Revenge 1.11

‘Tyler can be very unpredictable when off his meds’...’We’re figuring that out’

A bitter divorce battle?

Two double-crossing, scheming women?

A gun bearing psychopath?

What more could you want from an episode of great TV drama? Because episode 11 of ABC’s Revenge had all of it. We are now mid way through the first season of Revenge and are still just as addicted to the programme as we were when it first started.This week everything seemed to come to a head as Tyler’s (Ashton Holmes) grand plan for Grayson domination came to an end and Emily’s (Emily VanCamp) plans for both Tyler and the Amanda Clarke impersonator came together.

It hadn’t taken too long to realinse that there was something mentally wrong with Tyler, as his escapades became more and more erratic – blackmailing Nolan (Gabriel Mann) and trashing the Grayson’s pool house. Thankfully the characters began to realise this too, but not before Tyler was able to hold up Daniel’s (Joshua Bowman) beach birthday bash. The moody and atmospheric lighting in most of Tyler’s scenes, especially when he was confronted by Daniel and on the beach, as well as the ominous music, added to the unpredictability of Tyler’s actions. Of course as soon as Tyler had got one up on billionaire Ross, we all knew something big was going to go down.

We were rewarded with an explosive scene at Daniel’s birthday which threatened to expose many of the Grayson’s dark secrets. However, the timely reappearance of the injured Ross, along with the mad man’s brother prevented that. Daniel and Jack’s (Nick Wechsler) decision to work in tandem to surprise tackle Tyler was touching and showed just how these two could cross paths more, leading to a confusion of feelings for Emily Thorne which have clearly already been exacerbated by faux Amanda’s relationship with the bar owner – but we all know that Emily and Jack just have to end up together, right?

Aired 6/08/12 E4

Revenge 1.10

‘There’s no need for the dramatic pauses’

Well maybe there is, but perhaps not as many as were in this episode of Revenge. Being almost half way through the season, we are expecting Revenge to pick up steam with plot twists and shocks. Although the show has been full of those up to now, it seemed that this week’s episode was turned into a filler episode, and a way to promote the exclusive Hampton area,

It was clear that the producers were trying to make the most of the idyllic setting, as the episode was periodically full of panoramic views of the Hamptons, including the beach, harbour and Grayson estate. Such scenic views are all very well, but when you are expecting a show full of tension and suspense, as Revenge has been up to now, this episode was a little disappointing.

However, this episode kept the audience hooked by exploring two of the most interesting relationships on the show – Emily (Emily VanCamp and Nolan’s (Gabriel Mann) and Nolan and Tyler’s (Ashton Holmes). Nolan and Emily’s constantly changing relationship is interesting, with Nolan often providing the comic content to counter Emily’s scheming ways. Yet when it was needed tonight, Nolan wasted no time in questioning Emily’s methods and proved that he could potentially be the moral compass of the show, by reminding Emily when she goes too far. Similarly, the ambiguity of the relationship between Nolan and Tyler is gripping, leaving us wondering if there are true feelings involved between the two of them, or if they are simply using each other – and I wouldn’t put it past them!

It was Nolan who truly stood out tonight, both as a key man in two key relationships and as the comic relief. His quip of ‘do you know how much ecoli you just dumped next to my lunch?’ gratefully lifted the mood of what could have been an intense conversation with Tyler.

Despite seemingly being an episode to make up numbers, many plot lines were also set up, and threatened for the coming half of the season. The ominous music playing when Tyler’s empty canister of medication was found gives indications of trouble ahead and we finally saw Emily slip up for the first time.

Last week we wondered who exactly Takeda is. This week we are still left wondering, although we have been given a few more clues – the fact that he’s a wealthy millionaire and that Emily went to train in the art of Revenge withn Japan. It is mysteries such as this and the threat of more plot twists ahead which makes this programme one that the audience will keep tuning in to each week.

Revenge 1.09

'Remember, inside the viper's nest, you must be a viper too'

We've all got accustomed to the viciousness of the senior Grayson members and the ruthlessness of Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp). However this week, several other protagonists revealed their real colours.

Daniel’s friend Tyler (Ashton Holmes) has been slowly becoming more villainous over the past few weeks, but this episode saw him rise to whole new level by conning young entrepreneur Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann). His attempt to get Nolan on his side whilst beating Daniel to a spot in the Grayson’s company was devious yet Tyler hadn’t counted on the strong alliance between Emily and Nolan to outwit him. By also persuading Ashley (Ashley Madekwe) to ‘raise her game’ in order to climb the social ladder, Tyler incensed some of his own desire for social reign in his girlfriend and surely set up things to come.

Cara (Margarita Levieva) as she’s known to the Hamptons also showed more of her scheming nature by not taking Emily’s money or flight to Paris. Instead she chose to toy with Jack Porter (Nick Weschler), seducing him and then revealing her ‘real’ name as being Amanda. The moment that Jack told of ‘Amanda’s return’ was clearly devastating for Emily, yet due to her dual persona she had to keep a unaffected expression – VanCamp highlighted her talent by showing Emily’s despair whilst maintaining the fake front. Amanda’s deception surely makes a romance between him and Emily completely off the cards, yet makes us frustratingly root for them all the more.

Charlotte and Declan’s deception of Mrs Grayson as well as Conrad’s removal of Lydia from the manor behind Victoria’s back put the finishing touches to an episode full of deceit, mystery and aptly titled ‘Suspicion’. This episode seemed like a stepping stone to the rest of the series, setting up more plot twists and leaving many questions unanswered, the main one being: who exactly is the mysterious Satoshi Takeda?

Aired 23/07/12

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