4.21 - "Aftermath"
Directed by Rob Greenlea
Written by Shannon Goss and Christopher Fife
Reviewed by Gavin Hetherington
Hey, Gavin here filling in for Ann-Sophie this week.
'Aftermath' Review
Since this is my first (and possibly only) review of
Revenge I've ever done, I thought I'd put it out there that I have loved Revenge since the very beginning and despite hiccups here and there, I still, to this very day, love this show with every fibre of my being. I have thoroughly enjoyed the show's fourth season (as I did the third) and this episode was yet another great episode. I thought that, in the overall package, this episode was better than the last episode. Just because I felt the last episode didn't have much going on for it until that final moment where, well, you know what happened. This episode was a much tighter episode.
EMILY AND MASON
"Your move, Amanda."
The main filling of this episode was the return of Mason and his need for his name to be cleared. Emily, being the genius she is, concocts a plan to help him so that he can help her in return, but of course things are not as they seem in Revenge-land. Mason meets Emily in her car (all snotty which I didn't think anything of until the end) making demands. I truly thought Emily would still have the advantage over him because nobody turns Emily into a puppet and gets away with it, but it looks like Mason may just be the exception to the rule. "One Big Lie: The Amanda Clarke Story" - that book title could use a little work, but we get the threat. Mason is the sort of underdog in this whole web of revenge so the fact that he has bided his time and waited for his opportune moment to strike back deserves a standing ovation. I hope we see him again in the next 2 episodes so Emily can make him pay for what he's done.
MARGAUX AND LOUISE
So Tweedledum and Tweedletwat are continually on the vendetta for Emily's blood. In a big way, I can understand completely why they go after Emily - Victoria was very close to both of them and now she's dead, that's fine. Part of me hates that Louise is now against Emily in a very big way - possibly to the point of Emily's destruction. Nolan really screwed her over there with the lying and of course Louise would change alliances - I blame Nolan for that. They didn't do an awful lot in this episode except read Victoria's 'suicide' letter, accuse Emily of murder and get the investigation elevated from suicide to murder. Together, they do make a pretty good pair and they seemingly have the upper hand over Emily. With Margaux's resources, I now wonder how far this is going to go. Either way, these two are devastating to Emily and I don't expect either of them to come around to Emily's side of thinking anytime soon (or ever).
NOLAN AND TONY
"Emily, I think... I think I'm falling for him..."
Nolan is so cute when he's falling for someone, don't you think? His little talk with Emily about Tony and planning on a vacation was a very nice change from all the drama happening at the minute in the wake of Victoria's death. I must say though, I don't think Tony was a very good character. Maybe he needed more development but I totally think Nolan deserves someone a lot more... real. I just never really bought into Tony or cared very much so I wasn't totally sad that Tony broke up with him. I was sad for Nolan as he was really looking forward to spending some time with this guy and by breaking Nolan's heart, he broke my heart. Couldn't he have mentioned this adoption thing sooner? It does seem a little strange for me that Tony appeared in Nolan's life, build up a relationship and then depart around the same time the Emily empire starts crumbling. Do you think maybe he's not who he says he is? Is he working the other side? Maybe Victoria's plan went further than we thought? I don't know, but I did find Tony a bit sketchy.
DAVID CLARKE
I will admit, I am not a fan of cancer storylines. I recently lost my cat of 11 years to lymphoma and he had to be put down a week and a half ago, so maybe it's because that's still a fresh wound that I'm not really enjoying the cancer storyline? Well, who enjoys cancer storylines really, but I feel like this was an unnecessary storyline for Revenge just to make David more relevant now his kidnapping/framing/homecoming is old news. How do we make David relevant? Oh, let's give him cancer. It would be the worst possible thing ever for Emily to lose her father now to a disease after all the years of fighting and then finding out he's alive. That would be so cruel for her to get her father back and then lose him thereafter. I do like David but I don't like this storyline.
JACK PORTER
Jack left the Hamptons at the end of the last episode to live with his mother, which was nice to see that potential ray of sunshine in their life. But I was surprised at how quick he returned and was questioned by Ben, who let's admit is getting on everyone's nerves right now. His frosty conversation with Emily before he got interrogated was a little painful to watch as I prefer them working together and being on the same page, in harmony, but the friction there spelled trouble for the horizon. Everything seems to fall apart when Team Emily falls apart. I was glad Ben told him about Emily going to catch his plane but missed him - perhaps the only good thing he did in the entire episode - so I'm assuming Jack went to patch things up with Emily when she was arrested. I'm not against Emily and Jack becoming a thing but I'm not sure I'm totally for it either. I love independant Emily and I feel like she doesn't need a man, but I think the writers have built up a love story here that I'm sure that's the direction it's going.
THE QUEEN VEE
"Hello Amanda. I'm sending you this message to tell you I'm ending your game of revenge. By the time you receive this, I'll no longer be among the living. But I would be remiss if I didn't thank you for that brilliant idea I found on that flash drive of yours. Just as you were planning on making it appears as if I had murdered you on your farcical wedding night; I'm going to make it appear as if you murdered me in your own home. The only difference - you never actually had the guts to kill yourself. But I do. So I suppose that makes me the victor in our little game but then who's keeping score? Enjoy your life in prison, my dear. May you suffer greatly."
 |
| Pre-Suicide Selfie! |
I had a feeling the Queen of the Hamptons would do everything she possibly could to have the final say. There was no conceivably way I could rationalise Victoria just snapping and killing only herself without taking Emily down with her. Well, it appears my first thoughts were right. I mean, she helped frame Emily's father for murder, right? Now she's framing Emily, it's coming full circle in this potentially final season. Victoria's move was huge, extreme, but then what else could we expect from her final move in this game of revenge? I would have been severely disappointed if she went out any other way. I was still shocked, to the bone, that Victoria blew up Grayson Manor with herself inside it. I am still reeling from that loss so I am still pretty much sensitive because, come on, Victoria was simple perfection in opposing our anti-hero Emily. The video Victoria sent Emily was swiftly deleted after but it showed how wicked Victoria can actually be. She has won... for now. It seems a shame that the truth will out, surely, which will make Victoria's elaborate move a fruitless one. But nonetheless, Victoria will be remembered forever.
Of course, Victoria didn't do this alone. Mason Treadwell helped her in a shocking (?) twist. I mean, I kind of saw this double-cross coming by Mason when his phone appeared disconnected. I also tie him with being the unknown man who weirdly attacked Victoria in the parking garage in the previous episode, not Emily. But Mason, who I love to loathe, played Emily like a fool which led to her being arrested at the end of this episode. It was such a great scene too. The video of Victoria basically telling Emily she's screwed was perfectly timed to end as the police lights flashed through Emily's window and the sirens blaring. I can't really remember but is this the first time Emily has genuinely been so screwed that it looks like there is no hope beyond this? Season four has pretty much derailed Emily as far as her perfect plans have gone and this ending was the epitome of that fact. It was quite traumatising for me to watch Emily get taken away as she screamed her innocence, and to have Jack show up too. It did lead to the best line of the night, for me at least:
"That bitch set me up!"
EPISODE VERDICT
There were so many good moments in this episode, including Nolan's comedic timing and the suspenceful pacing. I thorougly enjoyed it, though the main absence of Victoria was deeply felt. I truly believe Revenge is best when both Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke and Victoria Grayson are head-to-head, so the repurcussions of Victoria's suicide is going to be felt all the way into the final 2 episodes of the season, but if the show is renewed, what then? I was all for Revenge having a short fifth and final season but if the writers have wrote a satisfying ending to bring the Emily-Victoria revenge-etta to a close, then I'm happy with that. I was desperate for 100 episodes, but I guess 89 will have to do as long as the show delivers a truly epic finale. Great episode, and only 2 to go.
What did you guys think of 'Aftermath'? Let me know in the comments and be sure to watch the next new episode of Revenge on May 3rd, 10pm on ABC!
About the Author - Gavin Hetherington
Award-winning author of 'Abyssal Sanctuary: Remnants of the Damned'. Gavin joined SpoilerTV on August 9, 2014 and will be reviewing 2 Broke Girls, Mistresses, Orange is the New Black, Pretty Little Liars, Salem and Sleepy Hollow in the 2014-15 season. Gavin's favourite shows include Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Desperate Housewives, The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Scandal and much more. You can contact him at gavin@spoilertv.com.
First Revenge review and I hope I did a good job at it. It was a great episode, but now I'm panicking because only 2 episodes left until the possible series finale. What is my life?! What did you guys think?
ReplyDeleteI loved the episode and Victoria's twist but I really hope that Emily will be cleared at the end. She deserves her happy ending. I can't imagine her ending up in jail. I just can't. I wish to watch the show again in 10 years and that won't be possible if she lose.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and great episode! I too am sad about Victoria's absence in the episode-but I'm
ReplyDeleteStill not ruling out an s5. Bringing back Conrad to me would be the only way s5 could work, he's the only other true match for emily.
I like the idea of Emily framed/arrested and like you said I expected Victoria would take Emily down with her. But this storyline needs a lot more time then we have this season to do itself any justice-between proving em's innocence and fighting off other enemies I can see this type of storyline going on 4 half a season. I almost wish that's how the season was left off-either Use this to start off s5, or if the show is over, leave it as the final act of revenge where we never know the outcome.
Thanks for filling in @Gavin Hetherington good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAny time Andy :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree and I hope Emily gets her happy ending too. She's done so much to get to this point and I'd hate for it to have all been for nothing. It would definitely hinder the entire show if Emily fails in the end, I feel your sentiments exactly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! Do you really think, at this point, they could resurrect Conrad? I do feel like his story is a little incomplete and his death was pretty unsatisfying, but another resurrection on Revenge?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the needing time to develop this storyline. This would have been so good to have happen a bit earlier so we can see more of the outcome and consequences as 2 episodes to wrap it up, if there's no S5, seems far too little time to really use this to their advantage. Part of me still hopes for S5, don't get me wrong, I am dying for this show to get to 100 episodes, but I'm going to see how S4 ends first before deciding what I truly want.
I can totally see your point about Emily and deserving a happy ending too - it's sort of like Walter White in Breaking Bad and his slow decline from humanity. I see the same happening to Emily - is she beyond atoning her sins for her acts, even if they were for "good", or is she still deserving of her happy ending to run off into the sunset after the carnage she has left in her wake. That's the most interesting thing about Revenge at the minute as her plan really went a totally different direction with the resurrection of her father as she was more than happy to just disappear once his name was cleared. Nolan truly is one of the great ones and is deserving of happiness - it's just a shame he hasn't been able to get that yet.
God. I love love LOVED this episode. Despite the fact that I'm rooting for Emily/Amanda (but then who isn't?), I have to say I love this turn of events. I thought Victoria just committing suicide was too easy and that there had to be a twist and boy did the writers deliver!
ReplyDeleteSaying that, Emily better be cleared and proven innocent by the end of the finale! Love the nicknames you gave Margaux and Louise. They definitely need to be taken down Emily style, I agree that it's understandable that they're on Victoria's side having only heard her side but if they were fully aware of everything thats happened and WHY Emily came to the Hamptons, I'm not entirely sure they'd feel the same.
I'm not feeling the Jack/Emily thing, but then again, I never have been on board for it. I just feel like they're so far from what they were and after the whole "Aiden was the love of my life" line from the other episode, I just think it's kind of rushed but then if this really is the final season they have to rush things but I'd much rather see Emily end the series single and with her father by her side.
I don't know why, but since she's returning I've had an odd feeling that Charlotte was the hooded attacker from the previous episode, it's a wild theory but then I'm not even sure which side she'll be on when she returns, she did makeit well known that she was done with the Emily vs Victoria revenge saga the last time we saw her but I am hoping she'll be an ally to Emily because I've been waiting for them to have that sisterly bond since we found out she was her half-sister.
Anyway, great review :) wish we could see you do more Revenge reviews!
This was a very good episode and I'm hoping that it will end well.
ReplyDeleteGreat review btw
Thanks very much! Aww I know, me too :( I have faith we will get the ending we need.
ReplyDeletewe will have to disagree with this season, as I've hated most of it. Not that I've hated every minute of it
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks for calling me God ;) Yes, same, Victoria making this all more difficult for Emily is soooo good, even though we are rooting for Emily. The more obstacles for Emily to eventually overcome, the better.
ReplyDeleteYou could be right about Margaux and Louise, though I would have thought the interview Emily gave on air that told her whole story after revealing herself to be Amanda would have set most of the records straight? So I don't know if they just choose to ignore the fact that Victoria did destroy Emily's life or if they just genuinely don't know. I do want them to see things from Emily's point of view.
Emily is so good independent. She started the show with just herself and her love for her father - it would be nice to end it that way too. You could be right about Charlotte being the attacker and it would certainly be a good twist. I hope she will be an ally to Emily but since Margaux and Louise are on Victoria's side, I'm sure Charlotte will be too so she will end up siding with them. A sisterly-bond is something I've wanted for a long time too!
Thanks for reading and the kind words, would love to do more too :D
What have you liked about this season, I'm really interested to know. I totally respect your opinion though, you have the right to hate it :)
ReplyDeleteProbably, just the Daniel story for his Post Emily reveal. While it became essintially the same for most of their scenes they became almost likable again. Not relationship likeable, but you could of scene them being civil or interesting with each other again at some point in the future. Id rather have had the Emily's reveal sooner than they have. It seems like they also killed Malcolm soon for no real reason apparently. My main problem is while things like Victoria is not believable as a victim how they have written, nor is Margaux believable as a true enemy for Emily.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree about Daniel/Emily. They became so much more interesting to watch - not romantically but in chemistry. Margaux is definitely over-reaching and yeah, Victoria never seemed to be a good victim and this season has done things to demean her, but I think they turned that around recently by having her one-up Emily in the biggest way possible.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that continuously redirecting old characters is getting old-but making up a good excuse to bring back Conrad to me would be worth it. To me, there are only 2 enemies of the gang that ever gave them a run for their money and made the show worth watching...both are dead. To survive, im willing to compromise.
ReplyDeleteIf they make Conrad's return believable, then I would totally be up for it. I agree - the Graysons (Victoria and Conrad) were the biggest foes Emily has ever had, and ever will have. Now both are dead. I guess I wouldn't mind something quite improbable to happen so we get some semblance of an epic fight again. Conrad's story isn't quite finished and his reputation is quite literally ruined now. Would be interesting to see him back to see what's become of his legacy.
ReplyDeleteYeh, never understood the fascination people have with Jack/Emily considering the direction the show took with them. Charlotte is about as poorly written to me as Louise and Margaux so I don't care much about her return.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with your interpretation of Emily's statement that "Aiden was the love of my life." Jack is and always has been the love of her life. If you recall, she was willing to give up her revenge vendetta for him, only him. That is, until Amanda showed up pregnant.... Even Aiden realized that there was something more to her and Jack, although she loved Aiden, she was never willing to give up her revenge vendetta for him. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteShe said that Aiden understood her, and since deep down inside she felt that she didn't deserve Jack, she settles for Aiden.
Thanks very much Susan, thanks for reading :D
ReplyDeleteOMG I just watched the promo looking for that and wow. Also, you do have a point about Aiden and Jack.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated to know how you would rank those 3 ladies - Charlotte, Margaux and Louise. I have to say Charlotte hasn't had anything interesting to do while Margaux has been a true thorn(e) in Emily's side and Louise just follows whoever seems to have the bigger hand in this game.
ReplyDeleteI've never doubt that Emily has feelings for Jack but there's not really any way to "interpret" her saying it about Aiden, those words are her own. They could have easily had her say "she took someone who I loved very much" but the writers went to the trouble of saying "love of my life". It's just my opinion but like I said, Amanda is a VERY different person to the little girl she was when her and Jack were young, they don't match anymore and I think its been poorly executed to try and show him as the love of her life if that's what they're going for.
ReplyDeleteYeah the two have drifted apart but have remained close with Jack's loyalty to Amanda. They are both so different to what they used to be, and good point about Aiden. We'll just have to see how they develop as I do want a happy ending for both characters - either together or separately.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!!!!! I loved the episode
ReplyDeleteI feel the samw
ReplyDeleteBTW!- next week looks insane
ReplyDeleteThe only even remote coherent story was Margaux, even though I did not buy it. Louise and Charlotte probably would not make my list at all. If only because I don't understand why Louise was made a regular and Charlotte never was given a coherent purpose in three seasons. But you could say the same about Louise.
ReplyDeleteAt least with Margaux, I could see mostly what they were trying to do. Louise really was not interesting enough to watch without a clearer purpose in mind. Her reasons against Emily are a bit sketchy, they were not exactly Nolan's secrets to tell. Partially they were, but you would only understand her anger toward Nolan really. This recently has become a problem for the show in expecting viewers to accept a lot without much coherent reasoning about character motivation.
Mostly in getting us to accept how wronged/damaged a character has been. Only recently Louise even became connected to the bigger picture, and before that I would not have noticed she was there if she wasn't.
In short, Margaux > Louise > Charlotte. In short because they never even attempted to give Charlotte any reasoning whatsoever.
Their chemistry after Daniel knew the truth was off the charts. Much more than S1 or S2.. Their witty banter in the elevator was golden, with Daniel commenting on Emily being flexible.
ReplyDeleteIt really does right? OMG. But I always think every episode looks insane by the promos!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for reading and the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the episode :D
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree. It wasn't until after that that I actually wanted them to be together. I loved the sort of darker side to the both of them and that honesty was there that they never had before because Daniel now knew. That was a pretty missed opportunity to be fair, they should have let him find out sooner so I could see more of that. THAT was the Daniel I liked.
ReplyDeleteThat is true and you have actually raised some excellent points there. I really didn't like Margaux (just because she was going after Emily and was in way over her head) but like you said, you understand where she's coming from and she has that coherent story. All I really remember from Charlotte, while I didn't hate her or anything, was the drugs, Declan and the angst. Really not the most interesting. I want to see some development with her relationship to her now only-living family - Emily and David. I always felt Charlotte was just there and never given a true purpose.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Louise - they were not Nolan's secrets to tell so I can see why she would be mad at Nolan for basically neglecting her a lot. But Louise was infatuated with Victoria and developed a relationship with her, so now she's after Emily because she thinks she killed her which I do understand, but like you said, she doesn't really have the proper reason to as she went for Emily's throat pretty quickly - before any of the framing happened. Nolan pushed her right into the arms of the enemy. It makes her a little more interesting but yeah, she hasn't really proven herself worthy of series regular title yet.
Thanks for your thoughts though, they've made me think.
Don't worry, Revenge fans are united :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for filling in Gavin! ;) Loved the review loved the episode. Though I have to dissagree on one thing: I don't understand how Louise is so quick to jump on the Victoria band wagon. They weren't close... What really did Victoria do for her compared to Nolan and Emily?
ReplyDeleteBTW I laughed my ass off at your "Pre Suicide Selfie!" Caption
Next week two weeks are going to be insane! ;)
Thanks for giving me the opportunity Ann-Sophie, since Revenge is officially ending after the next 2 episodes (which are going to be insane), I never would have had the chance otherwise so you have fulfilled my dream haha.
ReplyDeleteI kinda do see your point about Louise, but how long were Victoria and Louise in the insane asylum? They would have spent so much time together in such a close space so who knows what they talked about and how close they got - but Louise's craziness for Victoria was explained by the drugs she was taken so why is she gaga for Victoria all over again? I guess I would like to see more characterisation for Louise in these final 2 episodes that will explain her motives.