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| Children of the REVOLUTION emerge on post-apocalyptic Earth. Image: NBC. |
Mankind has seemingly come to the end of the road in its existence and ambition, its power supplies across the planet lost in a sudden, unexplained blackout catastrophe, an event witnessed fleetingly, and teasingly, at the start of the hot new US series from that fantasy factory of J.J. Abrams and BAD ROBOT, teamed with SUPERNATURAL creator Eric Kripke, starting on SKY ONE HD from tonight: REVOLUTION.
Fifteen years on from that fateful night, its huge cities deserted and atrophied, its material-made transport gone the way of the dodo, and its natural resources now coming directly from the land, civilization has to get back-to-basics against a backdrop of unrest from warlords and militias, of which the once innocent Matheson family, possessing a mysterious pendant that may ultimately be the key to unlocking the mystery of what happened all those years earlier, become undeserved fugitives from the powerful antagonist that is Sebastian Monroe (David Lyons), who wants to become the ruling figure of the entire United States and wipe out any and all opposition standing in his way. The idea of a world returned to power that isn't through his hands must never be realised...
With the exception of TWILIGHT's Billy Burke, paying another one those roguish types that have tried to follow in Harrison Ford’s original and weighty footsteps as Han Solo, and LOST/V’s lovely Elizabeth Mitchell, who, early on, appears in flashbacks that prove very LOST-like in their scene-setting (as the wife to one of the key players linked to the event launching Blackout), the show has no other relatively big name stars and is instead much more of a competent ensemble piece. In many ways, this decision, with such a surely expensive series to make, is to Abrams credit, continuing his trend of finding new faces and careers to launch.
Filmed in the forest and wildernesses of picturesque Georgia and North Carolina, directed with quality by feature film helmer Jon Favreau, this western/sci-fi blend aura to the series pilot holds the kind of subtle promise that will surely attract the kind of fan base Joss Whedon’s FIREFLY enjoyed a few years back. Ultimately, what I’ve seen of REVOLUTION so far, which isn’t much, hasn’t totally blown me away, but reviews online States-side have indicated that the series is gaining more story and character momentum, with a few shocks and surprises at the mid-season point, so I’ll see what happens to the Matheson’s and the pursuers for a little while longer. Possibly less convoluted and easier to follow in the long run, the show may perhaps prove long-term to be more relatable to audiences than some of Abrams previous weekly fantasy efforts: the also singular titled ALCATRAZ sadly bombed, despite another promising opener, whilst FRINGE made its five year duration mainly due to international sales success and a small but rabidly devoted fan base.
Check out some intriguing NBC promotional posters for the series, via the Sneak Peek website, here: REVOLUTION - THE TV SERIES
Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionTvSeries
Official site: http://www.nbc.com/revolution/
