Revenge Pimp Post
As some may have noticed (well, at least bookcat, who has to listen to me rave about it most days), I've fallen pretty hard for the new show Revenge this season. Way, way harder than I expected to, given that it's a prime time soap, which isn't usually my thing.
Because I want to spread the love and have lots of thoughts about why this show is so very addictive, I made a pimp/rave post. So, if you're looking for a new show to pick up, wondering what this whole Revenge thing you're seeing people mention is about, curious to hear about my new favorite morally-ambiguous-nerd character, or if you like it and just want to see someone else talk about why it's awesome, read on. W00t.
(I try to keep spoilers to a minimum -- nothing that goes beyond the premise and some details you learn in the pilot)
Revenge, the premise
"Two wrongs can never make a right because two wrongs can never equal each other."
Revenge is vaguely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Which means it's all about, well, vengeance. Basically, Emily Thorne, formerly known as Amanda Clarke, is the daughter of a man who was deeply screwed over by a group of uber-rich Hamptonites sometime in the past, and now she's back with a false identity and loads of cash, ready to make them pay. It's a catchy idea, but that alone isn't the reason to watch. So, details!
Reason to Watch Revenge #1: Awesome Ladies
Revenge is only a couple of episodes in, and it already has some of my favorite female characters on TV right now (at least in dramas), and certainly some of my favorite female relationships. While this is hardly the only measure, I'd note that it passes the Bechdel test effortlessly every week, and I have a hard time imagining it ever wouldn't. Which mostly springs from the fact that hello, the protagonist and antagonist are both women. And the plot they are at the center of doesn't have to do with romance. Yes, romance plays in, but there is so much more at stake. Entire lives, reputations, and fortunes are part of the game that's being played. By, primarily, women. It's very cool. So, an introduction to the two most important ladies of the bunch:
Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke
"I’m a big believer in finishing what you start."
Okay. Remember when I discussed how cool it is to see female characters in the role of godlike righteous bringer of terrible justice? Um, yeah. That's kind of Emily in a nutshell. Shockingly intelligent, terrifyingly single-minded, deeply broken, Emily is a revenge seeking machine who plays the part of sweet society girl to perfection while deftly pulling off breathtaking revenge schemes.
She is very, very, very much an anti-hero - you definitely sympathize with her, but at the same time, she's frightening, and morally questionable at best. Which is a kind of character I love, and is hard to find in female protagonists. Emily is a particularly interesting version (and is particularly hard to find in female characters), because she's extremely closed off and hard to read. Hell, she seems borderline sociopathic at times. It's hard to know what's going on in her head, but man, I can't wait to find out.
Victoria Grayson
"Trust is the one luxury I cannot afford."
Ah, Queen Victoria. Top socialite extraordinaire, Victoria Grayson is the very best kind of antagonist - one so intriguing, you almost want to root for her. She is clearly in the wrong in a number of ways in a number of situations, no question, but her motivations are unclear/conflicted and far from ~evil~ or difficult to understand, and her conscious is not clear. She's a character you want to know more about.
But at the same time, she's a really good, truly threatening antagonist. She's smart, socially savvy, and wary enough that Emily has to be very, very careful around her. She reminds me of a modern day Atia of the Julii (Rome), or even Cersei Lannister (ASOIAF) but more competent - ambitious, self serving, willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her status. But she doesn't think of herself as a fundamentally bad person, and that makes her fascinating.
Beyond her antagonistic relationship with Emily, her conflicted relationship with her teenaged daughter, Charlotte, is another one of my favorites on this show. Despite the trappings of absurd wealth, their stressed, fractured dynamic feels very realistic.
Reason to Watch Revenge #2: The Writers Are in Control
A great thing about Revenge is that it really feels like the writers are confident, know what they want to do, and have a strong control over their story. They don't think it's more than it is - they know they are writing a not particularly realistic prime time soap, but they commit to doing that as well as possible. Which manifests in two ways in particular:
Tight, snappy plots
"I smell the distinct aroma of retribution in the air."
This show is simply delicious, and the pacing has been to die for so far. The first couple of episodes were basically revenge procedurals, with Emily taking down a different person every week. That structure is lots of fun, and each plot was well executed and satisfying on its own. But the most recent episode proved that the overall arc will also be followed through, without dragging for too long. Each week we learn more back story and start to see more of Emily's plan unwind, and complications are starting to build in a way that makes me very excited to see where the plot is headed.
If anything, I'm a little worried about how the show will sustain itself at the rate Emily is burning through people - though from what I've read, it sounds like the creators have a couple of good ideas on how to extend the show beyond the original premise. For now, it's just nice to have a show that is moving quickly and confidently and is good as it does so.
The back story
"I stopped playing games with you when I fired you 18 years ago."
I mentioned back story above, and that's because it is a key component of the show. There are a ton of intriguing questions about the past - what exactly happened between Emily's father and the rest of the Hamptonites, and why and how Emily turned out so broken being two of the big ones - and everything that happens in the present of the show is in the shadow of events that came before, which makes for a rich, interesting, full story world. And like the plot, the writers are not stingy with the back story. We learn a little more each week. Just hints - the mystery stays alive - but enough that you can build up the beginning of an understanding. It's all very fun to play with and speculate about, and it definitely feels like all that time and energy invested in thinking about it will eventually be rewarded with answers - answers which I'm pretty sure the writers already basically know, which is nice.
Reason to Watch Revenge #3: A Love triangle That Doesn't Suck
"Come on down. Testosterone's on the house."
So, the bad news is that there is a love triangle, which is not my favorite thing. But the good news is it isn't distractingly annoying, IMO (at least not yet). And I've figured out why. It's not because I ship one of the pairs (at this point I'm basically okay with, but not that invested in, either), but because there are actually things at stake other than who Emily will be with. The two guys in question are a) Daniel Grayson, Victoria's son, and b) Jack Porter, a townie with a heart of gold who was little Amanda's friend back in the day. Being in a (fake) relationship with Daniel is clearly part of Emily's plan from the beginning (though it's unclear exactly why), while being anything with Jack is clearly not.
What's good about this triangle is that in either case, Emily falling for the guy will have major consequences for her revenge plan. If she actually develops feelings for Daniel (or even comes to like him a lot as a friend) then obviously it will be harder for her to use him, while letting Jack in would mean opening herself up - and it's very clear he would not approve of Emily-the-vengeance-queen. So the question is not just "who will she chose" but "will she fall for either, will she do anything about it, how will that effect her plans," etc. etc. etc. And THAT is actually interesting to watch play out for reasons beyond shipping. So good on the show for making this tired trope actually work.
ALSO. So far, at least, everyone involved has acted like a reasonable person. For instance, a particular love triangle cliche about a misunderstanding leading to a big fight due to jealousy was averted by the two people in question actually talking to each other, and trusting the other person's explanation, and apologizing for inadvertently hurting each other. IT'S A TV MIRACLE.
(And okay, both boys are easy on the eyes, which is a nice bonus).
Reason to Watch Revenge #4: Nolan Fucking Ross
Last but VERY much not least, my newest obsession: Nolan Ross.
"Violence is only one way to take someone down."
Werido wiz-kid tech-genius billionaire, Nolan has major shades of Topher Brink (Dollhouse), but with a touch more morality thrown in for good measure. He's the one person who actually knows who Emily/Amanda is (for reasons revealed in the pilot), and he bursts onto the scene insisting that he wants to help her, an offer she reluctantly (and with annoyance) accepts. He hates the Hamptonites, who find him odd and off putting, and finds Emily's retributions fun. But he also sees that there is a line, and Emily flirts with crossing it. He is far from a blameless paragon of virtue, but right now it looks like he might end up trying to stand between Emily and the edge, and that creates a great tension and conflict within his character.
He's an inbetween character in a lot of ways at this point. Unlike the rest of the younger generation (other than Emily), he knows there is a dangerous game going on, but he's not necessarily ready for the reality of it, to do whatever it takes like Emily, Victoria, and some of the other older characters are. So in some ways, he's in way over his head with Emily, but he's also very competent and could potentially become a major player on his own if he wanted to (not only is he incredibly smart, but he has exponentially more money than any of these other already mind bogglingly wealthy characters). There is also a lot of mystery about him. He has a very foppish persona (look at that outfit up there!), but it's hard to tell how much of that is genuine nerdy social awkwardness, and how much is an act put on for his own amusement and/or other motives.
Here is what the actor has to say about the character:
"Nolan is this weird dichotomy; he’s a study in ambiguity, which is why he’s a brilliant character to get to play. He has all this money and power and yet he’s very insecure and weak - that’s his fatal flaw. He’ll do anything to have a connection with other people, and yet he doesn’t need it because he’s in a glass tower already. That said, he’s fascinated with Emily because she’s the person who understands him most. No one else wants to give him the time of day and her mind works like his."
If you're anything like me, you understand why that is an AWESOME character description right there. If you aren't sold yet, let me add this: He blackmails/buys someone into hanging out with him - but he seems to genially mean it when he says he wants to be that person's friend, and legitimately does nice things for them. Which pretty well encapsulates the combo of moral corruptness and earnest desire to be liked (without knowing how to interact with people) that makes me love him.
So, that's my piece. There are plenty of things I didn't mention - there are other interesting side characters/plots, of course - but these are the main things that have quickly made Revenge must see TV for me.
Those of you who are watching: Are you still loving it as much as I am?
Because I want to spread the love and have lots of thoughts about why this show is so very addictive, I made a pimp/rave post. So, if you're looking for a new show to pick up, wondering what this whole Revenge thing you're seeing people mention is about, curious to hear about my new favorite morally-ambiguous-nerd character, or if you like it and just want to see someone else talk about why it's awesome, read on. W00t.
(I try to keep spoilers to a minimum -- nothing that goes beyond the premise and some details you learn in the pilot)
Revenge, the premise
"Two wrongs can never make a right because two wrongs can never equal each other."
Revenge is vaguely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Which means it's all about, well, vengeance. Basically, Emily Thorne, formerly known as Amanda Clarke, is the daughter of a man who was deeply screwed over by a group of uber-rich Hamptonites sometime in the past, and now she's back with a false identity and loads of cash, ready to make them pay. It's a catchy idea, but that alone isn't the reason to watch. So, details!
Reason to Watch Revenge #1: Awesome Ladies
Revenge is only a couple of episodes in, and it already has some of my favorite female characters on TV right now (at least in dramas), and certainly some of my favorite female relationships. While this is hardly the only measure, I'd note that it passes the Bechdel test effortlessly every week, and I have a hard time imagining it ever wouldn't. Which mostly springs from the fact that hello, the protagonist and antagonist are both women. And the plot they are at the center of doesn't have to do with romance. Yes, romance plays in, but there is so much more at stake. Entire lives, reputations, and fortunes are part of the game that's being played. By, primarily, women. It's very cool. So, an introduction to the two most important ladies of the bunch:
Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke
"I’m a big believer in finishing what you start."
Okay. Remember when I discussed how cool it is to see female characters in the role of godlike righteous bringer of terrible justice? Um, yeah. That's kind of Emily in a nutshell. Shockingly intelligent, terrifyingly single-minded, deeply broken, Emily is a revenge seeking machine who plays the part of sweet society girl to perfection while deftly pulling off breathtaking revenge schemes.
She is very, very, very much an anti-hero - you definitely sympathize with her, but at the same time, she's frightening, and morally questionable at best. Which is a kind of character I love, and is hard to find in female protagonists. Emily is a particularly interesting version (and is particularly hard to find in female characters), because she's extremely closed off and hard to read. Hell, she seems borderline sociopathic at times. It's hard to know what's going on in her head, but man, I can't wait to find out.
Victoria Grayson
"Trust is the one luxury I cannot afford."
Ah, Queen Victoria. Top socialite extraordinaire, Victoria Grayson is the very best kind of antagonist - one so intriguing, you almost want to root for her. She is clearly in the wrong in a number of ways in a number of situations, no question, but her motivations are unclear/conflicted and far from ~evil~ or difficult to understand, and her conscious is not clear. She's a character you want to know more about.
But at the same time, she's a really good, truly threatening antagonist. She's smart, socially savvy, and wary enough that Emily has to be very, very careful around her. She reminds me of a modern day Atia of the Julii (Rome), or even Cersei Lannister (ASOIAF) but more competent - ambitious, self serving, willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her status. But she doesn't think of herself as a fundamentally bad person, and that makes her fascinating.
Beyond her antagonistic relationship with Emily, her conflicted relationship with her teenaged daughter, Charlotte, is another one of my favorites on this show. Despite the trappings of absurd wealth, their stressed, fractured dynamic feels very realistic.
Reason to Watch Revenge #2: The Writers Are in Control
A great thing about Revenge is that it really feels like the writers are confident, know what they want to do, and have a strong control over their story. They don't think it's more than it is - they know they are writing a not particularly realistic prime time soap, but they commit to doing that as well as possible. Which manifests in two ways in particular:
Tight, snappy plots
"I smell the distinct aroma of retribution in the air."
This show is simply delicious, and the pacing has been to die for so far. The first couple of episodes were basically revenge procedurals, with Emily taking down a different person every week. That structure is lots of fun, and each plot was well executed and satisfying on its own. But the most recent episode proved that the overall arc will also be followed through, without dragging for too long. Each week we learn more back story and start to see more of Emily's plan unwind, and complications are starting to build in a way that makes me very excited to see where the plot is headed.
If anything, I'm a little worried about how the show will sustain itself at the rate Emily is burning through people - though from what I've read, it sounds like the creators have a couple of good ideas on how to extend the show beyond the original premise. For now, it's just nice to have a show that is moving quickly and confidently and is good as it does so.
The back story
"I stopped playing games with you when I fired you 18 years ago."
I mentioned back story above, and that's because it is a key component of the show. There are a ton of intriguing questions about the past - what exactly happened between Emily's father and the rest of the Hamptonites, and why and how Emily turned out so broken being two of the big ones - and everything that happens in the present of the show is in the shadow of events that came before, which makes for a rich, interesting, full story world. And like the plot, the writers are not stingy with the back story. We learn a little more each week. Just hints - the mystery stays alive - but enough that you can build up the beginning of an understanding. It's all very fun to play with and speculate about, and it definitely feels like all that time and energy invested in thinking about it will eventually be rewarded with answers - answers which I'm pretty sure the writers already basically know, which is nice.
Reason to Watch Revenge #3: A Love triangle That Doesn't Suck
"Come on down. Testosterone's on the house."
So, the bad news is that there is a love triangle, which is not my favorite thing. But the good news is it isn't distractingly annoying, IMO (at least not yet). And I've figured out why. It's not because I ship one of the pairs (at this point I'm basically okay with, but not that invested in, either), but because there are actually things at stake other than who Emily will be with. The two guys in question are a) Daniel Grayson, Victoria's son, and b) Jack Porter, a townie with a heart of gold who was little Amanda's friend back in the day. Being in a (fake) relationship with Daniel is clearly part of Emily's plan from the beginning (though it's unclear exactly why), while being anything with Jack is clearly not.
What's good about this triangle is that in either case, Emily falling for the guy will have major consequences for her revenge plan. If she actually develops feelings for Daniel (or even comes to like him a lot as a friend) then obviously it will be harder for her to use him, while letting Jack in would mean opening herself up - and it's very clear he would not approve of Emily-the-vengeance-queen. So the question is not just "who will she chose" but "will she fall for either, will she do anything about it, how will that effect her plans," etc. etc. etc. And THAT is actually interesting to watch play out for reasons beyond shipping. So good on the show for making this tired trope actually work.
ALSO. So far, at least, everyone involved has acted like a reasonable person. For instance, a particular love triangle cliche about a misunderstanding leading to a big fight due to jealousy was averted by the two people in question actually talking to each other, and trusting the other person's explanation, and apologizing for inadvertently hurting each other. IT'S A TV MIRACLE.
(And okay, both boys are easy on the eyes, which is a nice bonus).
Reason to Watch Revenge #4: Nolan Fucking Ross
Last but VERY much not least, my newest obsession: Nolan Ross.
"Violence is only one way to take someone down."
Werido wiz-kid tech-genius billionaire, Nolan has major shades of Topher Brink (Dollhouse), but with a touch more morality thrown in for good measure. He's the one person who actually knows who Emily/Amanda is (for reasons revealed in the pilot), and he bursts onto the scene insisting that he wants to help her, an offer she reluctantly (and with annoyance) accepts. He hates the Hamptonites, who find him odd and off putting, and finds Emily's retributions fun. But he also sees that there is a line, and Emily flirts with crossing it. He is far from a blameless paragon of virtue, but right now it looks like he might end up trying to stand between Emily and the edge, and that creates a great tension and conflict within his character.
He's an inbetween character in a lot of ways at this point. Unlike the rest of the younger generation (other than Emily), he knows there is a dangerous game going on, but he's not necessarily ready for the reality of it, to do whatever it takes like Emily, Victoria, and some of the other older characters are. So in some ways, he's in way over his head with Emily, but he's also very competent and could potentially become a major player on his own if he wanted to (not only is he incredibly smart, but he has exponentially more money than any of these other already mind bogglingly wealthy characters). There is also a lot of mystery about him. He has a very foppish persona (look at that outfit up there!), but it's hard to tell how much of that is genuine nerdy social awkwardness, and how much is an act put on for his own amusement and/or other motives.
Here is what the actor has to say about the character:
"Nolan is this weird dichotomy; he’s a study in ambiguity, which is why he’s a brilliant character to get to play. He has all this money and power and yet he’s very insecure and weak - that’s his fatal flaw. He’ll do anything to have a connection with other people, and yet he doesn’t need it because he’s in a glass tower already. That said, he’s fascinated with Emily because she’s the person who understands him most. No one else wants to give him the time of day and her mind works like his."
If you're anything like me, you understand why that is an AWESOME character description right there. If you aren't sold yet, let me add this: He blackmails/buys someone into hanging out with him - but he seems to genially mean it when he says he wants to be that person's friend, and legitimately does nice things for them. Which pretty well encapsulates the combo of moral corruptness and earnest desire to be liked (without knowing how to interact with people) that makes me love him.
So, that's my piece. There are plenty of things I didn't mention - there are other interesting side characters/plots, of course - but these are the main things that have quickly made Revenge must see TV for me.
Those of you who are watching: Are you still loving it as much as I am?