Revolution [NBC - US] [* Spoilers *]

Richard Dower

pixelburp wrote: »

Well not really; if you're making a drama ostensibly set in our real-world, you can't just make sh*t up because it sounded dramatic in the elevator pitch, especially if it flies in the face of even the most cursory of scientific knowledge. The premise makes no (common) sense, machines don't simply stop working because you want them to, especially the ones that don't actually need electricty, like combustion engines.

In any case, I watched the episode and it's completely interchangeable with every other 'event' driven show released since Lost; the premise is stupid, thoughtless & lazy, and it doesn't help that the story itself is fairly bland. I'm a bit sick of the obsession with these single-sentence 'event' shows, that are all mystery to grab the viewer, but with absolutely no sense of planning or common sense.

So...Flash Forward then?

Richard Dower

pixelburp wrote: »

Yeah the sudden forestation (and flooding) of the cities was equally baffling: to be honest the whole thing stunk of committee-TV, it was all very generic & cookie-cutter. The magic pendant of power is not a legitimate hook to keep anyone watching, and is as nonsensical as the rest of the premise. The conflicts between characters themselves are weak & uninteresting, and the fact much of the cast look like slightly scruffy GAP models doesn't help the feeling that it's all very much by rote.

^ pretty much why i'm passing on the show, as you said it's like every other event/genre show since lost....and they all failed, i expect this will too!

syklops

Watched it the other night. I suppose I should spoiler this.

I said to herself, "I can accept that electricity no longer 'works', but why would combustion engines stop working, they are just mechanical. At worst they should be back to the 1920's not the 1820's". She said: "Maybe we will find out". I said, "Its JJ Abrams, we will never find out".

Then it occurred to me. If the combustion engine doesnt work, why do guns still work?

Then, just as your getting used to the premise of no electricty, of it not "working", we meet a woman who has a computer, and has electricity, and has internet access. . Well done JJ. You couldn't even keep it going for one episode.

When they met the uncle and it turned into a swashbuckling, sword fighting action series, I thought it felt more like a teenagers after school show. Not prime time programming. Dexter is starting in three weeks, Homeland will back back soon. I think this will be forgotten soon.

VinLieger

I dont really get the anger people have of stuff not being properly explained in the pilot. Its just the pilot and its a JJ Abrams show people should be used to this, maybe give it a couple of episodes before you write it of completely?

syklops

VinLieger wrote: »

I dont really get the anger people have of stuff not being properly explained in the pilot. Its just the pilot and its a JJ Abrams show people should be used to this, maybe give it a couple of episodes before you write it of completely?

Maybe because we watched this thing called Lost for 6 years only to find nothing that was promised would be explained was, and we are wary about being bitten again. Fool me once etc.

don ramo

did everyone read an article on combustion engines before watching this show or something, even if they use combustion engines, how are they gonna keep them running, they might have a few around but somehow i would say 99.9% of people still around after 15 years of no electricity are not gonna have cars,

people just forgot about cars and other ****, its not like everyone said lets get into the mines and dig up some ore and get that coal mine running again so we can be lazy bastards and drive everywhere like we used to, no doubt someone somewhere is running a salve labor mine, only a matter of time before we come across one,

society broke down, which means people stopped working for the greater good, America has been divided up between warlords who now run things,

they dont meet every second tuesday to see how each of them are getting on, its more likely if they see a stranger they shoot on sight,

don ramo

syklops wrote: »

Maybe because we watched this thing called Lost for 6 years only to find nothing that was promised would be explained was, and we are wary about being bitten again. Fool me once etc.

but lost wasn't a JJ shows, he helped create it but he left early in season 1 and only had very sporadic involvement with it, lost was made by carlton cuse and damon lindelof

JJ Abrams had more major involvement with shows like Fringe, Alias and Person of Interest

syklops

don ramo wrote: »

did everyone read an article on combustion engines before watching this show or something,

A combustion engine is not exactly a difficult piece of machinery. I learnt how one worked when I was about 10, I don't need a refresher course in how it works. I don't think its unreasonable to wonder why don't they use any in their day to day lives. Especially since we see abandoned cars dotting the countryside.

but lost wasn't a JJ shows, he helped create it but he left early in season 1 and only had very sporadic involvement with it

He created it. He has form for starting things and not finishing them. This is the same guy who created a monster movie but didnt show the monster.

syklops

syklops wrote: »

A combustion engine is not exactly a difficult piece of machinery. I learnt how one worked when I was about 10, I don't need a refresher course in how it works. I don't think its unreasonable to wonder why don't they use any in their day to day lives. Especially since we see abandoned cars dotting the countryside.


He created it. He has form for starting things and not finishing them. This is the same guy who created a monster movie but didnt show the monster.

You do realize that J J Abrahms didn't direct Cloverfield, right? He produced it. There's a big difference between the two.

As for not finishing.. he had been heavily involved in Fringe, which is due to finish up soon. It's not his fault that Lost went on for as long as it did; he started it, but handed it over.

syklops

Deleted User wrote: »

You do realize that J J Abrahms didn't direct Cloverfield, right? He produced it. There's a big difference between the two.

As for not finishing.. he had been heavily involved in Fringe, which is due to finish up soon. It's not his fault that Lost went on for as long as it did; he started it, but handed it over.

Fair enough. However the question posed was, why are some of us so cautious regarding this show, and my answer is because we have to dispel our knowledge of physics for the premise of the show to work, and my point is, the last time I have had to dispel such fundamental beliefs, I got badly let down.

As I have said, I can get my head around a situation where electricity does not work, but you would then expect a dystopian world similar to the mad max movies, where cars and engines are still there, just nothing electrical / digital. In Revolution, they seem to have gone back over 100 years and in the pilot at least there is no explanation as to why.

don ramo

syklops wrote: »

A combustion engine is not exactly a difficult piece of machinery. I learnt how one worked when I was about 10, I don't need a refresher course in how it works. I don't think its unreasonable to wonder why don't they use any in their day to day lives. Especially since we see abandoned cars dotting the countryside.


He created it. He has form for starting things and not finishing them. This is the same guy who created a monster movie but didnt show the monster.

yeah there are loads of cars all over over the place, modern ones, you know that require electricity to start them and electricity to pump the fuel from the tank to the engine, and electricity to make the lights work, you would need to use a steam engine, so you need coal to burn and you would need methods to refine iron ore to build the engine, its not impossible, it just requires a lot of effort, and intercommunication, which as i already said it not being done,

in this scenario the people didnt pick themselves up and stick together, they gave up and went their separate ways, its gonna take more than 15 years to rebuild a civilization, ever hear of the dark ages, it took nearly 1000 years before we got our act together and started acting like civilized people again, there were clusters of society but they didnt interact they stayed in their groups, so we had nearly 1000 years of just standing still,


and JJ co-created lost, and then left, i hate when people call Lost a JJ Abrams show, its not a JJ Abrams show, this is fact, he helped conceive it and then left,

and heres the cloverfield monster

ejmaztec

I think the Amish are the ones responsible for screwing the electricity, and we'll probably see them riding in their buggies looking smug at some time in one of the episodes.

Richard Dower

Re; comubstion engine....i'm no expert, but don't cars need a electric spark to ignite the engine....if you can't generate any electricity how can it work?

Cars from the 1920-50's....how many are left?. 99% of all modern cars use electronics....so........?

syklops

Richard Dower wrote: »

Re; comubstion engine....i'm no expert, but don't cars need a electric spark to ignite the engine....if you can't generate any electricity how can it work?

Cars from the 1920-50's....how many are left?. 99% of all modern cars use electronics....so........?

Modern cars use a spark to ignite the combustion. They don't 'need' a spark. They just need a source of combustion. It can be done without spark plugs. Might take a bit of tinkering, but its not impossible.

ixoy

We need a steam punk world then! Or maybe it affects the entire laws of thermodynamics! I mean why not - it'd make as much sense!

Richard Dower

What about trains?.....surely there are coal and steam powered locos still about...?

don ramo

syklops wrote: »

Modern cars use a spark to ignite the combustion. They don't 'need' a spark. They just need a source of combustion. It can be done without spark plugs. Might take a bit of tinkering, but its not impossible.

and how do you plan on running it, attach a 5 gallon tank above the engine, cause you have no fuel pump, then youll get by for a while but once you run out of petrol your kinda screwed, you could switch to an alternative fuel source, but thatll only last so long also, then you cant drive at night cause you have no lights, then youll need new tyres, and oil filters,

TBH i do expect to see a steam train at some point, i will be disappointing if i dont, in order for the militia to have a big hold over the people they would need to have the ability to get to certain points in their territory fast,

syklops

Im giving up on this thread. I can't defend physics, engineering, mechanics and just plain innovation In a universe where its possible for electricity to 'stop working' somehow, and for people to just accept it.

I'll watch a few more episodes and if there is something worth discussing I'll be back.

don ramo

syklops wrote: »

Im giving up on this thread. I can't defend physics, engineering, mechanics and just plain innovation In a universe where its possible for electricity to 'stop working' somehow, and for people to just accept it.

I'll watch a few more episodes and if there is something worth discussing I'll be back.

i just want to know how you can get a modern internal combustion engine to work without electricity, that is a billion euro idea,

youcancallmeal

We're all going to look very foolish when the writers come up with an amazing explanation to why the blackout happened (In 10 years and 8 seasons from now of course )

Richard Dower

The having no cars lights is a big plus in Don's argument....

Richard Dower

youcancallmeal wrote: »

We're all going to look very foolish when the writers come up with an amazing explanation to why the blackout happened (In 10 years and 8 seasons from now of course )

This is NBC....it'll at most get a pity/save face season 2 renewal and axed

syklops

don ramo wrote: »

i just want to know how you can get a modern internal combustion engine to work without electricity, that is a billion euro idea,

I really am not seeing a huge problem in building a solely mechanical car. The fuel pump doesnt have to be electric, it could be mechanical, powered by the engine, hell even by the passenger. We already solved this problem, the original cars had no electricity in them.

don ramo

as i said earlier, i expect the electricity will come back on at some point this season, and then the REVOLUTION will start, kinda stupid calling a show revolution without there actually being one

syklops

Richard Dower wrote: »

The having no cars lights is a big plus in Don's argument....

What?How? Why?

Your telling me your one Charlie, had she the option to get to Chicago by walking or by riding in my held together with duct tape, 100% mechanical car would rather walk because it has no lights?

We are getting silly now.

CastorTroy

I just think it mustn't have been an EMP, or they would have some stuff working. I mean based on what I know from other believable movies like Broken Arrow and War of the Worlds remake, EMP would only affect electrical devices that are turned on when the pulse hits.

But ok, I'll just accept what's happening and try not to think too much about it. I mean how many other shows have questionable science.

ejmaztec

syklops wrote: »

I really am not seeing a huge problem in building a solely mechanical car. The fuel pump doesnt have to be electric, it could be mechanical, powered by the engine, hell even by the passenger. We already solved this problem, the original cars had no electricity in them.

The man with a stock of lighter flints and paraffin headlamps will solve the internal combustion travel problem.

syklops

ejmaztec wrote: »

The man with a stock of lighter flints and paraffin headlamps will solve the internal combustion travel problem.

Not just travel. An internal combustion engine has many other uses.

don ramo

ejmaztec wrote: »

The man with a stock of lighter flints and paraffin headlamps will solve the internal combustion travel problem.

syklops wrote: »

Not just travel. An internal combustion engine has many other uses.

getting it going is only the initial problem you have to overcome, there are 50 more problem down the line, simple maintenance would be a chore, sourcing cogs, pistin heads, shafts, clamps and gaskets, axels, timing belts, FUEL,

a good mountain bike would be a worthy investment alright though, kind of odd no body had one thinking about it,

syklops

don ramo wrote: »

getting it going is only the initial problem you have to overcome, there are 50 more problem down the line, simple maintenance would be a chore, sourcing cogs, pistin heads, shafts, clamps and gaskets, axels, timing belts, FUEL,

a good mountain bike would be a worthy investment alright though, kind of odd no body had one thinking about it,

Surely there are enough cars and other machinery dotted around the landscape to have enough spares for a lifetime.