Episode Report Card Pablo G: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT R.I.P., Amanda Clarke
By Pablo G | Season 2 | Episode 15 | Aired on 03.10.2013
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.No one should have to outlive their usurping pseudo sister/doppelganger. With Amily gone to that great strip club in the sky, Ems unravels. She admits that Ams was one of the few people she ever loved, having a crisis of conscience at the same time as refocusing her wrath on those she believes were responsible for Amily's death: the Graysons. If only it were that simple, though.
Jack survives his gunshot wound, and before he can fully digest the news that his new wife has died, Conrad offers fully paid medical and funeral bills. Jack accepts the offer, but he knows better than to give his trust to the Graysons. He immediately gets out of the hospital with the intention of tracking down Amily's laptop that had leverage against Conrad. He happens upon a hidden key that gains him access to that laptop, but the laptop itself is password-protected. As he's getting Nolan to come to the Stowaway to help crack the encryption, the place has been ransacked by Aiden (on Emanda's order), giving the appearance that Conrad was responsible.
The Graysons have more concerns than Jack. Daniel throws one of his semi-moralistic tantrums against his parents over all of this bloodshed they've caused. Also, that weird, plasticy Agent Trask of the Initiative still wants answers about Helen Crowley's disappearance. Victoria and Conrad put him on the trail of Amily, but he sees through the fact it's so convenient the one responsible for all of this would turn up dead. That suspicion is alleviated by Daniel proceeding with some recommended transactions on behalf of the Initiative. He has Aiden carry this out because our British bore has seized the opportunity to request a spot on the board at Grayson Global now that Helen cannot fulfill her duties as a dead person. So, Aiden and Ems have made inroads there, as well as with the other Grayson child. Charlotte is deeply affected by the death of Amily. Ems witnesses this and how it takes a toll on Victoria as she tries to comfort her daughter. Emanda sees now that Charlotte is the best way to attack the Queen.
But problems arise for Emanda. Jack uncovers part of the truth about the relationship between Ems and Ams, but only the part about them being in juvie together and Emanda being privy to a plot against the Graysons. Jack turns against Ems for not intervening to stop such a reckless and dangerous undertaking that put all of the Porters in danger. There isn't much argument Ems can put up against that evidence. Another problem is Charlotte makes it her personal crusade to throw a decent funeral for her sister, and starts researching Amanda Clarke's past. She turns up some names of foster siblings, and gets in contact with Eli, Ems' foster brother, who shows up to mourn the passing of the girl he grew up with. Groaaaaaan. Of all the relatives to stir shit up, a foster brother? Really?
Adding further to the onslaught of cliché business, Nolan has the tough decision of whether to call the bluff of the Initiative sending Padma what they claim to be one of her father's fingers in the mail. Nolan confirms the Initiative did indeed send one of his digits by cross-checking a database. He has no choice but to complete the code for Carrion so Padma can try to negotiate her father's safety. It's a huge gamble, considering the Initiative's track record, but Nolan puts his trust in Padma to judge the situation. Poor powerless Nolan.
-- Pablo G. is some guy who lives in Austin, Texas. He used to co-host TWoP's original "Trailers Without Pity" with his brother Omar G. Check out their webcomic Space Monkeys! and follow Pablo's writing at Pablog. Follow him @PendejoJoe on Twitter.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!The familiar waves of the nighttime ocean open yet another episode. Emanda voice-over: "In its purest form an act of retribution provides symmetry... the rendering of payment for crimes against the innocent." Fade cut into the waves crashing at dusk. VO continued: "But the danger of retaliation lies in furthering the cycle of violence. Still, it's a risk that must be met... when the greater offense is to allow the guilty to go unpunished." Whiteout fade cut.
Emanda violently bursts through the backdoor curtains of Casa Emily still soaking wet and covered in blood from her encounter on The Amanda. Nolan follows closely behind trying to calm her down after she's just witnessed the death of the closest thing she'll ever have to a sister. She's probably also weighed down by the thought of having to decide where to donate all of Amily's clear high-heels. All of the logic spilling from Nolan's mouth is pouring in one of Emanda's ear and out the other as she removes her bloodied coat. Waiting for evidence that the Graysons put Nate up to attacking the Porters and waiting for news on Jack before heading to the hospital where Nolan dumped him are both good ideas, but Ems doesn't want to hear them. She searches for her gun. Her hands tremble from all of the adrenaline as she pops in a clip, and continue to shake when she goes to wash off dried blood in the kitchen sink. Nolan continues to ask that she take a second to ease up, prompting Ems to snap at the suggestion that she relent when she's covered in the blood of one of the only people she's ever loved. Aiden enters the front door, oblivious to the whole situation. He's greeted immediately with the news that Amily's dead before Emanda stomps upstairs. Nolan advises Aiden that it's best if they just give her a minute. Upstairs, Ems changes clothes and comes across the locket necklace Ams gave her as she was dying. FLASHBACK: Ams repeats her last words about Emanda giving her the one thing no one else could: a family. She puts the necklace in Ems' hands. /FLASHBACK. Emanda opens the locket, peels away a picture of Jack and reveals a photo of the two girls when they were teenagers. It sends Ems over the edge. She sobs uncontrollably. Finding old Glamour Shots will do that.
Later in the day at Grayson Manor, Conrad gets Nate's voicemail recording, and it sounds like he's been trying all morning to get through to the guy he last knew was on a boat with nefarious plans that may or may not have involved murder. Victoria is more concerned that they have not been in contact with that creepy Trask guy because there's no way of knowing if the Initiative has bought off on the idea that Amily was responsible for Helen Crowley's disappearance. Daniel interrupts the conversation with his very slowwww realization that the family is still in every bit of danger they've always been. Conrad tries to dissuade his son of that notion, but gets interrupted by Declan and Charlotte coming downstairs in a commotion because they've just been informed that Jack was shot. Victoria and Conrad barely react to the news. They both go white as ghosts, though, when Charlotte tells them that Amily's whereabouts are unknown. Dec and Charlie depart in a hurry, leaving Daniel to fume at his parents for causing more bloodshed. He's at his limit. Dan vows to shut the Initiative down and storms off. Conrad's phone rings with that call from Trask they've been expecting. Trask says he's recovered Helen's personal effects, but he's reserving judgment on whether Amily was responsible until they can find her. Conrad offers to come meet him, causing Trask to just hang up. Now that they're alone and not entertaining terrorists on the phone, Victoria asks what the Initiative has done. It's time for Conrad to come clean about his conniving deeds with Nate Ryan.