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Revenge - Retaliation - Review:"What is it about this girl?"

18 Mar 2015

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“Rule of the Red Sharpie: It’s hard to put the cap back on.” –Nolan

This week’s episode of “Revenge” carries on Margaux’s attempt at “Retaliation,” in her twisted vendetta against Emily, for having tarnished Daniel’s memory. The show seems to be back to the level I have come to expect, and after a couple of slower episodes, the show has returned to its fast pace, to its entertaining takedowns, to its conniving characters, and finally a storyline I can seek my teeth in. You know the show is back on track, slowly recreating its glory days; when the episode includes a Hampton’s Style, 4th of July, party and all kinds of fireworks.

The promo hinted at three takedowns, but I’m pretty sure if we were to count them, there were more than three tentative takedowns. A lot happened in this episode of “Revenge.”

Jack, Ben, Emily and April
Last week, Margaux tried her hand at blackmail, using information she had on Ben’s ex-wife, so he would side with her, and betray Emily. “Retaliation” showed Ben going down the sensible route, and siding with Emily in the conflict that has since escalated into epic proportions. Aware of Margaux’s plan, Nolan, Emily and Ben feed Margaux a fake Birth Certificate, in the hope giving themselves enough to find April, and keep her out of harm’s way. Emily and Ben embark on a road trip that’s “more revenge than romance,” to find the woman who’d been out of Ben’s life for 10 years.

The fact that Emily needed convincing, a little push from Nolan, to realise she shouldn’t let Ben deal with the “twisted chess game with real stakes” by himself, says a lot about their relationship. It’s not in her habit to take no for answer, not in her habit to detach herself from a fight, but somehow, she didn’t feel it was her battle to fight. It’s usually always her battle to fight when the people she loves are involved.


“Retaliation” also made me question my future, because if a Hampton’s PD Cop drives a Mustang, I’m in the wrong line of work…

The road trip demonstrated one thing amongst others, and it is that things between Emily and Ben, opposite of things between Jack and Emily, are simple, they’re easy. Maybe because they both have baggage, both have unresolved issues, and both have one foot out the door, making their relationship somehow lack the drama. He’s not over his ex-wife, and she’s not over her ex-fiancé, not sure she can ever come back from Aiden’s death. Maybe it’s their detachment that makes them good for each other, because that’s what Emily needs, simple, why she chose Ben over Jack.

Upon learning Ben betrayed her, and learning the Birth Certificate he gave her was a fake, Margaux demonstrates she does not make empty threats. In the name of revenge, in her crusade against Emily, and everyone who helps and enables her, Margaux sends the ex-con after April.

“I assumed common sense would prevail. What is it about that girl, that makes people act against their own best interest?” -Margaux

Margaux definitely crossed a line in this episode of “Revenge,” when she sends a dangerous, violent man, after an innocent woman, a harmless bystander, unbiased in her war. And the more this war continues, the more Margaux’s reason’s for hating Emily seems petty. Desperation can be dangerous, and the woman is itching on the edge of crazy. Had Emily and Ben not been there, how would she have lived with herself, knowing she caused the death of someone?

Ben’s ex-wife, April, had to ditch her life, hide from her ex-boyfriend, a violent criminal after a raid Ben called turned out empty, a criminal who still wants her dead. It isn’t what an eye for an eye is. Emily should, sooner rather than later, unleash her inner-ninja before Margaux gets someone hurt or killed.


As, I said before: unresolved issues. (Or is it just wishful thinking, that way we can see more of Sarah Lancaster? Who knows…) Ben and Emily saved April, and had Wes taken into police custody, and Margaux feels like she failed. Her ego is bruised that once again, Emily was one step ahead of her. I have a hard time believing she really expected to send Ben’s ex-wife to the hospital, or underground? Isn’t it a bit much, dear?

Putting an innocent’s life at risk isn’t enough for Margaux, and she will stop at nothing in her crusade against Emily, against everyone orbiting around her. The ending moments of this episode were spectacular, in a dramatic kind of way, when Margaux decided Jack was going to be the first to pay for Emily’s sins. Margaux’s actions are making no sense; they’re actions of a deranged individual, blinded by her desire for revenge. She’s doing what she blames Emily of doing, wrongfully destroying a person’s image, Jack’s.

Things between Jack and Emily are strained. He’s mad; he’s hurt. Emily doesn’t want things to be weird between them, but it’s too late, they already are. It’s what tends to happen when two friends don’t feel the same way about each other, when two people aren’t in the same place. It’s what’s expected when one gives his heart to someone who isn’t ready to receive it. She’s still going to do anything she can to clear his name, and Margaux will not know what hit her.

Side note: I don’t know how this will play out, but if Margaux’s PI planted the faulty breath analyser in the arresting cop's car in order to have Jack convicted of having drank before taking the wheel, therefore putting his son in harm’s way the car, Jack would, in Canada at least, need to take another breath analyser test at the precinct, on a different machine, in order to validate the data, and make sure the machine was well calibrated. It probably won’t go down that way, though...

David, Natalie and Victoria
“Retaliation” was a fast paced episode, but for the David, Natalie and Victoria part of the story, maybe the development was a tad too fast. I’m disappointed with Natalie and what they’ve done to the character. Was that the whole purpose of her character? She acts as Victoria’s nemesis for three episodes, then makes a weak attempt at tarnishing David’s reputation in Conrad’s name after having seduced him for one episode. And just like that, next episode, she’ll probably be gone. I hope it’s not the end with her character, that it isn’t what she amounted to, because if it is, it’s just lame.

If only one thing can come out of this episode, it’s that David is an incredibly bad judge in character. The brief romance that started with the gift of a boat continued and ended in this episode, after Natalie, flaunting her fortune in Victoria’s face, throws the Fourth of July Party, with David at her arm in the hopes of destroying him, just like Conrad had, 20 years ago.

Victoria warns him, convince him she’s their common enemy. Emily sure as hell didn’t inherit her witty repartee from David. His exchange with Victoria, at the beach house felt flat. I’m unsure at this point if it’s the character, or the actor.

“I guess there’s a silver lining in not having killed me after all.” –Victoria

David finds a watch, one he’d already seen, and he teams up with Victoria, behind the scenes to bring Natalie down. I love seeing Victoria getting what she wants but I would also have loved to see Victoria and Emily together, if Natalie hadn’t done the bad guy rookie mistake and explain her twisted plan out loud. But maybe having Emily clear her father’s name, again, would have been redundant.

Nolan, Louise and Lyman
Nolan and Louise still are a poor substitute for Nolan and Emily, but I like their interactions, and enjoy seeing them work together. Their marriage isn’t all couple’s massages, and cooking classes, they’re having marital problems. It’s a surprise they lasted this long before hitting a rough patch because while I had a hard time understanding their marriage, and it seems like so do they. They aren’t exactly looking for the same thing, and as long as they don’t determine what they want, they’ll continue to live the trouble in paradise until they do. Their arrangement seems to have the disadvantages of marriage without most of the perks, if you ask me.

“This is still a fake marriage, right?” – Jack

It made me laugh that Nolan keeps taking off his wedding ring because no one hits on him when he wears it. He isn’t even wearing it in the house. Who does he expect to hit on him there? His wife? His sister from another mother and father? Or Jack?

Louise, desperate for love, acceptance, and her family, desperate to see the good in her brother, believes him when he comes knocking on her door and tells her he’s turned a new leaf. The devil’s advocate, having failed in securing himself the funds for his campaign within Victoria’s inheritance, sides with Margaux, in the hopes that Nolan’s secrets will secure his campaign financial stability.

It’s a little hard to believe that Lyman managed to hack into Nolan’s private computer, one that was hidden, and one that contained all their revengedas, but let’s let that slide. Louise finds her brother, downloading personal information from her husband’s computer, and realises she’s been taken for a fool, again. They fight over the USB Key, and when Louise attempts to throw it away, Lyman ends up falling, to his death.

I usually don’t usually realise this but the special effects when Lyman was falling were terrible. They almost made me laugh. Anyone else?


Louise keeps her brother’s death a secret from Nolan. Was she was afraid he would leave? Does she not realise all that Emily’s done, Nolan is one faithful friend. It looks like it’s going to be back to crazy town with Louise. Gold Star for Elena Satine, for making me like Louise, and wish she stays on the show by delivering her lines with perfection. She’s giving Gabriel Mann, a run for his money, in terms of quotes.

“The way you’ve threated me, I trust you as far as I can throw you. And we both know I inherited feeble Aunt Fay’s upper body strength.” – Louise


Agree? Disagree? Anything to add?

18 comments:

  1. You are right about the Breathalyser test (at least in Australia too). You need a roadside test and then a primary test back at the station for the first test to be considered Valid. Not sure if thisis th e case in the US though.

    Margaux makes a poor adversary for Emily and she relies on too much outside help to get much done.

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  2. Great review! I think it's been intentionally set up for Margaux to fail so that at some point Victoria will step back into the ring for a final showdown with Emily - now geared with Grayson money.
    Victoria-Natalie-David, it seems Charlotte inherited traits more from David than Emily. Natalie is probably gone ( not sure we needed the Conrad connection?) and Victoria, why did you prefer David to Conrad? I don't.
    Louise-Nolan-Lyman, no surprise re Lyman's intentions, apart from him being able to get into Nolan's computer. Really? Louise seems to forget that this marriage was a strategic move, while Nolan is very aware of it. His wedding ring starts coming off as soon as they've pointed out that Emily did not move towards Jack as assumed.

    Emily, Jack, Ben and April, as much as unresolved issues it was also clear that April/Ben wanted different things. I think Jack and Emily do too, and this arrest will remind Jack of that his #1 priority should be Carl - Emily's world is pretty toxic for a toddler.

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  3. In regards to your view about on Jack and Emily (and Carl), I always suspected the show was heading towards an eventual Emily and Jack pairing, with Emily stepping into a Stepmother type role for Carl. Im not so sure now. Jack really dosnt have a lot of room to move now. As a police officer it would be interesting what a drunk driving charge would do to his career (and Im still not sure the writers want to keep him a police officer or not). Karl has been his number 1 priority for a long time already and will always continue to be. I still think they are angling for an eventual Emily and Jack matchup but I think it wont happen because they are circling back too slowly and the show will end before they have a chance to naturally conclude it.

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  4. Yep, but as we saw before in Revenge, the police force will do anything if money is thrown in their face. Remember Alvarez? Thought so.

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  5. Matthew, a DUI for Jack is a relatively small matter compared to all he covered up as police officer, and why he stepped down and of course Emily will fix Jack's problems again. I don't think Emily was ever supposed to be a stepmother to Carl - she is ninja trained and it is very much a part of her. The quiet family life Jack wants, that is not who Emily is anymore. She cares for him and wants him to have a good life, but I doubt she wants to be a big part of it.

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  6. I just realized there is only 4 characters left from the beginning : Emily, Victoria, Jack and Nolan.
    Revenge is more deadly than GoT after all.

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  7. David is alive. Lydia and Ashley aren't dead, just off the show.

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  8. I enjoyed this one. My problem now with the show is that they need a sense of purpose. Margaux works fine as a fillerish thing and all but I can't picture her as the big nemesis since Emily can always take her out at any moment when she decides to do so. There is also the problem that the current configuration of the show has no place for Victoria or even David which doesn't really make sense in the grand scheme of things. I enjoyed everything, like I said, including the Louise storyline with her killing her brother and I really liked seeing Margaux crossing the line but they need to find a way to include Victoria in the grand scheme of things and have everyone involved in a main goal. I am guessing that happens when Emily inadvertently causes Margaux to loose her baby and results in Victoria going after her again for that. We shall see.

    Good review!

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  9. Станимира Тричкова18 March 2015 at 13:53

    I think that the writers want to show us how Margaux evolves from a nice ambitious woman to a revengefull bad lady and that EMily is far more into revenge that Margaux will ever be, because Emily is not new to this, she has spent 11 year pretending to be Emily, planning her moves and all. Margaux is chaotic, angry and ordinary - since Daniel's death she has been shocked and not having time to plan, just acting like a psyho...Only Victoria can measure with Emily's actions

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  10. Yeah, it would be too easy that way. Plus, seems like the whole precinct hates Jack for stepping down, so they definately won't make things easier on him!

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  11. True, Emily has revenge ninja school on her belt, and Margaux is just way to emotional. Even Louise almost managed to kill her, once upon a time. That doesn't give her much chance against Emily! :P

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  12. Thanks, I agree about Victoria helping out Margaux, especially after next week's promo. Victoria has a way of blaming everything and anything on Emily!


    I'm still pretty sure, their will be some kind of Emily and Jack ending. (I'm not saying it's what I want, just what I assume) If not them together, then Emily sacrificing herself for Jack or Carl, or giving up on her Revenging ways after Jack dies leaving her with the kid... I don't know, but their will be something there.


    What's your link between Nolan's wedding ring and Emily and Jack? Did I miss something?

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  13. Jack is no longer a police officer, so his career would take nothing from the DUI, I assume...


    I agree they are still hovering over a Jack and Emily get together before the series finale!

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  14. As for Charlotte

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  15. And psychotic Margaux and Queen Victoria will probably team up, as you said, only Victoria can truly match Emily's awesomeness!

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  16. Thanks! I wouldn't mind David keeping more of a background role to the rest of the show, but I assume Victoria will soon resurface, now that her money problems are out of the way to help Margaux, like you pointed out.
    What I can't believe is how much I wanted Louise gone a few episodes ago, and know I really enjoy her, but in little doses, I guess...

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  17. What a waste of a storyline that was. Hey Jacks a Cop now.. 12 episodes later.. no he isnt!....


    What the hell is happening to the writers on this show?

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  18. The massage scene Louise & Nolan, as soon as they have pointed out that Emily did not move towards Jack and the world kept turning for both, Nolan starts taking off the ring. Jack& Emily ending with Emily giving up her revenging ways? Here is why I would be so annoyed with that - she is ninja trained, it is her profession and for the entire series run they've sold us Emily as strong and independent. And end it with her giving up for a man like Jack?? If she was a top surgeon/ rocket scientist nobody would expect her to give up everything she was trained to do and is part of her to be a step soccermom to Carl. And feel fulfilled. I am with you that she will have to give up on her revenge, but not being a ninja. Also, I can't see Jack not bring up all the mess between them every time they'd argue, and this latest DUI will not help the mess. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the writers remember the original Monte Christo where first love is dispatched off without the count but with her son.

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