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Revolution - Declaration of Independence - Review : "Run, You Idiots!"

23 May 2014

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    Revolution’s season – and series – finale, “Declaration of Independence,” was written by the team of Rockne S O’Bannon and Paul Grellong and directed by Charles Beeson. Was anyone else wondering where Eric Kripke was in all of this? While the episode was satisfying on many levels, it also left us with a terrible cliffhanger. Here’s hoping that the efforts to keep the show going are successful because I for one really want to know what happens next!

    We pick up the action where we left off, and we see that Priscilla (Maureen Sebastian) is starting to realize that everything is not as it seems. Her kids suddenly having no eyes/mouths was seriously creepy! It was also super satisfying to have Aaron (Zak Orth) finally actually take action and declare that Priscilla is the love of his life and beg her to come back to him. It was a terrific scene between the two of them and Sebastian in particular was wonderful.

    The apparent win against the nanotech is followed quickly by a limited win against the Patriots. I loved Miles (Billy Burke) dispersing the crowd in the Court House with an exasperated “Run, you idiots!” and blasting his machine gun in the air. Proving once again why the common folk don’t embrace him and like him – but we do! We get to see Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) use her awesome crossbow skills one last time to take out the Patriot guarding the mustard gas tanks without releasing the gas. Maybe she could show up on The Walking Dead now as a friend of Daryl’s (Norman Reedus)? I miss the days of swords and crossbows...

    Averting the gassing of the townsfolk of Willoughby is not an all out victory, and Gene (Stephen Collins) is devastated to find Marion’s (Reiko Aylesworth) body. Meanwhile, Truman (Steven Culp) redeems himself somewhat in President Davis’s (Cotter Smith) eyes by killing Carver (Anthony Ruivivar) anyway, thus getting them a step closer to a war between California and Texas. I did love Davis calling the Californians “granola-eating heathens.”

    The most satisfying aspects of the episode for me were seeing Miles take control back and Miles and Monroe (David Lyons) learning to trust each other again. Miles points out to Rachel and Charlie that they’re the ones pressing him to have faith and be more positive. He tells them that he’s known Monroe longer than anyone and he’s choosing to have faith in Monroe. It was a nice indication that while he’s listening to them, he’s still his own man.

    One of the most disappointing aspects of the episode was Neville (Giancarlo Esposito) and Connor (Mat Vairo) hooking up to work together. It felt like needless conflict when it would have been so much more satisfying to have them work with the rest of the resistance. It was wonderfully ironic for Neville to tell Connor that his primary motivation for killing Davis was what Davis had done to his family, all the while driving a wedge between Connor and his own father – destroying Connor’s chance at a family for Neville’s own ends.

    It seemed like really reaching for Blanchard (MC Gainey) to suddenly be alive. Did Gene even have a back up plan for what to do if Blanchard was dead? I also loved that Monroe essentially made fun of Miles’s hero speech and Miles pretty much agreed with him. Beeson does his usual great job throughout the episode in giving us lots of close up reaction shots from characters.

    I also loved Neville and company being staked out on the roof, looking at a long empty road only to hear gunshots and find that they’d been out manoeuvred. Neville’s “you’ve gotta be kidding me” was a classic. As was the entire Patriot army cresting the hill in pursuit of the President. This was another great money shot, especially the second wave of foot soldiers. I did have to wonder why Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) and Charlie suddenly didn’t know how to shoot their guns, leaving Miles alone to save them, while trusting Monroe to look after their hostage. They might have been pissed that Miles trusted Monroe with their hostage, but they did nothing to help themselves while they were pinned down. Besides, Rachel’s reluctance to tell Miles what her relationship is to Davis coupled with her volatile unreliability didn’t make her a good candidate to be alone with Davis.

    The scene between Monroe and Davis is very telling. Both could be considered ‘extreme’ in the lengths they are willing to go to in order to win. The big difference between them is illustrated by their discussion. Davis tries to talk his way out of the situation. Monroe even compliments Davis on his “God bless America” campaign. Davis is content to rule from afar, but Monroe is used to being in the trenches. Davis, don’t forget had been hiding in Cuba for years. I loved Monroe vowing to take pleasure in killing Davis if they’ve actually lost. Lyons is just delightfully intense whenever the less than heroic side of Monroe surfaces.

    Lyons is also fantastic in the scene with Connor. I particularly appreciated how his voice shook with emotion as he tried to explain his loyalty to Miles without losing his son. It was a nice payoff to Monroe’s slow slide toward redemption. In reality, he did initially build the republic to save people from tyranny. It isn’t worth letting people slaughter each other needlessly so that those who are left are easy pickings. Connor insists that Miles isn’t blood they way he is, he’s Monroe’s son. But just as Miles tells Rachel and Charlie  - his blood – that he’s known Monroe longer, Monroe is bound to Miles by their past and that tie proves stronger than blood. Connor’s own past, working for a blood-thirsty, ruthless drug lord is what really shapes Connor’s own choices.

    It was time to say goodbye to Scanlon (Billy Lush), especially as his loyalties seemed to have morphed several times along the way. I loved Monroe’s faking out Connor and Neville and locking them into that building. Poor Neville, however, is once again faced with an empty box rather than the President. Monroe finds acceptance back with the others as his reward for fulfilling Miles’s trust of him. I loved Rachel thanking him. Of course, the thanks were for him coming back but also for proving Miles right in trusting Monroe.

    I loved the Miles plan. I was completely taken in and freaking out because we were so close to the end of the episode, and I was afraid it would end with no victory for any of our characters. It was also really nice to see Rachel play a strong central role again as she did in freeing Priscilla from the nanotech. I loved her getting Davis to state that he’d rape Texas and destroy California. Smith is terrific in this scene as well.

    Monroe finally smiles when he and Blanchard “end the treaty” with the Patriots at the front. This is, after all, the alliance that Monroe wanted in order to get back his Republic. One has to wonder if that is going to be possible. Once Texas takes care of the Patriots, it seems more likely that they will simply rule themselves, but they are without a President at the moment...

    Miles is able to make Gene happy by telling him that the first town they’re going to take back from the Patriots is Willoughby. Gene is almost pathetically grateful that he’ll have a chance to redeem himself and save his town. Charlie and Miles then talk, and Charlie gives Miles her blessing for Miles to be the “one” for Rachel. Spiridakos does a great job as we finally see her regret over not having had a chance with Jason. One of the best things the show did this season was develop the character of Charlie. I could barely tolerate her in season one, and this season she has grown to be one of my favorite characters – belly shirt and all!

    It would seem that most of the characters have had some kind of victory. We then cut to Priscilla who has a chilling message for Aaron. The nano is going to find others to help it take over if Priscilla and Aaron won’t help it. She tells him that she saw the nano’s plan to make everyone mindless drones – like the fireflies or ants. We then cut to the people that the nano is able to manipulate – Davis is visited by his father, Truman by Marion, and Neville by Jason. All are told to go to Bradbury, Idaho. Davis’s father tells him it’s God that’s chosen him, while Jason asks Neville to do it for him.

     We then cut back to Priscilla whose final warning is that it all starts with a grinning man. The grinning man turns out to be a neon clown’s face. Is there anything scarier than a clown? Our final shot is of a large group of people arriving in Bradbury, Idaho at the nano’s invitation. The last shot on our screen, however, was a plea to help the 1.3 billion people on earth who live without electricity and a link to www.action4energy.org – and it’s a legitimate site if you are interested in helping.

    This definitely didn’t feel like a series finale all wrapped up in a nice bow, which makes me wonder whether they knew it was coming when they shot the last episode. There is lots of closure, but there are also lots of unanswered questions, even beyond what to do about the mindless army of nano-bots. There is a declaration of independence from those opposing the Patriots and there is a declaration of independence from the nanotech as it does turn away from its creators.

    Where do Miles and Monroe really stand with each other – I really wanted a last scene between those two. What if Monroe makes a bid for President of Texas? What will Monroe do about Connor – and will Connor simply follow Neville to Idaho? I was pretty surprised that Kripke didn’t write this episode – even if it was only supposed to be the season finale. Traditionally, he has always written the first and last episodes of every season when he’s show runner. I would have expected him to have wrapped things up a bit more tightly, knowing it was the series finale.

    What did you think of the episode? Were you satisfied with where it ended? Did you scream NO at your television? What scene would you have liked to have seen? Are you heartbroken to lose the show? Are you hoping a campaign to save the show will be able to save it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and feel free to share links to those petitions!

26 comments:

  1. Just wanted to thank you lisa for all your reviews of Revolution. I don't comment very much on reviews but as this was the series finale (*cries*) I just wanted to show my appreciation.

    I loved the show, the characters the story (for the most part) and I'm sad that it's over.

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  2. Thank you for reading and commenting! You're welcome. I will definitely miss this show a lot. It's one of the ones I've reviewed since the Pilot. Fingers crossed that the fans can convince TPTB to at least give us a tv movie or a limited run to truly wrap it up...

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  3. Thanks Lisa for a great review! So sad it's the last one for Revolution! :(

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  4. Dominick Grace23 May 2014 at 19:59

    Bradbury, eh? I wonder if that's a nod to SF/Fantasist Ray Bradbury, especially givne the carnival setting. One his best-known (and best) books, Something Wicked This Way Comes, is about a carnival run by Mister Dark, who sucks people into his malign plans by offering them illusions of their fondest dreams coming true.

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  5. I don't think they knew it would be the series finale when they wrote the episode...a lot of scenes were deleted so I think when the episode was edited they did do a good job in wrapping up some loose story lines to give us a satisfactory series finale if it indeed is one. I have never been a fan of the Nano storyline so while I would love to see how this goes on, I am ok with not getting an answer.


    I also like the open ended question if Miles will take Charlie's advise and run off with Rachel when summer is over (the war with the Patriots is won). I still don't think Miles and Rachel are made for each other, but I am contend to leave this open as every fan seems to have their own opinion and I don't have to see every plot wrapped up. Same is true with Monroe and if he will actually take over the Texas Republic.


    What I would like to know is how Connor's relationship develops with his father and if Connor is really stupid enough to think he can take on/kill Miles as it has been indicated in the last episode. I would also love to see Nano Neville..just can't imagine the Nanos being able to control Neville..and he still seems intend on killing Charlie. So, those are things I would love to see..don't need them wrapped up, but am curious how they'd work out, and frankly I'd just love to see how the Nanos will try to control Tom. Giancarlo would have a hey day with those scenes. Other than that I was happy how this episode turned out if it should indeed be the last one we see.


    Also, you might find reading the last entry of Aaron's journal interesting...it seems to show where Season 3 would take us..and can be read as an epilogue if we don't get a Season 3. It's on the NBC Revolution website.


    My favorite scenes were Miles trusting Monroe, finally telling Rachel off (in a careful way but still) that he knows Monroe longer and he trusts him...and Monroe proving him right. I was literally sitting on the edge of my chair, urging Monroe to please please please let Miles be right and Rachel be wrong. Just loved that Miles proved he is still his own man, just like you said. And I loved it that finally one of Miles' plans worked out..must have been the first time this season. Needless to say, Miles was/is my favorite character and I loved how his road to redemption seems to have come full circle with this episode. I really think Billy Burke did an awesome job in showing Miles' inner struggles and eventual victory over himself. If it would stay this way, well...again I don't need everything laid out for me. That's where your own imagination comes in :)


    And I was very surprised that Rachel actually had a gun, wasn't too surprised that she didn't use it because she is more the screwdriver, handbag weapon kind of gal..I never have seen her use a conventional weapon. I was surprised that Charlie didn't take action though. I guess, she didn't need to because is there a weapon Miles is not a master off? I mean he didn't miss one shot and we know how awesome he is with a sword.


    I also want to thank you for your reviews. Most reviews I have read about Revolution were bad and you had to wonder why the critics were watching the show...but in your case I could see how much you love the show, but were also able to be fair and point out certain weakness. Really enjoyed your reviews..and I am still hoping we get a season 3 and get to read more of your Revolution reviews :)

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  6. Svetlana Apaeva23 May 2014 at 22:02

    Thank you Lisa for the wonderful review of Revolution.
    Have to say I cried a lot during the episode. Just couldn't stop. Absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. I consider it as Season 2 Finale. There is still so much to tell, lots of questions unanswered. Nothing is final yet for all the Revolution fans. There is a petition sign to continue Revolution on another site. Please help us to save Revolution http://www.thepetitionsite.com/553/454/200/revolution-season-3/ Thank you.

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  7. Thanks and you're welcome! I'm beyond sad... We had some ups and downs, but overall, I've really loved this show.

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  8. Ooooo - cool! I'm betting you are right on the money. The clown is such a Kripke bogeyman, I was getting stuck on that. But, yeah. Ray Bradbury is almost certainly where they were going...

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  9. Thank you so much! And double thanks for the tip about Aaron's journal - I will definitely seek that out. I think we are pretty much totally in agreement as to how things were wrapped up. I liked the nano plot, but it wasn't my primary interest and I like that we don't have to nail down Rachel and Miles. I completely agree that Esposito would be amazing as Tom-bot - just wow! But I'm betting the nano couldn't keep him down even by giving him Julia and Jason back... I'm still holding out hope that we'll maybe get a movie or limited run... but that's probably pie in the sky...

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  10. Thank you, and you're very welcome! Thanks so much for the link - I signed! Keeping my fingers crossed that we get at least a limited run or a movie to give us a bit more of the story...

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  11. This review is as bad as the episode.

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  12. I want to know where the nano are taking this. I wish the series didn't end like this! I know I am leary to get involved with another series on NBC. I don't think I have ever been anymore disappointed with the end of a series as I am with this one. The closest to it would be Heroes and that would be another NBC show. Wow. How would have thought. Finally after a half a dozen years, they are finally finishing that one. Maybe within the next decade we will see an ending to this series. A true fan of the show will be waiting...

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  13. I agree. I think the writers would have done a better job tying up the loose ends if they'd known one way or the other if they were being cancelled. I suspect that they suspected, but you can't just go ahead and write "the" ending if there is a possibility you'll be back... It was very stupid of NBC to wait so long...

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  14. Dominick Grace24 May 2014 at 03:52

    Hey, thanks for the constructive feedback! Drop by any time.

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  15. Even the main storyline wrapped up one chapter and opened another one - it's even pointed at "the end of summer" when we'd return from hiatus. But we can imagine only good things there so it feels more complete. The nano-tech storyline was really unsatisfying for me - so we need more!

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  16. I can understand that they couldn't write "the" ending without knowing of the cancellation and I don't blame the writers. I just can't understand how a major network can cancel a tv series without allowing closure. Just a bit confused on what they were thinking...

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  17. Ray Bradbury was called the Midwest Surrealist - Bradbury, Idaho - perfect way to honor a great writer. In a roundabout way, Revolution was smart TV - and it never talked down to or insulted it's viewers. Charlie told Miles that she knew and it was okay. Monroe redeemed himself and still has the megalomaniacal attitude. Miles is still clueless but smoking hot - so emotional immaturity is forgiven. I will miss this imaginative, what-if series. Revolution is way ahead of it's time - NBC could not and did not handle this series in an effective manner. Hopefully, one day a network will buy this series and do it justice.

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  18. I've watched Revolution from the start, and visited with the cast & creators at Comic-Con both years--and have wanted to support this show. But, I can't. And to me this second, last, season has been a horror. Thematically, nothing has made sense. The characters (even Charlie) have never really evolved in a way that was true to who they are or serve a larger goal or theme.

    Now, to my random comments about the Series Finale. Charlie, who I still believe is the Main Character in the series, is left alone and loveless--having killed her possible paramour, Jason; primarily for a cheap thrill by the writers. What has her character gained over two seasons? Or, where she does she go after the finale? Nowhere! So, again: why were we watching for two years?

    Miles & Monroe are clearly two sides of the same coin (or one, complete person) and Monroe ends up poised to regain a Republic (Texas)--which puts him right back where he was at the series beginning. While Miles "gets the girl"--in this case Rachel. His brother's window. Which is kinda creepy.

    And, Neville, who in Season One was an Incredible Character, who just begged to be given exciting, complex story-lines, was completely wasted on some low-brow Family Jihad, that ultimately lead him to becoming one of the "pod" people (Thanks, Invasion of the Body Snatchers!).

    I could go on and on--but the wasted opportunities of this show over the two seasons are numerous. Indeed, it seems fitting that Eric Kripke did NOT write the finale: clearly he is out of ideas, and probably lost interest in the show at the end of Season One, when the lights came back on--briefly.

    In conclusion, the cast of actors deserved much, much better material--and I'm particularly please that the show is ending in order for Tracy Spiridakos to maybe find a show that will let her demonstrate her acting ability and reward her many fans. More season of Revolution would have destroyed her career.

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  19. Season 2 was good up until episode 9 which I like to call the "Jumping the Shark" episode. After that one, this show really wasn't worth watching. Most of the episodes were well written, but they all just lacked focus and structure. I loved the introduction of Connor, and he slowly became my favourite character, but the writers seem to not like him, or something because he quickly became more of a background character instead of a main one. The Nano storyline needed to go, it was getting way too strange and seemed more like a rejected script idea for Supernatural.

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  20. I am so glad that I wasn't the only one who didn't like the whole Neville/Connor team up. Even though it does seem fitting as Neville has a void to fill after losing his son, and Connor will attach himself to any kind of father figure type.
    Am I the only one who noticed that in the Supernatural finale and this one... the antagonist is defeated in almost the exact same way???? Coincidence???
    Good job and good review Lisa ^_^ I am going to miss reading them every week

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  21. I definitely agree that NBC mis-managed the series. Certainly in regards to too many breaks...

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  22. Thanks! And I totally noticed the similarity to the ending with Supernatural!

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  23. I hear what you're saying: "why" was Connor introduced? Like ALL of the characters on this show, Connor was never developed. Just introduced, then left to rot.

    BTW, in thinking back over all of the Revolution episodes during the two years, it's disconcerting that the most memorable (and enjoyable) scene was of Charlie/Tracy getting in and out of the bathtub in the "Sex and Drugs" episode in season 1. Having failed to provide engaging, logical story-lines, many shows revert to sexy teases--but the Revolution writers proved themselves incapable of carrying that off. Instead they "tramped-up" Charlie in the second season, having her bang guys indiscriminately, with an I-don't-give-a-damn-for-tomorrow-we-die attitude.

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  24. I enjoyed the end, though expect an appearance of Milles and Monroe together, but even so, I eleborado well, clever. I am VERY trsite the cancellation, I hope you see a very naked light end of the tunnel for us fans, a possible return of the show. :/

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  25. I think the writers thought they were going to have Season 3 and were going to focus on Connor in the next season. The writers wrote Connor as - like father, like son. Connor was power hungry just like his father, Monroe. The Nano story EVOLVED, as in Evolution - Revolution. The nanos were evil, taking over humans. The heroes and nanos were on a collision course. That's why we want Season 3, which will bring every plot line together, making a Kick-Ass sci-fi series. Renew Revolution!

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  26. Connor was a mystery from season one that The writers needed to get covered. So therefore you have a character like Connor that once he outlived his purpose is tossed aside. Sad because they really could have done so much more with his character, not only him but Jason as well. Although, they have dropped balls in wanting to develop Connor by having him say"You don't know me, where I come from, what I have done" not once, but twice within a few episodes of each other. Instead of developing these kind of characters, they made way for useless ones like Cynthia(I never liked her character, or her acting) and Scanlon(Seriously, did he ever serve a point in this show???)

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