As the episode begins, Ellie’s statement is played to Rachel (Lucy Cohu). When it is shut off, she is told that Ellie was scared of going to prison. She is asked what she is afraid of. Rachel is asked if she told her daughter to lie about the drugs and place the blame on Georgia. Rachel denies everything and she doesn’t believe anyone else obstructed justice either. She is questioned about Peter Mott but pretends she didn’t speak with Peter about the case that much. She wants to go home with her daughter since she is a very frightened woman right now. Next, we learn that Robert Sutherland (Robert Carlyle) intends to travel to Chequers on a helicopter. Archie (David Haig) laughs when he hears that they’re going to use trains. Fraser Walker (Richard Dormer) tells the group that they’ve established a new Gold Command Center in the Red Zone.

Only essential supplies are going to be taken to the hospital now. Buses will be available to those who wish to leave. The PM believes that it is wasting time and resources. They admit they’re still having a lot of problems with the People’s Justice. Eleanor James (Lisa Palfrey) warns the Prime Minister that he should not underestimate Scott (Charlie Carrick). Robert returns home to Rachel before getting a phone call learning Peter Mott (Edward Bennett) has been arrested. His office has been searched and his computer seized. Rachel says it has turned into a witch hunt before Robert confesses he lied to parliament about it. Edin (Alexandra Willaume) is watched as he goes to a pub. He meets with an unknown woman in a pub.

Eleanor watches video of Edin before Archie enters her room. Archie confirms that evidence has been found on Peter’s computer but they’re not going to question him until later. He wonders what is going to happen to Anna Marshall (Victoria Hamilton). Eleanor says Anna is in her hand. Archie suspects Eleanor might be bugging her flat but she won’t confirm or deny it. Robert flies around in a helicopter while Fraser speaks with colleagues. He tells them that Francine Bridge is going to come along for moral support. Then, he turns his attention to the chief engineer. When he leaves, the others wonder if Fraser is slipping the move on Francine Bridge. Seconds later, Robert’s helicopter lands in Chequers. He heads inside with Anna as Scott speaks to his group and encourages them not to lose focus.

He says they’re going to take the last of the fuel down to the barricades in London since that is where they’ll finish everything. Fraser and Francine (Marsha Thomason) meet with Fraser’s daughter Holly. Fraser learns she came in second in cross country but her mother makes her leave moments later. Two men in a vehicle pay close attention to Scott. He walks the streets with the journalist and tells him about his beliefs and such. He tells the journalist about mad Thommo’s house down the street and that the man is a raging commie who knits socks for refugees. He claims the media likes to make up their own theories about people like Scott. Before too long, the conversation turns to Scott’s father John. The journalist reminds Scott that he is a journalist and Scott is his story.

Francine and Fraser speak with Fraser’s ex. She suspects they’re in a relationship but Francine tells her that they’re only colleagues. Harry Rowntree (Con O’Neill) calls for a general election to let the people decide. He blames everyone on the government and doesn’t accept any responsibility for the stoppage. Peter is interrogated by police and he denies coaching Ellie about what to say during her interview. He is asked about the diary he keeps and him writing down that RS was anxious about not getting involved in discussions about ES. He says they were trying to find out how to deal with the press interest. He is told that Ellie felt pressured into lying about the drugs. Next, Robert speaks with Anna about her marriage and affair.

She tells him that Eleanor is running checks because of the Toni Lulin connection. Robert believes Anna did the right thing going to Eleanor. Anna admits she can still see Edin and she wants to. Their conversation ends when the car arrives. Harry gets out and is greeted by Archie. They chat about Francine and other things before Robert and Anna arrive. Harry is invited inside for tea but asking if the People’s Justice has not shown up yet. Scott leaves his building and gets run over by a car. The journalist checks on him but it is too late. Scott is dead. Robert learns about Scott’s murder moments later. Harry decides to leave since the People’s Justice has called for boycotts on talks until Scott’s death is clarified.

Robert tries to convince him to change his mind. They argue back and forth until Harry suggests Robert is a dictator. In return, Robert claims Harry can’t control his members. Then, he says he is coming for Harry tomorrow and he’ll be bringing APVs and bulldozers. When Harry leaves, Robert tells anna to convene COBRA because he wants to take them on. Fraser and Francine go to a pub together. They’re confronted by a man who seems to know them. He begins saying racist things before Fraser and Francine are told to leave because they do not service dogs. They leave without putting up any resistance. The journalist is asked to speak about Scott’s views and put some perspective on it since he got close to him.

He tells Rob to shut up before speaking to the camera. They’re nearly attacked by angry members of the People’s Justice but manage to flee in their van. Fraser and Francine find out about it too. Their taxi driver believes Scott was killed by the government because they were never going to meet with him. He says people are fed up with lying politicians and the shops having no food. They decide to go to Kennington before spotting looters on the streets. The driver is worried that it is going to be worse this time. Anna meets with Eleanor and is asked about Edin meeting with Toni Lulin. She is told about a rumor that Toni uses an assassin based in London and it could be Edin. That assassin uses the pseudonym Nico. Anna doesn’t believe Edin is the assassin. When she leaves, she gets a message from her daughter. She wants to meet but Anna tells her to stay put since it isn’t safe.

Anna encourages her daughter to stay in the house tonight. Edin sticks with Toni as they’re observed closely. In the COBRA room, Eleanor tells everyone about the angry people taking to the streets. The PM wants to put troops on the streets and he authorizes them to use CS gas and baton rounds. He is asked what the soldiers should do if they come under serious attack. He says there will be no more velvet gloves. Francine asks Fraser why he left his wife. He says it was lots of things including politics, values, and aspirations. He only cares about his now but his ex has made the kids believe he is responsible for everything bad that has been happening. They end up kissing before the PM learns that two people have been discovered dead in flats above shops that were set on fire.

Robert arranged for General Pickering to meet him in the COBRA room. Fraser and Francine look outside and see a fire below. Fraser receives a call and says he’ll be there as soon as possible. The authorities monitoring Edin agree to let the deal proceed. They listen as Toni talks about the shipment arriving next week while Anna’s daughter walks down the street and enters the motel. She enters the room with Edin, Toni, and the others. They’re surprised to see Tess (Grace Hogg-Robinson) step through the door. She begins asking about her mother before Edin confronts her. Edin takes her into a room and tells her to trust him. Toni enters and he tells her about Tess being Anna’s daughter. Toni refers to Edin as Nico and she doesn’t want Tess to leave.

Edin tells Tess to trust him before pulling the gun on Toni and the others. Authorities watch as Edin leaves the room with Anna’s daughter. Robert wants to take the barricade down immediately so he can fulfill his promise to the people. A bulldozer is used to move the trucks before protesters storm in. A man lights a Molotov cocktail and throws it from the top of the highway sign. Several of the soldiers catch on fire and Robert watches it all from the COBRA room. One man throws a phosphorous grenade into the group of soldiers. Archie believes the soldiers should retreat and Robert has to consider whether he should give the soldiers authorization to fire.

Archie tries to help as Anna tells the PM that it is not a protest. It is an armed attack. Robert gives the soldiers authorization to open fire on the protesters. We watch as the soldiers walk through a thick cloud of smoke and begin shooting fleeing protesters. It appears that the soldiers have killed a journalist. Robert is worried that he made the wrong decision.

 

Cobra Review

This episode was a bit long-winded but it got better as it went on. The show spent a long time building up Scott but ended his life in a matter of seconds. That triggered chaos in the city and led to a standoff between soldiers and protesters. Robert ultimately gave the soldiers authorization to return fire after they were bombed with phosphorous grenades. As a result, a journalist was killed by one of the soldiers and that will likely create big problems for the Prime Minister.

Is that going to open the door for Archie to take over as Prime Minister? I think that would make the show a lot more interesting but I don’t think it’ll happen. The episode was okay but nothing spectacular. It scores a 6.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of Cobra can be found on Reel Mockery.