The "Revolution" Grows By One: A Television Review ("Soul Train")

Director: Jon Cassar.

Writers: Eric Kripke and Paul Grellong.

Executive producer: Jon Favereau.

Cast: Tim Guinee, Maria Howell, David Lyons, Graham Rogers, Tracy Spiridakos, Zak Orth, Daniella Alonso, and Elizabeth Mitchell.

Epis. 5 of "Revolution" titled "Soul Train" was a bit of a character study of Captain Tom Neville (Giancarlo Esposito). Neville enjoys a bit of a character arc as the loss of electricity changes him from a beaten man to a militaristic opportunist. There were also wild west elements introduced. A steam engine, horses and fist fights made this showing seem like something out of John Ford's catalog. The main plot stays the same, with Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos), Miles (Billy Burke) and company still chasing Danny (Graham Rogers), but this showing deepened some characters, at least.

Charlie, Nora (Daniella Alonso), Aaron (Zak Orth) and Miles are now in Indiana searching for Danny. They believe he is at a train station ready to head for Philadelphia. But, there is no sign of Charlie's brother. Instead, Miles and Neville reunite and then square off. Neville wants to know why Miles has left the militia. Their fight is inconclusive. Meanwhile, Nora has recruited another member into the American rebellion. Lapidus (Jeff Fahey) has a taste for "Harry Potter" literature and a knack for stabbing his partners in the back. Unsurprisingly, Danny is not rescued by the end of this episode and this viewer is wondering if he ever will be.

Giancarlo Esposito as Neville (right)

Outside of the central plot, the character Neville was given a lot of backstory through a series of flashbacks. First, he is fired as an insurance adjuster before the blackout, then he teaches his son to box. Later, he is beating his neighbour in his own house when said neighbour goes looking for abandoned silverware. It does not pay to be a looter. Neville seems changed by the new world. He was somewhat weak and powerless before (although arguably morally good), but now he has changed into a ruthless villain. Neville is surely a match for one of the protagonists, Miles, and expect another confrontation between these two characters later in this first season.

This episode seemed to climax near the final few minutes with a wild west chase. Miles and Charlie corral some horses and they give chase upon a steam powered train. Danny is on board. They overtake the train; however, neither character can disarm Neville and this episode ends much like any other, with the protagonists still chasing Danny. The homage to wild west films of the past was appreciated and seeing Miles scamper around on top of a train car brought back some good memories for this western fan.

Fans of fiction might have enjoyed a couple of pop culture references in this episode. The American rebel, Lapidus, not only likes "Harry Potter," but he uses an early 21st Century reference as a password. Nora states "I am looking for a biography of Joe Biden" and this line was worth a laugh or two. Biden is, of course, the Vice President of the United States. The pop references in this title were slightly toned down from Epis. 4, "No Quarter." Some of the more humorous writing comes from these little inserts and hopefully, this show will offer more cultural references.

This fifth episode will be followed by four more this season. The ratings for "Revolution" have been good and this viewer is expecting a second season as long as plotlines can occasionally be wrapped up. It is strange to see a show focusing on a solitary story for so long rather than on multiple stories. Perhaps a second season can create more than just this linear plotting structure. Overall, "Soul Train" offered a lot for fans and this watcher will return October 22nd for "Sex and Drugs," which promises more excitement.

Overall: 7 out of 10.

*it was also revealed that the character Nate is actually Tom Neville's son.

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