Television: Revolution, "Nobody's Fault but Mine"

Okay, so the episode begins the way the show as a whole should have been written: the story of Bass and Miles fighting alongside one another, the story of how they go from gung-ho idealists to dictatorial bastards—that's what would be truly entertaining to watch. I realize this is the tale they intend to give us in flashbacks (which is why I'm still watching), the same way Lost writers gave us everyone's pre-Island histories. But what was novel on Lost has become rote, or at the very least the way it's been handled on Revolution is far less compelling.

Of all the characters, Captain Neville probably has the most depth, although his speech to Aaron boils Neville down to a man with a chip on his shoulder, which I feel does him a disservice. I've long said Billy Burke is the best thing about Revolution, but I think Giancarlo Esposito holds his own as well.

Meanwhile, Bass' man crush on Miles is both cute and squeamy. And the way people get that far-off stare as they remember something (cue flashback) is reminiscent of Highlander. Which, while I can feel nostalgic for it, I can also say it's probably not a comparison for which the writers and directors should be aiming.

Sometimes when my mind is wandering I like to think the Doctor might show up with his sonic screwdriver and turn the lights back on and cut the whole series short.

We knew, of course, that it would have to come down to Bass and Miles in hand-to-hand combat because that's how these things are done. More Highlander. Except if someone got a Quickening, maybe there would be a way to generate electricity . . .

At the end of the day (and month and year, since the show doesn't return until next March), despite the promises of big changes, I find myself far from the edge of my seat, nor am I impatient to find out what happens next. Okay, so now everyone is out of Bass' clutches. And now Bass has power (of some kind, though its duration and extent is questionable). So now . . . ??? I'm starting to find I care very little one way or another. Bass will wage war on Georgia? ::shrug:: He'll chase down Miles & Co.? ::shrug:: Whatever. It would have been a much bigger and more interesting twist to have Miles be in on the whole thing, or at the very least have him [pretend to?] rejoin the Militia. Having characters that don't change—which is what has happened here, as we are faced with a bunch of static personae—is far from revolutionary.