Revenge Review: Exposure (Season 4 Episode 19)

Emily Thorne is no longer Emily Thorne. She’s exposed herself to the entire world, and in “Exposure,” everyone has to deal with that fact.

For her father and for Jack, it’s happy news. They are both proud and believe she’s made the right decision. She probably has, and it’s clear a weight has been lifted from her. We actually get a chance to see a hopeful, almost relaxed character in the real Amanda Clarke.

Most of this episode is spent in flashbacks, and it makes me hope the series is coming to a close. It certainly feels as though it is, and I have no idea how they could drag this story on any longer. It’s time to say goodbye.

My judgement of this episode would actually be clearer if we knew for certain whether or not the series is ending. All signs point to yes, and if that’s the case, the closure of it works pretty well. It’s also nice to have a reminder of everything that’s happened since the season began, even though flashbacks like this can often feel like nothing more than filler.

Something similar was done recently on The Blacklist, but there, it didn’t make nearly as much sense. The Blacklist was only one and a half seasons into the series when it gave us a recap of the story, and that’s too soon to be necessary. In Revenge, though, a heck of a lot has happened in almost four full seasons, and I actually enjoyed the reminder of some of those details.

The story with Margaux is something we do see more of in “Exposure,” and it’s completely frustrating. She begins with her new outlook on life to let the revenge go, but turns on Emily once again in an abrupt moment. This is what I mean by the story dragging on and on. Can we please move on to something else already?

Something that’s new, and that also brings closure to the story, is the relationship between “Amanda” and David. We see their partnership when they threaten one of Emily / Amanda’s previous victims, with David standing proudly by his daughter’s side. Later, they sit together on the porch swing and have a nice bonding moment. To me, this is where the story has been heading, and this is what defines Amanda’s happy ending.

But, of course, nothing is that simple. In the last scene, we see a mystery figure circling Amanda’s face with a red Sharpie, indicating more drama in the next few episodes.

Photos From Revenge Season 4 Episode 19:

What did you think of “Exposure,” and what are your hopes for the remainder of the series? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Revenge airs Sundays at 9/8c on ABC.

Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.