ABC |
ABC |
Perhaps that explains why ABC’s Revenge has—much to my own surprise—gotten its hooks into me. The series touts itself as a modern reimagining of Dumas’ classic, with Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) assuming the role of Dantes and Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe) as the malicious force behind the traitors who framed Emily’s father for a horrible crime he didn’t commit. As a result of Victoria’s treachery, Emily (whose real name is Amanda Clarke) was physically dragged away from her father into a life in foster care and juvenile centers. It isn’t until she’s released at 18 that she finds out her father, who died in prison, has left her a letter explaining everything along with a vast fortune—which she uses to create a new identity and plot her revenge.
ABC |
In the midst of all this, what intrigues me most about Revenge is its self-named front-burner theme. From the very first commercial, I wanted to know if and how the series would deal with the costs of revenge, especially on the one who takes it. Learning that it claims roots in Dumas’ novel gives me hope that it will—and that will bring God-talk into these open spaces.
The biggest question at this point—and one my husband asked immediately as the pilot ended—is whether the series can maintain its captivating story. I, for one, will be tuning in next week to find out.