Last night’s episode of Revenge was called “Collusion” and it was all about seeing where people’s loyalties really lie. Turns out, pretty much everyone is looking out for number one. Not so shocking, right? Let’s dig in.
The episode started with Emily having a particularly vivid dream of her and Aiden enjoying a little fun in bed. Yet by the end of the dream it was Daniel in bed with her. And she did not mind at all. Funny how your subconscious works, no? This whole Daniel or Aiden thing turned out to be a pretty important plot line throughout the episode. In an effort to keep up with the charade, Emily agreed to go to lunch with Daniel. And by lunch he apparently meant flying across the coast to California for not only a meal, but to have yet another meeting about StoneHaven. Emily reluctantly agreed after learning he already had a bag packed and ready for her. With new clothes. Would you say no to that?
However, it turns out that they weren’t the only ones who made the trip across the country. Victoria was there doing what she does best, manipulating. She faked surprise when she learned that Jason also put a bid on StoneHaven and Daniel knew exactly what she was really up to. He knew she was there to try and make sure he didn’t get the deal. She claims it’s because it puts him in danger, which may be true to a certain extent, but there are other ways she can protect him. The irony in that statement is that she may be the one who needed protecting.
Why? Well, just as Emily is about to call Aiden to tell him, “Surprise! I’m in California,” he offered a surprise of his own. He is in California too. So why did he go? Certain instructions from none other than Helen Crowley. Helen thinks she put the pieces together as to who held them hostage last episode: Victoria and Aiden. She’s half right. So she dangles the only bait she can: Aiden’s sister, Colleen. We all know that Aiden was holding onto hope that she was still alive, but what he really needed was proof. He got it. Helen showed him a video of his sister and told him what he has to do to get her back: kill Victoria Grayson. This is clearly a no brainer for Aiden, but there’s one person who would be pretttyyyy pissed if she were to die: Emily. Victoria is the central pawn to her game after all.
Luckily for Em, she doesn’t know this is going on and her attention remains on Daniel and him securing StoneHaven. Emily gets Aiden to let slip that StoneHaven is facing some legal woes to Jason. Complete and total lie, but Jason buys what Aiden is selling and pulls his bid. Unfortunately, Victoria gets to Jason and is willing to do whatever it takes for him to throw his hat back in the ring. It seemingly involves him throwing his clothes on the floor. Her closing the curtains in his hotel room not only proves that, but also may have saved her life. Right as she closed them Aiden was about to pull the trigger. Why he stopped because of a curtain is beyond me, but it made for a very suspenseful moment of TV.
With Jason back in the ring, Emily tells Daniel to use Nolan as a resource to dig up some dirt on Jason. After all, it’s her go-to move. It proves successful because at dinner Daniel airs Jason’s dirty laundry and StoneHaven is now under Daniel’s control. But Nolan’s help doesn’t stop there. Emily has him track Aiden’s phone and what does he find? The video of Colleen. The subject line? A life for a life. Emily puts two and two together and runs to find Aiden who she interrupts right as he’s about to try and kill Victoria for the second time. Two things. First, sneaking up on someone with a gun — not smart. Second, Victoria has like the best guardian angel ever. She just can’t die. Anyways, Emily tells Aiden that this isn’t the way. She saw the video and she understands, but this is giving The Initiative more power. They’ll get Colleen back but they are going to do it on their terms. She asks him to trust her. And he does.
Trust is also at the forefront for another couple. Padma clearly isn’t good at the whole “snooping around” thing. Side note: she should take lessons from Emily. She’s trying to help Nolan buy a house and is still looking for the flash drive. A major problem: she originally referred to “Carrion” as a person in front of Nolan. Now, she’s calling it a computer program. Nolan never told her that. So, while sitting with Emily the two have an epiphany. The timing of all of these things is too weird for it to be coincidental. Padma is working for Helen. To prove it Nolan leaves a flash drive in sight for her and watches as she finds it thanks to the good ‘ol whale cam. Clearly, Padma has been lying all along. Emily’s advice? Play her the way she’s playing you. I found myself saying, that would be your advice.
So what exactly is Carrion? Lines of binary code that could wipe out the power in all of Manhattan. And The Initiative wants their hands on it. Emily immediately asked the question I was wondering once I heard that as well: Why do they want it?
Back in the Hamptons Conrad is still in the works of getting Jack’s drug charges dismissed rebooting his public image. But he wants Matt Duncan to confess to the murder of the Ryan’s father. Amanda is all for it, but Jack wants to protect him. So he goes to visit him in the hospital and try and get a confession, but Matt isn’t gonna give him one. In the end Conrad shows up at The Stowaway with an alleged confession, orders a drink, and tries to save the day. And by saves the day I mean pay the Ryans off. Kenny takes the deal. Nate has other plans .He goes to the Grayson’s confessing his plans to take over the waterfront. He comes off as arrogant and ambitious. Two traits Conrad is clearly a fan of.
Declan on the other hand seems to be the only one who realizes that Conrad being involved with The Stowaway at all is a bad idea, but his opinions are cast aside. Maybe him and Charlotte really do belong together. It was her 18th birthday after all and her entire family blew her off. They did try to make up for it with cake. Sweets do make a lot of things better, but your family forgetting your birthday? Yeah, not gonna cut it. Clearly Charlotte agreed with me because she dropped a bombshell of her own: she was changing her last name to Clarke.
The episode ended with Emily coming clean to Daniel. Not about everything of course, but just that Victoria had her recently rekindle their romance. Daniele response, “Do you think I’m an idiot?” Well, not an idiot, but definitely not the brightest crayon in the box. He says he knew all along. But he forgives her anyways. This idea of forgiveness however may not be in the cards for Aiden who received another video of his sister who appeared to have had an “overdose.” A.k.a. how the masters of cover ups in The Initiative will make it seem. Emily tells him that she can’t trust them and to listen to her. The problem is, he already did and now his sister is seemingly dead.
Some leftovers: Do you think Emily’s feelings for Daniel are real? Did you notice her smile when Charlotte announced her name change? Will Aiden forgive Emily? Did you think he was really going to kill Victoria? Are you mad it doesn’t return until February 10th?