A ‘guilty pleasure’ drama that left viewers floored with countless twists is now streaming in full, and for free, in the UK.
In 2011 people became hooked on the series Revenge, which followed a young woman hiding her identity when returning to an affluent beachside town in the Hamptons seeking revenge on those who wronged her 20 years earlier.
Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo, it was teased of the show at the time of its release: ‘In the midst of her plan, she uncovers secrets, lies, and affairs, and finds herself in multiple dangerous situations that could tear the beachside town apart.’
At the centre of the drama was Emily Thorne (played by Emily VanCamp), who set her sights on the cold and ruthless ‘Queen of the Hamptons’ Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe).
Other cast members included Gabriel Mann as Nolan Ross, Henry Czerny as Conrad Grayson , Ashley Madekwe as Ashley Davenport, Nick Wechsler as Jack Porter and Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson.
At the time critics and audiences lapped up the ‘terrifically trashy’ drama, which left them ‘on the edge of their seat’.
‘Revenge may give me something I didn’t realise I’d been missing: A glamorous drama with rich, beautiful people in a gorgeous setting looking to do one another harm,’ TV Fanatic wrote in its review.
‘Intriguing and genuinely fun,’ The Hollywood Reporter concluded.
‘This is a classic guilty pleasure, with campy twists,’ The Boston Globe added.
This week the entire series was added onto Channel 4.
Earlier this year, fan Jennifer wrote of the show: ‘This was one of my favourite shows back in the day so much mystery and twist and turns, very talented cast.’
Revenge ran across four seasons before eventually wrapping up in 2015.
It was nominated for best new TV drama at the 2012 People’s Choice Awards, with Stowe also getting a nod for best actress at the Golden Globes that same year.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2019, VamCamp reflected on the significance of the show on her career and also personal life.
‘[It was] truly one of the best experiences — one of the most challenging — but the best. I realised I’d been living on my adrenaline for four years straight and never really took that mental break. I think that was partly because inevitably when you’re invested in the character part of it, a part of her drive became a part of my drive. Not to say I was method at all; I never took Emily Thorne home with me. But then the gruelling aspect of it, the physical toll it took on my body, I think it was just, “Get on with it, stop complaining and just keep moving forward”,’ she said.
‘I remember after we wrapped that final season, it had taken such a physical and mental toll on me, my body was shutting down. I had to go on all sorts of weird supplements and get my body back on track because it was very physically challenging, that show. Now that it’s 10 years later, I don’t know that my body would put up with that — like, “No you did that at the right time; not any more”.’
Although there were initially plans for a sequel series, it was eventually canned.
Off-screen VanCamp and Bowman also became a couple, getting married in 2018. They’ve since welcomed two daughters.
Revenge is streaming on Channel 4.
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