Episode Title: “There Will Be Blood”
Writer: Paul Grellong
Director: Phil Sgriccia
Previously on “Revolution:”
Episode 2.01 “Born in the U.S.A.”
In this second episode of this new season, “Revolution” waxes nostalgic on everything from Ghostbusters to “Penthouse” magazine to “Walker, Texas Ranger,” in between the usual arguments about who’s going where with whom.
Down in Texas, Aaron (Zak Orth) miraculously wakes up after being dead for over two hours. His girlfriend, Cynthia (Jessica Collins) thinks it’s an act from God, but both Aaron and Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) know it’s the nanotech floating in the air that brought him back. And now that he’s risen from the dead, Aaron sees dead people, like Rachel’s late husband, Ben.
Meanwhile, over in the Plains Nation, Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) finds Monroe (David Lyons) tied up in an empty swimming pool, but before she can get to him, she’s taken captive. The next day, one of the men, a bounty hunter with game show host good looks, flirts with her while asking about her attempt to get at Monroe. Charlie warns the bounty hunter, who was hired by the U.S. government, that if he doesn’t kill Monroe, he’ll just escape and slit their throats. Of course, the bounty hunter doesn’t listen to her and of course, Monroe manages to escape. However, it looks like Charlie has a new hottie to crush on since Jason’s off in Georgia. Sigh.
Back in Texas, Miles (Billy Burke) is being held by the Governor Titus Andover (Matt Ross), who we learn was the former headmaster of an all-boys school and on the verge of getting busted for child porn when the lights went out. Andover’s men take blood from Miles and the Sheriff and then based on the samples, decide to kill the Sheriff. While Andover’s men are away, Miles manages to free himself, but gets caught helping the woman next to him escape. He’s then brought to Andover, who smashes his hand with a hammer. A little later, Miles is taken behind the red door, which according to the woman next to him, no one returns from. Inside, he sees people, who appear barely conscious, strapped to hospital beds.
Worried about Miles, Rachel tries to rally the troops for a rescue mission. Her father, Gene (Stephen Collins) refuses to let her go, but later has a change of heart when he realizes that he can’t stop her. Gene insists on going with her and another argument ensues. Thankfully it’s brief and Rachel decides to let Dad join her.
Over in Georgia, Neville (Giancarlo Esposito) is going by “Edgar Crane” and putting together a plot to “assassinate the Allenford bitch.” He enlists a friend of Jason’s and the three approach Allenford (Nicole Ari Parker) as she’s walking through the camp. But instead of shooting Allenford, Neville shoots Jason’s friend, making it look like he saved Allenford from an assassination attempt. When Allenford meets with him, Neville tells her he wants to be part of her security detail.
A lot happened in these first two episodes of the season, but the problems that plagued “Revolution” from the start are still there. We see the same characters get captured and easily escape only to get captured again. In the process new relationships might be formed or some bit of information passed on, like Monroe telling Charlie he blames himself for the bombs that hit Atlanta and Philadelphia. But there have to be other ways to do this. The show often feels like one endless rescue mission to save whoever’s been captured this week.
The other issue has to do with how derivative “Revolution” is. We get that there’s no television or movies and that it’s supposed to be striking when a character makes a reference to “Walker, Texas Ranger,” in this post-apocalyptic world but “Revolution” does this way too often, thus watering down the effect. At the same, while the show references celebrated pop culture phenomena, it doesn’t bring anything new or inventive to the table to establish the show in it’s own right. It’s what separates “Revolution” from a show like “Lost.”
On a positive note, while it does seem like Titus Andover is this show’s version of “The Walking Dead’s” Governor, Matt Ross makes an excellent pedophiliac warlord and a much more interesting baddie than Monroe. His addition to the cast is a step in the right direction… one this show really needs.
