7 best (and worst) theories of what caused Revolution's blackout
J.J. Abrams has a penchant for building his TV shows around big mysteries, and there’s nothing much bigger than the global phenomenon that shuts down electricity indefinitely on NBC's Revolution. So what the heck caused the mysterious blackout? We have no idea, but here are some of the best (and worst) theories making the rounds.
The writers have already peeled back a few clues about the blackout via flashbacks and big reveals, but the details are still shrouded in mystery. We know those scarce little pendants can turn the power back on with limited range. We also know that Mathesons helped develop the tech that would eventually end up in the government’s hands and plunge the world into darkness.
With the back half of season one set to return March 25, here are some crazy and semi-plausible theories to ponder for the next month and a half.
(Via Revolution Wiki, IGN, Revolution-Forum, TV Guide, etc.)
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Here are seven of the best (and worst) theories about what caused the worldwide blackout in NBC's Revolution:
The Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Theory
This theory is one of the most popular among fans, positing that the “event” was some massive electromagnetic pulse that knocks out all the electricity in the world. It’s easily the most plausible theory, but some of the particulars don’t add up. For one, how the heck can the pendants turn things back on if they’ve already been fried by an EMP? Second, unless it's some type of sustained EMP, it should only kill old tech, not prevent new technology from being created. But the writers could always work around those finer points.
Odds: Somewhat likely.
The Energy-sucking Buoy Theory
After some of the show’s stars started throwing out ideas about the blackout, Giancarlo Esposito’s (Capt. Neville) example of a magnetic device that could be placed 100 miles off shore and “suck” energy from an area gained steam. But logistically, this is a tough one to believe. It would require massive infrastructure to place “energy-sucking buoys” all over the globe, and you have to think some survivors would’ve spotted these big weird devices and tried to mess with one in the past decade or so. It’s a neat thought, but doesn’t hold water on a global scale.
Odds: Unlikely.
The Alien Intervention Theory
This one is pretty out there, but it is crawling around on some message boards, so we’ll give it a look. Basically this theory posits that the blackout was caused by alien intervention, providing some type of alien tech to help make it possible and sustainable. There isn’t really any evidence to support this theory, but hey, those pendants do look a little other-worldly, don’t they. But we never knew aliens used USB drives.
Odds: Very unlikely.
The Earth’s Magnetosphere Interference Theory
This idea is right up there with the EMP theory. Some fans have guessed that the big blackout revolves around some kind of interference with the Earth’s magnetosphere, which could potentially cause some wonky effects on a global scale. It makes sense, and seems like one of the more scientifically viable options to build the story around. But again, it doesn’t really explain how the pendants are able to “magically” produce energy.
Odds: Possible.
The Made-up “McGuffin” Theory
This one pops up a lot in television, with the entire mystery all coming back to some magical/sci-fi bit of tech that makes everything possible. The producers have already said their endgame is scientifically feasible, so it’d be disappointing to see them go with something solidly fictional.
Odds: Unlikely.
The Alt-dimension “blocking” the Flow of Electricity Theory
This one is a little more out there, but this is Abrams we’re talking about, so don’t discount it just yet. This theory is built on the science team somehow tapping into the energy of an alternate dimension, which counterbalances electricity here and shuts everything down. Oddly enough, it makes some sense, considering it helps explain how the pendants work (i.e. they somehow block out the alt-universe in a controlled space and restore power). Abrams made alt-dimensions a major part of Fringe, so it wouldn’t be too surprising if he went to the well again.
Odds: Possible.
The Limitless Free Energy/Opposite Theory
This theory pulls in tidbits from the other ideas, but combines them with a twist. Some fans believe the Matheson science team found a way to tap into limitless free energy (via an alt-dimension or some other source), and on that same token, found a way to turn it all off. Once the government got involved the second option was quickly turned into a weapon and accidentally/purposefully blacked out the planet.
Odds: Less likely.
