For the past two weeks we’ve gotten to know Emily Thorne, and thanks to the letters from her father detailing everyone’s part in his arrest for treason, we’ve even been willing to go along with her plans for Revenge on the unsuspecting people of the Hamptons.

In the third episode “Betrayal,” that’s all about to change. For the first time, this episode makes us doubt everything Emily’s shown us to be true. Are past events not as clean-cut as we first thought?

Emily: Well, I’m a big believer in finishing what you start.

Until now all we’ve seen of the past has been through Emily’s eyes and her father’s letters. Seeing how he was betrayed by those he trusted the most, and then spent the rest of his time in prison, I’m thinking his accounts of what happened are woefully incomplete to say the least. It’s a good thing then that the flashbacks this week fill in some gaps with information neither of these two characters could know.

Emily’s target this week is Senator Tom Kingsly, the prosecutor who, according to her father, ignored evidence that could have stopped him from getting put away. This is a fact that Emily chooses to focus on as she exacts revenge on the poor Senator. That’s not to say she’s been anything but cunning and ruthless with everyone else, but with Kingsly, she explains to Nolan, it’s not enough for him to lose what’s important, she wants him to lose everything for what he supposedly did. There are no gray areas with this girl.

Jack: No matter how long you and I last; a week, a year, 10 years, forever… I’ll always be honest with you.

Unless, of course, you count her wavering feelings on the two men in her life, Daniel and Jack.

The relationship between Emily and Daniel continues again this week but with a twist. The two of them go out on a date to a restaurant where the brother of Daniel’s ex-girlfriend happens to also be working. Completely planned? You know it. The whole event does a good job in causing a rift with Victoria after Daniel meets with his ex at Emily’s suggestion and against his mother’s wishes. In a surprising turn of events, it also gets Daniel to let down his guard with her and admit his feelings. It’s all very sweet, and Emily is noticeably shaken by his admission. Still, I can’t help but wonder, what is Emily’s ultimate plan from the whole setup?

Then there’s also her old friend Jack waiting in the wings. His dog Sammy is relentless in going after Emily on Jack’s behalf, showing up on her doorstep time and again. Each time she brings Sammy back, I can’t help but feel like she’s having to drag herself away again to go back home.

Emily: For the innocent the past may hold a reward. But for the treacherous, it’s only a matter of time before the past delivers what they truly deserve.

Which brings us to the ending when Emily, anonymously, convinces the Senator to step down or else she’ll release a video of him and his pregnant mistress. Kingsly then goes through with her demands, but she releases it anyway.  As she tells Nolan, it’s not enough to just destroy his career but also his life. She doesn’t care about his wife or family who will suffer as a result. The best part of Emily’s plan though is she not only does she take down Kingsly, but she also frames Victoria as leaking the video in the process.

It’s those flashbacks I mentioned earlier that then fulfill their purpose. We see how much an upset Victoria loved Daniel and planned to give Kingsly evidence so he would drop the case. However, that never happened because Conrad showed up and put a stop to it. So are Kingsly or Victoria really to blame? What exactly are they guilty of again? Things just got very, ambiguously, interesting for this show.

Notes and Quotes:

I’m really excited to see Ashton Holmes join the cast. I can’t wait to see what his character Tyler has in store for us.

Nolan: Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Thorne in everyone’s side.

Emily: I bought the building his mistress was staying in and had cameras installed during renovations.
That’s dedication.

Emily: Would you mind terribly if I started calling you Victoria?
Victoria: No.
Emily: Then goodnight, Victoria.

Next week:

Ooh, Daniel’s getting jealous of Jack. “It’s about time.” “That’s what I was thinking on the way over here.”