Quarterback Blitz – The episode opens with Martian (Michael Fassbender) being interrogated. He says all peace talks were refused amidst fierce fighting. No one knew both parties met with the Chinese secretly. The Russians, Americans, Chinese, and Saudis wanted to invest in Sudan because of its gold mines, oil fields, and port on the Red Sea. During a meeting, Osman (Kurt Egyiawan) threatens to terminate negotiations with anyone violating the rules. Dalaga (David Harewood) starts the meeting by reminding everyone of General Hemedti’s position regarding the deadlock in Khartoum. Martian says the future of Sudan was at stake. At the meeting, Sami Zahir (Jodie Turner-Smith), an expert in the country’s history, tells the attendees that people living in the Melut Basin, up to the Nile Rift do not support the administrative division into two provinces. Martian says Sami was fighting for her people and risking everything for peace.

Martian finds Henry Ogletree (Jeffrey Wright) fighting with a mouse in his office. He tries to apologize for what happened at the hotel. Cutting him off, Henry says he already did and admits to calling to check on Dr. Charlie Remy (Edward Holcroft) which could land him in jail for 40 years. Martian suggests reporting him. Henry tells him to do it because he could use some me-time. He now owes Martian for Felix and Charlie. Martian offers to get him a mouse trap. Owen (John Magaro) informs them of Belarus threatening escalation if an Idahoan congressman doesn’t publicly apologize for insulting one of their delegations. Henry explains his plan to expose their quarterback with Martian’s help. They convince Bosko (Richard Gere) to observe the American and Belarusian ambassadors during their meeting. A Belarusian attaché (Armen Georgian) complains about the Idahoan congressman’s insult. Henry assures him that neither of the four Idahoan congressmen made such a comment. Martian says the attaché is right about their countries needing to respect and trust each other but they don’t because Belarus lost a MiG-35 over the Baltic three years ago. Henry claims they offered to help with search-and-rescue, but Belarus declined and denied losing it. Martian detects something odd about Mikhail’s (Oleg Stefan) behavior. Henry alerts Bosko of their findings. Martian insists on giving Mikhail an opportunity to respond.

Martian overhears Mikhail talking about a strip club. He tells him that the place is called The Chamber in Soho and offers to take him. Mikhail is surprised he can speak Russian. Martian identifies himself as Tom Vincent and agrees to pick up up at the Lanesborough. Mikhail accepts and thanks him.

Naomi (Katherine Waterston) tells Danny (Saura Lightfoot-Leon) that her mission has begun. Danny enters the Institute of Geophysics. The manager at the institute (Timothy Harker) introduces her to Alice and Eric. Naomi gives her a few pointers on enemies and friends. She must seduce her predator, Reza Mortazevi (Reza Brojerdi). Rose (Jessie Mei Li) tells her that Reza oversees an exchange program and selects a candidate to spend a year in Tehran. They watch Jerome (Ben Lloyd-Hughes) play up to Reza, hoping to be chosen for the project. Rose introduces her to Reza before Jerome pulls him away for a squash rematch. She assures Danny that Iranians would never accept a female candidate.

Dalaga offers to give Sami a tour of London. Osman interrupts to tell her to call her husband, Dr. Mustafa. Dalaga excuses himself. She sarcastically asks what she would do without him intervening every time a man hit on her. He assures her that will never happen. After previously storming out, Poppy (India Fowler) returns to Martian’s flat. They agree to a fresh start. She says they can do it together. Later at the mall, Osman can be seen watching Martian and Poppy. Martian invites Poppy to play a game and hurriedly escorts her toward the right. Osman races down the escalator in pursuit of them. Martian sees Osman race past and leads her out of the pub. Later, Dr. Blake (Harriett Sansom Harris) asks Martian about his last sexual encounter. He tells her to go first. She tells him about her one-night stand 17 months ago after she separated from her husband. He reminds her of his former relationship in Addis with a woman whom he believed he loved.

Reza joins Danny’s class on earthquakes. After class, he invites her to speak on distributed acoustic sensing technology at the Wellcome Library. She calls Elements Spa to schedule a wax job. Naomi offers her a home visit. Danny rushes home to find Naomi waiting for her. She tells her about the acoustic sensing technology which she knows nothing about. Naomi asks how many pages she can memorize. Danny says 25 pages in an hour. In London, Simon (Bilal Hasna) tells Martian that the POI has worked at Addis Ababa Central University since April 2018, and for the past three months, she has been at the Public University of Khartoum. Martian asks if she ever disappeared for a period of time. Simon says she filed for a divorce in Khartoum.

Danny is working on her speech when her phone dies. Reza arrives to pick her up. Stressed, she races to meet him. Reza apologizes to Danny for not having a charger. She goes over her speech and says there will be a lot of important people there. Reza touches her neck and tells her to teach them what she knows. He’s not sure he’s found anyone like her. Reza says he’d like to see her outside of work. Danny doesn’t think this is a good idea. Danny apologizes to Reza and says it’s his eyes. They remind her of her father’s eyes. Danny reveals her father was 35 when she died, and she was six. She claims Reza reminded her of him. Reza says this event is the Institute’s biggest of the year. He suggests letting Jerome make the address since he has more experience. Reza offers to let her out here. Danny gets out moments later. Martian and Mikhail hang out at the strip club. They begin talking about the MiG fighter that vanished over the Baltic. Martian suggests it’s worth more than face value if you lose something and really want it back. Martian gives Mikhail his number in case he comes back to London. He leaves. Henry and Bosko talk about the book Henry is reading. Martian joins them and says the line is open. Boski tells them to get some rest. Ben tells Henry he’s sending his congressman a fruit basket if this works.

Henry receives they got Congressman Daniels’ son out of a drug charge previously and he’s been grateful to Langley ever since. Henry says he suggests Daniels sound off about Belarus. Danny calls her mother and says she was thinking about her dad. Martian remembers Blake asking him how he came by it. He looks at the scar on his hand. He claims he got it in an avocado pit. Martian remembers Sami speaking at a protest. Soldiers arrive and begin firing guns in the air causing the protest to disperse. Martian locks her in somewhere so he can find a way out. He eventually returns and begins leading her out of the building. They flee on a motorcycle. Next, Martian messages Sami and asks for her room number. When she opens the door, Osman asks her what she was doing at the cinema. Martian sees them together and hides.

Sami tells Osman she was with a lover. Osman reminds her that her husband might care about that. As Martian leaves, Osman continues asking Sami questions about the man in question. He pushes her inside and attacks her. Sami claims the man is a teacher. Osman says teachers don’t slip their tails. He wants his name or his life. Sami says his name is Paul Lewis and they met in Ethiopia. In another scene, Martian is asked why he didn’t stop. He says he was falling. He talks about falling until you hit the ground.

 

The Agency Review

Danny isn’t a convincing spy. She is easy to read and possibly easier to break. Like her character, her story lacks depth.

The series fails to capture the complexity, intrigue, and authenticity of the original project. The acting is at times wooden and unbelievable. The dialogue is monotonous and the writing mediocre.

The episode deserves a 4.5 out of 10. Get more of The Agency recaps here. Learn more about our advertising packages by clicking the link. See what others are saying about the show here. Support our platform here.