REVOLUTION RECAP: Power struggle

REVOLUTION 2.1: Born in the U.S.A

When we last saw Revolution, Randal had set off 4 nuclear missiles headed straight to Philadelphia and Atlanta and then killed himself. Aaron tries furiously to reprogram the missiles, but he can’t stop them and they watch the missiles hit their targets in Philly and Atlanta.

Cut to three months later…

Charlie

Charlie’s gone off on her own and is coping with events by sleeping with a stranger she meets at a bar and by plotting revenge on Monroe. She gets a tip that he’s been spotted in New Vegas and heads there to find him and kill him. Turns out she’s not the only one looking for him, though. Her plans to kill him are thwarted when a bounty hunter grabs Monroe right in front of her.

Flashback: We see Miles try to convince Charlie to stay, but she just can’t be with Rachel. They say goodbye and Charlie leaves by night.

Miles/Rachel/Aaron

Miles is in Willoughby, Texas with Aaron and Rachel. He’s tormented by something because we see him covered in blood emerge from a shed and then burn it.

Rachel is staying with her father, a doctor, and helping him with his patients. One of their patients is an ex-Georgia Federation soldier who was 30 miles from Atlanta when the bomb hit. He tells her that Atlanta and Philly are gone and the soldiers from Georgia and Monroe are just wandering without a purpose.

We find out from Rachel’s father that she always had a knack for picking the wrong guys until she found Ben. But he noticed that Rachel was interested in Miles, even at her wedding. He suggests that Miles leave town because Rachel doesn’t need the wrong guy again.

The next day, Miles tells Rachel that he’s leaving. She doesn’t want him to go, but he’s determined. They say a tearful goodbye and he rides off.

Flashback: Charlie, Rachel and Miles arrive on Rachel’s father’s doorstep. Miles brought them because he didn’t know what else to do with Rachel, who had a complete nervous breakdown after the bombs went off.

Miles doesn’t get far from town before he witnesses several bandits attacking a family living in a house outside of town. He runs to the rescue and kills one of the men. He returns to town to let them know that there is war clan on the loose. The Sheriff is hesitate to believe him, not knowing who he actually is, but Rachel’s father tells him to listen to Miles.

Aaron, meanwhile, is living with his girlfriend. He goes outside for some firewood and witnesses a pretty amazing firefly light show which promptly stops. He tells Rachel, but she dismisses it.

Miles tries to talk Rachel into leaving town, but she won’t go until Charlie returns.

Back in Texas, Aaron and his girlfriend share some sweet moments, which foreshadows that something really bad is about to happen. Minutes later, Aaron hears screaming and runs to the bedroom to find her being attacked by one of the bandits. He engages the man and sends her for help. While she’s gone, he’s slashed across the chest by a machete.

Rachel and Miles hear the screaming and come to the house. Miles takes off after the man while Rachel tends to Aaron. Aaron dies in Rachel’s arms. Her dad confirms his death.

Miles and the local sheriff manage to save a few town woman, but end up getting taken themselves. They are taken to a warehouse filled with scary rough-looking men and a well-groomed, polite, smooth talking leader, who introduces himself as Titus Andover.

Rachel won’t leave Aaron’s body and sits with it for hours while Aaron’s girlfriend grieves outside. She watches some unusually large fireflies flitter about the night sky. Back in the bedroom, Rachel still sits with Aaron…who suddenly opens his eyes….

Jason/Neville

Neville and Jason wander through a refugee camp in Georgia looking for Jason’s mother, showing her photo to anyone who will look, with no luck. Neville’s about at the end of his rope. Jason walks in on him with a gun to his head, debating on pulling the trigger. Jason stops him and then they are interrupted by commotion outside. A double masted sailing ship flying the American flag is sailing towards them up the river.

The ship lands and the occupants pass out food to the refugees. One of those aboard introduces herself as a “Secretary of the United States Government” and gives a rousing speech about they’ve been holed up in Cuba and that the President is still alive. They also have “inconvertible” proof that Foster and Monroe were responsible for the nucs. She encourages them all to join them to remake America.

This news energizes Neville – he’s convinced that the “government” was in cahoots with Randal and that they are actually responsible for the bombs and thus his wife’s death. He’s determined to bring them down.

Memorable Quotes:

Bad things happen when we’re together – Miles to Rachel

Things have gone seriously haywire since the Tower – like Duchovnian – Aaron

My Thoughts:

It’s kind of refreshing to have a show where the bombs actually landed, unlike in so many shows and movies where you always know that crisis will be averted with 2 seconds to spare. The fall of the Georgia Federation and the Monroe Republic and the rise of a new unknown, under the guise of the US Government, has tons of potential.

The idea that Neville could use his considerable manipulative skills to help bring down the new government (in theory being on the “good side” for the first time in a while) is also appealing – he’s such a great character, that it’s hard not to root for him to find redemption. I’m really curious to see how Monroe figures in – he finally got a powerful wake-up call showing him how far he had fallen and he actually seems devastated at his role in the east coast apocalypse.

Season 1 was basically a character-driven Western with a touch of sci-fi but it looks like season 2 is going to be much heavier on the mysticism, if all the firefly stuff and Aaron’s resurrection is any indication.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how the season progresses!