Season 1 Finale- Episode 14: Violet Hill

[kellyzollo]

So after I spent the day with the final edit and also drooling over the new forum (thank you Ty it looks awesome!), the finale for the season has been released!

Episode 14: "Violet Hill"

• Paige confesses in full.
• Elliot's body is pulled from the lake.
• The fall out of the truth leaves many in it's wake.
• Kate is in for the shock of her life.

I am extremely proud of this episode for the lead in that it will give for Season 2. The theme song is "Violet Hill", by Coldplay. It's creepy and gave me the chilly edge that I wanted to have for the finale the song can be found in a link inside the episode and here:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvpWJhxp8m4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvpWJhxp8m4</a>.

West Lake will return for Season 2 on May 23rd with Episode 15. Again thank you all for the journey of Season 1 and enjoy! As always link is below or in my signature. Also, we are on twitter, I buckled down and got one, find us here, http://twitter.com/westlakeserial.

http://westlake.kellyzollo.com/

Kely

[Dallas]

Hey Kelly,

First of all HUGE congrats on completing season 1. What a roller coaster it has been. It's been such a pleasure having a series under your name back around, and West Lake has never disappointed! I look forward to season two!

I adore Coldplay, so I thought the theme song was brillant. It really struck with the overall tone of the episode and helped make the episode better, I think. Nice job picking it out.

The episode itself:

It reminded me of the first season finale of Desperate Housewives, in some ways if I'm honest. The entire first season there was the mystery of why the leading gal killed herself. I dont remember the details and I havent watched the show in years, but all season long you've had this mystery and in this final episode, all the details came out and everything was sort of laid out in it's place.

I love that Shane was there for Paige. At first, I was a little wishy-washy about him, but he really is one of the good guys. It would have been easy for him to let go and forget about Paige, but he clearly really does care for her. That was a nice read.

It was also a touch surprising to see Karen admit everything that she discovered. I actually thought that at first, she would maybe help her hubby and try to cover some thing up.

The most surprising twist in the episode, for me, was seeing Ryan and Jessica in bed together! She's such a little rat, I only hope there's some way to keep her around next season (Paige too). Even though they helped kill Elliot, I hope there's some kind of loop hole to keep them around. Jessica is one of my favorite characters, just because she's so different from everyone else on the series.

The last scene was nice too with Jake and Vanessa. I'm so interested to see if they'll be able to recapture their love that they had in the past. I'm also looking forward to more scenes with Vanessa and Kate. A possible rivarly or something.

Awesome job, you've done a great job Kelly!

d

[kellyzollo]

I adore Coldplay, so I thought the theme song was brillant. It really struck with the overall tone of the episode and helped make the episode better, I think. Nice job picking it out.

It's funny you mention that you like Coldyplay, normally I cannot stand them. Which, I found kinda ironic in a way that their song happened to be playing on my IPod when I planned this season and then it ended up being the finale song.

It reminded me of the first season finale of Desperate Housewives, in some ways if I'm honest. The entire first season there was the mystery of why the leading gal killed herself. I dont remember the details and I havent watched the show in years, but all season long you've had this mystery and in this final episode, all the details came out and everything was sort of laid out in it's place.

Years later and I have never seen an episode of DH ever. That being said I like that you liked that it had a build up and then the details coming into play.

I love that Shane was there for Paige. At first, I was a little wishy-washy about him, but he really is one of the good guys. It would have been easy for him to let go and forget about Paige, but he clearly really does care for her. That was a nice read.

I had a really hard time writing Shane this year because I wasn't sure where he fit in with the rest of the cast. His storyline next season is much more centered next season and hopefully, will lead to a few surprising revelations along the way.

It was also a touch surprising to see Karen admit everything that she discovered. I actually thought that at first, she would maybe help her hubby and try to cover some thing up.

Karen has been hurt by Alan and her grief in blaming and pushing everyone away because of the lies was central to her needing to confront Alan and Bridgette for me. I had a blast writing her scenes.

The most surprising twist in the episode, for me, was seeing Ryan and Jessica in bed together! She's such a little rat, I only hope there's some way to keep her around next season (Paige too). Even though they helped kill Elliot, I hope there's some kind of loop hole to keep them around. Jessica is one of my favorite characters, just because she's so different from everyone else on the series.

A rat you say for Jessica? Most refer to her as heinous bitch, LOL. I love writing her because she is so complex and has so many layers as to why she does what she does. She and Paige will both be around the series for a few more seasons to come so you don't have to worry about her going away anytime soon.

The last scene was nice too with Jake and Vanessa. I'm so interested to see if they'll be able to recapture their love that they had in the past. I'm also looking forward to more scenes with Vanessa and Kate. A possible rivarly or something.

This seems to be the ultimate question with Jake/Vanessa are they going to be able to get past everything or not. I think they will, it just may take them a while to get to that point. As for Kate, she and Vanessa have scenes in the next season, rivals I don't think so much but I do see them more as two people who will be on friendly terms for a while.

First of all HUGE congrats on completing season 1. What a roller coaster it has been. It's been such a pleasure having a series under your name back around, and West Lake has never disappointed! I look forward to season two!

One of the things that I worried about was returning and failing, but you and others embraced me again with open arms and that means the world to me. Thanks again so much for reading and leaving feedback Dallas! You have been there since Episode 1 with great feedback and I am so happy that I didn't disappoint with the finale for you and the rest of the readers.

Kelly

[Ty Junior]

I started drafting this up last night, only to end up asleep in my bed about half an hour later.  I don't think the two things are related though.

I, too, really enjoyed how everything came together in the Hannah Donovan/Elliot Davison mystery.  The only thing that I don't believe has been answered is Jessica's motive for killing Elliot and trying to make everyone believe it was an attempted suicide.  If it has, do correct me.  I'm glad that in hindsight that Paige realized how implausible it would be for an already wounded man to shoot himself in the head.  Of course, I think at the time of the actual events, she was probably running on adrenaline and fear that she would have done anything to make it seem like the gun struggle never happened.  Of course, sneaky Jessica made sure she never escape that night by sending the video tapes to Ryan and siccing him on poor unsuspecting Paige.  That's pure genius and the workings of true, diabolical mind.  I agree with Dallas in that she brings something more to the young adult set.  If her character didn't exist, half of these character probably wouldn't be as interesting since her manipulations embroiled them into the stories that we are now seeing on screen.  I'm interested to see how much more mileage you're able to get out this character, especially with everything hitting the fan.  What will be even more interesting is when Ryan learns that he's been sleeping and colluding with his father's killer.

Scene two was admittedly one where I had to backtrack and remind myself who everyone was because it was essentially full of supporting characters that I really haven't paid close enough attention to.  I know, Alan and Richard were key in the cover-up, and the fact that they both re-united for the common cause of protecting their daughters make sense and is a neat little twist to Karen and Alan's not so perfect marriage.  It was good of her to actually hand over all the evidence, though we know she has an equally vested interest in finding out what happened to Hannah as anyone.  I'm also presuming that Alan doesn't know that Richard's daughter is the reason Hannah is dead because that would just be a little weird - sacrificing one child for another, but then, some parents are weird.

The reveal with Kate and Jake having been involved in a drunken one-night stand was not that far-fetch for me to believe.  They were a lot younger then, and committing your life to one person probably didn't seem like a huge priority as your lives often transcend into different directions at that age.  I do wish we had seen a little more interaction between the two with them perhaps being evasive or uncomfortable with one another, or even if the angst was somehow incorporated into Vanessa's psyche on a subconscious nature just so the nature of the reveal could have been more of a shock-- and an "ah" at that the same time. Nonetheless, I thought having the memories of what led Vanessa to drive the car that night, along with the recovery of Elliot's body was a great way to round off the season.  It's also good to know that Hannah is finally at peace.

Overall, I thought the episode was stellar.  I can't wait to see what will come of Paige, Kate, and the Bri/Jake/Vanessa triangle.

[kellyzollo]

I, too, really enjoyed how everything came together in the Hannah Donovan/Elliot Davison mystery.  The only thing that I don't believe has been answered is Jessica's motive for killing Elliot and trying to make everyone believe it was an attempted suicide.  If it has, do correct me.  I'm glad that in hindsight that Paige realized how implausible it would be for an already wounded man to shoot himself in the head.  Of course, I think at the time of the actual events, she was probably running on adrenaline and fear that she would have done anything to make it seem like the gun struggle never happened.  Of course, sneaky Jessica made sure she never escape that night by sending the video tapes to Ryan and siccing him on poor unsuspecting Paige.  That's pure genius and the workings of true, diabolical mind.  I agree with Dallas in that she brings something more to the young adult set.  If her character didn't exist, half of these character probably wouldn't be as interesting since her manipulations embroiled them into the stories that we are now seeing on screen.  I'm interested to see how much more mileage you're able to get out this character, especially with everything hitting the fan.  What will be even more interesting is when Ryan learns that he's been sleeping and colluding with his father's killer.

Thanks so much for the comments Ty, you are correct I haven't revealed Jessica's motivations yet, I can hint that is tied to her past in California and mainly Jake's family. As to not say to much more about her, her schemes are far from over with everyone.

Scene two was admittedly one where I had to backtrack and remind myself who everyone was because it was essentially full of supporting characters that I really haven't paid close enough attention to.  I know, Alan and Richard were key in the cover-up, and the fact that they both re-united for the common cause of protecting their daughters make sense and is a neat little twist to Karen and Alan's not so perfect marriage.  It was good of her to actually hand over all the evidence, though we know she has an equally vested interest in finding out what happened to Hannah as anyone.  I'm also presuming that Alan doesn't know that Richard's daughter is the reason Hannah is dead because that would just be a little weird - sacrificing one child for another, but then, some parents are weird.

This is one area where I really not regret holding everything up and posting 10, where the adults so to speak are central in the episode. However, now that is done and rewritten. I may be able to post it over the season break to clear up some confusion with them. That being said I really loved that you liked Karen's reaction cause I had a tough time writing it. As for Alan, he know bits and pieces of Jessica's involvement, as to not give much more away, it is a focus in season 2.

The reveal with Kate and Jake having been involved in a drunken one-night stand was not that far-fetch for me to believe.  They were a lot younger then, and committing your life to one person probably didn't seem like a huge priority as your lives often transcend into different directions at that age.  I do wish we had seen a little more interaction between the two with them perhaps being evasive or uncomfortable with one another, or even if the angst was somehow incorporated into Vanessa's psyche on a subconscious nature just so the nature of the reveal could have been more of a shock-- and an "ah" at that the same time. Nonetheless, I thought having the memories of what led Vanessa to drive the car that night, along with the recovery of Elliot's body was a great way to round off the season.  It's also good to know that Hannah is finally at peace.

The Kate/Jake ONS has been in the works for a long time and another reason I feel bad not posting 10 due to some things that happen there that allude to it as well. That being said nothing is as it seems with the case, other than that my lips are sealed. They do have scenes in Season 2 coming up so I hope to showcase the right amount of awkwardness with what happened to the group with it, they were all young so I didn't think i was too out there either. I am thrilled that you liked the scenes tying everything together.

Overall, I thought the episode was stellar.  I can't wait to see what will come of Paige, Kate, and the Bri/Jake/Vanessa triangle.

Thanks so much Ty, I had a really good time writing it. I hope next season will be just as good and there is lots in store for everyone that you mentioned plus a few more.

Kelly