In a day in age where day time soap operas sadly seem to be a fading fad, fans must find a way to get their dose of backstabbing, betrayal, and drama. Thankfully for them, ABC has created ‘Revenge’, a show that will fall right into line with those day time soaps they love. But it isn’t just soap fans who will be won over by ‘Revenge’. As it turns out, this slick thriller of a show managed to win me over. With its intricate mystery, fun thrills, and very well written stories, this show managed to really win me over. I’m not one for prime time soaps, but this one really works for me. I resisted for a while, but when I received the first season to review, I sat down to watch it and was instantly drawn into this world of, well, quite simply, revenge. This is easily one of the better shows of the new season, and it’s clear to see why it’s such a hit. Fans of the show will be happy to know that, just like the show, this DVD set of ‘The Complete First Season’ doesn’t disappoint.
‘Revenge’ follows Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp), a young woman with a dark history with the Hamptons. Twenty years ago, as a young girl, her father was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Framed by the wealthy and powerful people in the they destroyed Emily’s life forever. Something she never forgot, which for them is a problem. Returning to the place that forever changed her life, Amanda returns as Emily Thorne, who is bent on revenge on the people who tore apart her family. There is one person in particular, Victoria Grayson (Madeline Stowe), who Amanda really has her sights on. Her father’s former lover was the person who betrayed him, letting him go to prison for life. There is nothing that can stop Amanda from her task at hand, and she’ll make sure she sees all these people pay for what they’ve done. Welcome, one and all, to ‘Revenge’.
The thing I love so much about ‘Revenge’ is the fact that its a great thriller. We don’t have many thrillers on television, so that sets this apart from many of the other shows. While all shows have their twists and turns, none really dedicate themselves just to backstabbing, betrayal, and revenge like this one does. The thing that really sells the show is it’s cast and writing. A show like this can’t survive unless it’s well written or well acted. You have to believe the motivations and the characters of all involved, and that is something the show pulls off perfectly. Emily VanCamp isn’t a new actress to me. I’ve actually watched her quite a bit over the last few years, first in the show ‘Everwood’, and more recently in the hit ABC show ‘Brothers and Sisters’, where she starred for five seasons as Rebecca Harper. She’s a fantastic actress, and to watch her grow from supporting character to lead over the last few years has been incredible. Luckily, ‘Revenge’ really gives her a chance to shine. The character of Amanda is so fleshed out. She is so full of angst, pain, anger, and spite, yet she is very good at making that disappear as she wines and dines with the wealthiest people in the Hamptons, infiltrating their community. The fact that Emily plays it so well really speaks volumes of how far she’s come, and how well written her character is. I’m very impressed with her turn in this show, and I’m glad she got the chance to lead the series. Madeline Stowe is the other side of this show. Her character, Victoria Grayson is a real piece of work, and one I love to watch. There is something very sinister underneath her perfectly fake demeanor, and Stowe gives it her all. She is a treat to watch, and her interaction with Emily is perfect. I’m very impressed with both of them, and they’re really the backbone of the show. Without them, it would just falter and I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much. All the supporting players are very good as well. I really like Gabrielle Mann, who plays Nolan Ross in the show. He is the man who is aiding Amanda in her quest, and I like to see him as a bit of a conscious for Amanda. While he supports what she does, he isn’t opposed to speaking his mind when he believes she’s going too far, keeping her out of more trouble than she could be in. He’s a great character, and one of my favorites on the series.
The writing really brings these characters to life, which is excellent. But the writing is also what makes sure you stay intrigued by the show, and they make sure of that. I noticed that while I watched the show, I was always waiting to see what was going to happen next, almost always on the edge of my seat. Along the way, there are many twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting, especially the cliffhanger ending of season that really punched me in the gut. I didn’t watch the show in its initial run, as I’ve said, so I can only imagine how fans felt watching the show, week after week, and watching this unfold. This is one of those shows that I actually had a hard time not watching, and I’m glad to say I really enjoyed watching it.
Luckily, for fans of the show, ABC has given us some very good special features with this release. The one I enjoyed the most actually deals with Nolan, which is called ‘Nolan Ross Exposed’. The feature involves Nolan, who is being grilled by a reporter about his past. It’s a very interesting feature that gives us quite a bit of insight into his past, where we learn some things that we never would have known. It’s features like this that really make DVD sets so cool. ‘Roadmap to Revenge’ is also very cool, where the creators, writers, and actors really explore the show. I’m huge into film and TV shows, so I always enjoy getting a behind the scenes look of shows, so this one of course was intriguing. It’s definitely something fans will enjoy checking out, and I couldn’t suggest it highly enough. ‘At Home in The Hamptons’ takes you through a look of the Hamptons themselves. It’s not the most interesting feature, but it’s not bad either, and fans of the show will very much enjoy it. ‘Haute Hamptons’ is really the only feature I just didn’t care for, because honestly I’m not into fashion. So for me, it’s definitely not the most interesting feature, but I’m sure plenty of fans will enjoy it. There is also your standard blooper reel, deleted scenes, a commentary on the pilot episode. They help pad the rest of the excellent features, really bolstering the set.
‘Revenge’ is a slick, smart, and fun show that really surprised me. While not perfect, it’s well acted, well written, and a solid primetime thriller that many will enjoy. With an excellent cast that really supports the show, I can’t recommend it highly enough. This ‘Complete First Season’ box set is no different, coming chock full of extras and featuring every twist and turn of the first season. I’m very impressed with the set, and the show as a whole, so I can definitely recommend now only the show, but the set as well. I think it’s safe to say I’ll probably be tuning into the second season, something I wasn’t expecting. A great show, with a great release. Definitely check it out.
Rating: B
Related articles
- Private Practice “The complete Fifth Season” on DVD September 11, 2012! (chipandco.com)
- ‘Castle: The Complete Fourth Season’ Cracks the Case on DVD September 11, 2012 (chipandco.com)
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
