‘Revenge,’ Season 2, Episode 1, ‘Destiny’: TV Recap

The story starts in the recent past. Emily Thorne is tied to a post beneath the water. She’s being put to some sort of test, and she’s failing–her fear is the thing that keeps her from freeing herself. At least that’s what Satoshi Takeda, her mysterious teacher, says.

Yoda probably could have told her that too.

Emily has returned to training to uncover more about the murder of her father, and to find out more about what happened to her mother.

Flash forward three months. It’s a year after the events of the last season, and she’s off with Nolan uncovering secrets. The two find out that Victoria, who has seemingly perished in an airplane crash, was likely involved in the disappearance of Emily’s mother. Perhaps she was the one who had Emily’s mother declared insane and locked up. Emily keeps digging.

A few news flashes about relationships on the show: Daniel and Ashley are now an item. And Amanda is pregnant and is with Jack; he still doesn’t know the truth.

Of course, just as on virtually every episode of “Gossip Girl,” there’s a fancy party. I guess this is how the other half live–or the other 1 percent, I should say. This time around the gathering is an onboard affair, and everyone’s in fancy dresses and killer suits, all to pay tribute to the alleged passing of Victoria.

Charlotte interrupts the memorial to say that her mother was a woman of many “contradictions.” To say the least. Then a call comes in–her blood test reveals drugs in her system. Before she’s hauled back for more rehabbing, Charlotte whispers something into Emily’s ear.

The next scene, Emily goes to see someone: Victoria, who is still alive and living in hiding. She’s laying low until the feds can build a case against Conrad. Charlotte tipped off Emily.

Victoria believes that Conrad is trying to set up Charlotte to grab her inheritance. And Charlotte’s drug counselors are in on it. A few scenes later we learn that it’s all true.

Emily tells Nolan what she’s learned.

She later confronts Jack–is he sure that Amanda’s baby is really his? Jack goes to Amanda about that very subject. The talk doesn’t go well. It generally doesn’t when you accuse the mother of your alleged baby of sleeping around.

At the end of the episode, Emily sees video evidence that Victoria and the White-Haired Man are working together…