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Revenge: Intuition

"When at a crossroads, my father was fond of saying 'go with your gut'... intuition always has our best interests at heart."

My faith in Revenge has finally been restored after a rocky start. I really wasn't loving the first half of this episode, but it looks like the writers finally know what they're doing.

Actually, the real shift in the hour happened when Victoria revealed to Amanda that Kara tried to kill her daughter, only for the latter to fall off the ledge. It's just the kind of soapy moment the show had been missing this year and it really reinvigorated the show. Moreover, it further derailed Emily, which was a delight to watch as we're so used to seeing her in control of everything. Emily VanCamp was phenomenal here as she scattered and attempted to absorb the consequences of her actions, particularly Amanda's fall.

Speaking of the fall, I really loved Amanda getting hospitalized. If the show is smart, it would kill off the character (as she's served her purpose) and keep the baby, which would be a compelling little obstacle for Emily and Jack to eventually overcome. Not that I want Emily to ever settle with Jack, as he's blander than toast.

I have to say that Revenge sometimes feels like the most uneven show on television. I don't understand why the writers have to force certain characters into every episode when Emily's quest is far more intriguing. From Declan and Mr. Ryan's horrible subplot to Nolan's budding (and boring) romance with Padma, the writers seem to love torturing us with dull plot-lines. I may be in the minority here, but I've come to realize that I only enjoy a handful of characters on Revenge (Emily, Victoria, Daniel, Conrad and recently Charlotte) while the rest bore me to tears.

Finally, the episode's highlight for me was the fantastic sequence in which Emily stumbles onto Kara (by Amanda's side) as she has an extremely disturbing flashback of her mother savagely trying to drown her in the ocean as a child. It's quite the unsettling development that pushes the season into a horrifying new direction. The ending further strengthens this revelation's impact by having Emily break down in Aiden's arms. We've rarely seen her this vulnerable and it's heartbreakingly magnificent.

Vengeful Bits

- Emily having Amanda read her journals to Victoria was deliciously sneaky.

- Emily's cleavage-y black dress: wow! I don't think Emily VanCamp has ever looked this good since the show began.

- The mystery woman from The Initiative that Conrad met with didn't strike me as particularly threatening.

- I could care less about Padma's family. Groan worthy.

- I did not see Kara tranquilizing Aiden. Guess she's not as helpless as we were led to believe. I still wish they cast someone else other than Jennifer Jason Leigh in the role. But I'll give her some time.

- Amanda bringing her stripper friends to Victoria's party was definitely amusing. I just wish we got to see more Queen V interacting with them.

- I'm really glad that Daniel isn't as moronic as he was last year as he figured out Ashley and Conrad's secret arrangement. Actually, he's one of my favorites this year.

- Adored Emily losing the connection as she tried to eavesdrop on Victoria and Amanda culminating in the fantastic "your mother tried to kill you" reveal and Amanda falling off the ledge.

- So Jack might lose his precious bar? How thrilling.

Devious Delights

Conrad: Is that worry I detect in your voice?
Victoria: Yes, it is. Worry that you will screw things up like everything else you lay your reptilian hands on.

Emily: Hi, sorry to interrupt.
Nolan: And here we were not even speaking of the devil.

Victoria: (To Amanda and her strippers) I see that you brought your.... people.

- Although still extremely uneven, this was the strongest hour of Revenge so far particularly due to an exceptional second half.

3.5 out of 5 ocean flashbacks.

Previously posted at Nad's Reviews.

6 comments:

  1. Allo, Nadim.
    Slightly patient review. hahaha.
    With FauxAmanda flatlining, you mean
    no more chance of her draping her tattered shorts legs on the Grayson Manor's furniture? :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great review Nadim!

    Perhaps I'm in the minority, but none of the character's bore me at all. There are some I'm not as fond of (Ashley, Conrad, and Fauxmanda) but none of them make me feel like changing the channel.

    Declan and Jack may not have the most exciting story-lines but I think they are important, because they represent the normal life that Emily should've had. Without them there would be no clear choice that she consistently refuses to make.

    Where the fun comes in, is the way she is inadvertently pulling them further and further into her web of deceit. I imagine by the third or forth season at least one of the brothers will do something more heinous than robbery.

    As for this episode, I loved that Fauxmanda finally bit it (well at least partially). She never really paid for what she did in first season (not that her victim was a prince). I just felt it was a long time coming, only I hope the baby wasn't hurt. Jack doesn't deserve that.

    I agree that the new revenge partner (I'm spacing on his name) is interesting. But somehow I doubt Emily would've fallen into Kara's trap so easily. He might be a bit of a badass, but he isn't half as brilliant as our heroine.

    As for the Grayson's, why would the security system suddenly fritz out like that. It wasn't Emily's equipment. I think Victoria might've planned that little balcony tumble. Every time I think there might be a glimmer of something human inside of her she turns out to break bad... at least Conrad doesn't pretend to be human. Still it's one of the things that makes Victoria so much fun.

    I'm kinda glad that Nolan has someone, but I don't like them pulling him away from Emily. Their friendship (bordering on sibling territory) was one of the highlights of the first season for me. So I want him to have someone in his life, but not if it means losing the Emily and Nolan banter.

    JD

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey JD. Very insightful post. Thanks for commenting!

    I'm glad to see that you're still enjoying the show and aren't bored with the characters as much as I am. I really hate that I'm so disappointed this year as I was the show's biggest fan last season. I'm sure things till turn around eventually!

    And definitely agree about pulling Nolan away from Emily. I love their dynamic and this Padma chick is ruining things!

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  4. I'm kind of with Nadim. There seems to be an awful lot of filler this season, but I could be feeling that because I loved the shows where Emily brought someone down. That hasn't really happened in a while.

    I had the same thought as J.D. in terms of the balcony tumble. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Victoria stage managed it all -- or even pushed.

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  5. I agree I really miss Emily taking people down, being one stop ahead of everybody else and just being an awesome badass! I need kickass Emily back soon because vulnerable Ems isn't satisfying when the rest of the show is this weak!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great review. Agreed about Padma being in the way of Emily and Nolan's friendship..I don't want any Nolan/Emily romance but their closeness from the first season is missed. Or make Padma someone we can care about. They did succeed with Charlotte this season so why not Padma? But nobody beats Queen Vi for being awesome..well expect Emily.
    Anna

    ReplyDelete

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