If you’re not watching Revenge, you’re missing out on one of the best new dramas on television this season. And it is not just because Emily VanCamp is back on TV and better than ever. The series starts off with a murder at Emily Thorne’s engagement party… but Emily herself seems to be heavily involved in the act. Cut to five months earlier and the stage is set. The games begin as Emily moves to the Hamptons, what appears to be her childhood home based on the flashbacks that are shown. Flashbacks don’t always work for a series but they work wonderfully here, so long as they are not so heavily relied on to detail Emily’s past that it becomes tiring. The introduction of Emily’s father’s journal is very intriguing and should provide for an abundant amount of revelations as well. There’s a lot to learn about Emily Thorne and this community that she has immersed herself in and based what has been show so far, thousands of viewers are already on the hook.
So we learn that Emily is out for revenge against those who possibly created and definitely added onto her late father’s bad name years ago. So she moves in right across from a woman named Victoria (Madeleine Stowe), who’s husband is cheating on her. The way that Emily not only reveals this betrayal but almost gives Victoria’s husband, Conrad (Henry Czerny) a heart attack is so incredibly mischievous, I wonder if Emily crossed paths with Wilhelmina from Ugly Betty at some point in her life.
Victoria is one fierce woman as well, so Emily may have some competition. Emily gets her revenge but she’s not the only one out for blood. Clearly, as we see when Victoria humiliates her best friend, a loose Lydia in front of everyone in town. Emily is definitely the firecracker that sets off a field of many more. Clever girl. Though for such an incredibly intelligent, attentive, and resourceful woman, she has completely ignored her father’s advice to forgive. Her goal is to bring justice to the guilty but her anger has blinded her to see that this is not her place and she is in over her head. So far, Emily is succeeding in her plan and can check a few things off her list. Though perhaps we can all watch in future situations as Emily finds out that revenge is not so sweet. There are consequences to revenge. Watching that unfold should be just as fascinating a journey as watching all of her evil plots come to life. At this point in her life, she is clearly closed off to the idea of forgiveness and because of that, this is a show about so much more than revenge. It’s about closure and personal growth. This show is in good hands on ABC touching on these subjects, so there is definitely a lot to look forward to.
Along with the mystery, the cover ups, the back stabbing and lies, and so much more, there are other elements to this shows that are just as captivating. The visuals of the Hamptons are stunning and the music is perfect in each and every moment. The mood and tone of the show are set wonderfully and are the other half of the reason why Revenge will have you hooked within the first two minutes. There’s a hint of a soapy feel to this drama, but it is actually not distracting and does not take away from the drama at all. There are not enough words to share how perfect every component of the show is. Much has yet to be revealed, including learning about Amanda’s transition to Emily and her time behind bars as well as Jack’s relationship with Emily. So stay tuned for more Revenge or Emily Thorne may be coming for you next.
Favorite Moment: The number of times viewers presses the rewind button on their remote after Emily said, “I hope your husband’s okay” is surely staggering. What a moment!
Rating: 9/10
Watch Revenge Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
