A flashback episode to 2002 shows the earliest origins of Amanda Clarke’s revenge plot.
Miramax and the Weinsteins were gearing up their Oscar push forChicago.
And NBC was tryingand failingto launch a pre-Mad Men60s nostalgia craze withAmerican Dreams.
Credit: Colleen Hayes/ABC
As it would be for any 18-year-old.
Amanda was quickly escorted outside…to Nolans waiting car.
So began a flashback episode that, for my money, was pretty darn disappointing.
In fact, it may be the first episode of the series that I can truly call a letdown.
The biggest issue was that, well, we alreadykneweverything that was dramatized here.
Amanda really thought her father was a terrorist but slowly came to know the truth about the Graysons conspiracy.
That maybe wed learn what exactly his motivation is for pursuing an anti-Grayson vendetta.
Legacy suffered from a similar problem.
And felt really bad about it.
NEXT: Where wereyouin 2002?
Actually we still dont know where Daniel and Charlotte were… Nolans flamboyance hadntquiteyet reached critical mass.
His hair was still brown and his wardrobe was shockingly devoid of pastels.
Good God, in wearing it long he looked like either a wannabe snowboarder or Seattle grunge-band member.
It was a hairstyle better suited to the 1991-set flashback-within-a-flashback than 2002.
Or as commenter LuckeeShev87 said during our live chat, Its like Lucy fromPeanuts.
At least in happier news, Sammy the Bionic Dog hadnt yet reached middle age by 2002.
Most dogs would have, but not Sammy.
Could it be that someone from their inner circle who knew their secret was holding it over them?
NEXT: Amanda lands a gig at the Graysons New Years Eve party.
All the better to plot their destruction.
Amanda, posing as Mandy, said shed take the job and kick Kai back 25%.
(Commenter Amanda Basta: Clearly Amanda got better with the aliases as time went on.)
New Years Eve was then upon us, and Lydia and Michael Davis made their arrival at Grayson Manor.
Since Lydia was Victorias closest friend, she and Michael were given an ocean-side room.
Having 24,000 square feet really is awesome.
Victoria took this opportunity to indulge in her own 1991-set reverie.
Turns out that particular New Years Eve party was the first time she hadeverlaid eyes on David Clarke.
New Years Eve, and Amanda was on hand to cater the party.
Itappearedblack, but Im willing to giveRevenges producers the benefit of the doubt.
NEXT: All of David Clarkes persecutors are evil and proud of it.
It was Amandas task to set up the place-controls for everyone who had been invited.
Everyone was bitching magnificently to one another.
Treadwell was talking about how hed just wrapped up his reporting on the DC sniper story.
But that didnt stop him from giving Victoria that photo of David Clarke from the day he died.
(Wait, howdidTreadwell of all people get ahold of that?)
We all know youre capable of it, he said.
Wow, the David Clarke conspiracy really is the worst-kept secret ever.
(Also,Star Trek: Enterprisefans, rejoice!
Halsted was played by John Billingsley, who portrayed the fussy Denobulan Dr. Phlox on theTrekprequel.)
Oh, youknewthat wasnt your room, Lydia.Yourroom was in a different wing of the house.
She barged in on Frank and Conrad and managed to get Conrad alone.
Shed take the house.
But she also wanted the man whod let herbuythe house.
With a sly, seductive smirk she moved in for the kill…apparently beginning a nine-year affair.
Which really makes Victoria seem stupid, doesnt it?
NEXT: Conrad may bein flagrante Lydia, but hes still a mensch, dont you know it?
As Michael said, Conrad is a mensch indeed.
Frank had finally narrowed the suspects list down to Roger alone and began his interrogation.
Not when Franks in the picture.
And in that moment Amanda knew.
She knew that her father had indeed been the victim of a terrible conspiracy.
For more material, of course.
The only thing for Amanda to do next?
Get a double infinity symbol tattooed on her wrist.
What did you guys think of Legacy?
Do you agree that it was a disappointment?
Are you also anxious to see the full story of Amandas apprenticeship under Takeda in Japan?
Why were Daniel and Charlotte totally awol from Grayson Manor on New Years Eve?
And were peoples hairstyles really that wretched in 2002?
