Victoria Welton looks forward to the UK premiere of Revolution…
Coming to our Sky Channel this month is the new American sci-fi series, Revolution. Written by Eric Kripke, who also created Supernatural, it is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future.
Some fifteen years prior an unknown phenomenon wiped out all the electricity on the planet ranging from cars to computers and engines to electronics and so people are forced to adapt. Life has now returned to how it was long before the Industrial Revolution; horse power and cross-bows have become the norm. However, the government has collapsed and no form of official law enforcement exists. Instead, warlords and militia rule many areas.
The Matheson family are the focus of the series. They have in their possession a mysterious pendant that holds the key to what actually took place when the wipe-out happened, plus it holds the solution to reverse the effects. Keen to get their hands on this pendant are the Monroe militia members, who will stop at nothing to gain this power – particularly as they too were involved in the blackout in some form – and vie for conquest of what was known as the United States of America.
Starring in the series are Billy Burke (The Twilight Saga, 24) as Miles Matheson. Miles originally formed the Monroe sect with Sebastian Monroe and became Commanding General of the Militia; making them brutally efficient. He became disillusioned and deserted the Monroes after an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate their General, Sebastian. The sect now considers him a traitor, along with the rest of his family, and is out to get him. Residing in Chicago, he is quick-witted with sharp reflexes and he is the one the rest of the Mathesons set out to find, and seek help from.
Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Matheson is played by Tracy Spirikados (Goblin, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, Being Human). She is seeking her Uncle Miles’ help, whom she manages to locate from her late father’s instructions. Actively pursuing her brother who has been taken by the militia, she displays more of her Uncle’s traits than those of her immediate family.
The actor I am most excited about is Giancarlo Esposito who played Gustavo ‘Gus’ Frin in the AMC series Breaking Bad for which, unsurprisingly, he won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama at the 2012 Critics Choice Televisions Awards. He starts out as Captain Tom Neville who has joined the Monroe militia following the blackout and is the first antagonist we come across. Originally a quiet, compassionate family man he is now pulling out all the stops to protect his family and his ruthless nature is positively encouraged by his power-hungry wife who is keen for him to oust Sebastian to become the next General.
Having seen the trailer I can tell you that, on first impressions, this series is fast-paced and exciting. The filming is effective and reminds me on many levels of The Walking Dead in the way it is portrayed.
Also starring JD Pardo (The Twilight Saga) and Elizabeth Mitchell (V, Lost), this series is directed by Jon Favreau, known for directing huge films such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Cowboys and Aliens, but this is his first TV venture. Favreau is teamed with Kripke and the show is co-produced by J.J. Abrams – the man set to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. On paper, this series can’t fail.
Come back in a couple of weeks and find out my unbiased opinion on Revolution, and whether it is it just that…
Victoria Welton is an Actor, Writer and Driving Instructor and resides in Berkshire. She also blogs as Verily, Victoria Vocalises, and you can follow her on Twitter @VicWelton.
Originally published March 2, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
