Fall Pilots Preview: Revenge

(With the fall’s crop of new shows hitting this month, now seems like a good a time to start previewing the new network offerings. As I’m not a professional critic, I don’t get access to all of the nice, shiny screeners that the pros do, so I’m basing my opinions somewhat on their thoughts as well as on teaser clips that the networks have released. These are very rough thoughts that could very well change once I’ve seen a full pilot. With that in mind, onto the preview.)

Revenge
Who: Stars Emily VanCamp (Brothers & Sisters), Madeleine Stowe (The Last Of The Mohicans), Gabriel Mann (The Bourne Supremacy), and Henry Czerny (Falling Skies).
Where: ABC
When: Wednesdays at 10:00 PM (Premieres September 20)
What: ABC’s description via The Futon Critic: “Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge. Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp) is new to the Hamptons. She’s met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn’t exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she’s returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how – with a vengeance. Revenge stars Madeleine Stowe (We Were Soldiers, The Last of the Mohicans) as Victoria Grayson, Emily Van Camp (Brothers & Sisters, Everwood) as Emily Thorne, Gabriel Mann (The Bourne Identity) as Nolan Ross, Henry Czerny (Mission: Impossible, Clear and Present Danger) as Conrad Grayson, Ashley Madekwe (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) as Ashley Davenport, Nick Wechsler (Roswell) as Jack Porter, Josh Bowman (Prowl) as Daniel Grayson, Christa B. Allen (13 Going on 30) as Charlotte Grayson and Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl) as Declan Porter. Revenge is written and executive-produced by Mike Kelley (Swingtown), along with executive producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey (Twilight). The pilot is directed and executive-produced by Phillip Noyce (Salt). Revenge is produced by ABC Studios.”
Jeremy Likes TV’s Thoughts: Eh. I’m firmly in the middle on this one. It’s been described as “The Count Of Monte Cristo In The Hamptons” by some and an over-the-top soap by others, so I guess that could be fun. I’ve also generally liked VanCamp in what she’s done in the past and, superficially, she’s nice to look at… so there’s that. It faces an uphill climb in its timeslot as it faces aging procedural vets Law & Order: SVU on NBC and the CSI mothership on CBS, both of which have loyal audiences. On the other hand, it does offer something different but still, I can’t shake the vibe that this show is simply “programming” and likely nothing more.
Chances It Gets A Full Season: 40%
Recommendation: Thumbs in the middle. Could be fun or could be really boring.
Other Reading About Revenge:
HitFix’s Dan Fienberg
The Futon Critic
TVLine’s Matt Webb Mitovich