Revolution wraps up uneven first season Monday

NBC’s ‘Revolution’ had an outstanding pedigree when it debuted.

It was created by ‘Supernatural’ genius Eric Kripke, it was being produced by the always awesome JJ Abrams and Jon Favreau directed the pilot.

That was on top of boasting the always intriguing Billy Burke and Elizabeth Mitchell in the cast.

The premise was a simple one: What happens when the power goes out and the new struggle for power happens within the people who manage to survive?

When it started, ‘Revolution’ was really about a teenage girl named Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) who goes on a quest to find her kidnapped brother Danny after her father is killed. Along the way, she enlists the aide of her estranged uncle Miles (Burke) and discovers the mother (Mitchell) she thought long dead is actually alive – and keeping a shed full of secrets.

I’m a big fan of this genre, so I was understandably intrigued by the premise of ‘Revolution’ from the beginning.

The problem is, ‘Revolution’ never really stepped into the greatness it showed occasional flashes of.

My biggest problem with the show is Queen Charlie of the Pout. First off, the actress looks 30 – and she’s supposed to be playing a teenager. I know we’re supposed to suspend our disbelief on stuff like that – but in this case, it’s really obvious.

Second, the flow of ‘Revolution’ seems off, for lack of a better word.

The show runners said they wanted the narrative to be quicker – and the questions to be answered faster – than on ABC’s ‘Lost.’ That’s great in theory, but the practice on ‘Revolution’ has been somewhat lacking.

Mitchell is a terrific actress and Rachel is the most interesting character on the show – but her motivations vary so widely it’s hard to get a real grasp on her character.

Burke’s Miles is tortured – and he really is the heart of the show – but he also seems like an outsider looking in at times.

In Monday’s season finale, our cast of characters look to be turning the power back on. I’m actually hopeful that it happens, because I’d like to see what happens when civilization is reintroduced into a society that has devolved into lawlessness.

I also expect, at some point, that we’re going to find out that Miles is actually Charlie’s father. It’s just pure conjecture on my part – but that’s how I see it.

I think ‘Revolution’ has the chance to be a great genre show – but it needs to shake off the growing

pains that have plagued it all season.

Charlie needs to grow up and stop being such a morally superior whine box.

Monroe needs to be portrayed as more than just a mustache twirling villain.

Aaron needs his place cemented in the group – not to be portrayed as a floating piece that’s obviously important but not being given enough to do.

The flashbacks into the past are interesting – but they seem so heavy-handed at times that they smack the viewer in the face rather than entice them. For example, wouldn’t the death of Monroe’s baby mama – and what it meant to Miles – have been more powerful if we had been given a chance to watch the characters interact for more than five minutes?

I am not giving up on ‘Revolution’ – and I have liked a great deal of the show – but continuity issues and pacing have to be addressed in the second season.

If they’re not, I’m worried that there won’t be a third season.

The season finale of ‘Revolution’ airs Monday on NBC.

What do you think? Did  you like the first season of ‘Revolution’?