Revenge "Reckoning" Review

A sense of foreboding looms over "Reckoning." Nothing can possibly work out the way Emily planned. Indeed, nothing works out the way Emily planned. Jack isn't hers after all once Amanda strolls into town visibly pregnant. The evidence and the key witnesses in the case against the Graysons exploded in a plane crash. Many tears fall from many eyes as the first season of Revenge concludes. The shadowy organization that the silver-haired man works for emerges as a clearer threat, a company more powerful than Emily imagined, powerful enough to reduce the Graysons to mere puppets in the David Clarke coverup. Mind you, I didn't like anything about the finale.

The revelation of the shadowy organization is a regrettable choice by the writers. Revenge works well on a micro-level, when the dramas limited to the immediate Graysons, Emily and the others characters established as 'players.' Very few shows succeed in expanding the narrative by bringing in huge elements like a powerful corporation hell bent on protecting themselves by any means necessary. Conrad desperately tells Victoria about the dangers they'll face should the trial happen; not only will the children be harmed, but they themselves will meet a rather unfortunate end, because the cover-up needs to stay covered-up. The specific details of the company won't be hashed out until the second season, but Mike Kelley shows what the company is capable of when they blow up an airplane carrying Victoria, Lydia and the damning evidence. I'm troubled by Nolan's line in which he stresses to Emily how dangerous and BIG the company is because this basically guarantees a long and involving arc about conspiracies.

Emily had the chance to kill the silver-haired man but she honored her father by sparing his life. The man's death wouldn't have changed anything, unless he's the most important part of the shadowy company, but he's been portrayed as an assassin. Emily's act of mercy isn't a case of her hesitating or being distracted. Maybe Takeda will admonish her for not killing the silver-haired man when she had him on the floor, and the axe pressed against his neck, but his death would've been a bonus. Takeda returned her to reality because she lost her way in the battle against the Graysons. Emily wasn't hesitant at all in Grayson matters; she ended things with Daniel, and she planted the evidence in a way that would ensure its safety and the further internal destruction of the Grayson family. It was a throwback to the days when Emily got her revenge on people quickly and easily in a single episode.

The series basically cheated their way to the Emily's Revenge climax though. I wrote about the show's lack of ambiguity some weeks ago and argued its absence hurt the show. Indeed, the lack of ambiguity hurts scenes, characterization, and relationship dynamics. I don't understand why the writers spent so much time developing Daniel into a relatable and sympathetic character only to destroy his character. The deterioration of his relationship with Emily seemed like a case of the writers realizing that they wrote them too well, which would cause problems when Emily needed to kiss Jack and commit herself to him. Throughout the season, Daniel's been a guy who hated his family and who vowed not to become his mother or his father. The dude made mistakes, hated how his parents bought his way out of punishment, and wanted to be his own man, live in Paris, marry Emily, and such; but then Tyler confronted him on a beach, Daniel got amnesia, went to jail, had the charges dropped, and did a complete 180 as a character. Conrad told Daniel the truth about David Clarke. Daniel responded by committing himself 100% to the family business.

I'm sure Mike Kelley can spin the Daniel transformation to an Entertainment Weekly report. I'm sure he has and I'll find a story on EW.com about the 'shocking' Revenge finale immediately after this posts. Anyway, Daniel was poorly written in the final six weeks of the season. The moment when he declared David Clarke deserved to die cemented the heel turn. Also, the moment gave the audience permission to feel zero sympathy for the character when Emily quickly broke things off without a hint of warmth in her voice about Daniel. This lack of warmth is consistent with her feelings about him since he heard him accept his father's offer to join the business despite the miserable truth. It seemed too easy, too soapy, and lazy. Daniel's horrible arc is capped over drinks with Ashley.

Revenge is about families. The Grayson family finally falls apart in "Reckoning." Victoria slapped Daniel, which isn't very significant when one remembers how she hired men to beat the shit out of her son in prison, but it's significant in the show's eyes because Daniel is Victoria's golden child. It wouldn't be a season finale if the writers ignored the similarities between child and parent. Daniel regressed into Conrad Jr. and Charlotte became her mother after ruining the random brunette girl's reputation. Charlotte's 'turn' was written better and seemed, well, planned, as opposed to thrown together haphazardly for the sake of drama. They were a united front in the beginning. Now, the fall of the family created a monster in Daniel, a Charlotte who overdosed, a plane crash, and so on. They destroyed one family, and, now, karma has destroyed their family.

Revenge, though, wanted the audience to invest in Emily's family and their tragedy. The episode ended on the revelation that her mother lives (which is yet another show to end a season on a 'hey! MOM'S ALIVE!' cliffhanger). Emily just wanted to clear her father's name and restore the good name of the Clarke family. The Graysons' idyllic life was an illusion whereas the Clarke's were a good family (well David and Amanda). This aspect of Emily was sometimes lost in the soap opera plot mechanics. Emily's dejected when the plane crash happens, until Nolan tells her he backed up the evidence, but then warned her about the aforementioned dangerous company. Emily was ready to come clean to Jack about everything and begin a new life; however, nothing goes according to plan. It couldn't, you know, because there's a second season happening in the fall.

Inevitably, Revenge will spin its wheels. The wheels could spin for several years. The show will replace Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights. The 'mythology' of the show is bound to get deeper. I already think it's a mess, so more elements will definitely hurt the show more. As a season finale, though, "Reckoning" accomplishes the necessary things: it teases season two, concludes some season one arcs, and throws in two cliffhangers. It was nothing special.

Other Thoughts:

-My Revenge reviews will end on a cliffhanger. From the feedback I received throughout this season for the two ABC shows I wrote about, no one wants me anywhere near their beloved ABC dramas. Some Revenge reviews were as unpopular as some OUAT reviews. The shows share a night now. Once airs at 8 followed by Revenge at 9. Surely I won't write about both back-to-back, right? One will need to return to The Foot in the fall to find out which show I'm writing about weekly.

-I'm sure I forgot to write about certain parts of the finale. Honestly, the show has worn me down. I am tired of Revenge, friends and well-wishers.

-This is my last review of the official 2011-2012 TV season. This season of television disappointed me. I wrote about a decent number of shows but didn't like many. I enjoy writing every single review though. However, writing about "Reckoning" felt like having to write one last assignment for school before summer vacation. The blog won't be offline for the summer. I'm writing about Dawson's Creek's second season and Everwood's second season. I'm brainstorming other ideas (and have been for over a month). So check back during the summer.

-Mike Kelley & Mark B. Perry wrote the episode. Sanford Bookstaver directed it.

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK