I like Nolan's phony mustache disguise, but I need to not have to wait a week to find out what's going to happen in the season finale next week! Tonight's episode of Revenge was an emotional roller coaster, managing to make me tear up during one scene and blurt out, "Oh no… oh no!" at another. If you watched the episode, you might be able to guess which moments I'm referring to. And if you didn't, well, here's where you want to stop reading because we're about to talk spoilers!
"This is getting kinkier and creepier by the moment."
Since the biggest moment came at the very end of the episode, let's talk about that. Nolan's usually pretty good at getting the upper hand on people, but tonight he was outmatched. Emily spotted the "white haired man" on the surveillance camera in Conrad's office and, after spying a conversation between the man who killed her father and Conrad, which involved veiled threats on behalf of "The Initiative," Emily tricked Conrad into thinking WHM (White Haired Man) was spying on Daniel, which resulted in him setting up a meet-up. Of course, Emily got sucked into a wedding planning meeting with Ashley and Daniel, so Nolan had to go to spy on WHM and figure out where he lives.
Nolan's interference bit him in the behind at the end, but ultimately kept Emily from crossing a line. He lied to Emily about the man's address to keep her from becoming a murderer, and then he went to WHM's house and planted surveillance equipment there. I'm not sure how he thought he got away with it, given how creepy WHM was acting as Nolan was trying to leave, but he was patting himself on the back, up until he realized the clock in WHM's living room was wrong. He looped the video feed! It's classic move and Nolan fell for it, thinking he was watching live footage of WHM's house. He'd only just figured out what was happening when WHM grabbed him. Who knows what he has planned. (If you want a spoilery clue click here.
I have a theory about this Initiative business and it's a total guess - I might be way off here - but in case I'm right, feel free to skip to the next section if you want to avoid what could be a spoiler. My theory: I think WHM helped David Clarke fake his own death. I think the stabbing video was his "proof" to Conrad that David is dead, but WHM/The Initiative is secretly working with David somehow (or they struck some kind of deal with him). Maybe that explains David's mentioned "good day." If that somehow turns out to be the case, Nolan may have done Emily an even bigger favor in keeping her from killing the guy. We'll have to see how it plays out, but wouldn't that be such a great twist? If Season 1 ended with the revelation that David Clarke was alive?
"Once a fraud, always a fraud"
Victoria talking to law enforcement about Conrad, Conrad's evident rekindled relationship with Lydia, and Conrad's interactions with WHM tonight converged into a big mess of drama that blew up all over the Grayson family therapy session, which was meant to help Charlotte but only served to upset her, piss Daniel off and drive an even deeper wedge between Victoria and Conrad. But didn't Victoria look amazing during all of it? That red dress: wow.
All of this came down to a box of evidence hidden behind one of the phony paintings in Conrad's office. Victoria recognized the painting and knew Conrad must be using it to hide something. She took the box of evidence, which Conrad was apparently using as his "mutually assured destruction" plan against the Initiative, and gave it to Daniel to do with what he want. It seemed like she was looking to gain his trust. Of course, he called his father right away and reported it like a good son. If Daniel's got some deeper plan up his sleeve, I really hope we see it soon because his attitude lately hasn't been great. That brings us to the next bit of drama…
RIP Sammy
Sammy was a super old dog, so his death was inevitable, but that didn't make his departure any less sad. The old dog made his way "home" to Emily's place where he died by the fire, with a distraught Jack nearby thanking him. It was a truly touching moment and one I'm sure anyone who's lost a close animal friend can relate to. Sammy's death led to Emily kissing Jack a lot. And after they buried the dog on the beach (probably illegal but fitting given their location), Jack asked what was next for them. Emily said she didn't know. Of course she can't commit to Jack. She's engaged to Daniel and married to a revenge plot with a secret identity. But I think there's some part of her that wouldn't mind running off with Jack and forgetting all of this. She just needs to let go of that anger.
Meanwhile, things with Daniel and Emily are as tense as ever, now that Ashley's looking to use the big "splashy" Grayson wedding as part of an effort to improve the Grayson's public image. Daniel's willingness to go along with it, added to his interest in doing everything his father wants seems to be turning Emily off of him completely. Even with her mind on revenge, I think it's fair to say she's developed real feelings for him, but he's making it easier for her to turn her back on that with the way he's been acting.
In other news
Charlotte bought herself a giant bag of pills, using a fat wad of cash. Conrad and Victoria clearly don't understand the depth of that issue because neither seems to be actively trying to help her. Sure, the therapy thing was an attempt, but the group meeting exploded almost as soon as Victoria arrived and no one really reached out to Charlotte to make sure she was ok. So while I don't like this whole arc involving the pain pills, it seems ripe to come crashing down on the Graysons.
Soapy moment of the night
Jack and Emily kissing by the fire and who's outside peeking through the window for no apparent reason that I could tell? Ashley! As ridiculous as that was, it's one of the big unanswered questions left at the end of the episode. What exactly is she going to do with that information?
