I was a teenage girl when I discovered television drama. Such a discovery! My mother and my sister and I would sit together gripped by the likes of Dallas and Dynasty. I loved the settings, the intrigue, the romance, the passion – but most of all, the dramatic nature of it all!

In recent years, the kind of ‘high drama’ embodied in such television series has waned in popularity a little, I think. Networks seem to commission more ‘real’ dramas – some of which I enjoy; some of which I find too gritty to provide the escapism I seek in an hour of television viewing. But then along came Revenge…

A newspaper reviewer wrote of my first novel that it is ‘romance like Hollywood used to make’. I’ve always appreciated that comparison, and I extend it now to Revenge: it’s television drama from ‘the good old days’, only set in the modern time.

Here, for fun, I’m sharing five things I love about Revenge:

• The setting: The action focuses on very rich Americans, and I love the grandeur of their world: the yachts, the vast houses, the cars, the artworks, the parties. I think the cleverness of the show is that it gives a glimpse into this world without showing it as idyllic. Money doesn’t buy happiness (but it does buy a house the size of a shopping mall on a private beach!).
• The characters: I really enjoy the characterisation on this programme, and I think many of the actors are superb in their roles. What stands out to me is the exploration of dark and light in each person: there is yet to be a character who does not have to touch on their shadow self in the need for either vengeance, self-protection or self-advancement.
• The costumes: I would watch the show for these alone! What a budget they must have for costumes. The women’s attire in particular is beautiful. Stunning dresses. My favourite scenes are those in which the characters are attending a function of some kind; the formalwear is exquisite. This really is a show for fashionistas!
• The twists: I’ve given up trying to work out where the story is going; I simply sit back and enjoy the many twists and turns of the plot. I love the constant sense of mystery, and I think the writers do an amazing job of knitting together a complex story. Where will it end? I’d say ‘I can’t wait to see’, but I can – I don’t want the story to finish.
• The passion: There is so much passion in the programme – I find it compelling and moving, especially the passion of the characters seeking vengeance. There are shades of the age-old melodrama style here, and I love that. Clearly I’m not in a minority, because nearly nine million people tune into the show in the US alone!

If you’ve seen Revenge, I hope you’ll appreciate my post – can you add to my list? What do you love about the show? If you haven’t, I hope I’ve encouraged you to give it a try. To whet your appetite, here’s a promo for one of my favourite episodes – it is set at a masquerade ball, which of course appeals to me given that I open the action of The Echoes of Love at just such a sumptuous and grand ball…