Mr Selfridge Series 2 Episode 3 Review

                                         
Agnes (Aisling Loftus) roams the store in desperation, setting up displays for Empire Week, but doesn't seem to be getting very far.  She sets up a safari display in Fashion, complete with stuffed tiger but next day when she shows Harry (Jeremy Piven) around, the display has gone.  She wanted to set up the Raj display there.  Apparently Thackeray (Cal MacAninch) has moved it even when she told him about it, claiming he didn't know.  Can't wait for him to be put in his place very soon.  Harry arrives home to find Rose (Frances O'Connor) is out but Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) is there.  He came to apologize to Rose for being so rude to her but Harry tries to get him back to the store.  He apologizes for his behaviour, he could have handled his leaving much better and Henri would like to see him beg, he jokes.  Well he got an apology from him.  He won't come back to the store but Harry tells him how Agnes is struggling as creative director, he sent her to train under Lafayette and Henri returns, but only to help her.  Harry admitting he needs Henri, perhaps more than Henri needs him.

Everyone's surprised to see Henri back, not least of which is Agnes and she sets about looking for him. Agnes tries to set up the safari display in the Plam Court, on Harry's suggestion, but Victor (Trystan Gravelle) doesn't want the guns there and the tiger would also scare his customers.  Franco (Sean Teale) tells him he was abrupt with Agnes and should apologize, he's taking his anger out on her.  There is outrage against the Italians as war looms even closer. Even Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) has a go at him about not caring about the Exhibition cos he's Italian and it's daubed over the restaurant door when he returns home too.  His uncle Gio (Vincenzo Nicoli) fears for the restaurant and Victor tells him he and Franco were born here and they've lived here for 30 years.  Gabriella (Crystal Leaity) also worries and needs reassurance from him. They kiss and he promises he won't desert her.  He won't really have a choice even if he doesn't enlist, he will be called up most likely.  Think he made a mistake there since he still has feelings for Agnes.

Agnes finds Henri and they have tea together.  She asks him about America but things didn't work out, though he did enjoy working at the advertizing firm, or did he?  He helps her come up with ideas for the display and where certain things should be set up.  Ms Mardle (Amanda Abbington) has also returned from Geneva and Harry offers her his sympathy for her brother.  She needs a display idea too which Agnes hasn't come up with since Accessories are important and as Henri says are the hub of the store.  Kitty gets a display of oriental fans and parasols which keeps her happy.  Also Frank (Samuel West) asks her out on the Bank Holiday. He likes to hang around with Harry since he's good copy and he tells her he started out with a broom in hand at his first newspaper job.

 Lady Mae's (Katherine Kelly) maid asks Loxley (Aidan McArdle) about the war but he doesn't reply to her instead he prefers to torment her since it's more fun.  Lady Mse leaves and goes straight for the bank where she deposits some jewellery in her box out of Loxley's reach and sweet talks Jeremy (Jack Fox) into telling her about Loxley's finances.  He's bankrupt and thus needs all the help he can muster, especially from Harry.  Whom he cons into giving him a list of leather suppliers for the war committee, in exchange for Winston Churchill opening the Exhibition.  The tagline of which is "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire."  Had a feeling Churchill wasn't coming at all (as we know from real events) and Loxley knew this but found a way to get the list from Harry, if only he had waited until later to hand it over.  Oh come on, let's put him in his place too.  Lady Mae tells Harry to trust Loxley since she's going to use that to her advantage too as she asks Harry for a locksmith.  She has the lock fitted to her bedroom door and threatens to declare to everyone that Loxley is bankrupt if he ever touches her again!   Though she should have been more honest with Harry even if it's understandable why she wasn't.

Gordon (Greg Austin) collects postcards of scantily clad women and keeps them in his pocket which fall out with Rose around.  He wants her to make an effort with Harry if she still loves him but it's not so easy for her since he's hurt her in the past.  This does get her thinking cos Harry wants her to leave for America if war is declared and she doesn't want to if he thinks she's such a coward.  She wants to stand by him cos his store will need him as will his staff and he only wants her to stay if it's not out of duty.  He promises to make an effort to be more of a husband to her.  We'll have to wait and see.  Think Delphine (Polly Walker) may get in the way there.  Especially since she tells him she doesn't want Rose's money and Harry wants them to start over as friends.

Crabb (Ron Cook) orders some manuals from America for Grove (Tom Goodman-Hill) as this will help him be more efficient in his work.  Harry threatens to fire him if he doesn't pick up his game.  Ms Mardle asks him for advice as she's inherited a big, old house and contents from her brother and also an income.  Grove referring to her as an independent woman now.  Wonder if he regrets leaving her now, seeing as she doesn't have to work anymore.  He did look peeved and suggests she rent out the rooms and should live there too. Maybe she'll rent to Henri, ha.

Agnes finishes the displays with Henri's help, setting up a statue of Britannia at the Accessories department since it's the hub as said and it should be the heart of Britain.  Harry's impressed with all this.  Thackeray isn't too pleased either since she's pulled it off, even with some help.  He refers to Henri as "shabby" as Victor tells him who he is.  Looks like he's got his job back here.  But Henri tells him it was only to help Agnes. Harry couldn't handle his problems, which must be big if he doesn't want to get him involved or tell anyone about them.  Victor sees the two of them hug.  Agnes buys him a gift, a new shirt and he can't accept it but she reminds him how he brought her presents and now it's her turn.

As said, Churchill doesn't show up and they get news of Germany declaring war on France and invading Belgium.  Loxley looked really smug, killing two birds with one stone.  Not only did he get the list but will now use it to further make a name for himself on the Procurement Committee.  Lady Mae having told Harry not to approach the Committee in person since they're all about the establishment and sticking together. Later they get news of Britain being at war and seem to be jubilant about it, not realizing just what this means for everyone involved.  Particulary those who will have to fight.  As Grove tells Harry using his new system, he's worked out 80% of the male staff are eligible to go to war.  Leaving problems for Harry about who will do their jobs.  Obviously the women.

The look on Loxley's face of smugness, oh Lady Mae should have slapped him there and then, but for obvious reasons couldn't.  Well wish someone would have done it, as he thinks he's pulled off quite a coup and got one over on Harry too. Wonder how long Lady Mae will keep Loxley at bay.  Oh we get a scene in the lift, or rather Harry and Agnes coming out of it.  An ep isn't complete without Harry exiting from the lift!

At least will stand by him and lots of character development too in the ep as Crabb and Grove's friendship continues to grow, Grove being stunned Crabb would send away for the manuals just for him.  Kitty and Frank's romance slowly simmering and we're still intrigued as to what Delphine has got planned up her puffy sleeves!  As we get to see how Selfridge's copes with the war years.

QVC Beauty Bash 2014

The beauty event of the year, at least one where so many millions would like to flock to, but alas tickets are few and far between.  This year the QVC Beauty Bash took place from 22nd January - 24 January at Old Billingsgate.  A location that is definitely in the heart of London and close to the River Thames.

Most every brand featured on QVC was here and a few new ones who will be making their debut very soon on the channel.  Including Lalique perfumes.  A name that has been synonymous with fragrance but from the outset Rene Lalique was a French glass designer who created amongst other works of art, glass perfume bottles. In 1907 he partnered with the perfumer Francois Coty to produce elegant and creative bottles, becoming collector's items.

Attending on the Thursday it was great meeting up with QVC presenters Debbie Flint, Julia Roberts again and also seeing Will Gowing again too.  As well as getting to meet QVC's own resident beauty expert, Alison Young, complete with her heels! And not forgetting Miceal Murphy.  New presenter Marverine Cole was there too but didn't get a chance to meet her.

Of course all the old faves were there too, from Leighton Denny, OPI, Nails Inc, to Decleor,  Gatineau, Elemis, Mally, Laura Geller, Stila, Bare Minerals and the list goes on.  Places filled up quickly for the make overs and nail manicures, treatments but I was there for more of a gander, meeting the faces we see on screen, finding out about products both old and new.  As Andrew Bagley of Gatineau put it, these events are a way of meeting customers in person so they can see our skin and give appropriate advice.  There was a bit of a queue to see Andrew!!  Though I doubt anyone needed Debbie's playful steering in his direction, ha.

Got to meet Nina: so lovely and friendly as she led me to the upcoming Leighton Denny TSV containing my fave colour purple! A must have.

An enjoyable few hours well spent in the company of some exceptional people and brands!

Revenge 3.4 "Mercy" Review

                                             
As Emily (Emily VanCamp) arrives at the hospital and she finds Father Paul (James LeGros) critical and he eventually dies.  Conrad (Henry Czerny) however survives like a cockroach, ha, and she suspects he may have had something to do with his death.  She vows to bring him down and prove he was driving even if Daniel (Josh Bowman) wants to do everything he can to ensure he isn't blamed for the car crash.  Emily says she didn't give him the full dosage of the drug and Nolan (Gabriel Mann) tells her again he warned her about doing this.  Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) turns up at the hospital if not just to gloat and tells Daniel how Conrad was going to confess about the past and David.  Emily finds Patrick (Justin Hartley) outside and he returns home after he's not allowed to enter the hospital room.  Emily telling him that's how the Grayson's do things.

Charlotte (Christa B Allen) doesn't pick up Victoria's call and she's doing her bridesmaid duties by sending out wedding invitations and encourages Jack (Nick Wechsler) to come.  He's not going though.  Victoria gets a job at the gallery as she's trying to make a clean break from Conrad, easier said than done and her so called friend, Sheila (Kathleen York) has heard about her financial troubles and uses it as an excuse to bring in the punters.  Seems Victoria is getting the short end of the stick this season as everyone's deserting her, especially her children. Not that they didn't before but seems like she only has Patrick left for emotional support and he doesn't look like he's going anywhere.  Although we still don't know anything about him, seems he is there for his mother as he shows by putting the spanner in the works for Sheila at the gallery.  He offers her a painting to sell and she declares she can't without the paperwork, then blackmails her into buying it since he knows she's done that in the past.

Emily decides she has to gloat too at Victoria's misfortune of having to join the dregs of ordinary workers but it's not as though her job isn't glamorous enough for her.  Charlotte also turns up to lend support to her since she's doing something to get away from Conrad.  Aiden (Barry Sloane) is invited to stay in the pool house by Victoria since he can give her the lowdown on Emily and get between her and Daniel.  Conrad not being too happy about this since he is the one who took their fortune.  Emily also gives Aiden Conrad's pills to change. Took his time about doing that, but he does find out where the wreck of the car is for her.

Emily can't stay away from Jack and tells him about Conrad and how she knows he was driving.  She wants him to not get involved so why bother him to begin with.  Obviously he can't stay out of it cos he hasn't got his revenge on Conrad for Amanda and Declan.  Emily wonders why the police haven't questioned her since she was first at the scene and stops by at the magazine to discover Daniel's already talked to the police on her behalf and given her statement to them, er thought this couldn't be done.  Whilst also writing out a cheque for their charity.  Bribes hey.  Emily gets her revenge on him when she tells the magazine about his DUI. He's staying at the Southfork Inn when Emily finds him at the beach house, they have an argument over the article and how he's defending Conrad, she tells him to turn the alarm on before he leaves.

Nolan is intent on finding the dirt on Patrick and he steals his wallet from the club, really Nolan it was just to see Patrick shirtless! and going back to using his hacking skills, finds he has an ex wife in Miami so he flies down there, flashes some money around, which really isn't his and gets the dirt on him.  Well it wasn't really dirt since we discover Patrick really is not into the opposite sex.  Cue passionate kiss between the two of them for those who anticipated this, of course it was obvious these two had a thing for each other as soon as they met.

Victoria tells Sheila she found out about her painting being sold from her friend Jordan and blackmails her into giving her the gallery.  So guess can't fell sorry for her anymore, as she and Patrick were in on the scam from the outset.  Of course they were and look she got a gallery for nothing.  Emily took her sweet time getting down to the scrapyard since Jack has beaten her to the punch.  He's taken photos of the wreck and the airbag is missing from the driver's side so this means Conrad was driving as his injuries prove this.  The car is taken away to be wrecked.

Conrad realizes he's not suffering from Huntington's after all and he's celebrating.  Emily tells Daniel he must be relived but he's still not going to come back to her.  Conrad also thanks Daniel for covering for him but he admits he did it for himself.  He's got his own reputation to think about and wants to make his own name. Charlotte didn't even come to see Conrad, ha.  Emily also tells Aiden about Jack and how she revealed who she was to him to stop him from shooting Conrad and see the temperature rise there as Aiden sees red.  He's so envious of him that he tells Victoria he knows who sabotaged the car: Jack! Argh, that's his agenda revealed, he wants shot of Jack now.  Jack shows Emily the video of the engine which shows the car was infact sabotaged so Conrad wasn't responsible for killing Father Paul after all.

This ep didn't have a closing or opening narration from Emily.  Daniel actually having his own motives for clearing Conrad was a bit of a revelation, usually he doesn't have that much to do character wise, aside from being used by Emily to further her revenge plans and worm her way into the Grayson clan even further. Daniel listening to Conrad when he says he shouldn't go running back to Emily since it shows weakness and Daniel actually rejecting her even when she wants him to come home.

Victoria sat on her chair again, that chair, need to get my hands on it! Ha.  It's been missing of late and surprisingly it showed up this ep when Victoria was being fiendish with the help of Patrick.  Funny scene when she told Conrad to go away, she's working. Aiden thinking he can shoot two birds with one stone since he can get Jack out of the way and away from Emily whilst still being able to stay on at the pool house. I don't know, seems like whoever stays there, or visits, comes to a bit of a grizzly end.

As for the brakeline cutting fiasco could it be Patrick, of course we know he was a round when Victoria told Conrad not to drive and he could have heard their argument afterwards too, but presumably the brakelines had already been cut by then.  He did show some of his true colours when he helped Victoria with the gallery, does his shortcomings include murder.  If so was he behind Emily's shooting.  Okay getting my thoughts down now, ha.  Irrespective of all this, it does appear Nolan appears to be heading for another fall as far his love interests are concerned.

Mr Selfridge Series 2 Episode 2 Review

                                            
War looms on the horizon as does the Trade Union movement and in actual fact it's all out war between Lady Mae (Katherine Kelly) and Loxley (Aidan McArdle) as well as Harry (Jeremy Piven) and Rose (Frances O'Connor) well it doesn't help to have Delphine (Polly Walker) hanging around like a bad smell, considering she's the one who is behind it all as far as Harry and Rose not getting along is concerned.  The Selfridge's staff feel Harry will desert them at the time of war and go back to America, as Mr Crabb (Ron Cook) tries to put them right, also warning Harry to possible dissention in the ranks, which is Groves's (Tom Goodman-Hill) job.  Harry thinks he needs something to boost morale and pep up his workers and so asks for suggestions from his staff at the Head of Departments meeting.

Agnes (Aisling Loftus) arrives late as she's really overwhelmed with the workload and Thackeray (Cal MacAninch) isn't making things any easier for her.  Don't know what his problem is, he comes across as sexist and doesn't want Agnes to be in charge or he just plain hates the fact that he should be doing such a job when Agnes has all the say.  Agnes drops her pencil and can't think of anything when Harry asks her but Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) comes up with an idea to throw a party for the staff and they can have a Tango demo since Mr Gomerez (Amir Giles) is in town and is at Delphine's.  Harry thinks it's a good idea and comes up with the theme of the Empire Exhibition, shown in all its glory.  Thackeray seeing how Agnes isn't coping adds a spanner to the works by calling a meeting with her and Harry to say they should extend it to all the departments and to have it go on for a week.

Frank (Samuel West) comes in the store to apologize to Kitty for taking advantage of her or trying to and wonders what he could buy her by way of apology.  He's recommended the new Guerlain fragrance but Kitty interferes and suggests the Yardley collection for this woman he wants to impress and is difficult to shop for.  It's also more expensive.

Rose asks Delphine about Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) and she gives her his address.  Delphine also wanting Rose to ensure Harry throws his party at the club, that way she gets to make money which she later admits to Harry is her sole intention since she's "skint."  Wouldn't think she'd have admitted that at all, not good business practice is it.  She also realizes Harry has been here before but he doesn't really tell her when.  She tries to give him advice concerning Rose but he doesn't want to hear it and is short with her, which he should be.  "I know my wife better than you."  When Delphine tells him he should "trust her."  Rose pays a call on Henri and finds he's living in the dumps, so to speak.  Things didn't work out in New York but he doesn't want to see Harry or talk with him, even after Rose suggests he should, since Harry is in need of a friend.

Harry in an attempt to save his marriage and win Rose back cancels Miss Spender's (Gina Bramhill) account, well she had an appropriate name, ha, and sends her packing, as well as cancelling all the other accounts too belonging to his lady friends.  He misses Rose but she doesn't want to go there again with him in their marriage cos she loses a little of herself everytime she does.  Enjoying putting Harry through the wringer and tormenting him some more.

The warehouse men want to be able to join the Trade Union and go to Grove to ask him about it but he refuses since they still have a Staff Council to air their troubles.  The men however aren't happy with this and decide to have their own meeting at seven in the loading bay when Harry et all will be at the party.  Gordon (Greg Austin) listens in to their conversation and warns Harry but he tells him there'll be good and bad days when he's behind that desk so he has to deal with them.

Lady Mae packs up to leave for the country in the hopes of escaping from Loxley but he wants her to introduce him to Harry since he's got a business proposition for him.  She doesn't want to but in the ultimate humiliation, he rubs runny egg on her lips after she asks him if he's going to blackmail her too like he did his friend.  The sooner he's gone, the better, he really is a piece of work and is in there to spice things up.  As later at the club he insinuates himself into ensuring he uses the invitation that was only intended for Lady Mae and tags along, and wants to talk about her account and also business.  Harry puts his foot down and tells him this isn't the time or the place.  Loxley insists and thinks Lady Mae will put in a good word for him, but she says the same as Harry which really riles Loxley.  Harry telling him to stay and have a few drinks as "they're also on the house."  Harry getting his own back on him for the humiliation last episode and that was in front of his staff.  Notice Frank casually listening into their conversation.  When they mentioned Loxley last series it was implied he was more kind of absent minded and aloof, but here in person he's completely different to how we would have imagined him.

Mr Crabb covers for Grove who has been arriving in late for work and also turns up at his home to pick him up, just to show us the stress he's under at home and for us to see Doris (Lauren Crace) and the children. Grove thinks he's got it bad, how does he think Doris manages being with the children alone all day. There's another baby on the way and he's just overwhelmed.  He's also concerned about the war and how it will affect his daughters.  Mr Crabb adding that they will learn to adapt.  Grove places his hand on his and tells him he's  good friend and a gentleman.  Shocking Crabb who tells him to "steady on."

Kitty is about to accept the present from Frank when she's pulled away to dance the Tango, well she wore appropriate attire for this, her green dress with the slits and red tights!  Agnes tells Victor (Trystan Gravelle) that there is no 'us' as he tries to see what's troubling her.  He didn't want to hear her problems before but he does now.  That's cos he doesn't know how to treat her and she goes home as she's tired.  She needs Henri around not only to help her at work, but also to pick up her spirits, which will make Thackeray all the more jealous, can't wait to see that.  As well as more heartache for Victor.  But then he had his girlfriend, what happened to her?

At the meeting the men tell the union man that they've already got what he's offering at the store and he quite forcefully tries to make trouble by telling them Harry will be off and leave them at the first sign of war. Gordon objects to that and fights for his father, getting punched in the process, but one of the men tells him he's okay and stood up for his father.  The men realizing they have it good at the store, but not for long as there's talk of war and we see Victor, Franco (Sean Teale) and other men enjoying themselves dancing, cos that's probably their last moment of laughter and joy as most of them will be fighting and not coming back.

Loxley is angry at Lady Mae's treatment of him and won't take her lip (I can say that can't I considering he did put egg on it, so no pun intended) and he slaps her to the floor.  That'll have her running to Harry for help and comfort and right now, Harry is in need of both too, well more comfort than help.  Delphine takes Rose for a surprise and asks Harry to join them.  The surprise being jellied eels, yuk!  He doesn't like them and she lets slip on purpose, that much was obvious, asking about Rose and her mysterious Frenchman.  Rose tells him about Henri and Harry leaves.  There Delphine causing problems between them more so cos Harry told her he didn't want Rose investing in her club and that his good name means a lot to him, as does Rose.

Harry returns home and Gordon arrives later with his bruise, but Harry tells him he's his own man now and can do what it likes,  here he was sticking up for Harry but perhaps Harry's worried at losing his son's loyalties to the loading bay men.

So the ep began with talk of war and ended with violence on the homefront between Loxley and Lady Mae, highlighting again how the men ruled most everything including treating their wives however they wanted. Wonder if she'll leave him, well he no longer has any money and Loxley makes it harder for her even to get away from him as he's leased their country house to a Dutchman, as he throws this bombshell on her in an  attempt to make her stay and come round in helping him with Harry.  Maybe Loxley should get together with Delphine as they're cut from the same cloth.  Wasn't Loxley not meant to have been seen at the infamous club?

Lots more to come as the events of this second episode will have repercussions for the next and most likely the entire series.  Especially since Agnes will get a most welcomed ally in the form of Henri and his return, notch one up to her against Thackeray.  As well as showing how the women will keep commerce running whilst the men go off to war, a time of change for all concerned, least more for the staff.  But rest assured they'll have Harry on their side to give them lots of pep talks as he did here by telling them "it might be my name on the door but behind that door you are the ones that matter."  Alas no lift scenes this episode! Ha.

Revenge 3.3 "Confession" Review

                                               
Emily: "Some believe that confession helps a guilty soul find peace releasing us from the shame and regret of our mistakes.  In the face of mortality many feel the need to seek this closure to make things right, because if death doesn't kill us, our demons will."

Emily (Emily VanCamp) finds a way of getting back Father Paul (James LeGros) his position, but not until he helps Conrad (Henry Czerny) to confess.  She visits him in confessional telling him she is Emily Thorne and she can help him get back his parish, that she set him up with the photo. She also visits Conrad who dreams of Charlotte (Christa B Allen) killing him.  Emily being able to deliver some more of the drug.  Nolan (Gabriel Mann) plans a party at his new home and gets to invite Patrick (Justin Hartley) after meeting with him at the club.  Of course with them two you know something's between them.  But Nolan now realizes he's Victoria's (Madeleine Stowe) son.

Aiden (Barry Sloane) tries to worm his way deeper into Victoria's good books by telling her about Emily and how she was sleeping with him whilst also seeing Daniel (Josh Bowman).  Thus giving Victoria more reason to hate Emily and want to bring her down.  Victoria can't wait to tell Daniel about Emily's betrayal and that she brought Nolan's new expensive mansion.  He confronts Emily of course who admits she bought it for Nolan but didn't say anything cos Nolan would be ashamed if anyone knew.  She conveniently doesn't tell him about Aiden though and Daniel reacts by installing security at the beach house in the form of an alarm system.  Also showing Emily her secret hiding place and how she keeps a gun there. The same gun he used to shoot Aiden when they had their own little confrontation at the end of season 2.  Emily denying there was anything between her and Aiden and that she made her choice when she took Daniel.

Can't believe Aiden is really that hateful of Emily to paint her so evil in front of Victoria, as said, they must have been in league together, otherwise why the forced charade.  Especially at Nolan's party when he turns up with Victoria on his arm and they have their confrontation, shouting at each other but so everyone can still hear them.  With Emily telling the entire town that the Grayson's are bankrupt, the utter humiliation for Victoria.  At least it's revealed that Aiden and Emily were setting up Victoria with him telling her he was here for her cos he was the only one she could turn to.  He shows her the scar from the bullet wound.  There knew they didn't hate each other that much to find them on opposites sides.

Margaux (Karine Vanasse) wants to feature Nolan on the cover of the magazine but Daniel disagrees since he lost his fortune cos of Nolan and that he's been in prison.  Margaux puts her foot down, it's her who is running the magazine and wants to meet Nolan, which she does by scoring an invite to his party by making sure she accompanies jack (Nick Wechsler).  Emily all the while being jealous of Jack everytime he's with her.  Charlotte having a hand in getting the two of them together by saying that he needs to get out and having a tailor made suit prepared for him.

Paul tries to get Conrad to see the right path but it proves wrong for him.  If Conrad confesses then he will be on the right track to giving Charlotte her father back by clearing David's name.  He tells Emily even if Conrad doesn't confess then he will.  Being the wrong thing to say since it's obvious he was going to get killed.  Emily lets slip about being friends with Nolan when she talks with Victoria and she warns Patrick off by telling him how close the two are.  Victoria having Patrick move into the mansion now.  Patrick pays a visit to Nolan but after the party's over and finds he purchased the painting.

Conrad decides he wants to do the right thing anyway and tells Victoria, why tell her, if he wants to confess all. It's not like Victoria was going to let him or be happy for him.  For a minuet there it looked like she was going to push him down the stairs, remember it was that same balcony where she was fighting with Amanda and she fell from it.  She tells him if he gets into his car it'll be the last thing he does.  He drives off with Paul in the Ferrari.  Emily drives past and finds the Ferrari crashed, with Paul unconscious on the ground and Conrad on his feet.  Funny how things turn out in this show.

Emily: "The guilty heart is silent, it's pulse muffled by the secrets it keeps.  Some believe confession can release a tortured soul, others view it as a sign of weakness.  Because ultimately whatever you say, whatever you feel about what you've done is irrelevant.  For the hand of death is equally unforgiving."

If not Victoria then it must be Conrad who set up the crash, since Paul is the only one who was actually going to turn himself in and confess, which would bring down Conrad's world even if he is allegedly dying anyway.  Mind you it could just have been an accident, albeit very convenient. This way he ties up all the loose ends and since he's got so much blood on his hands anyway, that of a priest will do very little to save his soul anyway.  Yet that's what this season is about or so it seems about Emily's soul and saving what's left of it.  Jack wants her to have her revenge and leave, Paul wanted her to question what she was doing and how this would affect her.  She also seemed angry that Aiden would mention their 'affair' to Victoria since this would affect Daniel and kind of throw a spanner in their relationship and plans for the wedding.  So even if Aiden is on Emily's side, he still doesn't want her to marry Daniel and so he comes across as having his own agenda too.

Patrick still has to reveal his agenda too and he is intent on 'befriending' Nolan irrespective of what mommy dearest warned him not to do.  Surely he's not someone who also has a vendetta against Victoria for abandoning him like she did for all these years and turns up out of the woodwork when she's practically all alone and burnt her bridges with Charlotte and Daniel.  Patrick is some sort of a conman or worse still he was the one who meddled with the car since he was around when Victoria questioned Conrad driving it the first time round!

Margaux is another bore, get her off this show quick smart.  She is pointless and her magazine storyline is also boring.  Yet she makes a 'play' for Jack as soon as she meets him but still putting it down to wanting to meet Nolan at his party.

Mr Selfridge Series 2 Episode 1 Review

                                                   
Time has moved on as it's the five year anniversary of the store and the staff have gotten together to pitch in for a bust of Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) which is revealed to him as a surprise and very nearly doesn't happen.  He gives them all another speech about family, love and loyalty.  As Agnes (Aisling Loftus) returns from two years in Paris, training at the Galeries Lafayette (no chance of bumping into Moray (Emun Elliott)  then in Paris, though he was before her time in The Paradise, ha.  She has new ideas she wants to get on with and exudes confidence and maturity.  She is now Head designer, as shown by her new appearance and fashion sense, which the new fashion head, Thackeray (Cal MacAninch) is not happy with.  Asking which college she went to, as she tells him she trained in Paris but taught herself.  He's displeased as the new heads seem to be getting younger.  Making a comment about such things not happening at Harrods.  Thackeray is the replacement for Miss Ravillious as Head of Fashion.

Harry has to give a newspaper interviews and calls it a day when one of them asks about family and his wife, Rose (Frances O'Connor).  A sore subject with him.  She's still in the US along with his daughters whom he tells the reporter have decided to finish their education there.  Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) has her own cosmetics department now and has two new shop assistants, Grace (Amy Morgan) and Jessie (Sai Bennett) both so giggly and in awe with Delphine (Polly Walker).  Don't recall Kitty and Doris (Lauren Crace) being so flighty.

Rose arrives and Harry is surprised to see her.  He wants to spend time alone with her but she's not having any of it, as she appears to be not only very abrupt with him but has changed, she's more outspoken and it doesn't appear to be for the better either.  She came across as very aloof and condescending in some respects, especially when she meets with Delphine Day.  Who has a reputation for being a nightclub owner and she's written a book.  Rose tells her Harry would be happy to arrange for a book reading of 'The Summerhouse' here as she prefers to go shopping with her.  She met her on the boat over her and seems to be enamoured of her.  As she sees a young woman, Ms Spender?? charge some items to Harry with Rose commenting on how "nothing's changed."

Ms Mardle (Amanda Abbington) asks for time off as she wants to visit her dying brother in Geneva and Grove (Tom Goodman-Hill) is happy to oblige, he's swamped with three children under five and has mountains of paperwork.  Gordon (returns home from school and drops a bombshell on Rose about how he's not going back since he wants to learn the business and will be taking over from Harry anyway.  Rose thinks it's a bad idea but knows Gordon and Harry have already discussed and decided on this when she wasn't here.  She wants her own way there too although she hasn't been here with him but spending time over in the US.  Also Harry doesn't want to spend money on his schooling if he doesn't want it.  Harry was already a bookeeper he tells her at 15.  Gordon starts from the bottom up as he's put under George's (Calum Callaghan) wing in the delivery and transportation department, well I called it that.

Franco (Sean Teale) is head waiter and cousin to Victor (Trystan Gravelle) is now at Selfridges too and is working with him at the Palm Court which is now run by Victor too.  So he didn't get his restaurant in the five years we've  moved onto and prefers to stay here.  He wasn't too happy with Agnes leaving but he tells Franco she dropped him when she left for Paris.  George invites her to his Uncle Gio's (Vincenzo Nicoli) birthday party and she is reluctant to go.  Harry also wants her to design the layout for the book reading and Thackeray is to give her complete freedom with it, he doesn't want to help her or discuss the plans with her. She comes up with a Summerhouse gazebo theme which he thinks is going over the top, but Victor disagrees.

Trouble for Lady Mae  (Katherine Kelly) as her husband Lord Loxley (Aidan McArdle) returns home, for the foreseeable future.  He immediately curbs her spending at the store, infact he ends it altogether and she's really peeved with him to put it mildly.  He goes to the store with her and stops her from making any purchases, as well as being rude and humiliating Harry in front of his staff when he tells him not to speak to Lady Mae in that manner and not in his store.  He won't even settle up her account and Harry's not getting anymore money from him.  War is looming and he wants to get in on some committee in the Lords or government and he blackmails a politician to do so.  As Lady Mae overhears him threatening to expose his affair with a young boy.  Loxley is probably also on the verge of bankruptcy it seems.  Perhaps love is int he air for Harry and Lady Mae as he was so quick to defend her honour and in front of his staff too.  Oh so dashing Harry, ha.

Lady Mae visits with Rose and tells her managing her husband is easy especially if she doesn't love him and thinks it might be different for Rose with Harry.  But Rose is advancing to pastures new as Lady Mae insults Delphine in front of her.  Harry having to tell her she's Rose's new friend.  Seems Delphine does have a repuation and can't tell at this point whether she's a gold digger or just plainly likes trouble and is the wrong type of woman to know as a friend.  She's looking for a business partner to go into her with the club and Rose wants to do it.  She has money of her own even if Harry doesn't approve, she doesn't need his consent.  Not known if their meeting on the boat was accidental or whether Delphine knew exactly who Rose was and thought she might be able to get a few perks and finance if she befriended her.  Rose refuses to spend time with Harry and attend the pictures with him, choosing to go to Delphine's party instead.  Well she could have invited him and if she took advantage of Harry's generosity of having the book reading at the store, why didn't she invite him to her party too?

At the club Rose notices Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) who is drinking and dishevelled to the point where Harry doesn't notice him when he bumps into him.  He was meant to have been in New York in an attempt to be with Valerie but obviously that didn't work out but we'll have to wait and see what his big secret is and what transpired.  Harry sees Rose drinking and being happy at the club and tells Gordon she won't be coming home with him but he promises to get their family back together.  Rose is giving Harry a dose of his own medicine in this episode as she's getting him back for everything he's done, his past (and future) indiscretions by throwing back his behaviour in his face and behaving like him too.  Don't like Rose, true there's only so much she can take from Harry's behaviour last series, but then she's hurting her family, and doesn't even realize it.   Henri leaves as does Harry and walks over the newspaper headline which reads "Archduke Ferdinand Assassinated."  Spelling war for Europe and Selfridges.  Say what you will about Harry and his womanizing ways at least he doesn't want to hurt his children and is a good father in that respects.

Elsewhere Kitty steps out with Frank Edwards (Samuel West) to the club and he tries to have his way with her.  Kitty putting him right about thinking he can take advantage of her just cos she's a shop girl.  She walks out on him and clearly he has got the wrong end of the stick.  Kitty and Frank do seem to make a good couple, they're very matched in terms of what they want and are very straight with each other, at least Kitty is.  Frank's now a freelancer since his book failed and he has to get work wherever he can.  He has to write a piece on five years of Selfridges since he wrote the first one when the store opened and Harry hopes he's not going to go though the same fiasco with that play again from last series.

Agnes saw Victor with Gabriela (Crystal Leaity) and left the party as she and Victor look as though they have unfinished business but then she doesn't seem all that keen on him anymore.  Especially after she saw him with Gabriela who is now his girlfriend.  Not to mention how she wanted to get the store ready for her creation and didn't want his help when she dropped the chandelier.

So where did Harry's bust disappear to anyway, as if he needed another trinket to place around the store. What do you give the man who has an entire store for a fifth anniversary being the question here, since it wasn't supposed to be something that immortalizes him and places him on a pedestal.  It did look that way. All he wanted was some alone time with Rose but that's not going to happen.  Delphine is going to cause trouble between them one way or another, she has gotten through three husbands and the last one left her broke with just the club to her name.  Befriending Rose she could get in close with Harry and get whatever she wants from him through Rose, as she already showed this opening episode.

Lady Mae's husband is creepy no wonder Poirot killed him in the series' final episode Curtain.  Well he killed the character Aidan McArdle played; wonder if we'll be getting a bit of a murder mystery here, just to liven things up.  He's do despicable he's bound to have many enemies.  So what led Henri to become down and out, casually speaking.  Will he arrive back at the store and will he and Agnes be as love struck as last series?  So many questions, so much to see.  Here's hoping this series 2 will be as watchable as its debut.  Still the grand gestures from its star and yes the must-be-included scene in the lift with his entourage, (can't help myself had to get that in at least once this series) as Mr Selfridge aims to tackle loves lost, new tawdry arrivals as well as the more grim and harrowing advent of World War I.  Could call Harry's gilt bust a tad tawdry too! Ha.

Jumping forward five years we've missed the opening of the Bargain Basement in 1911 and it wasn't mentioned here.  It was aimed at "thrifty housewives."  As well as the world's biggest bookshop and a pet department.  Skipped too was the performance of the famous dancers Florence Walton and Maurice Mouvet for a charity ball on the roof terrace in 1913.

Moriarty: The Phoenix Arises from the Ashes?

                                         
Contains some Series 3 SPOILERS

In The Reichenbach Fall Moriarty (Andrew Scott) mentions "all the king's men" not being able to put Humpty together again.  Looking back or forward, could this have been some sort of reference to His Last Vow and the appearance of Moriarty once more if indeed he is alive.  You know Mycroft (Mark Gattis) is a King's man, or rather Queen's man, working for the country and so is this some ingenious way of his to bring Moriarty back, was he ever dead, was Rich Brook the one who actually killed himself and not Moriarty since in Sherlock's mind palace, Moriarty appears to him in chains, Sherlock foreshadowing his return perhaps, especially since Moriarty was in chains, if he's dead why would he be chained up in Sherlock's mind palace.  Then there was the line of feeling pain and he feels it all the time, but the key is not to fear pain.
Also Sherlock utters, "I can kill Rich Brook and bring back Moriarty," what sort of an allusion or foreshadowing was this implying?

But is he really dead in which case I'm afraid my little blog piece on Moriarty becomes redundant...
http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/moriarty-may-be-deadokay-he-is.html
At least I can take solace in having mentioned some twist in the show by which case they can bring him back, indeed if he is back and wasn't the result of machinations on the part of Mycroft to enable Sherlock to return to London and his home!  Then again anyone could have put up his image, even Sherlock himself even if that sounds a bit dastardly.

Then again Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis have both said int he past that Moriarty is dead and won't be back, however they then added, more recently, Moriarty's return, "is not a last minute whim" and was discussed quite a while ago.

In my review of 2.3 The Reichenbach Fall in August 2013 here:
http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/sherlock-23-reichenbach-fall-review.html
see here I have mentioned "be careful what you wish for" just as Sherlock says this to John in 3.1 The Empty Hearse when John thinks they're on their last legs!  Hmm I must have some kind of ESP or knack for predicting Sherlock scripts, ha.

Mycroft's line to Sherlock in 2.1 A Scandal in Belgravia, "all lives end...all hearts are broken..."  and in His Last Vow he tells Sherlock of being heartbroken if he dies after he talks of the east wind coming.  To which Sherlock replies, "how the hell am I supposed to respond to that?"  Didn't realize there was so much overlap in these scripts all referring to different sentiments and storylines of course, but still connected in some ways since it's Sherlock, who is after all the common strand running through everything.

Well Moriarty seems like we'll catch ya laters!

Sherlock's Humanity and Other Musings (Series 3)

                                            
Contains SPOILERS
SO how did series 3 humanize Sherlock?  He laughed a plenty.  He doesn't or did laugh that much if at all in the first 2 seasons, if only to show he was being sarcastic or flippant.  But he full on belly laughed in this not once but a few times.  Whilst still being cruel to John (Martin Freeman) and teasing him in the same old way.  Fooling him into believing the timer on the bomb was still going and these were their final few moments together in 3.1 The Empty Hearse.  "Be careful what you wish for."  At least it was a chance for Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) to get John listening to him without any sarcasm from him too.  Even if it was a not- so-nice way to get him to forgive for not telling him he was alive.

Not sure his reason that John might let it slip was a good one since he hasn't let such secrets slip in the past.  Was he inadvertently referring to Mary (Amanda Abbington) perhaps or any other criminal element.  Again since he deduces things about Mary as he did about John in A Study In Pink, like the one where she's a liar.  Which was meant to catch our attention, did you manage to catch it in the reams of words being thrown at the screen?  Though it was made abundantly clear in 3.3 His Last Vow.

More laughs when he dressed as a French waiter, only se French will do and his accent.  Not to mention his pencil moustache which did appear to change shape to how he first drew it on.  Would John really have noticed a waiter.  He may as well have jumped out of a cake. Ha.  What's more, he lets John actually take him down, punch him and head butt him too, would Sherlock really have let that happen to him, even if he was or may possibly be feeling a tad guilty for letting John suffer like that.  Would he feel guilty even after he says sorry?

The throw away line of the agent who died to get them this info being a show off shows he hasn't lost his touch or his real character when it comes to insults and harsh comments.

Sherlock kissed Molly (Louise Brearly)and I don't mean the fan fiction imagining, but the one on her cheek, where he told her he couldn't have done it without her: fooled the world and his best friend too and that Moriarty (Andrew Scott) was wrong about him thinking the one person who mattered the least was the one who mattered the most.  Not John then?  Moriarty probably going on what Sherlock said to Molly and how he behaved around her in their first meeting where Molly introduced Moriarty back in the Pilot.  His treatment of her was so abrupt. Which is sort of what Sherlock was going for to fool Moriarty and give him that false sense of security that John was the only one he could and did depend on, going back to the series 1 finale The Great Game.

Ahh Molly she's not moved on, she's just got a man, Tom, who she's dressed to the nines as Sherlock!  Being obsessive, let's hope sociopaths are not her type, they're very dangerous!  When Sherlock tells John he doesn't want to talk about Tom, would the old Sherlock have mentioned it as a passing comment thrown in the air.  Ticked off Tom or Molly for dressing in that way.  Seeing as from the Christmas scene in A Scandal in Belgravia he was really obnoxious and uncaring about the comment he made on Molly's gift.

Another surprise was Sherlock eating. We may have seen him have tea but not really eat at all.  SO it's shocking he actually eats chips of all food and Mycroft (Matt Gatiss) even mentions fish and chips in their conversation we he tries to get Mycroft to see that he is lonely and alone.  A case of you can be surrounded by people and still be alone.  Mycroft clearly disagreeing.
It was always John whom we saw eating, since the Pilot A Study in Pink.  John went shopping, was worried about food and money for food.  Sherlock was above it all.  As Sherlock in the books wouldn't eat either, stating food interfered with work, the thought processes.

Lots of Dr Who allusions even if they were subtle or unintentional, where Sherlock suggests to Mycroft whether he should "jump out of a cake."  As did Doctor Eleven (Matt Smith) at Rory's (Arthur Darvill) stag do!  The motorbike ride across London, once again going past the Houses of Parliament aka Westminster Palace. The line, "it's not who, but who," when talking about his rats was quite funny. Sherlock: "I prefer my doctors clean shaven."  Do such comments and lines make you think of Doctor Who?  Sometimes they do in some distant other time and space for me.  Let's not forget the wedding reception scenes in The Sign of Three where once again he wouldn't have gone amiss doing a crazy dance in his suit, or when he walked down the aisle through the guests looking for the Vic and slaps his face, that was so Doctor Who.  (Once again Matt's version).  As was Sherlock leaving on his own at the end.  Even with a friend/companion in John he would and could always still feel left out.  Feel being the operative word since it was obvious he was jealous at losing his friend, but also happy at the same time for his happiness.   Adding more weight to his own conversation with Mycroft about loneliness.

Is Sherlock really finding his humanity, being humanized, at least as far as series 3 goes.  If so then that spells a rapid transition in his character and one where he actually has moved on and developed further.  What made me laugh was a tweet on New Year's day by Sue Vertue who said" Sherlock survives?? or did he?" Just made me think in a humorous way that maybe who came back isn't Sherlock, that Sherlock really died and someone else took his place.  Someone who doesn't have the familiar traits of Sherlock, his mannerisms, his not understanding nature or human [nature] as he tells Mary.  
NB they could do this with Moriarty, you know all that Rich Brook stuff from 2.3 The Reichenbach Fall. Yes stuff sounds vague and lazy writing on my part, but hey, he claimed to be an actor, who is/was the REAL Moriarty?  Just some off the page thoughts of mine here.  It's nothing concrete or definitive.

Benedict in an interview for Polish magazine gazeta WYBORCZA talks about Sherlock and his humanity, or rather his "inhumanity." Roughly translated, he says of Sherlock:

"His biggest weakness is probably rather a lack of understanding of the forces resulting from this, that he is a man. He tries to dodge human weaknesses. Trying to be more than that, be like a god, and sometimes loses it as the detective - cannot interact on an ordinary human level. He cannot get involved in love, in family relationships, cannot tolerate differences. Must act alone. It's hard to be a loner, but I feel that he long ago consciously decided to ignore the feelings. And if so, to look at it, it's not a weakness, but a free choice."


This sums up Sherlock's entire character really and shows how Benedict has him down pat.  To show human emotions is to show weakness and he can't afford to do that as we have seen over the past three series.  If he gets bogged down in feelings it will interfere with his work, clarity of expression and thought.  Only Sherlock is able to understand criminal minds and the criminal act since he approaches it from a point of view and thought process which no one else can engage in, part of which is his "mind palace."  The concept of the mind palace does stem from Conan Doyle as he talks of, As Mark puts it, "...a man's mind being like a lumber room.  It doesn't have elastic walls.  There comes a point where for everything you put in, you have to delete something."

Sherlock doesn't need companionship, he was happy as far as we can see, doing his own research, experimenting, writing pointless essays, pointless to everyone except Sherlock himself.  He didn't see the need for anyone or anything to change, that is until John, when he was looking for a roommate.  Not a mate. He was consulting and he was shown at his very best.  As Benedict said, Sherlock is different, and this difference doesn't have to be seen as a flaw or weakness.  To quote Steven Moffat when referring to the original books, "he [Sherlock] doesn't say he doesn't have emotions, he says: 'they get in the way.'"

Humility and humanity are traits more associated with John.  He's the compassionate one, not just cos he's a doctor, but he's concerned with peoples' feelings.  Someone who is very much in touch with the twenty first century since he knows no one gives a toss for anyone these days.  He said it time again and reprimanded Sherlock on his treatment of Molly, Mrs Hudson (Una Stubbs) et al, when he just dismisses them with crass comments.  That's Sherlock.  So it would seem by now ,three years on, some of John's humility should have rubbed off on him, but not much, if any.

Sherlock's character is to be nonchalant, dismissive, abrupt, so it's not really conducive to have him change and especially not now.  I think I'm one of many who prefer to see Sherlock as such and not see him feel with his heart but think with his head.  That's what makes him who he is and why he's adept at what he does in all his genius.  At the end of the day he may have exhibited some form of emotions, but when you think about it, not too hard mind you, he hasn't really changed or evolved.

Okay don't take me seriously here, unless you want to, I'm just thinking out loud!  If you've read any of my articles or blog posts or books etc in the past, you'll know how I like to mention and write about such areas and stuff.  But in the future I sense a knighthood for Benedict, arise Sir Benedict and even an OBE for Martin or Benedict even.

Oh and 'Benedict Cumberbatch is my mind candy!'
Please do not beg, borrow or steal this phrase of mine without consent or acknowledgement!

Revenge 3.2 "Sin" Review

                                                
Emily: "It is believed that original sin can only be cleansed by the waters of baptism.  But it is the sin that follow that are so easily not washed away.  And since forgiveness of trespasses is only granted to the truly penitent, pure evil can never be erased."

Hot on the heels of Aiden (Barry Sloane) revealing himself to Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) last episode, he now tells her he can help her bring Emily (Emily VanCamp) down and get her out of Victoria's hair.  Of course she wants nothing to do with him as she can't trust him and for that trust, she needs proof.  Aiden of course dropping hints that Emily and Nolan (Gabriel Mann) were behind them losing their millions and for betraying him too, "in a way you couldn't imagine."  Victoria sailing on the yacht now, which as Conrad (Henry Czerny) later remarks, she didn't want to use but is doing so now.  So Aiden's burned now and he wants his revenge on Emily just cos he can't have her.  I feel his storyline is pointless and they should deal with him already, or at least have Emily deal with him.

Emily takes it upon herself to now go after Father Paul Whitley (James LeGros) another one of Grayson Global's former employees even though he is now a priest and after Nolan warns her not to do that.  Asking how many innocent people she will hurt who get in the middle of her plans, "her best laid plans." all Jack (Nick Wechsler) also tells her much the same, that after she's had her revenge on the Grayson's she should leave, otherwise he's going to give her up, okay he said that last ep but the same sentiment is still there.  Nolan taking it upon himself to bake blueberry muffins after his six months inside, was a funny scene.  As was Emily taking those same muffins over to the Grayson's, with Conrad helping himself.  She threatens Victoria about Patrick (Justin Hartley) and revealing him to the others.  Emily even finds him but he doesn't want to have anything to do with her.

Conrad needs to sell one of Victoria's precious paintings as they no longer have their millions.  Aiden telling Victoria that Emily has them when he finds the deeds to Nolan's new house which she bought for him.  After he looks for her infinity revenge box but doesn't find it, cos she's removed it and left it with Nolan for safe storage.  Though it didn't look that safe to me seeing as it was just hidden behind Nolan's newly acquired painting.  That painting was getting around since Victoria has sold it since she knows it will draw Patrick to it. Who does show up and tells her he left of his own free will and doesn't turn Charlotte (Christa B Allen) in.

Victoria then turning up to see Nolan with a house warming gift, those same muffins which found their way back to him.  At least she didn't say she baked them! Ha. We also learnt hat Charlotte miscarried cos of what he had to endure with Declan dying and she will never forgive Conrad for being responsible.

Daniel (Josh Bowman) and Emily visit Whitley at his church as they wants him to preside over their wedding. He heads to the Grayson mansion eager to break the news which Victoria didn't take too well, not surprisingly she doesn't have many friends, if any.  He even tries to get Conrad to atone for his sins now that he's dying which falls on deaf ears.  Daniel arranging dinner with Margaux (Karine Vanasse) so he can work for her magazine, 'Voulez' but it appears she was the one who voulez Daniel, ok it doesn't quite make sense, but you get the meaning.  She even tries to seduce him by taking off her dress after their dinner, but as we find out later, Daniel picked it up and gave it back to her.  Seems like he wasn't going to cheat on Emily  in the same way she has done.  Emily convinces him to take the job and he convinces Margaux to bring the magazine to Montauk.

Emily earlier running into Charlotte at the same restaurant and her venting over Emily telling everyone about Victoria's affair.  Emily insist it must have been Ashley who blabbed but she's still so angry and doesn't want anything to do with her either cos she trusted her and was let down. To the point where Charlotte confesses to Jack that she feels guilty about Declan's death cos if she didn't act in that way he wouldn't have been there.  Jack has to tell her the truth, that Conrad knew about the bomb.

Victoria surprises everyone by introducing Patrick to the family in a bid ot get out from Emily's hold on her. Conrad bringing up the $5 million that he was paid to stay away by Frank.  Conrad says it wasn't him who sent Frank but Victoria and he's not a gold digger.  Emily taking the opportunity to give Conrad some more drugs causing him to have another attack, this time breaking the glass in his hand.  Patrick leaves since Charlotte also warns him off before he gets in too deep with this family.  She also rejects Conrad and won't be there for him after Jack's revelations to her.  All this leading Conrad to be alone and it seemed Emily's plan was working although it wasn't her plan to go after Conrad full speed ahead just yet, but after Whitley.

Meanwhile, Emily does go ahead and takes compromising photos of Whitley thinking she's doing the right thing.  Until he talks about her father not being able to give her away and walk her down the aisle.  He shows her what he's doing now to help others, the children, the homeless and she has a change of heart, but of course it' to late since she sneaked the compromising shot in with the collection tray.  Whitley is confronted by the pastor (David Moses) and has no choice but to leaves the church, as Conrad wanted to see him now. Emily tells Nolan she was too late to stop it from happening, but she will change it and being Whitley back since he's the only one who can get Conrad to confess.

This new series seems to be taking a long time to get going.  Patrick seems to have ulterior motives and isn't as innocent as he'd like everyone to believe, just a feeling I get.  I mean he's Victoria's son after all and her first born too.  Maybe Aiden is leading Victoria on a merry dance since why go to such lengths to convince her about Emily, he could just tell her that she's Amanda.  That scene with Jack was as though he was going to tell Charlotte about Emily being her sister but he doesn't.  That'd give the game away too soon.

It was good to see Emily struggling with her own conscience for a change, lest she be the one ending up needing forgiveness and a confession for all her sins and revenge.  Even Nolan was against her and he told her he loved her and her father too, but taking down a priest was something he couldn't be a part or wanted her to go through with either.  Don't know what Margaux is about too and really i can't even be bothered with her.  Seems just as boring Ashley leaves, they bring in another replacement who is just a loose end and equally boring.

Revenge 3.1 "Fear" Review

                                                     
Emily: "Fear. It's a fire that burns from birth in even the coldest heart.  It motivates and paralyzes the best of us or is used as a weapon by the worst.  But when your path is one of treachery and deception, the greatest fear of all is that the truth is absolute."

Emily (Emily VanCamp) in danger of talking about herself there when she says that fear is an emotion that both motivates and paralyzes and can be used as a weapon since she's experienced these emotions and is now using that very fear against the Grayson's for her scheming revenge, such as Conrad's (Henry Czerny) fear of dying, Victoria's (Madeleine Stowe) fear of losing her children..

The new season opened with Emily on the yacht who is drinking champagne in her wedding dress and then falls overboard after having been shot twice.  Revenge is back and does what it does best.  Uses a clip from a future episode to draw the viewer in and then takes a step back showing the events which leas up to the shooting, this time of Emily herself.  In season 1 it appeared to be Daniel (Josh Bowman) who got shot on Memorial Day weekend and in season 2, there was a hand shown lying at the bottom of the sea.  Not much to go on yet as to the likely suspects but there are plenty of these.  Especially since Aiden (Barry Sloane) returns hell bent on his own revenge against Emily.

Then there's Patrick (Justin Hartley) Victoria's son who just seems a little more mysterious in a bad way, than he really should be.  Not to mention the return of one of Daniel's old flame it seems, Margaux (Karine Vanasse) as she now has consent from her father to bring their magazine, 'Voulez' to the US.

We are taken back to Daniel and Emily discussing wedding dates but Emily doesn't really want to make any plans just yet.  Daniel is also relieved that Victoria hasn't seen in him in six months either.  She's probably really preoccupied with Patrick which we know she is.  As Charlotte (Christa B Allen) spies her out horse riding with him, but doesn't know that he's her son.  Seems we can't get enough of Patrick's gratuitous scenes without his shirt on, from earlier on since Charlotte comes to see him and he greets her in a towel, which he had to tighten around him a few times!  She gets her claws into him and he leaves.  Though she confides in Emily about thinking he's Victoria's lover.   Charlotte's been in Europe and getting over Declan and the baby, but Patrick tells her he's her brother, coming as a shock to her.  Did she really think he was Victoria's new toyboy love interest.

Emily waits for Nolan (Gabriel Mann) to be released from prison, just as he did for her when he gave her her father's box.  She truly regrets him getting involved with her on her revenge plans but he wants to go all the way to help her get those who wronged both Emily and her father.  Ashley (Ashley Madekwe) confronts Emily and knows she has feelings for Jack (Nick Wechsler) wanting to give Emily up unless she pays her off. Oh just get rid of her.  Which Emily decides to do as she tells Victoria it was Ashley who revealed the news about Patrick being her lover.  So she not only gets Victoria on side as she reveals he's her son and shows he made Victoria change her wicked ways.  Yeah a likely story.

Funny moment when Conrad complained about his portrait as Governor though that will be shortlived.  He didn't even get to make any decisions, ha.  The security for Emily's party is heightened and Nolan is unable to bring in the drugs she needs via the usual way so he makes a grand entrance instead, on a parachute. Daniel introduces Emily to pointless Margaux, yes about as useful as Ashley and Padma put together. Ashley meanwhile mingles with Conrad's doctor Jorge Velez (Diogo Morgado) who just happened to be there too. As Conrad is about to unveil his portrait, which Emily does for him, he collapses as she's spiked his drink, actually it was the bottle of water she gave him, would you drink from a bottle with the seal broken?  He collapses and his doctor tells the family he has Huntington's and Daniel should be checked out too.  This gets leaked to the press which Emily blames Ashley for.  Take that Ashley! ha, with Emily killing two birds with one stone: removing Ashley from the picture and ending Conrad's political ambitions.

Jack returns home and he and Emily kiss but he then confesses he feels nothing for her.  It's only him and Carl now.  Victoria and Emily give Ashley an ultimatum: to leave, telling her to return to Croydon, or face the consequences.  Ashley telling them they're two of a kind but Victoria tells her, "we're family." That won't last long with the hatred they have for each other and was probably said to spite Ashley.

Emily talks with Nolan and decides on August 8 being the wedding date, as Nolan draws the infinity symbol in the sand.  That's when things go pear shaped and she also decides this will be Victoria's day of reckoning. Emily draws a red line through Ashley and Victoria finds a surprise on her balcony.  She thinks it's Patrick but it's actually Aiden who confides he is here to take down "the girl next door."  That must have been music to Victoria's ears.

Emily: "fear is the most primeval of emotions, it can linger as a memory, burnt into one's mind of a parent taken too soon.  Or burrow into one's soul as self doubt over a child's rejection.  But the one thing we all fear the most is the unknown."  Don't know but some of these narrations of Emily's seem to be going round in circles too, isn't fear an emotion that has already been covered.

Credit to the show in trying to move away from the convoluted eps that was season 2 but there's still some pointless characters being added.  Margaux being one of them, is she really there just to seduce Daniel and get him back?  Then Aiden, er, wasn't he wanted by the FBI and then he still returns, is it all just for revenge on Emily, or can he not let her go.  The same with Patrick though he had very little to do and decides to leave town after just one confrontation with Charlotte.