The Revolution pilot is online now...

[Gotham Central]

So the pilot for Revolution is available legitimately online now (only in the the US).

Watch it NOW

What I don't understand is why the world looks post apocalyptic? The loss of electricity would cause things to fall apart somewhat, but it should not mean that people suddenly forget how to make technology work.

Are the producers aware that the industrial revolution began almost a century before we started using electricity? The presence of fire means that these people are capable of boiling water and producing steam. Does oil and coal suddenly no longer burn? Instead of Chicago looking like an episode of Life After People...it should look like it did in the 19th century. We should see rail roads and lots of smoke stacks.

Revolution could be the ultimate steampunk adventure...but its not for some reason.

 

[Rhaven]

Sweet. I'll check it out when I get home.

 

[C_Miller]

I haven't seen it, but a lot of the upkeep we do on modern structures is done by electric means. I'm not sure how far in the future the main course of the narrative starts after the power goes out, but it makes sense in my head.

There would probably also be a lot of strife that could lead to some desolation.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

From everything I've read the bulk of the narrative takes place 15 years after the blackout.

 

[sojourner]

Anybody else recognize the campground from the season 2 finally of Walking Dead?

As for the technology thing, the one character teaching the children did mention that physics itself seemed to have changed, so maybe "steam punk" won't work.

Not a bad pilot. It could go up or down. I think the Hunger Games casting/characters is a little too strong.

 

[JD]

I watched it this morning and enjoyed it. It was mindblowingly good or anything, but I found it entertaining and plan to stick with it for the foreseeable future. I'm curious to see what the regular episodes are going to be like week to week.

 

[hyzmarca]

Does oil and coal suddenly no longer burn?

Quite possibly. Revolution looks to be somewhat inspired by Dies the Fire, which does have steam engines stop working. Also, the heavy use of crossbows and black powder muskets in a world which should have plenty of real guns suggest that brass cartridges no longer work.


The blackout is magic and intelligently directed magic at that. Electrical processes work just fine inside a human body. But when the same electrolytic chemicals are put into a case for use as a battery they suddenly stop working. If it's that selective then it can easily shut down steam power, too.

They a Revolutionary War aestetic, so the blackout must intelligently and selectively shut down any tech that interferes with that.

 

[sojourner]

suggest that brass cartridges no longer work.

Except for the scene where the Munroe officer uses his .357 magnum automatic pistol.

 

[JD]

Yeah, I was trying to figure that one out.

 

[sojourner]

I am guessing no one remembers how to make/or can't make percussion caps for bullets and they hoard the remaining ammo.

 

[Gotham Central]

Does oil and coal suddenly no longer burn?

Quite possibly. Revolution looks to be somewhat inspired by Dies the Fire, which does have steam engines stop working. Also, the heavy use of crossbows and black powder muskets in a world which should have plenty of real guns suggest that brass cartridges no longer work.


The blackout is magic and intelligently directed magic at that. Electrical processes work just fine inside a human body. But when the same electrolytic chemicals are put into a case for use as a battery they suddenly stop working. If it's that selective then it can easily shut down steam power, too.

They a Revolutionary War aestetic, so the blackout must intelligently and selectively shut down any tech that interferes with that.

Actually there d appear to be oil lamps in a few scenes...so that answers that.

 

[Gaith]

A JJ-produced TV series that doesn't make much sense?

 

[Caliburn24]

The pilot is good enough to bring me back for the next episode, but this really really should have been a two hour pilot.

The characters had nearly zero development("But we're family..."), the mechanics(and specifics) of the post-event world needed a lot more exposition. And everything was so rushed that nothing had the weight it should have had.

All that stuff should be ironed out over subsequent episodes, assuming a competent writing and producing staff. The biggest structural problem I see coming is that Charlie and her brother are going to become increasingly useless as this story goes along. They have no particular skills or motivation, or background, or training. They're just kids. And since the show is trying to make them the main characters of the whole piece, it is going to become increasingly frustrating spending time with them when every other character is so much more interesting.

 

[sojourner]

I want to see them explain how the world went dark and how the usb key works without envoking "magic". There's just no way.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I want to see them explain how the world went dark and how the usb key works without envoking "magic". There's just no way.

You're kidding. They didn't realize that USB keyboards shouldn't work?

I've not been looking forward to this since I heard the synopsis described as, "all forms of technology stop working." Free pilot online is not really a good sign, but USB keyboards working seems to seal the deal.

If there are working USB keyboards in it, then pass, pass, pass.

 

[The Green Mushroom]

Watching it now....

First reaction: the plane crashing the second the power goes out and smashing into town is straight out of Dies the Fire. Should have just adapted the series and cleaned up its lesser moments. Now it seems they have just ripped it off without keeping the psuedo logic that all technology stopped because things can't go boom anymore.

Other things:
1. I have no problem with looney tunes militias taking over after a societal collapse. But if Doomsday Preppers has taught me anything...why would any of the militia types accept a black dude in their ranks?

2. So did they live in a cul de sac in the middle of the woods or did they just burn out the rest of the subdivision?

3. Fishing crews in Chicago? Wouldn't that require a massive depopulation of the human species to have avoided overfishing by the time the story is set? Unless I am wrong, fish is something that people with access to boats would go to pretty quickly to get food when the trucks stop rolling.

4. Wouldn't most cities and airports have burned down within fifteen years if there are no fire departments or even access to running water for hoses to stop a fire?

5. I do like the guys reloading the muskets. I could buy that the blacksmith who is presumably making the swords also does guns.

6. That Monroe guy's tent and demeanor reminds me a lot of General Whatshisname from The Postman. I liked that movie for strange movies, but will Monroe become Ben Linus or Dr. Claw?

Overall Verdict: I'll DVR it until I see that it won't start making more sense or doesn't have a thought out storyline.

 

[sojourner]

You're kidding. They didn't realize that USB keyboards shouldn't work?

I've not been looking forward to this since I heard the synopsis described as, "all forms of technology stop working." Free pilot online is not really a good sign, but USB keyboards working seems to seal the deal.

If there are working USB keyboards in it, then pass, pass, pass.

Key, I said "key" not "keyboard". You'll have to watch the episode to understand. It's only 43 minutes of your time, and no commercials.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Revolution pilot review

I saw it last night on Hulu Plus.
It looked great. Same Director of Photography who did 43 episodes of Alias and many of Lost. The lighting was very nice and it was not shot on film.
I thought it was short and was expecting 85 minutes. It left me wanting for more.
It sets up the characters nicely and reveals a lot. The plot itself was very simple and easy to foreshadow.
A lot of violence in the big fight scene with swords. Yes they wanted to show that that character was very good at killing when needed. A little too much swashbuckling for me. I hope they tone that down.
The whole arrow & crossbow thing will become a fad now that The Hunger Games are in full swing for the next 5 years.

I am looking forward to seeing this series be on the road and not spend too much time in and around Chicago. Wondering how much episode 2 will be different than the pilot. I'll give it a few episodes.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The use of weapons indicates trust and rank. Grunts get swords, get a promotion you have a musket, get a promotion and you have a real gun. A dictator has to be worried about coups and insurrection as much as invasion, by controlling the flow of weapons, he can control his "unknown" enemies 5th column resources.

Of course, then a boat of Chinese warlords turn up armed with a near endless supply of machine guns?

But you heard them, owning a fire arm is a hanging offence.

Which makes the whole thing political, and not related to the blackout.

Apparently bullets are very easy to make.

a hand cranking bullet making making machine doesn't look too different from a spaghetti maker.

 

[Lindley]

Watching it now....

First reaction: the plane crashing the second the power goes out and smashing into town is straight out of Dies the Fire. Should have just adapted the series and cleaned up its lesser moments.

Is there a justification for that? Loss of electrical power wouldn't cause a plane to crash.