I review movies, comics, and work at a movie and music store. This leaves very little time for me to spend watching senseless television like reality series (except “Gene Simmons Family Jewels”), court room dramas, detective thrillers, and mindless sitcoms. I must choose carefully what I devote precious hours of my life to. ABC’s “Revenge” is high on my must-see list every week when it’s in season.
Thanks to ABC Studios, “Revenge: The Complete First Season” is now out in a five-disc DVD set. All 22 episodes are here for those who missed the show in its initial run. However, make sure you don’t start watching it before blocking off a solid 16 hours to get through it all. You won’t be able to tear your eyes off the screen once it starts.
Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) returns to the Hamptons after spending several years in juvenile detention. As soon as she arrives, Emily sets out on a mission to exact sweet revenge on those who tore her family apart. She’ll stop at nothing to expose the people who framed her father for a crime he didn’t commit. Her biggest target is the powerfully rich queen of the Hamptons, Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe) and her husband (Henry Czerny).
“Revenge” is one of those shows you watch and when it’s over groan and wish it could be two longer. I can never get enough of it. Just when you think you have something figured out writers go and change all the rules of the game again.
The best way to describe the show is as “The Punisher” meets “La Femme Nikita.” Emily Thorne isn’t a government agent, but she’s just as resourceful and ingenious. After the first episode, you find yourself wiping the sweat off your forehead in relief that you’ll never have a chance to cross her. She wants retribution for the death of her father. Anyone who was involved is going to suffer horribly.
Each of the five discs contains bonus material. They include commentary for the pilot episode by creator Mike Kelley and actor Emily VanCamp, featurettes such as “Nolan Ross Exposed,” “Roadmap to ‘Revenge,'” “At Home in the Hamptons,” and “Haute Hamptons: Femme Fatale Fashion.” There are also bloopers and many deleted scenes. Music videos for Christina Perri’s “Distance” and Angus and Julia Stone’s “For You” are featured as well.
“Revenge: The Complete First Season” is only available in a regular DVD format now. I’m not entirely sure why ABC Studios went this way with “Revenge” but put out “Once Upon a Time” in both Blu-ray and DVD. I would think both shows would have enough demand to merit a high-definition transfer and release. If you haven’t seen “Revenge” yet, here’s your chance to get caught up before a new season starts.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
Blu-ray Review: “The Hunger Games”
Blu-ray Review: “Jaws”
Blu-ray Review: “The Butterfly Effect”
