Revenge - Recap: Sin Unto Death

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The show has always used parties as a context for plot development, but it never felt as essential as it does here, as the housewarming party puts all these disparate personalities into the same setting, and during a time where they're already passively-aggressively at each other's throats. It basically forces these people to confront one another in a more direct fashion, bringing their problems with each other out into the open. And what's borderline genius about it is that it's so par for the course that I don't think I ever expected that the arguments were artifice. As we learn, Aiden (Barry Sloane) is still working with Emily (Emily VanCamp), and their little "feud" is all for show. Aiden is simply trying to gain Victoria's (Madeleine Stowe) trust by feeding her the story that Emily stole the Grayson fortune, only to then pull back and reveal that his research has proven she didn't. It's psychological manipulation, right down to the staged argument Aiden and Emily have at Nolan's party, the sole purpose of which was to expose the Grayson's bankruptcy to all the wealthy Hamptonites at the party via a quick-witted retort from Emily.

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Of course, with the plan's success comes a bit of a catch: Aiden wasn't supposed to reveal his past relationship with her to Victoria. Emily states that this plan was simply supposed to be about the money, a factor she could control. However, now Daniel (Josh Bowman) is suspicious of Emily's activities because Victoria has implanted doubt in his mind about her. And so Daniel spends half the episode grilling Emily about her the secrets she may/may not be hiding from him. Yet Daniel has secrets of his own, explaining the outcome of the confrontation he had with Aiden at the end of last season's finale. We learn that Aiden fled from the confrontation after Daniel shot him in self-defense (when Aiden shows his scar to a concerned Emily, we see that it was just below the left collarbone -- or near enough to the heart to be troubling). Emily is concerned that Daniel is keeping secrets from her as well, and tries to reassure him of her commitment, but it's becoming gradually apparent that she's losing her grip on him. Daniel is beginning to rebel a bit, perhaps because, as he explains to Margaux (Karine Vanasse), he's been controlled by women his entire life. Maybe you can only push a Grayson man so far.

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While Nolan's housewarming party is the plan that works out the best, it's hardly the only plan Emily has in motion this week. She spends a fair amount of the episode nursing Conrad (Henry Czerny), yet the "medicine" she's discreetly giving him is actually intended to further prolong signs of his illness. Conrad's concern over how he'll be remembered leaves him susceptible to Emily's suggestion that he seek redemption. To this end, Emily enlists the aide of Father Paul Whitley, revealing to him that she was the one who'd framed him, and that she'll exonerate him if he helps get Conrad to confess to the authorities. And so Father Paul speaks with Conrad, and it's the best scene of the episode, thanks in large part to Henry Czerny's performance. I suppose it's always hard to tell when/if Conrad is being sincere, but I feel this is as close as we've ever come. He explains the feelings of loss and desertion he's felt, particularly regarding Charlotte (Christa B. Allen). Conrad struggles with tears as Father Paul tells him that confessing to the authorities and clearing David Clarke's name would be his one way of giving his daughter her real father back. A look washes over Conrad's face, and it appears his mind is made up.

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Naturally, I say "appears" because I'm not really sure what the end entailed. One would assume Conrad wouldn't have organized a car crash to kill Father Paul while he himself was still inside the car, but you just never know. It's an ending that is preceded by a dynamite scene in which Conrad tells Victoria he's confessing, and incurs her wrath, particularly after he insults David Clarke. It's just so well-done from both Stowe and Czerny, dripping with the years of contempt existing between Conrad and Victoria. She tells him not to drive off to meet the authorities with Father Paul or it'll be the last thing he does, but it just came across as such a desperately idle threat. And even if she could have followed through on it, who would she have called? Aiden wouldn't have done it, since it conflicts with Emily's plan. Maybe Patrick? But we've been given no reason to suspect he's versed in the business of sabotage. It's an interesting mystery that really leaves only Conrad himself as a suspect. As Emily is driving that night, she happens across Conrad's Ferrari Testarossa, crashed on the side of the road and engulfed in flames. Thrown through the windshield and onto the ground is Father Paul, presumably dead. But Conrad? Totally alive, though not looking all that great himself. He expresses genuine surprise to find Emily at the scene of the accident, and for once, Emily doesn't have a quick explanation ready. The jig may finally be up.

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There are other subplots of middling interest, such as Emily continuing her attempts to win back Jack's (Nick Wechsler) trust and friendship, while Jack himself takes up Margaux on an offer to be her date to Nolan's party, leading to an endearing little flirtation between the two in Nolan's pool. Meanwhile, Margaux continues to butt heads with Daniel, as he doesn't want Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) as the cover story of the magazine he's been tasked with publishing (no matter how awesome Nolan's wardrobe is. And believe me, not many people can get away with wearing a t-shirt with their own mugshot on it). The relevance of this storyline isn't immediately apparent, but I like the opaqueness of it, since Margaux is a bit of a wildcard with regards to what her overall motives are, here. In fact, I'd argue Patrick (Justin Hartley) is also a wildcard in this scenario, as it isn't clear what his plans are regarding Victoria. One would think he could be a con man, but why stick around after finding out the Graysons are broke then? He also goes out of his way to join Victoria in her mistrust of Emily Thorne, but wastes no time buddying up to her best bud Nolan, despite Patrick's frequent claim that he wants nothing to do with either of the pair. Interesting stuff that has me genuinely excited for what's to come, as so many variables are now in play, and the only constant is that everyone has an agenda.

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In short, this was the best episode since last season's finale, taking what already works about the show and turning it all the way up. Revenge is the best medicine, and "Confession" is an intravenous dose.

Thanks for reading my recap and review of Revenge - Season 3 Episode 3, "Confession"!