Oh hey, Courtney B. Vance, welcome to “Revenge!” It’s nice to see you here, fresh off your role in “Joyful Noise,” as Mr. Brooks, called in to defend Daniel for Tyler’s murder. It’s been two weeks since the last episode, “Chaos,” and we’ve now reached the aftermath: Everyone’s getting interrogated. Daniel tells the cops he doesn’t remember shooting Tyler because he blacked out on the beach. He remembers seeing the reunion photo Tyler shoved him that proves fake-Emily’s spiteful handiwork, but that’s about it. When he calls her out on it, she reminds him that Tyler held them at gunpoint and that anything he said should be taken with one enormous grain of salt.
Meanwhile, over on the poor side of the Hamptons, Declan has no idea that it was his own brother Jack he saw in the hoodie on the fateful night of the shooting. Also, Charlotte’s still popping pills. Remember last week when I thought Nolan lied to fake-Em when he told her that Jack set sail for Haiti? All a misunderstanding, naturally! Did you know characters are allowed to get things wrong on this show, and that not every single move has some ulterior motive? I didn’t!
We get some good Grayson dirt tonight. In a flashback, we see how it all went down when Conrad told Victoria that he was responsible for the flight going down. “So yeah, we’re screwed, as I’ve been laundering money to the terrorist organization behind the crash,” is something along the lines of how it went. Victoria’s none too pleased to hear the news. Can you blame her?
Alright, so the obvious happens, and Daniel gets arrested — didn’t we already see this coming from the previews? His blood and fingerprints were a match to the crime scene’s. Brooks is trying to press Daniel for some info that’ll prove him innocent, and he gets it: Tyler was shot three times, but Daniel only fired the gun once. Also, his injury to his head doesn’t line up with his story. Aha! There must have been a third person on the beach that night. But who? Must be a Grayson enemy, Brooks argues, and Victoria’s got a hunch as to who that would be: that no-good, rotten Amanda Clarke! Find her! Brooks complies and heads to the Stowaway to interview Jack.
Speaking of Jack, he finds Amanda’s coat and the ransom wire transfer receipt from last episode in his car, so he takes it to Nolan for further analysis. Fake-Em’s confronted by Victoria in her own house, saying how imperative it is that she stick with Daniel during this whole trial. She’s later confronted by Brooks, and she’s more than willing to spill about Daniel’s DWI, after which the Graysons paid off a judge to reduce his sentence. First, Victoria’s pissed to learn she blabbed, but then she’s all like, “Oh, it’s OK, Emily just wants the best for all of us.” Psh.
Lest we forget the events that led up to this crazy scene, let’s go back to the engagement party. Did you catch Nolan and Takeda eying each other at the party? No, they weren’t looking to get a room — turns out Takeda recruited Nolan to watch over fake-Em (without telling her, of course). Fake-Em feels betrayed, but they stick together because they’re in the throes of this whole mess now.
Declan finds the hoodie he saw the sketchy dude on the beach wearing…in Jack’s dresser! Crap, he totally thinks Jack did it. But wait! Declan has fond memories of Jack protecting him from punishment in the past and assumes he’s just looking out for someone now. Little does he know what really went down! Wait a minute…little do WE know what really went down. Well, not for long!
Ashley (remember her?) and Brooks have a moment. She’s been the whole media spokesperson for the Graysons since this whole thing blew up, and it’s apparent that she quite fancies the role (I wrote that in British speak just for you, Ashley). Brooks knows she wants the attention, and she doesn’t deny it. Also having a moment: Conrad and Victoria! They share a laugh as a sort of “WTF have our lives become” kind of thing. Whatever helps you through it, guys.
Daniel is sentenced to no bail and a stint on Riker’s Island until his trial. I’m sure he’ll love it there! Also, way to wear a suit to your own trial, Daniel. Hope you enjoy prison, poor little rich boy.
Alright, onto the final act. The photos of Daniel that were mysteriously leaked to the press? Ashley’s doing. Nolan confronts her. Looks like she’s not so innocent as we once thought. The second shooter on the beach? TAKEDA! We get the news in a double flashback — 48 hours before the trial, we see Takeda bust in on fake-Emily because dammit, he had to take the ropes the ropes on this one. We learn that yes, Daniel fired the initial shot on Tyler — but he looked surprised at his own ability to do it. Was it on purpose? Takeda, who was watching the beach confrontation between Tyler and Daniel, swoops in and knocks Daniel out, putting two more bullets into Tyler before dragging Daniel away (and framing him), because he knew Tyler was going to expose fake-Em to Daniel! Takeda aks fake-Em about the other boy she’s got feelings for, Jack, and says that she can’t save them both. Who will go under, Jack or Daniel? It’s like a modern-day “Sophie’s Choice,” how awful!
“Revenge” is now done until April, so until then, I leave you with the mental image of Daniel bonding with Lil Wayne in the Rikers cafeteria. ‘Til next time!
