ComicCon 2013 Revolution Interviews

David Lyons

Giancarlo Esposito

20 things we learned from the Revolution PaleyFest Panel

   After Friday night's spoiler-free PaleyFest panel for "The Walking Dead," Saturday night's (March 2) panel for "Revolution" was practically the opposite.

   Eric Kripke, J.J. Abrams and the cast were fairly forthcoming about what fans can expect both when "Revolution" returns to NBC on March 25 and beyond.

   That, of course, means that if you want to go in with a completely clean slate, you really don't want to read the information after the break.

So click through for 20 things we learned from the 'Revolution' PaleyFest Panel.

   20) Nobody on the "Revolution" writing staff cared about the Super Bowl. Remember that whole blackout thing during the Super Bowl and all of the "hilarious" jokes on your Twitter feed about "Revolution"? Well, it turns out that the shows writers weren't even watching the game. They were working on breaking story and one of the assistants read about it on social media. "We all had a moment like, 'Ah. I wish we were airing the next night,'" says Eric Kripke.

   19) They're overjoyed that they've been gone since November. You may miss "Revolution" and NBC may miss the show's ratings, but Kripke and company are giddy. Well, they're not really "giddy," but they're very good at putting a happy face on the break. "I'm very grateful for it, becuase I think creatively it really paid off and I believe very strongly that the second half of the season is better than the first," Kripke says. They said the same thing at TCA Press Tour in January, so it's gotta be true.

   18) Eric Kripke thinks he knows what the show did well in its first chunk of episodes. "I thought we did a pretty great job introducing the characters and these wonderful actors," Kripke says. "Character really has to come first in a show like this and it's more important than the genre and it's more important than the big concept, because stories come and go, but if you can make the characters stick, then I think you have a chance as some longevity and I think we did that well. We got to know them. We got to understand them. They got dimensionalized, they all sorta came to life, which is in a large part due to the incredible job that all of these incredibly handsome people on the stage have done."

Pictures of Revolution Panel at PaleyFest 2013

David Lyons interview about Monroe, Revolution and his new movie Safe Heaven

   “Revolution” isn’t back until next month, but CraveOnline had an opportunity to interview David Lyons last week.

   Lyons plays Sebastian “Bass” Monroe, the leader of the so-called Monroe Republic. He also costars in the new romantic movie Safe Haven, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel starring Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel.

   During his rounds of Safe Haven, we were able to speak with Lyons by phone and talk about his new movie, his hit TV show, and the short-lived superhero series, “The Cape” as well as his unseen show, “Day One.”


CraveOnline: Since you are not Josh Duhamel, should we assume that you don’t get the girl in Safe Haven?

David Lyons: [Laughs] Yes. You should assume that. I think anyone who’s standing next to Josh Duhamel should assume that.

CraveOnline: Is that a fun part to play in the love triangle though?

David Lyons: It is. It’s always fun to play the fifth wheel, the one that’s not as wanted as others, but it was great. And given that I was playing that triangle with those two, who are just the most lovely people kicking around, it was great. It was fantastic.

CraveOnline: What does it mean to you to have a romance coming out on Valentine’s Day?

David Lyons: Unfortunately, if I was to take a valentine to this movie on Valentine’s Day, I don’t think it would bode well for me. But, I think it’s a great time for it and this film is a great film for valentines. It is the perfect film for Valentine’s Day. They were always intending to bring it out around this time and I’m very glad that they did because it suits the emotional landscape very, very well.

CraveOnline: What are some of those great Nicholas Sparks themes that Safe Haven deals with?

David Lyons: Well, it’s about the redemptive and restorative aspect of love. That’s a common theme through all of Nicolas’s work and such a beautiful theme. It is about two people learning to love, or learning to love and trust.

   I think that both have had a past in which they’ve been hurt, like we all have. They kind of learn to open up to each other. I think in terms of what scenes there are that demonstrate that, you’ve got to go and see the film I guess. The essence of it is about a woman learning to love again, despite the fact that she’s had a pretty dark past.

CraveOnline: When did you shoot Safe Haven in relation to “Revolution?”

David Lyons: I had shot the pilot of “Revolution” and we were waiting to start filming, so I shot the first episode of “Revolution” and we had a three month hiatus. I shot it in that time and then we were actually shooting in Southport, N.C. and “Revolution” works in Wilmington, N.C. It’s about 40 minutes away. It was a very serendipitous scenario.

Revolution Winter TCA Tour 2013

Pictures from: 2013 Winter TCA Tour, Revolution. Billy Burke, David Lyons, Elizabeth Mitchell, Eric Kripke, Giancarlo Esposito, J.J. Abrams, JD Pardo, Tracy Spiridakos.

Revolution Finale Interview, Spoilers on Monroe and More

   Revolution‘s band of fighters have finally reached Philadelphia, but the City of Brotherly Love it ain’t. In fact, the survivors’ troubles are only beginning now that they’re in enemy territory.

   Here, co-executive producer David Rambo previews Monday’s big midseason finale (NBC, 10/9c), which features an internal conflict for Miles, the reveal of Monroe’s plans and a possible mother/daughter reunion. The EP also teases what’s in store for the second half of Season 1 (hint: it involves travel), which kicks off on March 25.

TVLINE | What challenges lie ahead for Miles, Charlie and everyone now that they’re in Philadelphia?

Next week will be the first time that all the Mathesons are in the same city since the premiere. So there are lots of opportunities to see what could happen there. A big challenge for Miles is — [as] part of him revealed in the hallucination he had last [Monday] — if Monroe asked him to come back, he would like that. We are going to see Miles and Monroe come face-to-face, and Monroe is going to ask him to come back to the militia.

TVLINE | How does that meeting compare with the one that we saw in this past episode? (Granted, it was a hallucination.)

[Laughs] Well, the hallucinations pretty much express Miles’ own internal needs and wants. Really it was from Miles’ heart, the hallucination. But Monroe really means it when he says, “I want you back. Come back.” We’ll see that next week. Of course, that’s a crisis for Miles.

TVLINE | Despite the fact that obviously something really horrible went down between them and Miles tried to assassinate Monroe, is there a feeling of brotherhood and love when they meet again?

A lot of that’s going to be revealed in [Monday's] episode…. It’s really the heart of the episode. I can tell you we really go pretty deeply into how the bond was formed, how far back in their lives it goes and the crisis that that presents in the present for them both when they come face-to-face. And there is an epic sword fight. I have to say that. It’s fantastic.

Monroe Republic Part 1: Resources

   We have all seen the United States map shown on Revolution and how it is divided into several ‘Republics’ like Monroe Republic, Georgia Federation, Plains Nation, Texas, Wasteland and California Common Wealth. In this post I wanted to show you how are distributed the strategic resources in the US like fresh water sources, hunting areas, etc. These are the most important resources in this post-apocalyptic world and its distribution will allow us to understand better some aspects of Revolution’s story, for example, why the Georgia Federation and Plains Nations established an alliance to go to war with Monroe Republic as seen in episode 1x05 “Soul Train”.

Revolution Burning Questions: Secrets, Bombs and Marvin Gaye

   Tracy Spiridakos' performance wasn't the only thing to find its groove in Revolution's latest episode. "No Quarter" was the perfect balance of action, mystery and the cheesy one-liners I've now come to love and expect form the serialized mystery. But while some secrets were revealed, eight new questions were raised. [Warning: This story contains major spoilers. Read at your own risk!]

1.Can Mark Pellegrino do no wrong? Adding Mark Pellegrino as a guest star is pretty much a guarantee that I'm going to develop an obsession with the series (See: Lost, Supernatural, Dexter). And boy — the eviler Pellegrino is the better! This time around, he might not actually be playing the Devil, but his portrayal of evil militia commander Jeremy was more than sinister enough for my tastes. What can I say? I love a bad boy!

2."Can you boil everything down to getting laid?" Short answer: yes. Though, for a moment I thought Nora (Daniella Alonso) was actually going to break stereotype and be motivated by something other than sex or love. Sadly, as quick as she was to snap on Miles (Billy Burke), Nora was just as quick to admit she had joined the rebels because of a guy. The twist? The "guy" was actually her miscarried son (talk about a Debbie Downer!). Nora then tells Charlie that if she's ever to have a kid again she wants it born in the United States. It might just be me, but wanting an American-born child seems like a pretty flimsy reason to start a political revolution. If Jack Donaghey can get over it, why can't Nora?

3.Miles Matheson, Founding Father Forget what turned Sebastian against Miles, the real question is what turned Miles against Sebastian! Apparently, the hero of the revolution founded the very militia he's fighting against. When will people ever learn not to create something they can't control? Did Jurassic Park or I, Robot teach us nothing? But in all seriousness, Miles and Sebastian's relationship (and current lack there-of) is probably one of the most intriguing aspects of the series. I hope Revolution dedicates a bit more flashback time to the former bros soon.

Revolution Revealed: Episode 3

Erik Kripke and the cast talk about the perils of perception and best intentions in this week's episode.

Episode 2 and 3 details from Eric Kripke

   What’s scarier: Revolution‘s post-apocalyptic, militia-controlled future, or the days immediately following the blackout?

   While Capt. Tom Neville is certainly an imposing and imperious figure, flashbacks in the second episode of the NBC drama (airing Monday at 10/9c) — featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and Tim Guinee as Charlie and Danny’s parents — reveal that the aftermath of the power-down was no picnic either.

   “We get to see them trying to protect their kids a week or two after the blackout, when things are really getting hairy and violence and looting are starting to break out,” says series creator Eric Kripke. And as things get increasingly dangerous on the streets, “it becomes a more gripping, harrowing flashback.”

20 Burning Questions From Revolution's Pilot

   I can't say I was surprised that the premiere of Revolution Monday night left me with far more questions than answers (after all, the series is produced by Lost mastermind J.J. Abrams). Whether or not the NBC drama will actually resolve all these mysteries is something we'll have to wait and see. Until then, here are the 20 biggest questions that will be keeping me up at night, in no particular order. [Spoilers ahead]

1. How did Ben and Rachel know about the blackout beforehand?

   Minutes before the blackout hit, Ben (Tim Guinee) ran home with a box of supplies and told Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell) to start stocking water. His wife wasn't too caught off guard, seemingly knowing about the impending light-pocalypse already (though, she didn't immediately start running the faucets like any sane person would do). How did this couple know about the blackout before it hit, while the rest of the world remained — pun fully intended — in the dark?

2. What was Ben's profession?

   With an apparent inside track to all the latest blackout knowledge, Ben's apocalypse expertise is most likely connected to his job pre-blackout. Was he a mad scientist? A spy? A station worker for the Dharma Initiative? Or — more likely — a government employee privy to some top-secret project?

David Lyons Interview

The man who plays Monroe talks about working with Abrams and Favreau on Revolution.

Monroe Republic: the Dictatorship.

UPDATE: Monroe Republic Part 1: Resources

   The official Revolution Trailer reveals that the U.S. government has fallen, probably because of the chaos and confusion generated by the blackout. Unable to control people, the Monroe Republic emerged, a military government led by General Monroe, first name: Bass