We've had five episodes thus far in the second season of the saucy drama Revenge and, frankly, there's cause to be concern.
What was once the must-watch-live show of the week has found itself in a new, challenging timeslot, but it has also kicked off its sophomore season with some tough-to-take stories such as the lackluster risen from the dead Mom (Jennifer Jason Leigh), Nolan (Gabriel Mann) getting all moony eyed over a chick, not a dude, and scrappy Declan (Connor Paolo) turning to thievery because...zzzzzzzz.....oh...I'm sorry, I nodded off there. (See what I mean?)
Anyway, we wanted to take a step back and cast a deconstructive eye as to why the Hamptons peeps aren't wow-ing us and, more importantly, whether there's still hope that the ABC soap will bounce back.
Contributing to this Critics' Roundtable are: Jarett Wieselman, (Editorial Director, ETOnline & The Insider.com Robyn Ross (Staff Editor, TVGuide.com), Louis Peitzman (covers Revenge for Vulture.com), Shaunna Murphy (LA Staff editor, Hollywood.com) and our own Jim Halterman.
AfterElton: Emily could be with a number of men - Aiden (Barry Sloane), Daniel (Josh Bowman), Jack or even Nolan. Who is her true love and why?
Jarett Wieselman: Ideally, Emily could be with Aiden, Jack and Daniel (maybe simultaneously, I don’t know, I’m not a writer) since her ultimate plan for revenge probably involves the sexual manipulation of all three at some point. And while the show would like us to think Jack is her soulmate, based on the caliber of scheming he’s embraced this season, it’s very clear that Daniel and Emily are perfect for one another. Jack is too pure for Emily now. Emily then, sure, but she’s not the same girl he grew up with.
Louis Peitzman: Jack is obviously Emily's true love, but she shouldn't settle for someone so boring. Aiden seems like the only sensible option at this point, as long as she can keep him in line. And maybe sleep with Daniel on the side.
Shaunna Murphy: Honestly? I think Emily's ability to give herself fully to love may have been beaten to death by all of the betrayal she's experienced in her life. She's going to need years of therapy (and not by Victoria's chick in the Hamptons) if she's ever going to be in a real, trusting relationship. That being said, I think Aiden — who clearly has also lost people, and is motivated by hatred — will understand her the best. I think Jack is far too innocent to end up with the new Emily, and she and Daniel have far too much family history. And Nolan? No.
Stop holding back, Jennifer Jason Leigh. We want - and need - the crazy!
AE: How's Jennifer Jason Leigh doing as Emily's mother? How do you feel about her addition to the show?
Jarett Wieselman: When I heard JJL was coming on board, I was totally psyched (after a momentary mourning of what could have been if Michelle Pfeiffer had been cast). But, sadly, the show isn’t giving her anything that capitalizes on Jennifer’s innate insanity. Hello, this is Single White Female, people. Give the bitch a stiletto and let her go to work on the less interesting characters (I’m looking at YOU, Declan!)
Robyn Ross: The problem with this role is that I'm not rooting for or against her, which is never a good thing.
Jim Halterman: I'm definitely disappointed and not feeling a spark upon her arrival. I was hoping we'd see something when she finally shared a scene with Stowe but it just felt hollow to me. I'm hoping things shift soon.
AE: Has Victoria lost some of her bite this season Or is she as lethal as ever?
Robyn Ross: Only Victoria can answer the phone and scare the crap out of me. She hasn't done anything too extreme yet this season, but I don’t doubt that what's coming from her could bring anyone who opposes her down.
Louis Peitzman: Victoria is still regaining her footing, so it's OK that she's not quite at full capacity. She's still a total ice queen, and it's actually refreshing that she's not completely in charge. Her very real fear of the Initiative adds another level of foreboding to the show.
Shaunna Murphy: I don't think she's lost her bite, they've just spent so much time exploring other plot lines that we haven't been able to see it. Right now she's sort of powerless, but I have full faith that she'll find her way back to the top. I want to see Mama Bear fighting for her Daniel again — those are always some of her best moments. Having Daniel locked away with Ashley and his father hasn't been great for the Daniel/Victoria dynamic I oh-so love. Come on, producers — give her something to fight for, again!
Has Queen Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) lost her bite in Season 2?
Roger Bart as Mason Treadwell
AE: Is bringing back Mason Treadwell (Roger Bart) a good or bad thing? Why?
Jarett Wieselman: I love a bitchy gay and since Nolan has decided to test drive a dame this year, it’s nice having him around to stir the pot. Plus, Roger Bart is always a welcome addition to any show.
Shaunna Murphy: It's a good thing. Roger Bart is a great character actor, and Mason adds a lot of the campy fun from Season 1 that has been lacking so far in 2. Can't wait to see all of the s*** he plans to stir.
Jim Halterman: I think having Mason Treadwell pop back up could be the one thing to really stir everyone up again. He's pushing more buttons already, so I'm looking forward to see what's coming next. Wish I could say that about everyone else's presence!
AE: Last season, Nolan was smooching boys. This season girls. Are you buying it?
Jarett Wieselman: I might be buying it more if the writers actually gave us a reason for Nolan to be into Padma. Unless a knowledgeable grasp of numbers is all it takes to work him up. If so, I know the square root of Pi by heart.
Robyn Ross: Rules don’t apply to Nolan, so he can do whatever he wants and I'd still buy what he's selling. While Tyler was beyond creepy, there's something sweet and innocent that Padma brings out of him, so I approve!
Louis Peitzman: Buying it, yes. Liking it, not at all. Nolan's queerness added a great dimension to the character -- so while I accept that he's fluid, I miss his dalliance with Tyler the manwhore. Also, Padma seems way less homicidal, and that's just disappointing.
Are Nolan (Gabriel Mann) and Padma (Dilshad Vadsaria) a good match?
AE: What's your opinion of the Declan storyline as a thief?
Jarett Wieselman: Who?
Robyn Ross: Ugh, does anyone really care about his storyline? Although I don't think it's him, I'd be totally fine if Declan turns out to be the guy who drowns later this season.
Louis Peitzman: I refuse to acknowledge that this storyline exists.
Shaunna Murphy: Who? Oh, right. Get rid of it, sooner rather than later. I'd rather see him investigating Amanda, or something. He clearly has never trusted her.
Jim Halterman: I want him gone NOW.
AE: Some were hoping Fake Amanda (Margarita Levieva) would die after her fall off the balcony recently. Agree or disagree and why?
Louis Peitzman: I would have disagreed with you, but the end of the most recent episode really turned me off. Amanda was interesting when she was an adversary to Emily. Now they really are just besties and it's not nearly as fun to watch. Isn't she tired of being Emily's puppet by now?
Shaunna Murphy: Disagree, for now. She needs to go eventually, but I think the impending storm brought on by Mason Treadwell will be better if she's still a part of it. Emily's identity won't be revealed to EVERYONE anytime soon, but I'm excited to see how that whole deception unfolds, and Amanda is a huge part of that. I can't wait to see what she does with the evidence Mason has against her — and how they might use it against Emily. That's some classic Revenge Season 1.
"I have a feeling who's going down with the boat, Declan, and it ain't me!"
AE: Overall, how do you think Revenge is doing in Season 2?
Jarett Wieselman: Revenge is floundering big time this season. I’ve watched every episode and I have no idea what’s going on, what’s motivating these characters, what kind of revenge Emily wants now or on who. Everything is a mess, and judging from my Twitter timeline every Sunday, the fans are not enjoying it either. The first season of the show always kept it fresh and exciting. This year, the show is lamer than Declan’s accent.
Louis Peitzman: It's chugging along. I'm not as invested as I was last season, but I think any missteps that have been made will be resolved eventually. I do have a fair amount of faith in the writers, even as they continue to foist this ridiculous Declan storyline on us.
Jim Halterman: I just know that last season I couldn't wait to watch the show live and now it's not must-see anymore and that has less to do with the tons of quality shows airing Sunday night and more with just the overall flatness this season has been so far.
AE: What, if anything, isn't working for you this season?
Robyn Ross: Aidan. I don’t like him, I don't get him and I certainly don’t buy him as a love interest for Emily.
Louis Peitzman: Emily's motivations are getting a bit murky -- she seems sidetracked right now. And she's going soft. Why is she suddenly crying in a man's arms? I'm tuning into Revenge for a weekly appointment with the world's most stylish sociopath: no tears, please.
Jim Halterman: So many things, but I'm hoping the show will get back into its groove soon. All the pieces are there. They just need a little moving around.
Revenge airs Sundays at 9pm on ABC.
