Revenge: "Guilt" Episode Review
Oct. 20th, 2011 06:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452Revenge 1.05 "Guilt"
HOLY FUCKING SHIT THAT EPISODE WAS INTENSE.
Okay, first, while Emily and Daniel squash the blatant misunderstanding that was setup deliberately by Tyler, Lydia returns to the Hamptons to regain her best friend's trust once again....and to reveal the truth behind Emily. As she highly suspects something is up with the new girl who took ownership of her house, and when she inspects a picture she sees the evidence that Emily might not be exactly who she is. Nolan, after watching the live recording (via the device he originally setup in Emily's home to keep watch on her), goes to warn Emily that Lydia is onto her, they try to exterminate any evidence pointing to her true identity as Amanda Clarke. What actually happens however is, the stuff that Emily planted to make it seem that Lydia was the one that thwarted the mother-daughter tea event and planning on taking down Victoria on such a personal level, Victoria's body guard discovers it and gets into a physical confrontation with Lydia. Which has Lydia falling off of her balcony of her house.
This episode, combined with the intense close-calls and shocking endings, was about guilt. Lydia's guilt about what she had done, betraying a friend; Victoria's guilt, not just from the benefit, but the things she had done in the past. Daniel's guilt about not trusting Emily. And for Emily, she says it plainly in her monologue that she heads directly towards her guilt.
What is her guilt? She is using those around her. The only time she's ever herself is with Nolan, who knows her secret. Emily is constantly playing this game of revenge and this guilt is what fuels her to continue on with her work. Because she knows this guilt is what will justify what needs to be done in the end, her father will be avenged. Of course this leads into the questionable thing she's doing with Daniel. She is using him -- on one hand, Tyler, a skeazy creep he may be, he's actually right. Emily isn't exactly who she says she is, and while she may care for Daniel she is playing him. Using him to get what she needs, she even admitted that he is part of her plan. This leads into more with her own guilt. So the sex scene at the end between her and Daniel is almost unnerving, since she only did this as a layer of trust between them, but more for him to trust her than her to him.
I like that Nolan is very worried for Emily and wants to protect her. I love his character and I hope that he doesn't get into much trouble, since he is the only reliable person that Emily knows and who can actually help her with her mission. Without him, Emily probably wouldn't have been able to do some of the more difficult things or caught onto the other stuff that slip through the cracks.
This show has gotten better with each passing episode, and if you're not watching this show then you're missing out.
"Guilt is a powerful affliction. You can try to turn your back on it, but that's when it sneaks up behind you and eats you alive. Some people struggle to understand their own guilt, unwilling or unable to justify the part they play in it. Others run away from their guilt, shedding their conscience until there's no conscience left at all. But I run toward my guilt. I feed off of it. I need it. My father died never knowing if I would ever come to believe his innocence. For me, guilt is one of the few lanterns that still light my way."
HOLY FUCKING SHIT THAT EPISODE WAS INTENSE.
Okay, first, while Emily and Daniel squash the blatant misunderstanding that was setup deliberately by Tyler, Lydia returns to the Hamptons to regain her best friend's trust once again....and to reveal the truth behind Emily. As she highly suspects something is up with the new girl who took ownership of her house, and when she inspects a picture she sees the evidence that Emily might not be exactly who she is. Nolan, after watching the live recording (via the device he originally setup in Emily's home to keep watch on her), goes to warn Emily that Lydia is onto her, they try to exterminate any evidence pointing to her true identity as Amanda Clarke. What actually happens however is, the stuff that Emily planted to make it seem that Lydia was the one that thwarted the mother-daughter tea event and planning on taking down Victoria on such a personal level, Victoria's body guard discovers it and gets into a physical confrontation with Lydia. Which has Lydia falling off of her balcony of her house.
This episode, combined with the intense close-calls and shocking endings, was about guilt. Lydia's guilt about what she had done, betraying a friend; Victoria's guilt, not just from the benefit, but the things she had done in the past. Daniel's guilt about not trusting Emily. And for Emily, she says it plainly in her monologue that she heads directly towards her guilt.
What is her guilt? She is using those around her. The only time she's ever herself is with Nolan, who knows her secret. Emily is constantly playing this game of revenge and this guilt is what fuels her to continue on with her work. Because she knows this guilt is what will justify what needs to be done in the end, her father will be avenged. Of course this leads into the questionable thing she's doing with Daniel. She is using him -- on one hand, Tyler, a skeazy creep he may be, he's actually right. Emily isn't exactly who she says she is, and while she may care for Daniel she is playing him. Using him to get what she needs, she even admitted that he is part of her plan. This leads into more with her own guilt. So the sex scene at the end between her and Daniel is almost unnerving, since she only did this as a layer of trust between them, but more for him to trust her than her to him.
I like that Nolan is very worried for Emily and wants to protect her. I love his character and I hope that he doesn't get into much trouble, since he is the only reliable person that Emily knows and who can actually help her with her mission. Without him, Emily probably wouldn't have been able to do some of the more difficult things or caught onto the other stuff that slip through the cracks.
This show has gotten better with each passing episode, and if you're not watching this show then you're missing out.
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no subject
Date: 2011-10-21 07:36 am (UTC)agreed so much!
I love Emily's friendship with Nolan so much, I really hope they keep working together more. He is really looking out for her, and being awesome at the same time
no subject
Date: 2011-10-21 11:22 am (UTC)I am adoring Nolan more and more with each episode. I think he's impressed by Emily's determination, but also scared at the same time because of the lengths she's gone to and the things that have been happening.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-22 03:03 am (UTC)I would like to see more flashbacks during the time when she was institutionalized/juvvie, and how she managed to survive. She must have years of experience and she definitely is operating like a pro with her schemes. This was the first episode that she seemed a little nervous because of Lydia possibly finding her out, something she didn't foresee happening. I would love seeing how she became so good at what she does now, and when she started her scheming.
I love this show. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites this season. :)