Let me start by saying that I am really excited for the new season.  Whenever a show ends on a cliffhanger I have to put it out of my mind for several months or the suspense will drive me nuts.  This is how it has been for me with the show Revolution.  Let me explain… for someone interested in survival there are not a lot of options out there.  Of course you have the shows where someone is dropped off in the middle of nowhere with only a can opener and a few toothpicks.  Don’t get me wrong, those shows are super interesting and very informative, but Revolution has a plot, interesting characters, guns, people living off the land, and good vs. bad!  I wanted to list some of the interesting points of the series and enter in some of my predictions for the 3rd season.  It should be a fun experiment.

What went well?

1.     The show gets challenges you to think about what you would do in certain situations, and gets you thinking about preparing for the worst.

2.     It touches on the emotional difficulties of surviving change and dealing without the comforts that we are used to.

3.     It proves the point that people in desperate situations do desperate things.  

4.     It shows that people can and will survive against the odds.

5.     The show gives you insight on what it would be like to live in a world without power.

What could improve?

1.     How does everyone look good when there are no showers and running hot water available?

2.     Where are they getting all of the automatic weapons that they use?  I would think that they would be hard to come by.

3.     Why does everyone wear vests and nice boots?

4.     The show glamorizes violence (like all TV shows).

5.     Where did all of the people go?  Was there a global pandemic?

6.     No one on television goes to the bathroom?

7.     Where’s the survival information?

Predictions for Season 3

1. Zombies…

I know that the show’s writers are sitting in a room talking about how they can work zombies into the plot, but please… seriously?  I don't think that this will happen, but it could be on the table for this Season.  You have the nanites that can kill people on command, so why can’t they transform people into a living group of zombies.  Of course, the main characters will be safe.  Fighting against the Monroe Republic has become stale, so why not introduce another enemy!  Oh wait… do I foresee a Halloween zombie episode in the works?!?

2. Survival turns Science Fiction

With the power back on, I can't help but to think that the show is going to take a turn for the worst.  The lightening at the end of Season 2 shares insight into the future of the show.  Gone will be a show based on survival and now we will be left with science fiction drama.  Technology turned the power off, and with it back on the writers will use it to make the show more “interesting”.  We may be leaving the very subject that drew many of us to the show in the first place.  Let’s hope that I am wrong!

3. Cancelled!

Networks do a terrible job of ending their shows.  Let’s face facts… networks are always hoping their shows come back for an additional season or two.  It helps save investment dollars.  Therefore, they always leave the last episode full of cliffhangers to be resolved in the season opening episode of the next season.  Why would they cancel revolution before its time?  Because, they aren’t sure who their audience is.  Is it the hard core Prepper trying to learn about survival techniques in a chaotic world, a kid interested in nanites and technology, or a fan of J.J. Abrams?  It’s my opinion that NBC is trying to please all of the above with Revolution.  What they don't they realize is that the show is based on survival themes and there is a particular audience that watches.  By branching out into more of a science fiction drama theme it will ultimately drive its core audience away and send the survivalists back to reading survival blogs, and watching Bear Grylls and Les Stroud.  While this format makes good a TV show it seems that the last priority is to teach viable survival techniques.

Conclusion

Revolution gets you thinking about survival and getting your family ready in times of chaos.  That is what drew me in to start watching.  Now it seems more like a drama that keeps me interested because I want to find out what happens next.  I am not sure if I will keep turning in.  These days I feel that my time is better spent prepping for a future that could happen than watching a show about something that will never be.