PilotWatch: REVENGE

ABC Wednesdays @ 10pm

(Premiering 9/21)

I recently discovered that I could download the script for the pilot episode of ABC'S new drama REVENGE for free on my Kindle. And to my surprise, when I reached the end I discovered a code and a link to a site where I could watch an advance screening of the actual pilot. So you get another review a little early! Lucky you again.

What's it about?

Emily Thorne is new to the Hamptons. She's met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn't exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she's returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how - with a vengeance.

So, how was it?

The quickest way to describe this show is to say that it felt like it should be airing on the CW. It has more in common with soapy teenage dramas like THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and GOSSIP GIRL than with ABC's more traditional fare. That's not to say ABC doesn't like their soap (see GREY'S ANATOMY or DESPERATES HOUSEWIVES), but it definitely seems like an effort on their part to skew towards a younger, hipper audience. The premise was twisty and intriguing enough to hold my attention for an hour, and the gradual unraveling of the flashbacks was engaging. Also, by starting the pilot off with a flashforward, it gave the whole season a very clear destination, and I can imagine it will be fun watching the pieces gradually fall into place.

Emily VanCamp is both beautiful and enigmatic and it is easy to imagine her fitting right into the Hamptons while also being capable of hatching an elaborate revenge scheme. The rest of the cast is not quite so engaging and it is in fact the acting that worries me most about this show. Madeleine Stowe as Victoria Grayson is supposed to be the reigning Ice Queen of the Hamptons, but seemed a tad bit unsure of herself in the pilot. Connor Paolo of GOSSIP GIRL seems to have hopped right off the set of that show without even changing his costume. And Gabriel Mann was twitchingly distracting as a young, nerdy billionaire. Hopefully everyone will grow more confident and settle into their roles as time goes on.

It is clear that the showrunners have faith in their show, as they've given the season a distinct end point -- their way of saying they're confident it'll make it that far. That gives me hope that the show will remain tightly plotted and not meander disastrously off its course (ala THE EVENT). It's wavering on the edge of having believability issues (why wouldn't anyone suspect that the young blonde woman who just moved in is the young blonde girl who used to live in the exact same house with her father?), so hopefully these issues will either be confronted on the show or avoided smartly by the writers. However, even if they succeed in maintaining believability, I don't really see where this show can go after one or two seasons -- once Emily has gotten her revenge, what then? Hopefully the writers have an answer to that or their show will stall out in a furious spinning of wheels.

Rating:

*** Solid. I'm interested and will definitely keep watching.

I wavered between two and three stars on this one. But I have to admit I love a soapy thriller. Drawn in by its high-concept premise and tight plotting (thus far) I will give this show time to see where it's headed. If the actors become more self-assured and the plot doesn't become preposterous, this show has potential to be consistently intriguing. But even if soapy thrillers aren't your thing, don't we all just want to see those filthy-rich Hamptonites get their comeuppance?


(For a quick glance at the other pilots coming out and an explanation of my ratings, check out my Fall TV Preview.)

What did you think of REVENGE?