Lost desire for 'Lost'-like television fare

Two episodes into television's much touted new mystery/ thriller "Revolution," an apocalyptic journey into near-anarchy in America after all electrical and battery power inexplicably stops, and my reaction is ...

Meh.

Actually, that's my reaction to the other fresh fall fare that I've tuned in to so far.

I really wanted to love "Go On," for instance, mostly because its lead is Matthew Perry, née Chandler Bing, as an acerbic sports radio talk show host who's also in group therapy.

Meh.

I tuned in to "The New Normal" mainly for Ellen Barkin's sharp parody as a caustic woman whose granddaughter decides to become a surrogate mom for a gay couple.

Mean-spirited meh.

While there are a couple of interesting-sounding shows still set to debut, I'm fairly underwhelmed so far. In fact, the only new show that makes me want to check that the DVR is working properly is "The Mindy Project," starring "The Office" alum Mindy Kaling.

She plays a lonely young doctor in search of her own romantic comedy-like happy ending. Kaling is one funny lady and the show — well, the first episode, anyway — is, too.

But let's get back to that first meh-inspiring program, "Revolution." It's only fair to admit that my cool reaction likely stems from a place of "Lost" fatigue. Clearly, this new drama's bread and butter is the slow reveal of secrets, betrayals and what surely will be a never-ending series of confounding twists and turns. Note: One of the producers is "Lost" co-creator J.J. Abrams.

Uh-oh.

While I was hooked on "Lost," I'm not sure I have the energy, even two years later, to endure another mysterious thriller. Especially when I'm:

A) already confused by the plotline

B) thinking some of the events are illogical, at best

C) finding nearly every character irritating.

Seriously on that last one. The writers almost immediately killed off Ben, one of only two characters who don't come off as grating. Of course, he'll be back in what likely will be an unending array of flashbacks that are supposed to fill in the plot's backstory, but, really, only give the writers more chances to confuse the action.

The other interesting character isn't really a main one. It's Aaron, a chubby hanger-on who, pre-blackout, was a millionaire Google exec. He's got all the snark and witty lines. But, let's face it, he's just Hurley (a la "Lost") with a little less weight.

It also doesn't help that another star is "Lost" alum Elizabeth Mitchell.

Déja vu, my friends, déja vu.

Of course, my son is all into "Revolution." Which means I'll be watching for a while, too. Maybe I'll end up loving the show after a few more episodes.

But, I swear, if anything that even resembles a smoke monster shows up, I'm out.

Reach Scene editor Pat Clark at pclark@modbee.com.