Revolution review – 1×03: ‘No Quarter’

With Live+DVR3 and regular ratings in, Revolution is doing exceedingly well for struggling NBC. Creatively the show remains stagnant despite some minor gains.

Let’s bitch it out…

Last week we broke down the pros, cons. Seeing as not much has changed, let’s do the same this week:

+ (Pros)

• The bridge explosion: Finally, instead of gabbing, Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) does something useful. With that said it’d be nice if the show didn’t have to rely on a big explosion/action sequence to make or break every episode. Finding a real strength in this muddled episode is…a challenge to say the least
• Oh, and Michael Mosley shows up. I liked him on Pan Am. Even though he doesn’t do much here beyond beating Danny (Graham Rogers) with a sack, that’s pretty awesome in my books so it goes in the ‘Pro’ category

– (Cons)

• Miles’ (Billy Burke) “reveal” as the originator of the Republic and General of the militia: Is this supposed to be a surprise? He and Monroe (David Lyons) have spent the last three episodes together in flashback and clearly have a history. It’s by far the episode’s biggest “no duh” moment
• Aaron (Zak Orth) & technology: Without it, the former bigwig is “weak and afraid”. Remember the first week when I said that I was interested in his story? Nope…no, this episode killed that feeling
• Product placement: Maggie’s (Anna Lise Phillips) Apple iPhone = Are you freakin’ kidding me?!
• Absent characters: Thanks for introducing Juliet Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) last week and then not using her at all. Also, when you have Giancarlo Esposito, you use him (speeches, stoic faces, crystal meth). Do more than just throw him on a d*mn horse! And even though she’s not that interesting, where’s Grace (Maria Howell)?

Draw (Jury’s Still Out)

• Charlie: 98% of the time she’s completely insufferable, but then every once in a while – usually when she gets angry – Charlie is kinda captivating. If the show can move her past borderline stupid and naive into regular badass territory, she could be tolerable. The problem is this is only episode three, so we have a loooong way to go

Lazy Writing of the Week Award

• Bullets: We learn bullets are as “precious as diamonds” because of their rarity, so why does Jeremy (Mark Pellgrino) waste one on a no-named rebel in the woods? Everyone is carrying freaking swords, so use them!

Best Lines:

• Miles (to Daniella Alonso’s Nora): “We did it. We delivered your rifle to your whiny ass rebel buddies” Well said, Miles
• Charlie’s delivery of the line “Guys, that man’s dead.”Hilariously awful…just so terrible
• Preacher (when the truth about Miles comes out): “Christ forgives. I’m not Christ.” Oh snap, preacher man!
• Charlie: “I’m just…I’m confused.” Oh sweetheart, we know…life is so hard

So…that happened. Much like last week, I can’t say that it was either good or bad; it simply was. At this point Revolution really needs to step up its story because the only substantial moment of the episode is learning Miles’ history – and that seems so obvious that it can hardly be called a reveal. Here’s hoping next week picks it up a notch (or five)

In the meantime, how are you feeling about the show? This is around the ‘make or break it’ period for most viewers: do you plan to catch a few more episodes? What do you think happened to Grace? Do you care at all what happens to Danny? And since only Miles, Nora and Charlie made it across the bridge, does that mean the entire episode was pointless? Sound off below.

Revolution airs Mondays at 10pm EST on NBC