Revenge - Episode 3.14 - Payback - Review

This is the first week back from hiatus for Revenge. For an episode titled “Payback”, there wasn’t a lot of that going around. The show is now filling ABC’s 10pm time-slot. I found myself restless to find out if they would take it as an advantage and pursue a somewhat less PG-13 route. It seems too early to say, but I don’t feel like they delivered this week. It was enjoyable, but not, we were gone for 3 months and now we’re back, good.

I didn’t think I would, but I am kind of enjoying the Emily black-outs and I absolutely loved the fact that they included her mother’s mental illness. (Yay, for continuity!) The timeline blanks gives a real sense of mystery to the episode, especially the Conrad and Emily scheming together, but I do hope they use it wisely. It could easily get on my nerves, if they suddenly justify everything with Emily not being herself during black-outs.

Emily, in one of her black-out hazes planted Takeda’s sword, so Nikko would find it and confront Aiden. We were left last episode, wondering how Nikko would react to Aiden’s betrayal. It would surely by an Emily-like takedown. After luring her towards her and a battle to the death, Emily spared Nikko’s life (Was she ever going to kill her? No.) Moral of this story: even an out of pratice, mentaly and physicaly unstable Emily can kick your butts. Afterwhich Emily told her to leave, which she did (really?). It was poorly executed and extremely out of character for someone consumed with revenge. (She did attend Revenge School too.) The storyline had so much potential, I really hope she’s not gone for good.

I don’t know if I have an aversion to the Queen, but during the episode (as well as the last one), I tended to side with Patrick’s father. I don’t trust her. I always feel like she’s lying to justify herself.(I can’t be the only one?) I guess we will never know, who was telling the truth. Now that he’s dead, I only assume nothing more will be addressed of this storyline. The gallery fire last episode seemed really random and unjustified to me. Hey, mommy, I am really made at you, I’m going to set your gallery on fire. I know he’s got problems, clearly, but I am happy with the justification behind his actions. I was a great way to get Jimmy Brennan in the picture and maybe get some answers. Patrick summarized my thoughts on pretty much all the characters on Revenge, but especially the mother/son duo:

“What the hell is wrong with us?”

I really loved the new character of Stevie Grayson, that is, until the surprisingly unsurprising end-of-episode-revelation. I was surprised, not because I didn’t see it coming, but because I couldn’t believe they were actually taking this route. The only thing that could possibly come out of this is getting Jack out of the hole the writers have put him in. I’m getting really tired of watching him play house with Margaux.

Stevie Grayson being Jack’s bio-mom makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. (Next we’re going to learn Conrad is actually his bio-dad. One big incestuous family.) Basically, this means Jack and Declan never knew they were only half-brothers. Jack was raised by a mother he never knew wasn’t his. (Good job on choosing the mothers of your kids by the way Carl!) The timeline is a little fuzzy though; if it makes sense to anyone here, please help me figure it out. This is what I have: Jack and Emily/Amanda are roughly the same age, 9 years older than Declan and Charlotte, Charlotte is now 19 which makes Daniel 25. This means Jack is roughly 28. Victoria and Conrad were probably married when they conceived Daniel, meaning Jack was maximum 2 years old when Stevie and Conrad got divorced. Would it make sense they only been together 2 years, marriage and dating included? (If they did in fact get together right after she gave birth.)


Dear writers,
Please give Nolan something interesting to do.
Sincerely,
Me.


Quick Questions
1. Hate or love the direction of the Stevie Grayson Storyline?
2. Should Emily ditch Daniel?
3. What do you want to see happen with Nolan? (I’d vote for anything, anything at all!)