Hawk From A Handsaw – The episode opens with Martian (Michael Fassbender) looking out the window as a motorcycle speeds past Ladbroke Grove. Grandma (Adam Nagaitis) and Grandpa (Andrew Brooke) detect a phone signal inside Martian’s flat. Martian looks in on Poppy (India Fowler), retrieves a phone hidden in an air vent, and wraps it in aluminum foil. Grandpa and Grandma watch the signal disappear. Grandma says the new software sends out a Wi-Fi signal that relays it, regardless of his location. While they argue about the right term for subway, Martian takes a taxi to the Arran Hotel. The manager (David Bromley) informs him of his guest arriving 30 minutes ago. Martian spends time with Sami Zahir (Jodie Turner-Smith). She explains her dream about them living together in an apartment. The phone rings. She urges him not to answer it but he insists. Henry Ogletree (Jeffrey Wright) orders him to come to the lobby. He claims it is his publisher before leaving to meet Henry who accuses him of killing his phone. Martian says he tracked him and asks how he did it. Henry says CCTV. Martian assures him that he isn’t hiding. Henry asks about his female guest. Martian claims she is a married woman. Henry asks why he is utilizing a defunct identity, Paul Lewis, and threatens to drop him if he doesn’t stop. Martian starts to return to the hotel, but Henry insists he walks away. Looking out the window, Sami sees Martian leaving on foot. Osman (Kurt Egyiawan) sees Henry leaving and Sami looking out the window.

Blair (Ambreen Razia) orders Alexei Orekhov (Marcin Zarzeczny) to stay at a safe house outside London. Irate, he screams three years of loyalty and vows to never work for CIA Chief Bosko/James Bradley (Richard Gere) again. Slipping a sack over his head, he curses Bosko as two interrogators (Jack Jagodka) and Dimitryi Turchaninov) escort him away. At home, Emily Ogletree (Annabel Mullion) tells Henry that she cannot reach Charlie through the Zoom link. Seeing the Zoom link no longer exists, he suggests it is a server glitch. She asks if Charlie is okay. He says people are watching out for him. In a video conference, Bosko updates the CIA Director (Dominic West) on Coyote’s (Alex Reznik) case. He says Felix is the only live mission still offline. The Director stresses the need to keep Felix confidential. Ben (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) and Simon (Bilal Hasna) lock Bosko in The Cube. Bosko has his eyes scanned to validate his identity. The Director briefs him on Felix. Reaper footage reveals two Russian Tigr APCs pursued two operatives into the quarry. A shootout takes place and two Tigrs leave. In the meantime, Osman briefs Martian, Henry, and Blair on the Felix mission. They are discussing the extraction process when Bosko enters and warns of a geopolitical disaster if the operatives are captured. He says Felix is temporarily shut down and tells them to find the operatives.

Ukraine – Dr. Charlie Remy (Edward Holcroft), Doctor Koval (Sergej Onopko), and Boutenko (Oleksandr Rudynskyy) arrive at a building. Remy has a look around while Koval and Boutenko hotwire a domestic vehicle. They hide the military vehicle inside a barn before leaving. A short distance up the road, they spot an envoy of Russian military tanks. Koval turns the car around. Remy says they find a forest and go dark. In London, Martian cancels his session with Dr. Blake (Harriet Sansom Harris) and promises to reschedule. Owen (John Magaro) tells Martian that their satellite in Ukraine will not detect humans. Believing Bosko was debriefed on Felix, Henry asks if he is close. Bosko assures him that he understands what he is going through, but Charlie signed up for this. Henry says they all did.

Martian receives a text from Sami demanding to know where he went last night. He puts the phone in his pocket and enters his flat where Poppy is watching SpongeBob. After turning off the TV, he complains about the smell of weed while sliding open the door. She denies smoking weed and drops his wallet from the air vent into a bowl. She confronts him about lying about his true identity and calls him Paul. Forcing her into the bathroom, he flips on the shower, warns her that the flat is bugged, and says it isn’t a game. He tries to apologize but she grabs her things and leaves. During a phone call, he asks Sami to meet him tomorrow.

Henry tells Naomi (Katherine Waterston) that Langley is reviewing all intel from sources recruited by Coyote. He says either Coyote is dishonest which would mean part of their intel on Ukraine is corrupt or he blew his cover. She asks how Martian is doing since his return. He reminds her that she is no longer his handler. While talking to Martian, Bosko repeats things that Poppy said last night. Martian accuses Henry of telling Bosko. Denying the allegation, Henry says it was Grandpa and Grandma. During a briefing, Martian suggests Langley believes Coyote is a double agent who provided them with fake intel. Henry says covert operatives change sides for money or ideology. Blake adds love to the equation. Martian explains his theory on how to find Felix. Outside the hotel, Osman watches Sami get into a taxi.

In Ukraine, Remy, Koval, and Boutenko cover the car with branches. A drone soars overhead. They drop to the ground. Boutenko picks up a fast-approaching vehicle. Remy leaves it up to them. Koval says they should fight and Boutenko agrees. Remy retrieves his gun from the boot of the hidden car. Hiding behind trees, they watch as the vehicle approaches. Remy orders them to not shoot. Three friendlies approach and offer to provide them with papers and transport them to a clinic where the target will arrive in a week. Remy asks if Felix is back in operation. One of the men says it seems that way.

In London, Martian has a session with Blake. He answers a series of questions about his last mission. She asks how he dealt with his sexual relationship with Sami. He says it is a process. She suggests people watching may think he is hiding something. He insists there is one type of agent, the insane. He explains his theory on how the agency creates and utilizes coverts and when they return, it asks how they are doing. He accuses Blake of worrying he managed to become sane, not trying to help him. He vows to remain 100% nuts.

At the cinema, Sami is waiting when Martian arrives and kisses her. She bites his lip for running off. She asks if he’s stalking her. He thought they could have dinner, so he wanted to pick her up. She reminds him of her jealous husband. Martian asks why she’s lying. Sami claims to have skipped because it’s pointless and only enrolled to get a grant. She was blown up, shot at, and saw people being killed. She goes on to say it isn’t a lie. Sami gets up and leaves the theater without Martian who follows her. As Martian walks next to her, he tries to find out what she does all day. She insists she wouldn’t fly there just to wait for him to call. Osman drives by and sees them together. Sami never thought she’d see Martian again. Sami tells Martian that this isn’t working before walking away. Sami hears Osman yelling her name. When she sees him, he tells her to get into the car. Sami gets in and they drive away.

 

The Agency Review

The best episode so far. Martian’s story grows darker and more intriguing. His dialogue is well-written and reveals a sensitive but hard side of himself, unlike other CIA characters. The episode deserves a 5.8 out of 10.

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