My daughter recently introduced the show “Revolution” to me. I had not previously known anything about it as I don’t really watch TV to any great extent. I’ve been watching the first season with some degree of interest, but it certainly does have its drawbacks for me. First off, I’m not a fan of dystopian stories. Two, the whole premise, thus far, seems like quite the stretch. Mysteriously the electricity went off all over the world and anything electric-related will no longer work or can be fixed including batteries or any kind of electrical charges. There has purposely been no explanation to this point, but there are 12 mysterious pendants which seem to hold the key for getting the power back on. As I said, it’s a stretch. And out of the dystopian ruble of what used to be the United States, the Monroe Republic stands as the strongest of the territories backed by the ruthless general Monroe, who is played with such stereotypical flair that you would think Stalin could have been summoned from the dead to play the part flawlessly.

What I do like about the story, as I do with most stories, are the human elements which feel real. Miles, the former general of the republic who second-guessed the authoritarian way they carried out power, walked away from Monroe – showing his humanity. Now he is faced with a brutal past as he tries to help his niece. The human struggle elements of this relationship are good and I’m curious to know where this all will lead.

So as I’m not yet ready to make an overall determination on the series, it hit me that the caricatures that the writers display about human nature and power are, unfortunately, true. I look at General Monroe and think how could anyone be so ruthless that all they care about is power, political control, and submission?

But isn’t history littered with the like? Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao, Milosevic, and the many Middle Eastern and African despots who have ruled their countries with iron-fists for decades.

I always think, in those situations, that if I was in a position of influence, I would step out to make reforms that would better the people, that would open-up the government, that would empower life and liberty for all. Would they not be the hero of their country for generations to come?

But what’s the old saying: absolute power corrupts absolutely? Our world is full of examples. It’s human nature. But I also believe that what actor Anthony Hopkins proclaimed in his portrayal of John Quincy Adams in the movie “Amistad” that the nature state of humankind is “freedom”, and that man will go to great lengths to attain it.

So the world may have its “General Monroes” but they ultimately will not succeed. Dictators fall and when they do the masses rejoice.

I’ll be curious to see how NBC will drag out this drama and if it will indeed match up to reality.