TV REVIEW: Reunited at Last in Revenge’s “Ambush”

Last week left Revengers and Nolan more than frustrated when Emily refused to tell daddy David that she’s his daughter, Amanda. Every time we thought she was going to come clean, those pesky Revenge writers pulled the rug out from under us and said, “Oh no, not quite yet.”

So “Ambush” would surely deliver on the highly promoted father/daughter reunion, right? Oh no, not answering that quite yet. Let’s look at what the latest episode did deliver on: Victoria plotting so fast and furious we think we saw her head spin (just once), the best Daniel/Emily scene we’ve had in a long, long time, Nolan getting his groove back after the David bitch slap last week, and Louise showing us just how crazy she is.

Stealth Mode Emily

“Ambush” opens with Victoria collapsing outside the beach house and sparks going off behind her. Wait, did she finally get sent straight to the flames of hell?! Flash to 20 hours earlier and she’s sleeping in the comfort of her own bed. She hears something and we see Emily creeping around the house, lifting the knife she thinks killed Conrad.

Nolan shows up to chit chat with Emily right after her late night prowl. She needs Nolan to run forensics on the knife; did her dad kill Conrad?

David’s on a Fishing Expedition

David wants to find out the truth about his daughter throughout “Ambush,” turning part time PI to look into her life. He begins by talking to Jack, saying thanks for taking care of Amanda. Jack defends Nolan and says he doesn’t have the whole story. Of course, he doesn’t spill the Emily beans.

Later, David shows up at Emily’s door, and we’re finally getting the reunion we’ve been waiting for. He says, “I thought it was time we met.” He’s coming to “find out about Amanda.” Jack sent him over.

“Amanda knew how much you cared about her,” Emily says clearly upset and wanting to get the heck out of there. Emily tells him about the baby shower debacle and that Victoria “may not be a credible source.” She cries and runs to Nolan after dad leaves. “He didn’t even recognize me, Nolan!” No kidding! He recognizes Jack, Nolan, the UPS guy, basically everyone, but not his own daughter?

David questions Victoria about the baby shower and about not giving Amanda money. Victoria doesn’t miss a beat, making up one excuse after another. She sends Clarke for more fishing, to a friend of Amanda’s who was at the shower.

Cut to a strip club where David is questioning Amanda friend, Krystal. She defends Victoria saying, “Mrs. Grayson always looked after Amanda.” He buys it, but the way she rattles off the speech you know there was some heavy Vicky coaching. Guess who’s in the wings … “Did he believe you?” asks Victoria. Yes, he did, hook, line, and sinker.

Another win for Queen V.

(ABC/Danny Feld)
GABRIEL MANN

Louise, Your Crazy is Showing

Our favorite redhead, Louise, shows up in a steam room with Margaux. “Marry the man, marry his mama,” Louise warns before excusing herself; her crazy was calling. Louise takes a trip to full on cray cray town, hallucinating her berating mama. “You’re gonna let her win?” Red locks the door and puts the steam on extra scalding. Margaux dozes off, waking up groggy and extra steamed. She struggles with the door, finally breaking through the glass. Whew, that was close, but now we know what Louise is capable of.

Margaux is furious, complaining to the club owner, demanding an explanation. Nolan happens to saunter by saying “Looks like karma found you fast, and she can be such a bitch.”

Louise runs into Nolan at the club. “I saw you on TV.” Of course you did. She also says, “Don’t you worry your pretty little highlighted head” soon no one will care about you. She tells him to “buck up, at the end of the day you can have something all these other people can’t. Anything you want.” That was some crazy good advice, Red.

Not Exactly Love in an Elevator

Daniel and Emily have a run in and remind us all how awesome these two can play off each other. It is easily the best Demily scene of the season and leaves us wanting more of their snippy and flirty banter. Daniel accidentally on purpose barges into an elevator our girl is riding in. Emily says she doesn’t have time for him, twisting his arm and pushing him against the wall. Their foreplay has never looked so good. He says simmer down, Amanda. Danny boy is going to find his name in red Sharpie if he doesn’t watch it. Daniel says he’s only after being kept out of the fight between him and his mom, and the fallout when the thing with daddy David hits the fan. Emily says deal.

Watching Emily sexy maneuver to the top of the elevator makes Daniel say, “If I knew you were that flexible, things would have worked out between us.” Danny wants to know why get to my family through me. Sad Daniel asks, “Was any of it real?”

Emily says coldly, “None of it comes to mind.”

She adds, “Maybe there was a time when the feelings were real.” But then you went and aligned yourself with your father, I was done. She climbs up and out of the elevator, telling him, “Now that was real.’ Ouch!

(ABC/Danny Feld)
GABRIEL MANN, EMILY VANCAMP

Super Secret Safety Deposit Box

What was Emily even doing in the bank elevator in the first place? She was on a mission to empty the contents of a David safe deposit box. With the help of Nolan, who conveniently, or not so conveniently (stuck in an elevator) cuts the power so she can steal the contents undetected. After the Daniel detour, she accomplishes her goal, pocketing a flash drive in the box. What could dad have on that thing? Evidence of Grayson corruption? Proof of his innocence? Nuclear launch codes? We will soon find out.

Margaux has Spidey Cheater Senses

Daniel calls Louise, suspecting foul play in the Margaux getting steamed incident. He plays it slick with, “So Margaux got locked in the steam room, know how that happened?” Louise is indignant, “Why on earth would I want to harm your girlfriend.”

“I’m with Margaux,” he tells her, lay off the killing thing. She laughs about how men always think it’s about them.

Later, Daniel and Margaux discuss their Louise problem. He says he can’t just drop the redhead, it might provoke her. Margaux immediately smells a rat, a cheating rat. “So what leverage does Louise have over you? You slept with her.” Margaux, very impressive calling Daniel on his BS. This may be the most we’ve ever liked you.

Reunited at Long Last

Emily puts the flash drive in her computer and sees images of Amanda, many, many pictures of Amanda with Jack, with her baby, So dad’s been a stalker for twelve years choosing not to come home?

A storm’s a brewing, literally and figuratively. Nolan talks to the club owner about taking this club off his hands. How much? “How bout I offer a million above what you’re asking.” Deal done. Nolan’s happy again, retail therapy doing the trick.

By episode’s end, David and Victoria are back, stronger than ever. Clarke returns to Victoria apologizing for ever doubting her. They kiss passionately when Emily barges in confronting dad. “You could have come for me!” Emily’s crying, trying to wrap her head around how he could stay away from his family. Finally, he recognizes his daughter as the music swells as well as Emily’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Victoria sneaks out of the house and is electrocuted by a fallen power line. I think I heard a collective cheer as we thought about Nolan’s karma comment from earlier. Rest assured, Vicky will be back to plot some home grown evil soon enough.

Season four of Revenge has been an exercise in redefining what the series is about. Emily’s revengenda has been fulfilled, so now what? True, her happily ever after was derailed by Victoria’s killing of Aiden, but her dad’s name has been cleared and he’s even risen from the dead. In “Ambush” we have the reunion we’ve been waiting for, but where do we go from here? It will be interesting to see where the Revenge writers take us, how they will navigate the David missing for twelve years storyline, and most importantly, how they will keep us on a path of revenge, so no series’ title change needed.

Let’s meet back here next Sunday as we worry (not) over an injured Victoria and see how the daddy/daughter relationship is stacking up. Reunited and it feels so BAD is the catchphrase for next week. Would we have expected anything less?

Revenge airs Sundays on ABC at 10 pm.