Summary: A dialogue-heavy episode that focuses on small character advancements more than big plot events.
If you have not seen this episode yet and do not wish to be spoiled, do not continue reading!
Recap
Chaplin and Kendal practice for their planned meeting with Secretary of Defense Curry, with Chaplin noting that Kendal needs to curtail letting his emotions get the best of him during negotiations. Meanwhile, the NATO staff determines that one of the sonar arrays of their outer perimeter has gone down. Worries that it could be a possible attack breach ahead of the meeting are allayed when it’s determined that the battery of the array has died. As the U.S. Navy is usually who provides those support services, Kendal orders Grace to command a team aboard the Colorado to replace the battery.
Curry and his delegates arrive with the surprising inclusion of Admiral Shepard. Curry announces to the crew that the president has authorized full amnesty to anyone who wishes to surrender on the spot. No one steps forward and Curry meets with Chaplin and Kendal. As Curry says that they are not there with any offer, Kendal gets worked up. Curry intimates that he might let the crew go free if Chaplin, Kendal and the officers service time in jail. Chaplin disagrees and sits back calmly until Curry mentions his son killed in action. Chaplin snaps and grabs Curry before Kendal separates them and escorts the captain out of the meeting tent. Kendal tells his CO that he can serve the time but Chaplin says he can’t agree to that.
Grace needs a diver who can carry out the battery replacement and recruits King. Setting up for the mission, he wants to use a power drill but Grace is concerned with the sound it will produce. At first she wants him to use a hand wrench but allows the power drill for expediency. On the dive, the noise proves too great and other subs in the area begin to approach.
Chaplin keeps insisting with Curry that they have a public trial rather than a secretive tribunal, to which the Secretary won’t agree. In recess, Shaw, the White House consultant, tries to convince Kendal that Chaplin is merely trying to hold to his ideals and not thinking of the crew. Shepard tells Chaplin to hold steady as they work in Washington to get the rogue elements of the government replaced.
One sub at quite a distance locates the Colorado and turns to intercept. Grace is not worried because they can finish the mission in the amount of time it will take for the sub to close the distance. However, the Illinois, at lost closer, turns on their position. Grace has to make the decision to dive the boat, stranding King with limited air.
Curry presents an official offer from the president which Chaplin declines because it won’t allow them to publicly address why they took their actions. Kendal excuses he and Chaplin to talk about the offer and assess the situation with the Colorado. Back in talks, Chaplin reveals that he has evidence from the SEALs on what they were doing in Pakistan. Curry offers amnesty for the entire crew if Chaplin and Kendal serve two years in prison. Chaplin says he’ll hold an open trial on the island for the world to see if they don’t agree to a public hearing.
Kendal argues with Chaplin over his stubbornness and refusal to budge on the trial. Curry uses the divide to offer amnesty for the crew, the chance for Grace and Kendal to escape prosecution by going to any country other than the U.S., and the opportunity for Kendal to see his wife again. Curry’s terms are that they get the sub back and Chaplin is court martialed and likely sent to jail. Kendal agrees to the offer.
Grace prepares to engage the Illinois. On the island, Chaplin and Kendal talk about the agreement. Kendal realizes this was Chaplin’s plan and the captain admits to having used Kendal’s emotions to get them the best deal possible. As Curry presents official paperwork of the deal for Kendal to sign, Shaw runs in and tears up the agreement. She pulls Curry away and announces that they’ve found the Colorado and are prepared to sink her. Shepard, distraught over his daughter, grabs a gun from one of the troops, shoots Shaw in the chest and wounds Curry’s leg. The group retreats to its boats, hauling Shepard into custody.
In the water, on a suggestion, Grace orders torpedoes fired at a ravine wall, causing a cloud of debris to fill the water. As Illinois fires on her sister sub, the Colorado disappears in the cloud. Blowing ballasts and climbing to firing depth, Grace orders the missile doors opened. She calls out to the opposing ships, announcing that she will fire four missiles if they do not call off the attack. They comply. For the first time, Prosser is impressed with the young officer.
An alert lets the boat know King is out of air. They search for him but can’t locate him. Fearing him dead, they hear the pounding of Morse code in the water. Rescuing King, Grace asks him how he was able to survive and he alludes to his training and sense of wanting to survive. Back on shore, King & Tani kiss as Chaplin meets with Grace to tell her about her father.
As China invades Taiwan, in Washington, Kylie meets with Christine Kendal. Christine recognizes that her lawyer, Paul, is working for the bad guys and trying to convince her that her husband is betraying his country. Christine offers to help Kylie recover her evidence and asks how. Kylie suggests that she talk to the press.
Review
One of the things Shawn Ryan’s shows have all tended to do well is feature a number of episodes where the characters mostly just interact with one another, where a lot happens without a lot seeming to happen. This fifth frame of Last Resort is just such an example.
The main thrust of the episode was for Chaplin to get the best deal possible from the government/shadow government to garner amnesty for his crew and not sweep what happened under the rug. To do so featured a number of dialogue exchanges that basically found most of the hour a series of two or three person scenes. And while some of the chatting came across as mundane and some of the scenes even seemed to reiterate the point of earlier scenes, there was actually a sly method to the madness that revealed how capable a man is Chaplin.
The show continues to dance around the issue of Chaplin’s emotional state and whether his true motivation is rooted in a sense of justice or in a personal vendetta. Chaplin appears to be keenly aware of this and uses it to his advantage. Manipulating Kendal into a response that would most benefit the entire crew aside from himself, Chaplin maintains what appears to be the clearest head and the strongest measure of control in this particular ordeal. It was highly effective to have the audience feel as if Kendal had come to loggerheads and had to betray his friend and commanding officer. The trust and relationship built between Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman for their characters continues to sell the human element of their predicament and it was a wise decision to play off of that in this fashion.
An aspect of the show that was annoying — speaking well to both its frustrating inclusion and to its effectiveness — has been COB Prosser’s naked aggression and dismissive nature toward Grace Shepard. At times it seemed personal, but mostly it felt like a sledge hammer of a writing device to show lingering attitudes of the military toward women in both command positions and on the front line of conflict. Credit to Robert Patrick for making Prosser’s point of view so distasteful, but it’s a welcome relief for him to shift gears on the matter. Grace needed some challenges to establish her confidence, but Prosser’s disdain was becoming unbearable. Impressively, the COB’s switch felt natural and earned, a nice change for something of a doggedly forced plot.
Boy, how Grace established her confidence. In a sharp contrast to the gabfest of the majority of the episode was the tense mission Grace ran with the Colorado to replace the battery of the sonar array. Making hard choices, showing creativity in command, and managing to outwit the competition were all vital character developments that needed to be seen from Grace sooner rather than later to keep the audience engaged with the character. Daisy Betts has a winsome presence and despite Grace’s fresh-faced personality, it never felt that she wasn’t a capable officer. Dragging her lack of confidence on would’ve been a disservice to actor, character, and audience.
Overall, the status quo wasn’t exceptionally changed by this episode. Secretary Curry’s group will deny their meeting took place, effectively leaving the crew’s status what it was with the U.S. Yet, all of the small interactions led to positive character advancements. A fair amount happening without much seeming to.
