'Revenge' is pretty sweet

If you're looking for the perfect Wednesday late-night show I have a recommendation: 'Revenge'. It marks Emily VanCamp ('Brothers & Sisters') return to TV. In fact, unlike the supporting role she had on 'Brothers & Sisters' she is now playing the lead who, consequently, is also called Emily.

'Revenge' is an intelligent show. Built around short flashbacks to Emily's childhood, it's like a frothier and younger version of 'Damages'.

spoilers

During the first episode we learned a great deal. Emily (VanCamp) used to be called Amanda, back when she was a young child staying at the Hamptons with her father. Her father was involved in a scandal that somehow involved helping to fund the terrorists attacks during 9/11. Disturbed by the fact that her father was not who she thought he was, and legally separated from him due to his legal battles, she spent her teenage years alone. Although we don't yet know why, she eventually ended up serving a prison term. When she was released from prison a strange man, Nolan, greeted her. Nolan claimed to be a friend of her father's, informed her that he had died six months before, and gave her a box that he had left for her. Apparently what was in the box proved that her father was not guilty of any of the crimes that he was accused of, and was betrayed by those he was closest to. Oh, and we also find out that Amanda's father gave Nolan the money to start up his company, and Amanda now has a 49% share.

Amanda, pretending to be a different person named Emily, moves back to the Hamptons.  We quickly learn that the 49% share has made her incredibly wealthy. She asks her friend, Ashley, to describe all of the wealthy people staying at the Hamptons (despite the fact that she knows more about them than Amanda does!). Amanda points out Nolan and explains that his company has done so well that he is wealthier than everyone else. This explains why Amanda has the money to rent a house next to one of the family's who betrayed her father. She then proceeds to cause mayhem in their lives. In this episode alone she poisoned a man, exposed an affair, and effectively got one woman permanently excluded from the Hamptons. She also begins to seduce the son of one of the women who betrayed her father. As she states at the end of the episode she wants one thing: 'Revenge'.

'Revenge': Wednesday, ABC, 10 pm