BY MCKAYLA HELM, Editor
When the lights go out, the revolution starts. The television show focuses around the Matheson family in Chicago, which is made up the eldest daughter, Charlie, the son, Danny, and their parents, Ben and Rachel.
Even from the first episode, viewers are thrown into the plot as Ben barges into the house, frantic and distracted. Shortly after Ben comes home, he calls his brother Miles, who is driving with his friend Sebastian Monroe in South Carolina. The connection breaks in the middle of the call though, and all of the power in the world is turned off. The only thing that connects to this major shutdown is Ben and his amulet/USB key that he used to download something right before the power turned off forever.
The plot is interesting and takes hold of one’s attention without them knowing. There are small twists and problems thrown in with every episode, making it slightly frustrating when questions aren’t answered.
Despite all of the plot complications, the common theme throughout all the episodes are the clues about working to turn the power back on.
After the base for the storyline is set up, the show follows Charlie as she begins a journey to find her asthmatic brother. The Monroe militia had killed her dad back in the small Wisconsin farming town they’d lived in and Charlie wants to find out why.
Throughout the course of the episodes, viewers get to know Maggie, Ben’s girlfriend; Aaron, who was given the amulet before Ben died; Miles, who was picked up from a bar in Chicago; and Nora, Miles’ friend from the past. The viewpoints switch back and forth between Charlie’s trek, and Danny who is a prisoner of Captain Neville.
This television show has the aura of a post-apocalyptic show with the many hardships and political issues it poses. Most of the characters and settings are new and interesting, although there are a few stereotypical elements, such as the main character’s inability to think when it comes to her emotions and the relationships between some of the characters.
The characters seem to be strong with their development. Both Charlie and Danny are often child-like in this show, which at times gives scenes a sense of urgency because they are still trying to figure out the new world they live in. Miles is much of the opposite of the siblings, being very violent, but even though he seems overly angry he’s usually right.
Another thing noticeable was how run-down everything looked after the 15 years the missing power grid. It made sense that nature would take over, but the lack of human presence in some areas is skeptical. It’s understandable that some deaths would occur, but give humans some credit, people could figure out how to function even if everything in the world no longer worked.
However, this show is highly interesting and should be checked out. It welcomes opinions on the new and old subjects it brings up and will leave one bewildered, but wanting to know more. Watch Revolution on Mondays on NBC at 9 p.m.
