'Revenge' Season 4 Spoilers: Emily 'Shaken to Core' Over Father's Return Next Season

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, June 10, 2014

"Revenge" does not return to ABC until the fall, but fans of the primetime soap opera can already look forward to events that leave Emily Thorne "shaken to the core."

Season four will see more of new cast member in James Tupper. The actor portrays Emily's father David Clarke whose death was the motivating factor behind her quest for revenge on the television series. The realization that her father is alive already has fans reeling, but the surprise may have an even stronger effect on Emily.

"It's hard to introduce new characters who don't have a past history with Emily, but will make her invest as much in their character," executive producer Aaron Harberts explained to TVGuide recently. "As we looked back, David seemed like someone who would shake an unshakable character to the core. She's certainly not predictable, but she's a machine and we know how she's going to react in certain situations, but we don't know how she's going to take it she finally sees her father."

Tupper has since signed on to "Revenge" as a series regular.

"We were thinking about David [returning], but out of the blue [Tupper] actually texted me like, 'Do you think it's time for David Clarke to come back,'" Harberts recalled. "When we pitched the last episode, that's when we went and made our deal with Tupper to make sure he'd be around."

Meanwhile, as previously reported, "Revenge" showrunner Sunil Nayar explained more about David's return to the series.

"For the first time we wanted the audience to know a little bit more than anybody in the show does," he told People.com right after the season three finale aired. "I'm interested to see how polarizing his reveal is to the audience, because I know there are people who love the idea and people who hate the idea, but the concept of family is a huge part of our show and this is a game changer in telling these dark family stories."

Furthermore, Nayar said that the upcoming season of "Revenge" will explore the limitless questions fans have about David.

"David Clarke is alive, but he is not at all the man that Emily or Victoria thinks they knew," he said. "The question of, 'Is Amanda Alive?' will be shocking enough, but the audience is also going to have to ask themselves, 'What happened to David over the last 20 years? Who is he and what is going to happen when he shows up?' He will have a ripple effect across the lives of everyone."

"Revenge" returns to ABC this fall.