REVOLUTION RECAP: Dreamcatcher

REVOLUTION 2.15  Dreamcatcher

After attempting to upload the virus into the nanotech, Aaron wakes up in his normal life pre-blackout, but it’s 2014. He’s married to Priscilla and living in an impressive penthouse. He gets up, rather disoriented, and eats what all software billionaires apparently eat for breakfast (Eggo waffles) and watches the news. He sees Dr. Horn in the background of a government press conference and can’t shake the feeling he’s seen him before.

On the way to work, he freaks out Priscilla by scavenging a sandwich from the trash. At work, everything just feels off. Some employees want his help fixing some code that looks awfully familiar to him and to us (it’s the bad nano code) and then he sees Rachel giving an interview on the news. He has a panic attack and tells Priscilla that he thinks he’s living a dream. She shrugs off his concerns and takes him home to rest.

The next day, things start out much better. At work, his employees again need help with the code. He recognizes that there is a memory leak, but before he can finish the code, Charlie shows up and kills both of his employees and leads him out of the building. It takes him a few minutes to remember who she is. She tells him the nanotech has put him “in the Matrix” because they are dying and want him to fix things. His brain is creating people he knows like her to help him.

Charlie tells Aaron that he has to find Rachel. Then, in the alley, a bunch of Patriot-looking soldiers appear with Horn and he shoots her and tells Aaron that he needs to fix the code. Aaron runs and bumps into Nora on the street but doesn’t speak to her.

He travels to Chicago and carjacks Rachel until he convinces her that she knows him. She takes him to Miles, who is living in a crappy motel. Miles doesn’t want to get involved until Aaron offers him $1k to listen to him. Aaron wants him to protect him, but Miles denies knowing how to use a sword or kill people. Just then, Monroe comes in – he’s been trying to keep Miles from stalking Rachel, and now she’s stalking him.

Aaron tries to convince them all that they are his friends…sort of, and are different people than they seem now. He demands they “be [them]”. They all treat Aaron like he’s crazy and then the Patriots arrive. The start to drag Aaron out as he pleads with them to help him. Suddenly, all of them start fighting with weapons that appear in their hands. Afterwards, they all remember.

They manage to escape the next barrage of soldiers, steal a car, and try to make a plan. Rachel suggests that Aaron do something that will help him wake up from a dream. He tells them that falling always wakes him up, so Miles suggests a high building – if it’s a dream, he’ll wake up, if not…the nano won’t get the code.

Aaron goes to jump off the roof of his building and suddenly finds that Miles, Rachel, and Monroe and gone and Priscilla is in his place. She pleads with him not to jump and to fix the code. If he fixes it, he can stay forever. He tells her it’s not real and jumps.

He wakes up strapped to a chair in his office, with Dr. Horn leaning over him. He is going to torture him for the code. Aaron uses his mind to obtain a weapon and confronts Horn who disappears.

Aaron then wakes up again back in Lubbock, Peter and Priscilla on the floor near him. He and Priscilla leave and head to Willoughby. Along the way, they see remnants of the dying nanotech.

In Willoughby, they meet up with Miles, Rachel, and Monroe. They take him to a store where the lights are flickering on and off and some Patriots are stockpiling electronic equipment. A raging lightening storm starts and the soldiers are struck one-by-one. The group runs for cover in the building, but a bolt comes through the window and hits Rachel. Miles begs Aaron to save her. He grabs a nearby laptop (they are conveniently in an electronics store!). He rushes to fix the code and as he does it, the storm stops. Horn appears and thanks him and Aaron realizes that it’s still not real. He promises they will leave Aaron alone now, he has “other things” to do.

With that, Aaron wakes up on the floor in Lubbock, next to Priscilla. Peter is thrilled that Aaron healed the nanotech – they are very happy – a miracle!

Aaron and Priscilla take off walking – Aaron wants to go home (although what is “home” is not stated).

My Thoughts: 

This episode was unique for the series and the psychological aspects of never being clear what was real and what wasn’t were well done – it reminded me of a hybrid of the Matrix as Charlie pointed out, and the LOST flash-sideways episodes. Having each of the characters play alternative reality versions of themselves was entertaining without seeming too out of place. Yes, it’s been done before, but it was still different for the show and enjoyable and wrapped up one plot point (dying nano) and hinted at the next one – Aaron’s “other things”.

Memorable Quotes:

Plus, there’s some chick in a belly shirt – Aaron
A belly shirt in a blackout? That seems super real… – Priscilla

Were you guys this incompetent when I hired you? -Aaron

This is yours? The blackout must really suck for you – Monroe
Yep, I lost some stuff! -Aaron

You reject Skynet piece of crap! – Aaron

Miles, this is my ex-wife slash long story, Priscilla – Aaron
Wow, she’s out of your league! -Miles

Watch Revolution on Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC!