Revenge 1.06

‘I was just thinking how it’s one of the loneliest places on Earth’

The programme which has replaced One Tree Hill as our Monday night viewing has been an enthralling watch so far and tonight was no different.

This week’s episode began where last week’s left off –Daniel (Joshua Bowman) in Emily’s (Emily VanCamp) bed and the fallout of Frank’s attack on Lydia yet to be played out. Emily’s plans for revenge seemed to be spiralling out of control, emphasised by Nolan’s (Gabriel Mann) panicking over the previous night’s events. Yet Emily smoothly managed to bring the situation back under control and manipulate it to her benefit, something that she always seems to manage to do. A skill which Jack (Nick Wechsler) needs to grasp. Whilst we all are aching for the Jack to discover Emily’s real persona, Jack’s constant moping and aggressiveness towards Daniel, as well as Nolan’s constant persuasion is becoming a little played out, although Jack’s offer to fix the swing-seat was a perfect reminder of their shared history.

The revengeful looks, or ‘the croc’, as the cast likes to call them were once again in full flow and perfectly executed by VanCamp and the sniping argument between Tyler (Ashton Holmes) illustrated Emily’s real character and the reason she became a neighbour to the Graysons.

Tyler, once again, was putting a spanner in the works of Emily’s plan of revenge by inviting himself on a double date with the couple. Despite the fact his constant interference is incredibly frustrating, it makes the way Emily has to deal with it and the repercussions it throws out all the more riveting.

This episode was also the one that truly made the senior Grayson’s relationship more absorbing. The breakdown of their marriage and the toll the revelations of Conrad’s affair are taking became more evident. Madeleine Stowe flawlessly portrayed the cold wife and her fading fake smile in the balcony scene demonstrated the growing differences between her public and personal appearances. The contrasts between the formerly strong Grayson couple and the new, developing couple underlined Victoria’s loneliness, again shown by the balcony scene in the isolation of Grayson manner.

The ending of the episode, although not as explosive (despite the atmospheric 4^th of July fireworks) as many of the others, as always, ensured the audience would return for episode seven to watch Emily’s deception apparently be discovered by the Grayson’s wayward security guard.

Aired 2/07/12 E4