Revolution Season 2 Meme -- Miles' Redemption, Charlie's Turmoil, Nanotech, & Patriots' Rise & Fall
It feels weird writing about a show that is now cancelled *sniff*. This is one of three shows that I feared would be cancelled this past television season. I did hear that Eric Kripke is hoping to continue the series on another network or an online medium. I hope someday it does because I would love to see a mini-series or a very short season to close out the series officially. Having the show cancelled you are pretty much stuck with a season finale that set-up the third season with various season two players.
I felt season two didn't completely fall in the guidelines of the sophomore slump because the season had some really great storylines, such as the Patriots, Miles' Redemption, Monroe's downspiral, and Charlie's emotional turmoil. There were some really awesome episodes. The only real misgiving I had was that Aaron's storyline at times dragged on for too long, but by the time you get to last quarter of episodes Aaron's storyline gets a major payoff in the end. Even though I really enjoyed season two I do have to rank season one a bit higher on my enjoyment scale.
Favorite Episodes: "Born in the U.S.A.", "There Will Be Blood", "Love Story", "Patriot Games", "The Patriot Act", "Come Blow Your Horn", "Everyone Says I Love You", "Captain Trips", "Fear and Loathing", "Dreamcatcher", "Why We Fight", "Austin City Limits", "$#!& Happens", "Tomorrowland", and "Memorial Day"
So-So Decent Episodes: "One Riot, One Ranger", "Dead Man Walking", "The Three Amigos", "Mis Dos Padres", "Exposition Boulevard", and "Declaration of Independence"
Least Favorite Episodes: "Happy Endings" -- I love the ships as the next gal, but this was a bit much for me. I think having Rachel and Charlie both having their intimate moments with Miles and Conner in the same episode was just too much. I think it diminished what I've been waiting to see with Miles and Rachel for two seasons. While I did like hearing about Charlie's thoughts I felt her shagging Conner could've been done in another episode before they were reunited with Rachel, Miles, and Gene. I loved the Patriots storyline in the episode, but it was overshadowed with all of the shagging that went on.
Favorite Storylines: There were several storylines I thoroughly enjoyed....
*The Patriots Rise to Power & Takeover -- I really loved anything to do with the Patriots storyline because I found the concepts presented connected to some way to historical events, but presented in a modernized way....granted.....without the power involved. They were behind the nukes that bombed the Monroe Republic and Georgia Territory. They gave the keys to the car to the Randall, and from then on the Patriots just rolled with it. The whole idea behind the typhus oranges was just plain creepy!! It was a great shout to Stephen King's The Stand.
One of my favorite storylines from season one was the recruitment of young Monroe Republic cadets. So I really loved how they went to that concept with the young cadets by having the sleeper agent method used instead. The sleeper agent method left me on the edge of my seat especially in "Austin City Limits". You just knew the young cadet that Miles let go for Rachel would come back to bite them in the bum. I really loved how it also connected to Jason and in turn connected to Charlie's humanity storyline.
The Patriot storyline also gave me some great villains from Truman to President Davis. Each Patriot villain I just loved because they truly believed they were saving the USA from itself by having Texas and California start a war to finish themselves off only to have the Patriots to come about the corner to save the day. I know some didn't like the Patriots storyline, but I found them far more interesting. However, I felt the ending of the Patriots was quite anti-climatic in the end. They were this huge monster, and it took only a few instances for Team Matheson to destory the Patriots chances. To the point Miles speculated the Patriots would pass their course after three or so months.
*Charlies' Emotional Turmoil -- Charlie's arc in season two I really enjoyed because after Nora and Danny's deaths you can see how much it was affecting Charlie. She is no longer an innocent young woman anymore. Charlie has gone through too much trauma. So I really enjoyed seeing how Charlie slowly got her humanity and compassionate back from her discussions with Rachel, Conner, and Jason. Most importantly what happened with Jason is what really brought Charlie back her humanity and compassion. I was just gutwrenched seeing Charlie kill Jason, but she had to because he turned into a killing machine *sniff*. I really enjoyed Charlie's emotional turmoil, and she got her way back to her humanity. Btw, I loved how badass Charlie was in this season!!
*Monroe's Downspiral -- I think I enjoyed Monroe's storyline far more in the first half of the season. It was just so interesting to see Monroe downspiral from a world leader to a person boxing in a ring. The whole storyline of Monroe getting his redemption I really enjoyed especially when it was just him and Charlie. I find Charlie and Monroe's interaction compelling and entertaining. The second half of Monroe's storyline I didn't like because he just became more delusional, so I'll leave it at that.
*Miles & Rachel's Redemption and Love -- IT'S ABOUT DARN TIME!! I've been waiting for this for two seasons. I liked how it connected to Miles' own insecurities that he is kinda taking Ben's wife and daughter even though Ben is no longer alive. I loved how Miles and Rachel's love for each other, and their love for Charlie was pretty much a huge key in the couple's redemption. Call me a sentimental sissy, but I love it when love is a key to a person's redemption and cause to achieve the impossible. I thoroughly loved watching it when Miles became to this epiphany when he was hurt and stuck in a building's basement. Overall, Miles and Rachel's storylines kicked major bum this season!!
*Nanotech Mind-Trippy Takeover -- A part of me loved the Nanotech storyline, but then a part of me didn't. I felt Aaron was separated from the group far too long. Having that said I loved the tactics the Nanotech used to gain control. It was totally trippy how it scared Miles in the premiere, taking over Priscilla, and how it can control so much in the natural world. I did find it amusing how the machine was trying to understand human nature through music to food. It was very interesting. My favorite Nanotech episode would have "Dreamcatcher" when Aaron wakes up in a world that doesn't exist, and the people he loves are alive. The whole episode was just so interesting since it came from Aaron's thoughts and emotions about himself and the other characters. It also showed the first time how intelligent the Nanotech is. I say from "Dreamcatcher" and onward I did started to enjoy the Nanotech storyline again, and I haven't enjoyed it since the season one finale and season two premiere. I would like to know how our heroes would conquer the Nanotech, at what cost, and how the Nanotech used Neville, Truman, and President Davis.
*The Mathesons and Grandpa Gene Finally Become a Family Again -- One of my favorite aspects about this season was the family element of the Mathesons and the inclusion of Grandpa Gene. I loved how the family interacts with each other after all that has happened, and how they interact with Gene. I got a hoot out of Gene telling Rachel how alike her and Charlie are from the attitude to liking the bad boys haha. It's like Gene is telling "welcome to my world" when Rachel was younger hehe. I also loved how Gene and Miles interacted!! How they came to trust each other not only with their own lives, but also the lives with Rachel and Charlie. In the beginning these two men would be butting heads, but by the end of the season they have saved each other's lives and would do anything to keep Charlie and Rachel safe. Furthermore, I liked that they weren't too overprotective of the girls. Rachel and Charlie weren't damsels in distress and could hold their own. I liked that there was a lot of interaction between Charlie and Gene, and how she called him "grandpa". You can see the real love within the Matheson family and Gene. It is one thing that Eric Kripke is always really good at!!
Misc. Hated Aspects: The ending of the Patriots was very anti-climatic, Aaron was separated from the group for far too long, and a big NO on the reveal of Monroe's tryst with Rachel. The reveal of Monroe and Rachel was not needed because honestly I came to dislike Monroe at this point. He is that delusional that he doesn't realize it wasn't consent. 'Cause of this Monroe is now on the mixed character category.
Favorite Couples & Potential Couples: Rachel/Miles and Jason/Charlie
Favorite Friendships and/or Fremies: Miles/Monroe, Charlie/Monroe, Charlie/Conner, Jason/Charlie, Rachel/Charlie, The Matheson Family, Gene/Rachel, Charlie/Gene, Miles/Charlie, Aaron/Charlie, and Miles/Gene
Favorite Characters: Miles, Charlie, Rachel, Jason, Gene, Secretary Justine Allenford, Duncan Page, and General Bill Carver
Mixed Characters: Aaron, Monroe, Conner, Julia, Cynthia, and Priscilla
Can't Stand Characters: Neville
Favorite Villains: The Patriots, Bounty Hunter Adam, Edward Truman, Titus Andover, Calvin Horn, Martin Shaw, Victor Doyle, President Jack Davis, and Daniel Henney
Least Favorite Villains: None, really bugged me, but some are pretty forgettable
Most Tragic Deaths: Jason.....'nuff said *sniff*
Favorite Guest Stars: Tim Guinee, Daniella Alfonso, Stephen Collins, Nicole Ari Parker, Steven Culp, Jim Beaver, Matt Ross, Christopher Cousins, Cotter Smith, and Katie Aselton
What did you think of the season in general? As I already stated before I really enjoyed the season, but it did suffer some from Aaron's separate storyline length the most. Having all that said I really loved season two, and I was really eager to see what happened next in season three. Man, I hope someday Eric Kripke can close out this great series. It had some really cool storylines, ideas, and characters that I enjoyed watching on my weekends after a long work week. I'm going to miss it *sniff*.