'Revenge': Who's Who at Start of Season 2
Addictive soap returns; what you need to know about main character Emily Thorne and those in her orbit
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Emily Thorne
Why She's Vengeful: Born Amanda Clarke, her idyllic Hamptons childhood of pinwheels and swing-sets ended abruptly when her father, David Clarke, was tried and convicted of treason for his alleged role in funding the bombing of a commercial airliner, Flight 197, in the mid-'90s. For years she believed her father was guilty, and as a teenager she drowned her sorrow over being ''The Devil's Daughter'' with alcohol, 50 Cent songs, and the thrill of occasionally beating up guys in nightclub bathroom stalls. But when Amanda discovered her father had been framed by the Graysons — people he'd called friends — she swapped identities with her juvie cellmate Emily Thorne and began to plot her payback.
Where She Left Off: Emily's plan had been to gain access to the Grayson files that would exonerate her father by marrying the family?s playboy heir, Daniel. But after she managed to swipe the crucial intel she needed from her fianceé's briefcase, she promptly called off the engagement.
Best Line: ''I came here for revenge. You offered to help me. If you can't stomach it any more, how about you at least spare me your passive-aggressive judgments?'' (to Nolan Ross)
Secret Weapons: Thesp skills that put Actors Studio alumni to shame; terrible wigs (apparently the only disguise she needs to go completely unnoticed); an ability to pit her enemies against each other, Fistful of Dollars-style.
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Victoria Grayson
Relationship to Emily: Evil pseudo-stepmother figure who wooed Emily's father only to help paint him as a domestic terrorist. Victoria banished little Emily from the Hamptons and had her tormented by a sick psychiatrist (Amy Landecker) and a scheming, bowtie-wearing gossip columnist (Roger Bart).
Where we left off: Sensing that the vultures were circling Grayson Global, Victoria sought redemption by turning her ex-husband, Conrad, over to the SEC. But the plane that carried her to Washington for her hearing blew up shortly after take-off. Status: unknown.
Best Line: ''Understand something Lydia: Every time I smile at you across the room or we run into each other at a luncheon or I welcome you into my home? Let that smile be a reminder of just how much I despise you. And every time I hug you? The warmth you feel is my hatred burning through.''
Secret Weapons: Deadly glares; the power to seduce any man she wants; enough moral bankruptcy to pimp out her daughter and order her own son's prison beating and still believe she's ''protecting them''; an ability to look like a ''demonic succubus.''
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Conrad Grayson
Relationship to Emily: The man who framed David Clarke for the crime he was guilty of himself also had Clarke murdered in prison.
Where we left off: His empire crumbling and his ex-wife Victoria headed to D.C. to testify against him, Conrad seemed to be at the end of his rope — and prepared to accept the bombing of Victoria's plane as the price of her silence.
Best Line: ''So, Fire and Ice — it's astonishing how your mother managed to model the theme of your engagement party after both sides of her own personality.'' (to Daniel)
Really Secret Weapon: Terrorist allies in the mysterious Americon Initiative.
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Daniel Grayson
Relationship to Emily: Grayson family scion whom Emily seduces in order to gain access to intel that could exonerate her father.
Where we left off: Emily was disappointed that Daniel decided to ''double down on Grayson'' even after learning the full truth about his family?s terrible misdeeds. Having gotten everything she needed from him, she broke off their engagement.
Best Line: ''You'd think a million dollars would trump anyone's sense of self righteousness.''
Secret Weapons: Boyish good looks; the ability to sell out his ideals at a moment's notice.
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Amanda Clarke (a.k.a. The Real Emily Thorne, Faux-manda)
Relationship to Emily: Her cellmate in juvenile detention. The real Emily Thorne agreed to swap identities with Amanda Clarke in exchange for $500,000. That money didn't last long, and when she got tired of her post-juvie career as a stripper, she decided to get more mileage out of her fake identity as the daughter of an infamous criminal. So Faux-manda showed up in the Hamptons and moved in on the real Amanda Clarke's childhood sweetheart, Jack Porter.
Where we left off: Faux-manda disappeared after she accepted a ride with Takeda on the night of Tyler's murder. But she popped up again, ''Whac-a-Mole-style,'' to thwart her cellmate's shot at romance with Jack. Worst of all? She's pregnant, and it's probably Jack's baby.
Best Line: ''Enjoying the show?'' (to Jack while stepping out of Nolan's pool)
Secret Weapon: A tire iron.
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Jack Porter
Relationship to Emily: Childhood sweetheart of Amanda Clarke who looked after her golden retriever Sammy during her years-long exile from the Hamptons. Finds himself drawn to her once again when she re-enters his life as Emily Thorne.
Where we left off: He recanted his declaration of love for Emily the moment Faux-manda popped up at his bar apparently carrying his child.
Best Line: ''Thank you for teaching me how to love.'' (to Sammy)
Secret Weapons: Ability to make any woman's heart melt with staggering sincerity; shakes a mean cocktail.
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Nolan Ross
Relationship to Emily: After David Clarke invested in his start-up software company, Nolan became one of his closest allies — and defenders, after Clarke went to prison. Since Clarke's death, the billionaire tech wünderkind has provided invaluable support to Emily in her anti-Grayson campaign.
Where we left off: Nolan broke the news to Emily that her mysterious mother is still alive.
Best Line: ''Ah, ambiguous sexual identity — I get it. I'm about a three on the Kinsey scale.'' (to Tyler Barrol)
Secret Weapons: Whale camera; billions of dollars; geeky camouflage wardrobe of pastel sweaters and topsiders to appear unthreatening.
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Ashley Davenport
Relationship to Emily: Frenemy party planner who first provided Emily with access to the Graysons.
Where we left off: After displaying her ability as the family's spokesperson during Daniel's trial, Ashley took a new job offered by Conrad to do his dirty work.
Best Line:''All I've got to show for my summer with the Graysons is a gun-wielding, psychotic boyfriend who made out with you.'' (to Nolan)
Secret Weapon: A Shakespearean tendency to hide behind curtains and outside windows to eavesdrop on conversations to which she really shouldn't be privy.
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Charlotte Grayson
Relationship to Emily: Her half-sister! David Clarke fathered Charlotte with Victoria, who concealed her paternity from her daughter until the most inappropriate moment possible — when Conrad insensitively blurted out that he's not her father at a dinner party.
Where we left off: Unable to deal with the fact that her biological father is a notorious terrorist, Charlotte turned to illegally obtained prescription meds. After seeing on the news that her mother's plane crashed, and getting no support from her wharf-rat ex-boyfriend Declan (Connor Paolo), she downed a lethal dose of pills. Status: unknown.
Best Line: ''I guess we can add teen pill popper to the Grayson book of shame.''
Secret Weapons: Cyberbullying skills; a wardrobe of schoolgirl outfits to instill a sense of Battle Royale-esque dread in her nemeses.
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Takeda
Relationship to Emily: A powerful businessman from Japan, Emily's sensei trained her in the art of vengeance and seems to harbor an equally intense hatred for the Graysons. However, he disapproved of Emily's burgeoning romantic feelings for Daniel.
Where we left off: He delivered the coup de grace that killed Tyler and framed Daniel for the murder. Last seen driving off in a Maserati with a spooked Faux-manda.
Best Line: ''This boy is weak.'' (about Daniel)
Secret Weapons: Karate; gaining the advantage over American adversaries by pretending not to understand English.
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The White-Haired Man
Relationship to Emily: The Americon Initiative assassin who killed her father in prison, The White-Haired Man first appeared to be doing Conrad's bidding. But actually, he's been blackmailing Conrad for years and had originally intended for the Grayson CEO to take the blame for Flight 197's destruction.
Where we left off: After a fight with Emily, in which she ended up sparing his life, WHM planted a bomb on the plane that was to take Victoria to Washington to testify against Conrad. He remains at large.
Best Line: ''You're a hell of a fighter. You must have gotten that from your mother.'' (to Emily)
Secret Weapons: The financial backing of a major terrorist organization; a house full of clocks.
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David and Kara Clarke
Relationship to Emily: David raised Emily by himself until their world was shattered when he was convicted of treason. We never learned much about Emily's mother Kara, save that she ''died'' after chronic illness when Emily was very young.
Where we left off: Nolan revealed that Emily's mother is still alive, and Jennifer Jason Leigh will join the cast to play her in season 2.
Best, and pretty much only, line: ''I am not the man they say I am!''
Secret Weapons: We don't know anything about what skills Emily's mother may possess, but The White-Haired Man implied she was a formidable ''fighter.'' David Clarke's main skills involved diary writing and the ability to multiply infinity by infinity.