The backbone Aaron’s character has slowly managed to grow is something I find incredible, definitely good character development.

This episode I found incredibly well written, from all the different stories that we hopped between but it still managed to keep my interest was rather well done. Some times, if these kinds of things aren’t done properly, the stories can become rather unconnected, and I didn’t get that here, the flow was perfectly on key. Not only that, but also the acting, and the dialogue, and the cinematography were all so good that I didn’t feel that there was even a weak link between any of it. It all managed to work so well together that I even found myself beginning to like Rachel this week; despite finding she has tried to overshadow the Charlie character all too much this season. So, basically, this series is becoming really top notch this season.

Monroe, he was really brilliant this week. I really found that everything his character did was very natural to this point in his story as well as to the overall seasonal story arc. Also, I absolutely adored the way Charlie’s name just kind of rolled off his tongue in that one comment he made (a line you can find below). I’m really forward to seeing these two’s relationship slowly develop. Sure, we may never fully get Charloe (Charlie and Monroe together, for all you non-shippers/ Internet language challenged), but I know that whatever screen time they manage to get together is something I will very much soak up and appreciate.

A couple final things I need to note. They have to do with the subtle moments that have little to do with dialogue, and everything to do with body language and facial movements. The first is to do with that smile that spreads across Charlie’s face when her grandfather asks he since when has she listened to what her mother has told her to do. Such a small moment that was expected after that rhetorical question, but something that helps to mold a character beautifully all the same. The second was that look Rachel gave both Miles and Monroe after the wagon driver spoke to her and patted next to him in the driving seat. That look of yeah-right, combined with oh-come-on and really? Something that so naturally occurs with women that fit just so well into that point in their adventure. I loved it.

All in all, this episode was incredible, and I can say that having been able to write a page worth amount of notes on it. Everything just fit so well together that it gave just enough to keep me interested, but not too much so that I might have felt overloaded with information. I really like that this series is able to manage all that it does, and it has a great deal to do with its writing staff and skilled actors. Honestly, I was counting down my hours at work knowing that once I got home it would be time for me to watch this, and it in no way disappointed. This is the kind of series that makes me know I want to be a television screenwriter. And makes me actually want to write a review.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Yeah, yeah, I’m alive.” – Monroe says to Gene.

“How you holding up, stumpy?” – Monroe questions Miles.

“I have to help you find your son after you killed mine.” – Rachel explains to Monroe after he asks her what her problem is.

“The jerk crisscrossed two creeks. He was paying more attention than I thought. Guess he doesn’t want to be found.” – Charlie says exasperatedly.

“Well, congratulations, you’ve made it to Mexico. Go enjoy the Mexican dream.” – Monroe ironically states.

“You asked for my help. What’d you think I was gonna do?” – Charlie replies to the incredulous look her grandfather gives her after she kills the two Patriot men.

“Because I’m Sebastian Monroe.” – Monroe says to his newfound son, explaining how he would know anything about commanding legions.

“Well, by that logic, Charlie’s going to grow up to end the world.” – Monroe retorts to Rachel.

Okay, that’s all for tonight’s folks. I’m going to go watch American Horror Story: Coven now, but I will not be reviewing it tonight. And by posting this, it does not mean I will not be reviewing Almost Human, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Trophy Wife, or Cougar Town, I just really wanted to watch and review this show more. Plus, I’ve only watched the first of those four shows this week, so I’ll be doing a bit of catch up tomorrow, plus reviewing The Crazy Ones. So check back in tomorrow night.

Revolution 2.09 Review: Love is a Powerful Motivator

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Revolution, entitled ‘Everyone Says I Love You’, now is your last chance to do so before proceeding ahead into spoiler territory. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Well, not as good an episode as I would’ve hoped, but it was decent enough. I think my only issue with it was that it felt so short and was a little anti-climactic. The episode could’ve run about twenty minutes longer and had a little more sword fighting and gun play than it did have. And also more quality Bass-Charlie time.

So we learned a few things about Aaron and the nanites this week. They were basically helping him because he was the one that woke them up and thus they felt they owed him for it. Not a bad way to explain it, but I do kind of hope that they’re gone now, if not for good than at least a while before we have to hear about it again. This season has been a bit too tech and science oriented than I would’ve liked. Give me some gruesome swordplay and fights any day.

One thing I really did like about this episode was that they did focus a little more on Charlie than they have in a few weeks. Although, even when she was in the scene, the focus of the camera got caught on Rachel a little too often. Rachel, in my opinion, was a lot better last season when she was a little more in the background than at the forefront. But at least they give me more Charlie than they have in a few weeks, I just wish – like I said – that she’d shared more scenes with Bass. Their glances at each other were a little too fleeting for my taste and were so focused on battle that I wasn’t able to see the chemistry that is ripe between them.

Another thing I am glad about is that Dr. Horn is dead. Thank God for that, and for killing Cynthia, she was a little too religious, good, and boring for my taste. There wasn’t much to her character other than to give Aaron someone to love. And Dr. Horn, he was getting a little too obviously desperate and wasn’t all that intriguing, so I’m really glad they’ve gotten rid of these characters. I honestly didn’t care enough for them as much as I did characters that were killed last season.

Basically, this half of the season leaves us with Miles unconscious from the infection – which we all know is not going to last because if they kill off Miles, there goes a chunk of the viewers of the show. Aaron lost Cynthia and is likely going to be in a dark place because the nanites have left him – but honestly, who cares? I like Aaron for his sense of humour, not the rest of this garbage. Rachel plans on going back for her father, and she’s going to have to if she wants Miles to live. Monroe will probably help only because Miles is the only one that knows where his son is. And Charlie is obviously going to help because the one thing she is big on is protecting her family. Also, we learned Tom Neville’s wife is alive, and now the Neville’s have some new scheme cooked up – but honestly, who cares if it keeps them away from the whole unit for much longer?

Overall, not a bad episode, I just expected a little more. The characters were mostly good, and the acting overall was satisfactory. One thing I was expecting was for Rachel to tell Miles she was pregnant in that flashback, but perhaps she found out later. I do swear Charlie is still his daughter, but I suppose they’re going to wait to finally reveal that one. Another thing, while the bangs did look good, they didn’t look good on Rachel. Nice hairstyle, just not for her. Also, it wasn’t convincing in de-aging her, and Miles didn’t look young enough either. But otherwise, this was a pretty good episode; it just sucks how long we’re going to have to wait for more.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I’m having a heart attack, that’s what I’m doing here. What’re you doing here?” – Aaron tells what he believes is a little boy.

“I’m Batman.” – Monroe states.

“You’re like a puppy holding a kitten.” – Monroe remarks on Miles having gone soft.

“We may die tomorrow, we’ll probably die today.” – Rachel says to Charlie, while saying she loves her.

Okay, just one more show to go. Check back soon for my review of American Horror Story: Coven.

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.