Revenge: A Rock or A Gem?!

Hello, Everyone! At the behest of some of my readers and friends, I have decided to blog about a new series that premiered in 2011 that seems to be continuously gaining in popularity. I must warn readers at this early stage that this piece will contain SPOILERS, however I will do my best to limit them to the overall story-line and not give away specific episode plots. I want everyone who's reading this to know, I have spent the last 2 weeks catching-up with revenge and have just watched the latest episode of season 1, (ep. 18-Justice) and this have good hindsight on which to base my review of the show on.

Let me start by saying that the reason this show is so popular is because it is about getting payback on the rich; that 1% that pretty much everybody else envies and would still like to see brought down. The Germans coined a term: "schadenfreude", which essentially means that people "delight in the misfortune of others". If you were a fan of the late show Boston Legal, you will no doubt remember the reference to this term in the brilliant closing of Alan Shore in the finale of season 2 whilst he was defending a Hollywood star for attempted murder. The truth is the 99% enjoy the misfortune of the rich for a variety of reasons; envy, jealousy, anger etc and it is perhaps the scientific reason why many are so enamored with the show.


The writers of the show give you every reason to hate The Grayson family; they have a ridiculous amount of money, they influence everyone and everything around them for their own benefit, they easily get away with crimes and pretty much every falsehood and wrong they commit- essentially they are above the law, if not the law themselves proving that indeed  "MONEY IS POWER"! Therefore, from the get-go the TV show rallies you to be on "Emily Thorne's" side as most would agree that her vendetta is justified, me being amongst them. You therefore ignore small facts like she is also ridiculously rich, her absorption with revenge is affecting good people around her, she exploits pretty much anyone for her benefit as well- but what the hell- she deserves revenge right!

I guess what my point is- the show is enjoyed for very superficial reasons! Most successful TV shows create characters you can relate to and make them an intricate part of the story-line so that you can root for them with time. Even superficial shows like Gossip Girl and/or the OC had relatable characters in the form of Dan and Ryan at least in the first season of each. (I couldn't watch the other seasons- the shows were just too ludicrous i'm afraid). Revenge tries to have a relatable character to the 99% in the form of Declan and Jack Porter. Truthfully, Declan is an annoying character who is blinded by puppy love of a teenage rich kid. He is so obsessed with getting to be with this girl and becoming the man that the rich girl deserves that he becomes unrelatable. People desire wealth, don't get me wrong, but seldom is it ever because you want to be deserving of the daughter of one of the richest families in the world. Speaking of Charlotte Grayson, she is also an annoying character- teenage rebel who is dating the "not wealthy at all" Declan to piss her mom off and will self-destruct, start drugs etc.. too much of a cliche to even warrant more comments. Another completely pointless character is the "Ashley chic"... I mean really??? Girl from Croydon who wants to be wealthy so bad that she will kiss the ass of whoever to get there and hopefully, she'll marry into wealth or a big bag of money will fall out the sky and fall in her lap! If I were the writer, and since there is time for the show, there is still an opportunity to do this- instead of her being loyal, they should groom Ashley to be another villain to the Graysons.. If she want's to be rich so bad, the easiest way there is Blackmail- especially in her circles.


The fact is, the show as it stands only requires a few main characters because at the end of the day, that is where the story revolves. I will say this however, the show has done a remarkable job of hiring guest stars. The show is pinned as a story about revenge, and therefore a certain amount of darkness is expected with the plot. Tyler Baroll played by Ashton Holmes was an inspired character and in fact became one of the major reasons i continued watching the show. He was nuts, smart and determined to get what he wanted.. if anything, Ashley through dating him should have become more like him- that would certainly have made her a much more interesting cast member. Additionally, the role of "Amanda Clarke" played by Margarita Levieva is also interesting because we can all see an air of unpredictability and craziness. That is what this show needs, instead of the several lovey-dovey plots it has going on.

The main plot involving the Graysons, Emily and Nolan Ross is sufficiently interesting though, not WOW- but interesting enough to keep a regular viewership from most television watchers. Personally, because I'm such a TV-addict, I fear that this show will do what most shows or movies with such a plot do and that is "cop-out". I believe that in the end she will abandon her pursuit of revenge and instead pursue love, even though she will have caused some damage to The Graysons, it will not be as intended- and that infuriates me. Then again, if the writers don't cop-out, I will be very impressed. But we all know how such plots are; it is inevitable. I would sincerely doubt my conclusion if the show took a bold move like killing one of its regular cast members, something that takes balls and very few shows have done i.e LOST, 24... and those are perhaps the most successful shows of all time. REVENGE, DO SOMETHING BOLD, and THEY MAY BE HOPE YET TO BECOME A GEM.. For Now, You are simply a Shiny stone that is unidentifiable.


Revenge: 6.5/10. A Harsh Review, but an honest one! I am sure most would disagree on principal, and I will get a backlash for this- oh well!

10 Most Tragic/Emotional TV Deaths

Recently, for some unknown reason, A lot of my current shows have not been airing on a regular basis; they seem to be taking a week hiatus after every episode and this has left me rather frustrated and has resulted me seeking my weekly TV fix through past shows or through reminiscing about past shows. For some odd reason, it led me to re-watch the 8th Season of 24, which was crafted rather brilliantly and I think a very suitable ending to what was one of the most phenomenal shows that was ever created. As I was watching 24, and witnessing all the deaths of major characters in the series, it got me thinking about majority of the TV deaths that have ignited an emotional response from me; and perhaps from other fans as well. 

It is for this reason I thought it would be interesting to compile a list of the 10 Most Tragic Deaths in Television, in my opinion. I must insist that I will only include deaths from shows that I have watched, and it is possible that I may miss some tragic deaths from shows I do not really follow. However, I have and do watch pretty much most of the shows worth watching and therefore believe that this list will be quite comprehensive. The list focuses on shows that started in the 2000s; and therefore will not include deaths from shows that started in the 90s including Buffy, Angel, Charmed etc...

10. Dr. Amber Volakis (House MD)

For All the Love we did not bear "Cut-throat bitch" when she joined House Md in the Fourth season; her relationship with Wilson, and the 2-hour finale that culminated in her death was definitely a touching moment that was quite moving. 

9. Edgar Stiles (24)

The lovable Geek who pretty much saved the day in Season 4, even after losing his mom to radiation poisoning. A hero in his own right who met his end in one of the most vile of manners- Nerve Gas poisoning. He was truly missed in subsequent seasons.

8. Mike Delfino (Desperate Housewives)

Perhaps the most undeserving character on desperate housewives to meet his end prematurely, leaving behind a loving wife and 8yr old son. His death was very emotional for fans of the show.

7. Nurse Lavern Roberts (Scrubs)

There will never be a comedy like scrubs- so funny yet so touching. Lavern brought us many laughs and her death was truly tragic particularly how the others in the hospital dealt with it.

6. Charlie Pace (Lost)

I was never particularly fond of Charlie when the show started; he was a selfish druggie who didnt offer much but his mouth. However, he grew as a character into someone caring and in the end gave up his own life to see that of the one he loved safe. 

5. Agent Renee Walker (24)

24 seemed to kill pretty much everyone Jack loved or cared for; except his daughter and Audrey Raines- who unfortunately suffered severe mental breakdown.. I was sure that after Jack had finally connected with Renee in the final season, that they would at the very least allow Jack that.. but in classic 24 fashion, they picked her off with a sniper which sent Jack into a spiral of rage like never seen on 24.

4. Rita Morgan (Dexter)

The Lasting Impact of the Trinity Killer. Rita, Mother of three, wife of Dexter, assassinated in a bath tub. Brutal, Gruesome and Tragic.

3. Juliet Burke (LOST)

Perhaps one of the most emotional scenes I've watched on Television, in the finale of season 5 of LOST. Sawyer hanging on to Juliet with tears in her eyes, as she professes her love to him over and over again knowing that it is inevitable that she will not hang on and will eventually fall to her death. I can still fill the jitters years later.

2. Jack Shephard (LOST)

Started with the opening of his eye, and ended with the closing of his eye. A truly fitting ending to the series, but left a mark that many till this day claim that LOST was the best show ever on television. I am one of those who agree with that claim!!

1. Lord Eddard Stark (Game of Thrones)

Truly a Man of Honour; beheaded at the behest of the Bastard King Joffrey... Oh How we miss you Lord Eddard Stark.

Previously On Fringe!!

Apologies for the Absence Readers.. I was c aught up in a rather busy project and though I was unable to blog my thoughts on the television shows as they go, you best believe I was still watching them and remain totally current! I will however vow at this moment that I will indeed blog about Spartacus: Vengeance and give my thoughts regarding the entire season. Furthermore, I will save my juicy review of Game of Thrones Season 2 for when the season ends in about 6 weeks. For Now, I will give you my thoughts on what's currently hot on TV and worth watching. If your not a current watcher of Fringe, or you are a few episodes/seasons behind- you certainly need to get your act together. There are not too many shows out there which are as good as Fringe right now. Fringe has continuously improved season by season, which is a lot to say considering that from season 1, it was already pretty damn good! Even with a horrendous time slot like Friday night, this show seems to be pulling more viewers than several shows in much better time-slots because it is simply just OUTSTANDING!!

**SPOILER ALERT**


For those who have been watching the 4th Season of Fringe, you will be aware that the main arc is that involving David Robert Jones (Jared Harris) and what he intends to do to the 2 universes-which as of this point is not entirely clear but it was hinted that he may be aiming to collapse the 2. David Robert Jones has been a very intriguing villain for this season of fringe; shrouded in mystery with no idea what his motives and aims are, he has kept majority of the fans anxious as to what his plans are and how he intends to carry them out.

That said, Fringe just dropped a gem of an episode in the form a futuristic journey into the 2030s where the world ( and by this they mean America), is not what it once was but in fact has been taken over by the infamous "OBSERVERS". For many a season, we have wondered why the and who the observers are and finally this season we have gotten some answers. In an earlier episode this season ,The Observer we have been most acquainted with known as 'September', gave us insight as to where the observers came from and what exactly they do.  

This latest episode of Fringe was solely focused on the Observers, but not as we have always known them, but as villains; in a world which they now rule. This was a very unexpected episode, at least this season, because even though majority of us suspected that there was much more in store for the Observer Arc, we were expecting a bit more focus on the David Robert Jones Arc for the remainder of the season. I reckon however, that with the threat of cancellation that Fringe always faces, it was something launched to keep the audience glued and perhaps warrant a fifth and final season of this glorious show!! I don't want to divulge specific details about the particulars of the episode, however I will say that it was fantastic having a "LOST" alum on the show in the form of Fringe Agent Simon Foster played by "Henry Ian Cusick" who most of you will remember as 'Desmond'. 

This Episode was fantastic and what was even more joyous was the fact that the arc will continue onto the next episode of Fringe. I would rate it 9.5/10.


Lastly, I'll throw this out there- but how many of us believe that "Leonard Nimoy" should come out of retirement and continue his guest starring role on Fringe as "William Bell". It appears that he is still an intricate part of the plot, and his involvement would only add value to the show. Mr. Nimoy, Wherever you are: DO IT ONE LAST TIME FOR FRINGE FANS!!

Here is the trailer in case you want a sneak peak: