Things took a turn for the murderous on this week’s new episode of Revenge. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but this show really does keep getting better and better. This week’s episode featured Lydia’s not-so-triumphant return to the Hamptons.
The scorned woman was determined to return to the fold, now flush with $10 million of Grayson money. The first item on her agenda was getting her house back from Emily, who wasn’t impressed with Lydia’s threats. Her second step was to get Victoria to welcome her back into society. But Victoria was understandably resistant to that plan. Lydia, fortunately, came prepared. When Victoria refused to acknowledge her, she told Conrad she was more than happy to reveal her part in the David Clarke frame job and pin the blame on the Graysons. Conrad, understandably, crumbled under that kind of pressure.
The truth is that Conrad’s company was laundering the money for the terrorists who brought down that plane and then he framed David for it. But Victoria has always felt guilty for their part in that tragedy and her guilt was nearly overwhelming in this episode, particularly when confronted with the victims’ family members at a charity dinner (the Graysons started a charity to help the victims after the plane crash).
Before we get to that charity dinner, we need to talk about the fact that Lydia discovered some very incriminating information about Emily. She warned Emily that she was determined to find her dirty little secrets and it was easier to do so than she thought it would be. In an old photo of a New Year’s Eve party, Lydia spotted a “just-released-from-juvie” Amanda Clarke in the background.
When Nolan (who now had the ability to spy on Lydia thanks to a camera he set up in Emily’s house that was unknowingly shipped to Lydia’s house) realized that Lydia was on to Emily, the pair came together to expunge all record of Amanda working that party. Emily also made a point to ship some incriminating evidence to Lydia, making it look like she was the one behind the recent public scandals and take-downs.
Victoria was forced to play nice with Lydia at the charity party in order to keep her from exposing the truth, but she later told her former friend that there would never be any reconciliation because she loathed her. Despondent, Lydia returned home to find Frank in her apartment, convinced that she was responsible for the recent scandals. Their fight eventually led to the balcony, where Lydia eventually fell….right onto a car in the street.
Now Lydia is dead, Nolan has most of the fight on tape, and Frank needs to figure out a way to make sure he doesn’t go down for what happened to her.
Meanwhile, back in the Hamptons, Charlotte is still angry with Victoria for what she said in the previous episode. Victoria tried to placate her with an expensive car, but that just ended with Charlotte and Delcan getting pulled over for speeding. Fortunately, Daniel got the pair out of any trouble.
Speaking of Daniel, he quickly became aware of what a manipulator Tyler is and also learned the shocking news that his father cheated with Lydia. This led him to quit his job at his father’s company. Where will he work? Well, he asked Jack if he could take the bartender’s job at The Stowaway. I smell an odd-couple type situation brewing. In the end, Emily and Daniel celebrated their renewed closeness by making their relationship physical.
So, like I said, that was one hell of an episode. Fans who weren’t that happy with the more procedural aspects of the show saw that get off track, at least for now. And we all got a shock I didn’t see coming. Lydia’s dead, you guys! Things are getting crazy on Revenge!
Here’s some questions for next week:
- Will Frank be exposed for his part in Lydia’s death? Will Emily jump at the chance to take him down?
- How will Victoria deal with Lydia’s death? Will she be relieved that she’s gone or will it just pile on to her guilt, since Frank made it seem like Lydia killed herself?
- Will Daniel actually take Jack up on that bartending position and how will Queen Victoria respond to that new development?
- What will Tyler do now that Daniel clearly doesn’t trust him?
Finally - and this is probably a question for the season as a whole - but do you really think that Emily feels something for Daniel, or is it all just part of her plan? I honestly don’t know.
Next week’s episode of Revenge has Emily and Nolan trying to deal with Lydia’s unexpected death. View a trailer and photos for the episode here.
That was a pretty intense episode, chock-full of reversals of fortune. I can't wait to find out what Emily's reaction will be to Lydia's death, as tonight's episode ended with her in bed with Daniel, and a frantic Nolan trying to reach her. Whatever happens, Lydia got what she deserved, and the fact that Frank was the one to pull the trigger (so to speak) gives Emily a weapon she can use to destroy Frank. From the preview it seems Frank finds out Nolan knows something, as he punches Nolan in the stomach and then pulls a gun on him. I wouldn't be surprised if Frank isn't the next one Emily will take down. I sincerely hope not, as Frank is a fantastic character and watching him bury the Grayson's secrets is very entertaining.
Victoria is not going to react well to Lydia's death, and will undoubtedly blame herself, especially if Frank sticks with his story that Lydia killed herself. Considering just how much guilt Victoria is shouldering already, she's probably getting close to the breaking point. Too bad her therapist has already been taken down. She probably needs someone to speak to about her woes.
Daniel will definitely take the bartending job, and I think he'll actually be good at it (after some initial false-starts that is.) Victoria won't interfere, as her plate's already full. She might comment on it, but she won't lay down the law so to speak. Daniel is really turning out to be a great guy. Too bad he dies.
As for Tyler. First of all, from the trailer for next week's episode, he's definitely gay, and he's in love with Daniel. I actually think the writers are pulling a "Talented Mr. Ripley" with him, as he's so obsessed with Daniel he wants to be him. Right now he's at the very top of my list of suspects who could have killed Daniel. Oh, and one other thing: I'm absolutely positive the gun used to kill Daniel in the pilot episode was Emily's.
Finally, I am virtually certain Emily is trying not to feel anything for Daniel, but he's such a good guy (despite his unfortunate parentage!) that he's growing on her. Right now, if push came to shove she'd toss him overboard in a heartbeat, but as he keeps slipping through her guard, that particular choice will get harder and harder to make.
Good summaries, Clarissa and Steven in the post above!!
Love the show immensely. After Emily and Daniel made love, it seems as if she was only doing it because Daniel was part of her plan. I couldn't tell if she really cares about him or not even though Daniel is a good guy. Yeah, too bad he dies.
Another thing. I was a bit concerned that Nolan left his fingerprints all over Lydia's house and balcony. This could come back and bite him in the butt later.
Poor Nolan. He leaves and misses the whole fight (if only he'd brought his laptop on the chopper!), then ignorantly breaks into and tampers with a crime scene. He's got his prints on at least the party guest list, the bugged mantelpiece, and the door… maybe even the balcony railing. …MAYBE he took the bug and the guest list away when he saw there was a murder? (This is why you have to where gloves!!!) To top it all off, he tries to warn Emily but she's in bed with Daniel.
Of course, Emily and fans of Revenge are not EXACTLY pro-Nolan yet… he's pretty annoying and intrusive. Why were the friends he tried to buy Porters? Was he planning that date or…?
I don't know if Emily loves Daniel, but she definitely wants a relationship with Jack. But according to what's on the promos, that'll be a bit difficult.
Luckily, Nolan has an ironclad alibi: he has the original video file of Frank killing Lydia. Unfortunately, if he uses it, he has to answer some very, VERY hard questions about how he obtained that video in the first place.
Emily/Amanda told Nolan that Daniel is part of her plan