Did anyone catch Revolution?

[TrailerParkJawa]

While I like the idea the show has been unable to grab a hold of me. Too cliche, bad acting, and plot holes. It does have some nice visuals and I like the twists at the end but I will only give it 1-2 more tries before abandoning it.

[Cdnwolf]

Its like the series Last Resort. I can't see them going past one season with it.

[Michael Lewis]

How about Last Resort? I've missed that one too but considered catching up online.

[Raellus]

While I like the idea the show has been unable to grab a hold of me. Too cliche, bad acting, and plot holes. It does have some nice visuals and I like the twists at the end but I will only give it 1-2 more tries before abandoning it.

I'm right there with you.

I forgot to record the premier of Last Resort. I hope they replay it soon- I've tried watching shows online but my internet connection doesn't handle that sort of thing very well.

[ArmySGT.]

schizophrenic hollywood writing

Wants to be Hunger Games, Dawsons creek, Escape from New York, Erol Flynn movie, and Jericho.

but in a clean family friendly format.....

This one is gonna crash and burn like the dinosaur time travel one.

[HorseSoldier]

I'm in about the same boat -- everything about the premise of revolution should equal it being one of my favorite shows ever. In execution -- it's just not blowing my socks off.

Last Resort seems much better based on one episode, though its long term prospects do seem questionable.

[ArmySGT.]

Last Resort.

I haven't watched it but, I think it is up on Hulu.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I'm watching Last Resort now online. It's too Hollywood but I like it better than Revolution. I'm already liking some characters.

As for Revolution after two episodes I can't feel anyone. It is trying to be too many shows at once. We can be pretty sure the outage was manmade and things can be restored. I would have been content with "it happened" and the world has changed. Use the world as the background and focus on story and characters.

Just like in battlestar galatica is wasn't about space, just took place there.

[Grimace]

I caught the first episode of Revolution. I was rather non-plussed by it. It didn't wow me like it really should have, considering the setting. The actors aren't at all compelling. Too many cliches already. It does feel like a hodge-podge of various shows all lumped together. It tries to do too much and doesn't do any of them very well. Such a shame, as it had such promise.

I guess that same could be said of that Terra Nova.

I only caught the last part of Last Resort. It has potential. Potential to be a good story. Potential to turn into a massive soap opera. The premise is good, but it's almost sort of feeling like some other shows I've seen. I'll catch the entire episode soon, rather than just the last half, and then I'll catch the second episode before I make up my mind about it. It didn't truly grab me, but neither did it dissuade me from watching more, like Revolution did.

Sadly, I agree that both of these shows will like be one season wonders. A lot of hype, little substance, questionable acting on the parts of some (some of the people are good actors, others obviously aren't), and lack of real focus to bring out real character of the show, will probably be their downfall.

[HorseSoldier]

Agreement of the specific deficiencies with Revolution. Another overall problem I'm having is that the show is seriously repressing the very, very dark nature of its premise, which would have involved the same level of mass starvation, famine, and occasional resort to cannibalism the characterizes SM Stirling's similar Dies the Fire series. We do see some of the resultant political nastiness, but I just don't see characters or a culture depicted that have been through an apocalypse. Mostly the sole nod to the setting is the visuals of abandoned stuff over grown with vegetation.

I'm guessing that's deliberate -- dark and apocalyptic didn't test well with focus groups or the network didn't like it or something. And I'm guessing that will be the death of the show, too -- The dark and gritty "reality" of shows like the Walking Dead and Battlestar Galactica are what made them appealing.

[Raellus]

Agreement of the specific deficiencies with Revolution. Another overall problem I'm having is that the show is seriously repressing the very, very dark nature of its premise, which would have involved the same level of mass starvation, famine, and occasional resort to cannibalism the characterizes SM Stirling's similar Dies the Fire series. We do see some of the resultant political nastiness, but I just don't see characters or a culture depicted that have been through an apocalypse. Mostly the sole nod to the setting is the visuals of abandoned stuff over grown with vegetation.

I'm guessing that's deliberate -- dark and apocalyptic didn't test well with focus groups or the network didn't like it or something. And I'm guessing that will be the death of the show, too -- The dark and gritty "reality" of shows like the Walking Dead and Battlestar Galactica are what made them appealing.

I totally agree with this. For me, it starts with the costuming and make-up and stuff. The characters in Revolution are just too well scrubbed and neatly dressed for a post electricity/running water world (15 years in).

[Raellus]

schizophrenic hollywood writing

Wants to be Hunger Games, Dawsons creek, Escape from New York, Erol Flynn movie, and Jericho.

but in a clean family friendly format.....

This one is gonna crash and burn like the dinosaur time travel one.

100% spot on!

[TrailerParkJawa]

I totally agree with this. For me, it starts with the costuming and make-up and stuff. The characters in Revolution are just too well scrubbed and neatly dressed for a post electricity/running water world (15 years in).

That's my chief complain about the visual aspects of the show. Everyone has pressed form fitting clothes like they are Hollister models or something.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Didn't we already have Revolution but it was called Dark Angel?

(Jessica Alba is seriously better looking than Giancarlo Esposito).

[HorseSoldier]

Like you say, Dark Angel had Jessica Alba -- even when it got stupid with the lizard/dog/shark/bunny DNA enfused super soldiers and ten thousand year old secret cult in season 2, Jessica Alba in tight outfits roundhouse kicking folks was reason enough to tune in . . .

[pmulcahy11b]

I saw it...for about a half an hour. It just didn't hold my interest.

[ArmySGT.]

The studio was screwed up.

The crowd that demands the family friendly format is the Evangelicals.

Having the bad guy be the bible citing christian and the boy from the Hero's family be derisive of that.

couple of million viewers just tuned out.

Six episodes max.

[HorseSoldier]

The one thing I do like about it is that the bad guys are emphatically identified with gun control and disarming the populace -- very subversive stuff for Hollywod.

[Targan]

Like you say, Dark Angel had Jessica Alba -- even when it got stupid with the lizard/dog/shark/bunny DNA enfused super soldiers and ten thousand year old secret cult in season 2, Jessica Alba in tight outfits roundhouse kicking folks was reason enough to tune in . . .

+1.

Just the mere mention of Jessica Alba in Dark Angel gives me half a mongrel.

[Legbreaker]

Just the mere mention of Jessica Alba in Dark Angel gives me half a mongrel.

ONLY half!? :p

What are you? Only half a man!?
:D

[pmulcahy11b]

+1.

Just the mere mention of Jessica Alba in Dark Angel gives me half a mongrel.

Wha...? Where I'm from, a mongrel is a mangy, flea-bitten dog that has I-don't-know-many breeds' DNA in it...

[weswood]

Wha...? Where I'm from, a mongrel is a mangy, flea-bitten dog that has I-don't-know-many breeds' DNA in it...

Well, we are talking about Targan here :D

[Targan]

LOL! Yes Paul, a mongrel is a mixed-breed dog but in Australia having "half a mongrel" is slang for having a partial erection. And Leg, I did say "mere mention". Actually seeing a photo or video of Jesica Alba is, for me, my own little blue pill. :cool:

[ArmySGT.]

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_02/AlbaDM2604_468x597.jpg

[Legbreaker]

Shit!
Now you've gone and done it Sgt! I won't be able to stand up all day now!!!
:saeek:

[Targan]

Oh my. Bless you, ArmySGT :D

[weswood]

Damnit! I just poked a hole in my laptop.

[Snake Eyes]

I'll echo some of the common gripes: Far too clean for the timeline, too much hair gel & swordplay, clichéd and overacted. But I gave it the requisite three episodes and will likely continue watching. I'm just peeved because I figure with JJ Abrams and Favreau behind this I should be more blown away, and instead I'm just kind of meh. But they better hurry it up with the exposition, because I'm not signing up for another 7-season Lindelof wankfest.

[ArmySGT.]

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/16000000/jessica-jessica-alba-16017365-1680-1050.jpg

[ArmySGT.]

Well I am glad the Patriots are good guys. However Hollywood still can't resist portraying anyone that owns or uses a gun as a sociopath.

May the writers should watch "Jeremiah" more than "Jericho". You know what else is missing? Knives, hand axes, clubs, machetes, even without a handgun just something hefty in your hand when situations get tense is in order here.

Have you noticed any old people? Pack animals? Dairy cows?

[Snake Eyes]

Since Revolution started, I've been rewatching Jeremiah on Hulu just out of nostalgia. Plenty pissed me off about that show, too, but I still enjoyed it. I think I've identified that the thing that irritates me most about Revoultion is that I wanted the background & set dressing to look more Postman or Book of Eli than it does. I bet I'd be amazed what they could do with a more washed-out looking filter/exposure on the camera and a more ominous and despondent soundtrack. Also, it is sure to lose something due to the constraints of American broadcast television. It really should have been a cable production. Regular TV hamstrings the producers by putting their creativity in a pickle jar in the back of a dark closet along with their testicles. Still, I remain optimistic.

[headquarters]

Since Revolution started, I've been rewatching Jeremiah on Hulu just out of nostalgia. Plenty pissed me off about that show, too, but I still enjoyed it. I think I've identified that the thing that irritates me most about Revoultion is that I wanted the background & set dressing to look more Postman or Book of Eli than it does. I bet I'd be amazed what they could do with a more washed-out looking filter/exposure on the camera and a more ominous and despondent soundtrack. Also, it is sure to lose something due to the constraints of American broadcast television. It really should have been a cable production. Regular TV hamstrings the producers by putting their creativity in a pickle jar in the back of a dark closet along with their testicles. Still, I remain optimistic.

Anyone read any of the original Jeremiah comic books by "Herman" ?
I wish that series had been more like the comics. That would have made it a classic and a master piece. Still had to watch all of it though.

Will try Revolution and Last resort all though well groomed PA characters are as annoying to me as the reluctance of the crew of the Enterprise to open fire and set phasers to "kill / maim and disfigure", and then go loud.

[Michael Lewis]

Watching it right now on Hulu. Terrible! It's like watching Dawson Creek. It's a show for tweens. My 1st thought was that they should have not wasted 15 years. It would have been more interesting if it was the day after the black out. It feels like that back in time dinosaur movie. What a waste.

[Michael Lewis]

Hey! They got one of those actors from the Twilight movies. Or one who looks like him.

[TrailerParkJawa]

Hey! They got one of those actors from the Twilight movies. Or one who looks like him.

You talking about the Bow Guy? He does look like a teeny-boppy eye candy sorta guy.

[Snake Eyes]

NBC picked it up for a full season this afternoon, so I guess it's hitting their expectations.

[ArmySGT.]

NBC picked it up for a full season this afternoon, so I guess it's hitting their expectations.

and NBC managed to fuck up Heroes.

[Raellus]

In general, I prefer serialized series to episodic ones. The trouble is, it's an investment. I've been sucked into time-wasting crap TV series before (Heroes and Falling Skies come immediately to mind), and I don't want it to happen again. I thought the first episode of Revolution was decent but I thought the second one was pretty awful. I'm going to watch the third episode tonight and decide whether it's worth continuing or not. If it's bad, I'm done. I told myself the same thing two episodes into Falling Skies season 1, though, and ended up watching it up through the end of season 2. After a while, the wife and I were watching just to make fun of it.

I heard a piece on NPR last week about new shows this American TV season. The reviewer enjoyed both Revolution and Last Resort but wouldn't recommend them, claiming that serialized shows had a very low survival rate. He said that serialized shows are unlikely to pick up new viewers after a handful of episodes because people just tuning in don't really know what's going on plot and character-wise and they give up pretty quickly. He said that networks keep gambling on serialized dramas due to the success of LOST.

I really liked LOST until the final season when it all kind of fell apart for me. My sister-in-law bought me a season a year for Christmas while it was on air and I was thinking about taking them to a used media store because I can't imagine watching them all again knowing what I know now. But then a friend suggested that I save them until my son is old enough to appreciate them, watch them all up until the last season, and then make up a better ending together. I thought that was brilliant.

[Raellus]

Watched episode three and it was ridiculously bad. I won't be tuning in again. Now to watch the second episode of Last Resort (I missed the premier :mad:) and see if it's worth the time.

[Michael Lewis]

I watched the 1st episode of Last Resort and was pleasantly surprised! It only had one really corny part.

[HorseSoldier]

I'm still liking Last Resort after ep 2, though it wasn't as strong as the pilot, I don't think. The main thing that irritates me about it is those godawful Navy digital fatigues, which obviously aren't the show's fault.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

As Orlando was a town highly inundated by Navy types until BRAC shut down the NTC (don't even get me started), I knew a lot of submariners back in the day and to a one they told the old saw about how a US ballistic missile sub could find a tropical island and set up shop as the world's 4th most powerful nation.

I wonder which one of them was overheard by a powerbook-wielding hack out in California who was in turn responsible for this show? :)

[Cdnwolf]

In the book World War Z, a Chinese nuclear sub sets it self up as a major supplier of power to a floating city.

[Raellus]

I enjoyed episode two enough to watch again this week. The show has promise.

Cdnwolf, I'd forgotten all about that episode in WWZ. Now that you mention it, LR probably owes something to Max Brooks.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I'm watching episode three of Revoulution. Im done with this show. It has a few highlights but otherwise simply isn't engaging enough.

[Cdnwolf]

But the teeny and young brainless adults that keep all those vampire shows on the air like it so we have to put up with it for 12 more episodes.

[HorseSoldier]

From commercials, apparently Revolution is doing well. I just sat through the fourth episode and I'm out. Too many cliches, etc.

[Grimace]

Yeah, I don't know if you can trust the commercials. I know it got continued beyond 4 episodes, but at the same time, I don't know anyone who's watching it anymore. Most people I know got through about 3 episodes and called it quits.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

I'm not even bothering. Muskets.

muskets

Chrissake, repeating rifles are pre-electricity. This is just beyond stupid.

[Raellus]

Chrissake, repeating rifles are pre-electricity. This is just beyond stupid.

I'm not defending the show, because it's beyond that and I stopped watching after episode 3, but I think the explanation they gave for the use of muskets is the scarcity of cartridge-type ammo. The baddie lieutenant gave a cliche speech to a man he was interrogating about how rare "modern" bullets were before he loaded one into his revolver and then executed the prisoner. I guess the idea is all the "modern" ammo got used up pretty quickly when things got nutty after the power went out. I guess after 15 years of chaos, it sort of makes sense.

But still, that show is pretty much unwatchable.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

I'm not defending the show, because it's beyond that and I stopped watching after episode 3, but I think the explanation they gave for the use of muskets is the scarcity of cartridge-type ammo. The baddie lieutenant gave a cliche speech to a man he was interrogating about how rare "modern" bullets were before he loaded one into his revolver and then executed the prisoner. I guess the idea is all the "modern" ammo got used up pretty quickly when things got nutty after the power went out. I guess after 15 years of chaos, it sort of makes sense.

But still, that show is pretty much unwatchable.

Right because a lever-press and one of the literally billions of empty cartridge casings that should be laying around ankle deep covering the entire globe are completely fucking impossible to acquire and utilize.

Note I'm not cursing at you nor getting mad at you, it's just...there's some stuff that defies common sense. I'm not a "gun guy" nor an anti-gun guy (I own a .38 5 shot revolver), I don't go to gun shows or stores, etc. But back in the 90s I knew more people who reloaded their own ammo than didn't, of the people I knew who owned guns. Let's go over that again: more people who reloaded their own than did not.

This is...this is like Jericho overcoming its power problems not with windmills but by putting everyone in town on a huge treadmill made out of every scrap of fabric in town, sewn together with sinew from every horse they could find and slaughter.

To quote the great Harrison Ford in the even greater Blade Runner : "I was quit when I came in here. I'm twice as quit now."

[weswood]

Right because a lever-press and one of the literally billions of empty cartridge casings that should be laying around ankle deep covering the entire globe are completely fucking impossible to acquire and utilize.

Note I'm not cursing at you nor getting mad at you, it's just...there's some stuff that defies common sense. I'm not a "gun guy" nor an anti-gun guy (I own a .38 5 shot revolver), I don't go to gun shows or stores, etc. But back in the 90s I knew more people who reloaded their own ammo than didn't, of the people I knew who owned guns. Let's go over that again: more people who reloaded their own than did not.

This is...this is like Jericho overcoming its power problems not with windmills but by putting everyone in town on a huge treadmill made out of every scrap of fabric in town, sewn together with sinew from every horse they could find and slaughter.

To quote the great Harrison Ford in the even greater Blade Runner : "I was quit when I came in here. I'm twice as quit now."

In my opinion, and it's exactly that, just an opinion, it's not the reloading of spent brass that's the problem, it's the propellent & ignition that may be the problem. I am a semi-gun guy, I know the basics of reloading even if I've never done it and when I was younger I was a black powder enthusiest, my 1st rifle was a muzzle loader. I could probably come up with black powder but fulminate of mercury for caps is out of the question. Ditto smokeless powder or nitrocellulose. I doubt the average civilian could either.

[Snake Eyes]

Meh. In for a penny, in for a pound. If he's gonna walk all the way to Philly to kill his pal, I'm game. Though I am enjoying Last Resort more, I don't care how implausible either scenario might be.

[HorseSoldier]

I'm catching up on eps 3 & 4 of Last Resort, and still finding it entertaining. I have realized that the brunette chick in Washington sounds suspiciously like a young Tony Stark. Nice to see the wife back home evolving into more than just a very easy on the eyes bookmark.

[Rainbow Six]

Just saw a trailer for Last Resort. It's going to be on Sky One in the UK, premiering week after next.

[Michael Lewis]

I've been watching the 1st season of Jericho. The pilot was ok. It has an interesting plot and ok characters.

Couldn't make it thru the 4th episode. It just keeps getting worse. It moves at a snails pace. Too many pointless scenes with nothing interesting happening. It's turning into a soap opera trying to please too much of the demographics. I keep fast-forwarding trying to get to some interesting plot points. The acting is mediocre at best the longer the show goes on. One of the worst aspects of it is the horrible background music! It's way too prominent and non-stop in every scene. What a waste of time. I'm giving up on it.

[HorseSoldier]

Can't do Jericho. Tried, ran into the same problems. If you're going to do apocalypse, do apocalypse. I go back again to Battlestar Galactica or the Walking Dead for very different versions of how it can be done well and attract big fan bases. Maybe not big enough to make the major networks happy, hence Jericho, Revolution, etc -- watered down and kind of gutless.

[Rainbow Six]

Watched the first episode of Last Resort tonight. I can't say I was that impressed - parts of it seemed a little too unrealistic to me. I might give it another go next week, but I certainly wont have it down as a must watch (my only must watch at the minute is Homeland - anyone following that?).

[Silent Six]

So I've watched Revolution on Hulu, while doing work around the house. I suppose it could be worse, but definitely I can see the influence of the network in many ways.

The most recent episode was very similar to a particular twilight game I was in. The outcome, very different, but the setup was about the same. Since it was network tv, we got the TV-14 version, whereas in my game, I think it would have been tough to show on HBO or Showtime... ;)

[Schone23666]

LOL, all I can say in regards to shows like Revolution is: Welcome to Hollywierd. :rolleyes: But hey, Hollywierd scripting is nothing new with some of the other movies and tv out there in the past.

Does anyone remember a show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Yes, I watched it too. Jessica Alba on Dark Angel could definitely stir one's loins, but come on, you had SEVERAL hot women (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter and Alyson Hannigan for starters) on Buffy.

But to my point...does anyone who did watch the show recall the "Initiative", the supposed demon-hunting military group in Season Four? I'm pretty sure anyone who's done even some basic research into how the military operates, along with some common sense, had to be groaning with disbelief!

[Legbreaker]

...SEVERAL hot women (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter and Alyson Hannigan for starters) on Buffy....groaning with disbelief!

Disbelief. Yes, that's EXACTLY what the groans were....
:o

[Schone23666]

Well, just in case anyone's forgotten... ;) :D

[Targan]

Umm, gosh :o. Yes please, all three. Simultaneously, if posible. :cool:

[Cdnwolf]

Umm, gosh :o. Yes please, all three. Simultaneously, if posible. :cool:

Your heart couldn't even handle their grandmothers Targan, NEVER mind all three!

[Targan]

Your heart couldn't even handle their grandmothers Targan, NEVER mind all three!

My dear Mr Wolf, were the experience to kill me, I would consider it a fine end and a life well-lived!

[dragoon500ly]

There was a classsic response in a old sci-fi book, when the hero was asked how would he like to die, by sword or by rope, the reply " I would perfer to die of old age and exhaustion after a night with a trio of young doxies!"

;)

[raketenjagdpanzer]

There was a classsic response in a old sci-fi book, when the hero was asked how would he like to die, by sword or by rope, the reply " I would perfer to die of old age and exhaustion after a night with a trio of young doxies!"

;)

"I would tax Raquel Welch...and I've a feeling she'd tax me as well." (Monty Python quote)

[Legbreaker]

Oh my....

I do believe there's some more moaning in order!

[Snake Eyes]

I haven't been able to wean myself from Revolution. Looks like it pays off next week with the "big reveal" episode featuring a Led Zeppelin soundtrack. So ... there's that.

[Raellus]

Thanks to you pervs, this thread is no longer safe for me to peruse at work.

On a side-note, ABC is not going to renew Last Resort. I watched the second episode and DVR'ed the rest. I had a feeling this would happen so I'm kind of glad I didn't get into it.

[Schone23666]

Thanks to you pervs, this thread is no longer safe for me to peruse at work.

On a side-note, ABC is not going to renew Last Resort. I watched the second episode and DVR'ed the rest. I had a feeling this would happen so I'm kind of glad I didn't get into it.

Happy to help. :p :D

[Legbreaker]

Thanks to you pervs, this thread is no longer safe for me to peruse at work.

So, classroom issues huh? :p

[TrailerParkJawa]

I stopped watching both Last Resort and Revolution. I hear Resort got cancelled and Revolution is doing well. Glad I checked this thread at home! :p

[Targan]

I stopped watching both Last Resort and Revolution. I hear Resort got cancelled and Revolution is doing well. Glad I checked this thread at home! :p

Typical. The more realistic and better show gets cancelled. That's lowest-common-denominator programming for you. The theory that if you want the widest possible audience you have to dumb programs down as much as possible.

[pmulcahy11b]

Can't do Jericho. Tried, ran into the same problems. If you're going to do apocalypse, do apocalypse. I go back again to Battlestar Galactica or the Walking Dead for very different versions of how it can be done well and attract big fan bases.

One of the problems with those really good and interesting shows is that they too often don't build up those huge fan bases until the shows have gone off the air and the fans don't see what they missed until the show enters syndication. Sometimes years after they are in syndication. Almost always, it's too late then.

[Raellus]

One of the problems with those really good and interesting shows is that they too often don't build up those huge fan bases until the shows have gone off the air and the fans don't see what they missed until the show enters syndication. Sometimes years after they are in syndication. Almost always, it's too late then.

True, but some of the smaller cable networks can produce niche shows that do quite well in the ratings- or at least well enough not to get cancelled after six episodes. AMC's got Mad Men and Breaking Bad and Walking Dead. FX has Sons of Anarchy. These aren't necessarily low-budget shows either. The major networks must need massive advertising revenues to stay afloat. Maybe they literally can't afford to be patient. I don't know.