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Revelations (TV miniseries)
Encyclopedia
Revelations is a six episode television miniseries
that began airing on April 13, 2005 on NBC
. Taking place in the modern day, the show explores the End of Days
as well as prophecies relating to them.
Dr. Richard Massey, a noted astrophysicist
from Harvard
, returns home after having hunted down the Satanist
that brutally murdered his daughter Lucy in a satanic ritual. The Satanist, a man named Isaiah Haden, is put into prison awaiting trial. Richard Massey is a man of science and does not believe in religion
at all. He is bitter at his loss and the general poor state of his life, and only wants to see Isaiah Haden face his punishment.
Meanwhile, a nun named Josepha Montafiore who is working for the Eklind Foundation, a wealthy fundamentalist Catholic organization, visits the bedside of a coma
tose girl. The child was struck twice by lightning
while crossing a golf course, and is in a vegetative state
. However, the girl mumbles bible
verses in Latin
, and draws cryptic drawings. Josepha believes that this is an act of God
, and decides to pursue it.
She crosses paths with Richard and together they start to unravel a prophecy of the End of Days.
have caused controversy
. Some have argued that the doctors' haste to declare the girl brain dead
and harvest her organs is a deliberate misinterpretation of medical policy in cases like this. The show appears to indicate that the decision to pull a patient off life-support rests with the attending physician
rather than the girl's parents who are not shown as having any part in the decision.
Revelations first aired two weeks following the death of Terri Schiavo
, who was in a persistent vegetative state, by disconnection from life support. Like Terri Schiavo, the television girl was enmeshed in a controversy about whether her life should be terminated. Unlike Terri Schiavo, the girl was able to quote scripture, even with flat brain waves. The medical establishment in Revelations was portrayed as only too eager to terminate the lives of victims of vegetative states. By contrast, religious figures trying to stop termination were portrayed as wiser and appropriately caring.
Although the screenplay seemed sympathetic to a fundamentalist form of Catholicism, the miniseries' creator, writer, and executive producer were David Seltzer
, who says he believes in all religions but practices none. Seltzer wrote the screenplay for The Omen
.
Ironically playing a character which he was the opposite of in revelations.
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
that began airing on April 13, 2005 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Taking place in the modern day, the show explores the End of Days
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
as well as prophecies relating to them.
Synopsis
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, returns home after having hunted down the Satanist
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
that brutally murdered his daughter Lucy in a satanic ritual. The Satanist, a man named Isaiah Haden, is put into prison awaiting trial. Richard Massey is a man of science and does not believe in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
at all. He is bitter at his loss and the general poor state of his life, and only wants to see Isaiah Haden face his punishment.
Meanwhile, a nun named Josepha Montafiore who is working for the Eklind Foundation, a wealthy fundamentalist Catholic organization, visits the bedside of a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
tose girl. The child was struck twice by lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
while crossing a golf course, and is in a vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
. However, the girl mumbles bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
verses in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, and draws cryptic drawings. Josepha believes that this is an act of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, and decides to pursue it.
She crosses paths with Richard and together they start to unravel a prophecy of the End of Days.
Controversy
Some aspects of the miniseriesMiniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
have caused controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
. Some have argued that the doctors' haste to declare the girl brain dead
Brain death
Brain death is the irreversible end of all brain activity due to total necrosis of the cerebral neurons following loss of brain oxygenation. It should not be confused with a persistent vegetative state...
and harvest her organs is a deliberate misinterpretation of medical policy in cases like this. The show appears to indicate that the decision to pull a patient off life-support rests with the attending physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
rather than the girl's parents who are not shown as having any part in the decision.
Revelations first aired two weeks following the death of Terri Schiavo
Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
, who was in a persistent vegetative state, by disconnection from life support. Like Terri Schiavo, the television girl was enmeshed in a controversy about whether her life should be terminated. Unlike Terri Schiavo, the girl was able to quote scripture, even with flat brain waves. The medical establishment in Revelations was portrayed as only too eager to terminate the lives of victims of vegetative states. By contrast, religious figures trying to stop termination were portrayed as wiser and appropriately caring.
Although the screenplay seemed sympathetic to a fundamentalist form of Catholicism, the miniseries' creator, writer, and executive producer were David Seltzer
David Seltzer
David Seltzer is an American screenwriter, producer and director, perhaps best known for writing The Omen , and Bird on a Wire , starring Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn...
, who says he believes in all religions but practices none. Seltzer wrote the screenplay for The Omen
The Omen
An original score for the film, including the movie's theme song Ave Satani, was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, for which he received the only Oscar of his long career. The score features a strong choral segment, with a foreboding Latin chant...
.
Cast
- Bill PullmanBill PullmanWilliam James "Bill" Pullman is an American film, television, and stage actor. Pullman made his film debut in the supporting role of Earl Mott in the 1986 film Ruthless People. He has since gone on to star in other films, including Spaceballs, Independence Day, Lost Highway, Casper and Scary Movie 4...
as Dr. Richard Massey - Natascha McElhoneNatascha McElhoneNatascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
as Sister Josepha Montafiore - Michael MasseeMichael MasseeMichael Massee is an American actor perhaps best known for his roles as villains in film and television, as well as his unintentional and accidental involvement in the death of Brandon Lee.-Career:...
as Isaiah Haden - Tobin BellTobin BellTobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
as Nathan Volk - Mark RendallMark RendallMark Rendall is a Canadian actor, perhaps best known for starring in the title role of the 2004 film, Childstar, as well as Mick in Season 1 of the Canadian television drama series ReGenesis. He played Bastian Bux in the TV series, Tales from the Neverending Story, and the title character in The...
as Henry "Hawk" Webber - John Rhys-DaviesJohn Rhys-DaviesJohn Rhys-Davies is a Welsh actor and voice actor. He is perhaps best known for playing the charismatic Arab excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films and the dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
as Prof. Jonah Lampley - Martin StarrMartin StarrMartin Starr is an American television and film actor, known for his roles as Bill Haverchuck on the short-lived NBC comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks and as Roman DeBeers on the Starz comedy series Party Down, as well as for his roles in the films Knocked Up, Cheats, and Adventureland.-Life and...
as Rubio - Fred DurstFred DurstWilliam Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
as Odgen - Werner DaehnWerner DaehnWerner Daehn is a German/international actor, who has worked with Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson in xXx, with Jason Priestley in Colditz an ITV1 2005 miniseries, with Bill Pullman in Revelations and with Steven Seagal in Shadow Man...
as Asteroth - Chelsey Coyle and Brittney Coyle as Olivia Beaudrey
- Fionnula Flanagan as Mother Francine
- Alexa NikolasAlexa NikolasAlexa Helen Nikolas is an American actress. Her most notable is that of Nicole Bristow on the Nickelodeon TV show Zoey 101, in which she appeared from 2005 to 2006.-Career:...
as Lucinda "Lucy" Massey - Orla BradyOrla Brady-Early life and career:The second of four children born to Dublin publican Patrick Brady and his wife Catherine who had appeared in amateur productions at the Gate Theatre, Brady first became interested in an acting career after reading works by Germaine Greer and Simone de Beauvoir.Brady drifted...
as Nora - Caryn Green as Tulia
- Bridget Mannit as Henrietta II
- Clémence PoésyClémence PoésyClémence Poésy is a French actress and fashion model. Since starting on the stage as a child, Poésy had dramatic education, and has been active on both film and television since 1999, including some English-language productions...
as Exquisite Corpse
Trivia
Bill Pullman would later play a murdering rapist in Torchwood: Miracle day,Ironically playing a character which he was the opposite of in revelations.
External links
- Review of Revelations on DVD at www.sci-fi-online.com