Revolution? More like Debacle

You've all seen the advertisements a new series from NBC and Creator Eric Kripke Director Jon Favreau
and "Executive Producer" J.J. Abrams. I had high hopes until Abrams name came up. Its not that his productions aren't entertaining but his penchant for using otherworldly or supernatural events as a means to extort believability and rationalization from the audience is frustrating at best and downright B-Movie Infuriating at worst. That's why when the trailer reveals a magical silver pendant that can re-power things I immediately pulled out my fancy "Suspenders of Disbelief" and put them on.


Lets look at the premise, All the power in the world mysteriously shuts off at approximately the same time and sends the world back a good 200 years in technology. The effect is like a persistent EMP wave and no newly produced electronics work either (at least not so far as we know). So were dealing with a hypothetical situation which is not all that hard to believe. What if there was no more electricity? An interesting idea but this show is more important than the average Post Apocalypse fan knows. The success of this show will help determine the likelihood that shows like it get picked up by networks and if it does poorly then it like all manner of shows will crawl to its grave of obscurity after the first 22 episodes. This is exactly why I am so frustrated with the series mediocre acting and condescending behavior of the characters and the writers/producers aversion to giving their fan-base credit. Not convinced? After viewing the Pilot I made a couple of notes and observations from the perspective of an Apocalypse Prepared, security minded, individual. While most of what I'm concerned about can probably be rationalized by the desire for a dramatic series over a realistic one there are some points I'm sure you will agree that stink of just shoddy writing. I've included some support in the shows favor on issues where for one reason or another the characters act for the benefit of the audience or for the sake of plot advancement but a reasonable person can decide for themselves when the producers are being trivial.

Season 1 Episode 1 :"Pilot" Notes & Review

(WARNING: Contains Spoilers)

• Opening scene: Rachel Matheson is unable to get the attention of the undisciplined Charlotte "Charlie" Matheson her own daughter because Charlie is "zoned out" (A demeanor as we soon learn, has not only permeated her character but her acting ability)

• When Ben Matheson enters the house looking hurried and worried and instructs his wife to "Fill the Tubs and sinks" (Credit to Ben for emergency mindset) she wastes precious moments gawking and stopping Ben to ask dramatically "Its Happening, isn't it?"
  
• Ben calls Miles to warn him but hasn't already established a phrase to tell his Marine brother that shit is about to hit the fan. Perhaps they were never very close.
  
• Danny and Charlie are supposed to be hunting but where the hell is Danny's weapon?
  
• Danny has asthma but doesn't carry any manner of face-mask, medication or preventative measure?
  
• Ben claims to have his families survival in mind but he shelters Charlie so much that she is endangered more often than not and often by her juvenile belief that people are inherently good in a world where men kill each other over mouthfuls of food. (Perhaps the producers decided the party needed a softer, sympathetic, feminine perspective in the form of Charlie but generally she comes across as air-headed and most certainly not an aspiring heroine).
  
• Why are there no watchtowers, guards, or even lookouts near the village to warn of the Militias coming? (Perhaps the village is unused to having security threats or they are infrequent enough that they don't feel the need to have them.)
  
• Aaron the former Google executive is almost certainly going to server as a comic relief character until more about the silver pendants is learned. This is a tad bit patronizing.
  
• Danny after being captured is able to free himself when the pipe hes cuffed to is loosened. This can't be the first prisoner the Militia has taken so why is it that they didn't properly secure the prisoner? (Danny's escape is of course included as part of the plot advancement) Additionally once Danny is freed and the only nearby guard knocked unconscious he does not stop to conceal the guard, take armour, weapons, or even a possible handcuff key off the temporarily disabled body. For a boy trying to escape he sure does express disfavor to evasion or even self-preservation. (He could have been panicking and not thinking straight, there could have been other guards nearby that we the audience don't see but its no excuse for not trying)
  
• Charlie encounters "Nate" at the waterfall but upon her return to the party she doesn't mention the encounter. Is she being unwise or does she just not see the impact that could potentially have?
  
• I've established by this point that the party is generally ignorant but its proven again when they cross the open ground of the airport and waltz up to an "abandoned" aircraft as if there isn't another human for miles. As if the aircraft couldn't possibly be occupied or the stomping grounds of say, bandits?
  
• I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the first of so few moments in the show where a character displays some forethought. Maggie presents the Bandits with a bottle of Whiskey that (Surprise!) is poisoned with a fast acting ingredient, killing the two Bandits holding her and Aaron at knife-point.
  This is precisely the kind of forethought and cunning I'd like to see displayed by ALL the Characters.
  
• Charlie reveals to the relative stranger "Nate" their plans to travel to Chicago because she feels she "owes" him a lifedebt. Who's to say that "Nate" isn't the scout for a big party of rapists who don't mind killing bandits to expand their turf? (No evidence yet to contradict that the Militia is any different)
  
• Grace, the woman who shelters Danny, finds him in a field outside and manages to drag him back to the house and up a flight of stairs but not say, to a ground floor basement or shed where he'd be hidden from plain sight? Also she notices the handcuffs and doesn't figure out what to say or do someone comes looking for him? And you entrust this woman with a secret pendant why?
   
• When the party (plus "Nate") reaches Chicago and the Hotel Why doesn't Miles reveal the Monroe Brand on "Nate" when he counters his knife threatening? (Perhaps he didn't feel it or was too distracted)
  
• When the party comes back to help Miles fight the Soldiers why does Aaron knock down the solider and NOT continue to smash his head in? Does he think the solider will not just get up and stab him in the face?
  
• When Miles decides to go with the party he leaves behind alcohol which even though is not a necessity it can be used for medical purposes, fuel, barter, or weaponry. Seems a tad bit unwise for someone in the military

Already this series if off to a bad start, and undoubtedly there will be more frustrating evidence of characters acting like the sorority girl in some cheap horror film. Running amok without a plan, a weapon, or a brain.

Perhaps we'll see some character growth, perhaps not, lets just hope that regardless of how the series does that it doesn't close the door for future television programs set in the post apocalypse.

"Oh Boy another J.J.Abrams production!"