Revolution episode 102, “Chained Heat”, finds our adventurers temporarily split up. Miles and Charlie find Nora, an old friend of Miles who owes him a favor and can help break out Danny. Meanwhile, Aaron confides in Maggie about the amulet that Ben gave him and his instructions to deliver it to Grace, who is the woman we saw in the last episode on the computer. We also discover that Charlie and Danny’s mother, Rachel, is still alive and being held by Monroe.

Chicks in Chains

I don’t think it’s an accident that “Chained Heat ” is also the title of a 1983 Linda Blair prison flick that professes it’s the “ultimate chicks in chains” movie.  The main focus of this episode centers on these three at-one-point incarcerated babes:

Charlie

Nice job tricking Nate into handcuffs, Charlie! However, as guest star C. Thomas Howell so aptly showed us, if you don’t kill your prisoner, they will escape and come after you. We have not seen the last of not-Nate. Despite her newly found street-smarts, Charlie still manages to get captured right off the bat in Pontiac. This chick needs some survivor skills pronto! Maybe the newest member of our crew can help out…

Nora

Like Black Widow in The Avengers, Nora was exactly where she wanted to be, back on the chain gang. I am very curious about Nora and Miles’ history and why she owes him so big. I think I’m going to like Nora, especially if what Miles says about her being really good at blowing stuff up is true.  Now if only her and her rebel friends can find the plans to the Death Star.

Rachel

Not literally in chains, but seemingly a prisoner of Monroe, we find that Mommy dearest isn’t dead after all, but her captivity seems conveniently cushy. Since a lot of people had already guessed that Rachel was still alive, it was nice to see this reveal so early. I think it’s a good sign that the writers will be keeping us on our toes and guessing, but not stretching out secrets longer than our patience will allow.

Death and All of His Friends

Somewhere early in this episode it occurred to me that there has been a lot of killing in Revolution so far.  Doe-eyed Danny is astute in wondering if Neville kills out of a sense of duty or whether he actually enjoys killing. I’m glad that this episode gave a little more gravitas around death and the choices these people are making when they take a life. Without getting too preachy, I think this episode explored where or even if morality belongs in this new world. Is it justified to shoot a man in the back who is stealing food from your family? Let’s look at it from the other man’s perspective –  would he be justified in killing a child to obtain food to feed himself or his family? When it is OK to kill? Self-protection? For the perceived greater good? Never?

Prediction Fail

It’s really too soon to tell, but it’s not looking good for my “Monroe might be a good guy, don’t judge him too soon” prediction. Talk about killing in cold blood. Well, all my theories can’t be winners. The game of TV show predictions is high-risk/high-reward — but only if you consider a heightened sense of smug self-satisfaction a reward.

Question of the Week

What was your favorite moment in Chained Heat?

For me, when Miles called Aaron “Chuckles”, it made me flash back, then flash forward, then flash sideways to some of my favorite Sawyer moments in Lost. I am really enjoying the world-weary, grumpy guy with the heart of gold that is Miles. I also like how they are playing off snarky and jaded Miles against funny but optimistic Aaron.

Let’s hear your opinion in the comments section below. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite quote of the week in the Polls section!

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