TV Review: REVENGE – Season 1 – “Pilot” – Series Premiere

By RACHEL REITSLEFF / Contributing Writer

Posted: September 22nd, 2011 / 01:44 PM

Stars: Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe, Henry Czerny, Gabriel Mann, Ashley Madekwe, Joshua Bowman, Nick Wechsler, Max Martini
Writer: Mike Kelley
Director: Philip Noyce
Network: ABC, Wednesdays @ 10 PM
Original Telecast: September 21, 2011

REVENGE is the kind of glossy nighttime soap that the major broadcast networks used to produce with flair in the ‘80s. Less camp than DYNASTY or the more contemporary DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, REVENGE nevertheless seems to be centered around the potential for the mother of all catfights, with the difference that the person stirring up all the misdirection and havoc is actually our heroine.

Emily VanCamp plays Emily Thorne, a mysterious and charming newcomer to the wealthy enclave in the Hamptons where she arrives in the summer. Except Emily isn’t really a newcomer to the area, nor is she even really Emily. Instead, she’s actually Amanda Clarke, returned to her childhood home to avenge the wrongs done to her late father (James Tupper, who we see in flashbacks) by many of the locals, particularly the feared and powerful Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe). We know at the outset that “Emily” is engaged to Victoria’s troubled son Daniel (Joshua Bowman) and that something bad happens to Daniel on the beach during the engagement party. Then we flash back to Emily renting a beach house, and then flash further back to see who she really is and what she’s so vengeful about. Strangely, only the town ne’er do well knows who Emily really is; even her childhood friend (Nick Wechsler) who is now sweet on her doesn’t recognize Amanda, although his dog (which used to be hers) does.

The long reach of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO can be detected here in the broad strokes, and to the credit of writer Mike Kelley, REVENGE does have a bit of a novelistic feel. However, so far it’s less like a slam-bang thriller and more like one of those bitchy beach books where people are exposing affairs and other secret embarrassments rather than going for something larger. There are a lot of story threads to follow, and it’s all nicely done if this is the sort of fare one appreciates, but in the first episode, at least, the plot mechanics take up so much space that there’s little room for the kind of character and nuance that would make REVENGE stand out from the serial pack.

We can’t tell yet if we’re meant to sympathize with Emily/Amanda unconditionally, or whether we’re worried she’s going to turn into a creature whose quest for vengeance drives her to wound the innocent. VanCamp is interesting to watch while we figure this out. Stowe certainly plays Victoria as a worthy opponent for anyone – she is both elegant and formidable. We are made curious as to exactly what it is that we’re seeing in the opening of the show and how it comes to pass, as well as what happened years ago to bring everyone to this point. For those with enough curiosity and appreciation of rich people on the beach glitz, REVENGE should be fun. Otherwise, it’s decent but unexceptional.

AGREE? DISAGREE? LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK – COMMENT BELOW!

Click on Link: TV Review -REVENGE – Season 1 – “Perception”

Latest Buzz

TV Review: REVENGE – Season 1 – “Pilot” – Series Premiere

A nighttime soap starring Emily VanCamp as a young woman with a major grievance against the rich folks who ruined her father’s life

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: TV Review -REVENGE – Season 1 premiere – “Pilot”

Related

Related Posts:

Leave a Comment

Assignment X Poll

Newsletter subscription status

Latest Buzz

TV Review: REVENGE – Season 1 – “Pilot” – Series Premiere

A nighttime soap starring Emily VanCamp as a young woman with a major grievance against the rich folks who ruined her father’s life

Article Source: Assignment X Article: TV Review -REVENGE – Season 1 premiere – “Pilot”

Related

Related Posts:

Leave a Comment

Assignment X Poll

Article Source: Assignment X
Article: TV Review -REVENGE – Season 1 premiere – “Pilot”